Preliminary figures suggest that Iceland set a new record for the export of aquaculture products last year.
Iceland’s two main farmed fish exports species are salmon and Arctic Char.

The total figure is expected to be around ISK 29bn (£164.3m) a year on year, an increase in nominal terms of 17 per cent.
The figure will be seen as impressive in a year dominated by coronavirus and a pandemic which has shut thousands of restaurants around the world, hugely disrupting salmon sales.

The export figure for December ( which also includes agricultural products), is ISK 4.8bn (£27.4m), an increase of 58 per cent on the final month of 2019 when currency fluctuations are taken into account, but when there was no pandemic.

Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here

Akvafuture welcomes new aquaculture strategy.

Earlier this month, Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Seafood Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen announced a new aquaculture strategy. The strategy will look at solutions to the challenges of lice, escapes and high mortality. A new scheme is also being drawn up to get more salmon farming into closed containment facilities.

“We want a development that also facilitates closed containment facilities. Customers are increasingly demanding documentation of sustainability and the environment, and although we know that Norwegian farmed salmon is one of the healthiest things you can eat, some are increasingly overlooked,” the Minister of Fisheries has previously told E24.

Author: Stian Olsen / SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here

HSSMI and MarinTrust have begun a three-month feasibility study, funded by the UK Seafood Innovation Fund’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), to define a traceability system for the UK’s marine by-product supply chain.??

Marine by-products such as head, fins, skin and bone are increasingly used in fish oils and cosmetics and, most importantly, in feed for farmed fish and seafood. The challenge is to find the ideal traceability system for such a fragmented and paper-based supply chain.

Source: Worldfishing | Read the full article here

Danish fishermen have gotten off to a bad start in 2021, writes the Danish Fish Producers Organisation.

The trade agreement between the EU and the UK at Christmas 2020 will cost the fishery up to DKK 1.5 billion (€201.6 million) in lost fishing quotas. At the same time, the protracted negotiations meant that no agreement has been reached between the EU and Norway on fishing by 2021, and therefore the Danish fisheries have not yet been given access to be able to fish in Norwegian waters.

Today, Monday, EU fisheries ministers will meet to discuss fishing opportunities in 2021, and action is urgently needed in relation to the lack of access to Norwegian waters.

Source: The Fishing Daily | Read the full article here

A new association combining Greek and Spanish aquaculture to deliver fresh fish daily has been launched. The agents bring together 40 years of work experience from four companies that have joined forces and open a new era in Mediterranean aquaculture.

Avramar was born as a result of the union of the aquaculture companies Andromeda Group, Nireus, Selonda and Perseus. With a total production volume of more than 70,000 tons and a presence in more than 30 countries, Avramar becomes the world's leading gold brand, along with the largest producer in the Mediterranean.

Source: EuropaAzul | Read the full article here

The Portuguese presidency predicts "a great road" ahead in 2021

The traditional European Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries (popularly known as Agrifish) in December closed incomplete in 2020 in the absence of the result of the ‘Brexit’ negotiations. With the mystery already cleared, the European leaders met this morning, by videoconference, to agree on the next steps.

The Portuguese Minister of the Sea, Ricardo Serrão Santos, acted as master of ceremonies within the rotating presidency of the Council of Portugal. The Portuguese minister recognized the work of Michel Barnier, chief negotiator of the EU during the 'Brexit', and pointed out that in 2021 there is "a great road ahead" 

Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here

On our new website you will now find more details on this year’s 3 day program:

June 8th - Technology & Innovation Day
June 9th - Keynote Sessions
June 10th - Investor and Industry Seminars  
 
New website: www.nor-seafood.com

Demand for seafood products in the Middle East and Africa has been rising steadily, a trend that is likely to persist through 2027, according to a new report from Insight Partners, a venture capital and research firm based in New York City, U.S.A.

The report, “Middle East and Africa Seafood Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis,” found the value of the seafood market in the two regions is projected to grow from USD 9.3 billion (EUR 7.7 billion) in 2019 to USD 10.7 billion (EUR 8.9 billion) in the next six years.

Rising seafood per capita consumption, increasing demand for imported seafood products, and the emergence of specialty seafood restaurants are some of the factors anticipated to drive market growth in the regions, according to the report. 

Author: Shem Oirere / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here

Salmon prices remain in a state of stagnation as the first month of 2021 draws to a close.

In Norway at the end of last week they were either flat or fell slightly due to a number of external factors. There has also been a reduction in slaughter size.

Bad weather in the north of the country affected supply last week, but so far there is little sign that prices are likely to rise as a result.

Prices in the medium to large weight class (three to six kilo) range from NOK 44 and NOK 47 per kilo with downward pressure on large fish. Scottish prices are thought to have fared only slightly better.

Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here

The US fishing and seafood sector has generated more than $200 billion in annual sales and supported 1.7 million jobs in recent years, but experienced broad declines in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 public health crisis, according to a new NOAA Fisheries analysis.

According to analysts, Covid-19 protective measures instituted in March across the United States and around the world contributed to an almost immediate impact on seafood sector sales. There was a strong start to the year, with a 3% increase in commercial fish landings revenue in January and February.

However, revenues declined each month from a 19% decrease in March to a 45% decrease by July. This translates to a 29% decrease across those seven months, as compared to five-year averages and adjusted for inflation.

Author: Quentin Bates / FiskerForum | Read the full article here