More than 20 fishing vessels were reported distressed on Oct 27-28 in Arabian sea, one FV VAISHNAV DEVI MATA confirmed sank on Oct 27 in vicinity 18 40N 071 00E, all 17 crew rescued by Indian Navy. All fishing vessels were caught in cyclone KYARR, raging in Arabian sea and slowly moving towards Oman.

All fishermen of Indian West Coast were warned on cyclone approach, and strongly advised not to leave ports. All distressed vessels understood to be coastal fishing vessels, with 10-12 crews on board. Two fishing vessels identified as FV KARMAL MATHA (MMSI 419506094) with 12 fishermen on board; FV ST MARY (MMSI 419817184) with 11 fishermen on board.

Source: Maritime Bulletin

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today that razor clam digging will move ahead at Twin Harbors and Long Beach this weekend, after tests revealed that shellfish from these coastal beaches are safe to eat.

Testing conducted by the Washington Department of Health (WDOH) on Thursday showed domoic acid levels were low enough for the digs to go ahead, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.

“The health and safety of clam diggers is always our first concern, so we appreciate people’s patience while we worked with our partners at WDOH to confirm that these clams are safe to eat,” Ayres said. “We hope that everyone is able to get out and enjoy safe, productive digs at these beaches.”

Source: Thurston Talk

The fishing industry has faced a challenging environment due to a reduction in allowable catch rates and unrest in Hong Kong.

Premier Fishing and Brands has braced shareholders for a sharp reduction in full-year earnings due to a challenging operating environment for the fishing industry.

In a trading statement, the fisheries group said it had been impacted by a 44% reduction in the total allowable catch for the West Coast Rock Lobster industry, lower landings of squid and socio-political unrest in the Asian market, particularly Hong Kong. These had been offset by a solid performance from its South Coast Rock Lobster division, driven by strong landings. It said good working capital utilisation had also resulted in strong cash flow generation. Cash generated from its operations is expected to increase by as much as 42% from last year's levels.

Source: Ince Connect

Sino-Van Fisheries Plant at Black Sands was formally launched by Vanuatu's prime minister Charlot Salwai, the Daily Post reports.

The long-anticipated project is being developed between the government and China National Fishery Cooperation.

Vanuatu's Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Biosecurity, said the company paid a USD 1 million deposit earlier this year as a show of commitment to the project.

Matai Seremaiah said the company made a commitment that the project would be up and running this month.

Source: RNZ

The vast savannah in Guyana’s southern Rupununi region has varying moods. From April through August, the rainy season, it turns into a shimmering water world. By February, parts will be tinder-dry, sometimes fueling wildfires that rage across the grassland.

During seasonal flooding, waters from Amazonian rivers mix with those of a watershed that drains into the Atlantic. Fish from both river systems swim upstream to spawn in lakes and ponds, giving the region remarkable aquatic biodiversity.

This rich freshwater fishery has long been a key source of food for the people of the Rupununi — Wapishana, Makushi and Wai-wai Amerindians, as well as descendants of British colonists and the indentured servants and slaves they brought to work in the colony.

Source: Forest News

There’s nothing to worry about the massive fish kill and shellfish mortality in Las Piñas, Parañaque, Bacoor, Cavite since the incidents were due to “natural causes,” officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) assured on Thursday.

This, even as the Department of Agriculture, through its Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), earlier declared that the fish kill could have been caused by the high levels of ammonia and phosphate in the waters of Manila Bay, on top of the low concentrations of dissolved oxygen, particularly in Las Piñas and Parañaque City.

DENR officials also said that the water quality in Las Piñas and Parañaque where the fish kill was observed have improved, while shellfish gathering in mussel farms in Bacoor and Sangley Point is “back to normal.”

Source: Business Mirror

Some 44 percent of fish in Turkish waters have microplastics in their stomachs, according to a recent report prepared by Greenpeace Mediterranean.

Experts have looked into 243 fish, 32 shrimps and 317 stuffed mussels within the context of the report named “Microplastic Pollution in Water Creatures in Turkey.” They have then determined microplastics in 44 percent of the fish they examined, 18 percent of shrimps and 91 percent of the stuffed mussels they analyzed.

In the study, gastrointestinal tract of gray mullet, red mullet, striped red mullet, Mediterranean horse mackerel, striped seabream and red shrimp collected from the Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean regions were investigated.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News

BERGEN - "I am very glad that demand for Norwegian seafood is increasing in China," said Sigve Dronen, operation manager of a fishing boat that belongs to Leroy, one of the biggest Norwegian seafood producers.

"We need a stable market. We need to know that we can sell the fish in the market that needs the food. Of course, this is very important for all of us," he told a group of Chinese reporters visiting the vessel docked near Bergen, a city on the west coast of Norway.

The seafood industry is the fastest growing sector among the three-pillar (petroleum, maritime and seafood) ocean industries in Norway. Like offshore energy and maritime industry, the seafood industry is highly dependent on exports, and it is vital to explore and maintain its international market share.

Source: Xinhua Net

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has commended the fisheries authorities for slapping a whopping USD 1 million penalty on a fishing company for contravening Ghana’s fishing laws.

The former President said he was pleased to note the commitment of the fisheries authorities in partnering with the security agencies to stem the tide of abuse of Ghana’s territorial waters by large-scale fishing trawlers.

“The abuse of our waters by these fishing trawlers has gone on for decades with some political leaders indirectly sponsoring such willful abuse of our limited fishing resources. The industry has been on its knees for a considerable period and I pray the exercise to stem the tide will be sustained to restore sanity into the industry,” he said.

Source: 3 News

A minority government in Ottawa could provide an opportunity for Newfoundland and Labrador’s fishing industry move forward on key issues impacting inshore fish harvesters and plant workers, says FFAW-Unifor.

“The election of a minority government should send a clear message to our elected officials that Canadians want to see more co-operation amongst the parties,” said Keith Sullivan, President of FFAW-Unifor. “FFAW-Unifor will work with both Liberal and New Democratic Members of Parliament for Newfoundland and Labrador and hold them to the commitments made during the campaign.”

A news release states that, in response to FFAW-Unifor’s Federal Election Questionnaire, both the Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party made strong commitments to improve enforcement of owner-operator and fleet separation policies, to continue supporting the allocation of the first 115,000 metric tonnes of northern cod to inshore harvesters, to take immediate action to address rising seal populations, to reform Employment Insurance in order to make it fair for seasonal workers and to ensure fish harvesters have a voice and a seat at fisheries science and management decision-making tables.

Source: Gulf News