The Minister of the Sea, Marta Villaverde, visited the facilities of Opmega, Galicia's leading mussel sector organization, in Boiro.

Accompanied by President Ricardo Herbón, she learned about advancements in sustainability and innovation, such as the CSIC study presented at Seafood Expo Global Barcelona. This report certifies that the carbon footprint of Galician mussels is minimal and highlights their ecological value to the estuaries.

The entity is moving toward MSC international certification to bolster competitiveness against imports. Commercially, the success of their fresh, microwave-ready mussel trays stands out for optimizing shelf life. Despite challenges like biotoxin closures in late 2025, Opmega remains a European benchmark with 579 platforms (bateas) and 312 members across the estuaries of Muros and Noia, Arousa, Pontevedra, Vigo, and Portugal.

Opmega has been recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food since 1986 as Spain's first transnational mussel producers' organization.

Saudi Fisheries gets nod to raise additional capital as part of continued turnaround efforts

Saudi Fisheries Company (SFC) has been given the greenlight from the Saudi Arabian Capital Markets Authority to raise SAR 340 million (USD 89.9 million, EUR 76.5 million) through a rights issuance as the seafood firm pursues additional measures in turning around its poor financial performance.

In a recent statement to the Saudi Stock Exchange, SFC said it received the approval after "the company fulfilled all the observations and requirements related to the capital increase file,” adding that the approved rights issue plan will be subject to the approval of shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting.

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

Scottish salmon exports have soared over the past decade, with overseas sales worth more than £6bn, new figures reveal.

Analysis of HMRC data by trade body Salmon Scotland shows the UK’s top food export reached 94 global markets between 2016 and 2025.

Annual export value rose from £445m at the start of the decade to £828m last year, an increase of 86%. This is despite overall production in Scotland going up by less than 2% per year.Volumes also rose by 51% over the same period, with Scottish salmon shipped to markets across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Author: Robert Outram / Fish Farmer| Read the full article here

The Princess Royal has officially opened Bakkafrost Scotland’s multi-million pound Applecross facility in Wester Ross, the UK’s largest freshwater recirculating aquaculture system (RAS).

During the visit on Wednesday, Princess Anne toured the freshwater site, met employees and local guests, and learned how advanced technology is being used to improve fish welfare, reduce environmental impact and support high value, skilled rural employment.The facility plays a pivotal role in Bakkafrost Scotland’s ‘one summer at sea’ production strategy, which allows salmon to spend longer growing in controlled freshwater conditions before transferring to sea as larger, stronger smolt.

Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here

Ongole: Tensions flared on Tuesday as local prawn farmers staged a spirited protest outside the District Fisheries Office, demanding an immediate rollback of unauthorized price hikes on aquatic feed.

Led by the Prawn Farmers Association Prakasam district committee, demonstrators accused feed companies of bypassing mandatory APSADA (Andhra Pradesh State Aquaculture Development Authority) approval. The companies reportedly increased Tiger feed prices by Rs 10.70 per kg and Vannamei feed prices by Rs 8.40 per kg.

Association District President Duggineni Gopinath dismissed industry claims that rising raw material costs necessitated the hike. He highlighted a sharp decline in soya meal prices—dropping from Rs 100 to Rs 35 per kg—noting that companies typically stockpile materials at lower rates.

The price surge is expected to drive up production costs by Rs 35 to Rs 40 per kg for Tiger shrimp and Rs 15 to Rs 20 per kg for Vannamei. Following the protest, the farmers submitted formal petitions to District Collector P. Raja Babu and Fisheries Joint Director (JD) Srinivas, warning of a statewide agitation if the government fails to intervene.

The Russian government has officially expanded the functionality of the “Inspector” mobile application, marking a significant step in the digitalization of the nation’s fisheries and aquatic bioresource conservation sectors.

This update transitions traditional regulatory interactions into a streamlined, remote format with full official recording of all actions.

Key Enhancements

The “Inspector” app, integrated into the Standard cloud solution for automation of control (supervisory) activities, now serves as the primary tool for federal oversight. Its expanded capabilities include:

• Remote Inspections: Conducting real-time video conferences during official checks and preventative measures.
• Digital Evidence: Documenting violations through photography and video directly within the app.
• Information Exchange: Seamless presentation of documents and data during inspections.
• Compliance Tracking: Official confirmation that previously identified violations of fishing regulations or fishing ground use conditions have been rectified.

By leveraging these remote tools, authorities aim to reduce the administrative burden on bona fide industry participants while maintaining rigorous compliance with fisheries legislation.

Myanmar is currently exporting aquatic products to 42 countries, with seafood making up 70% of shipments and freshwater products accounting for the remaining 30%.

According to the Myanmar Fisheries Union, the industry is pivoting toward modern aquaculture to offset rising production costs and a decline in marine fishery resources.

A key development is underway in Bandanau, located in the Ayeyarwady Region, where a 3,000-acre deep-water zone is utilizing modern technology to farm tilapia. New export contracts have already been signed with the United States and China, with shipments scheduled to begin this year.

Officials emphasize that transitioning from traditional catches to controlled environments is vital. Establishing modern aquaculture zones could generate nearly $200 million in annual revenue. By expanding these industries, Myanmar aims to secure its domestic food supply while significantly boosting foreign exchange earnings through a more sustainable and consistent export model.

Tilapia prices are showing signs of stabilization across Brazil, though significant regional gaps persist. According to the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics (Cepea), price differences reached up to US$ 0.25 per kilo between monitored regions during the week of May 4-8, 2026.

Market Highlights:

• Northern Paraná: Recorded the highest price at US$ 1.73/kg (R$ 10.47).
• Triângulo Mineiro / Alto Paranaíba: Followed closely at US$ 1.69/kg (R$ 10.24), a 0.13% increase.
• Grandes Lagos (SP/MS): Averaged US$ 1.67/kg (R$ 10.09), up 0.28%.
• Morada Nova de Minas (MG): Noted a slight dip to US$ 1.61/kg (R$ 9.75).
• Western Paraná: Maintained the lowest national rate at US$ 1.48/kg (R$ 8.96).

While Western Paraná remains the most affordable hub, the state of Paraná continues to lead the nation in processing and exports. This stability marks a shift away from the high volatility seen in recent fish farming cycles.

The blue whiting season for Síldarvinnslan vessels has officially come to a close following a period of highly productive fishing.

The season’s end was marked this morning as Beitir NK (pictured) arrived in the port of Neskaupstaður carrying 2,720 tons of catch from Faroese jurisdiction. This follows successful landings earlier this week by Barði NK, which brought in 2,100 tons on Tuesday, and Börkur NK, which landed 3,200 tons on Wednesday.

Captain Þorkell Pétursson of Barði NK noted that fishing in the Ræsin separation area near Færeyjabanki was excellent, with hauls taken in six to eleven hours. Similarly, Captain Hjörvar Hjálmarsson of Börkur NK reported a swift trip, filling the ship in less than three days with hauls ranging from 360 to 580 tons.

While Captain Ólafur Gunnar Guðnason of Beitir NK observed that the fish began to disperse and move north toward the Rósagarður area in Icelandic jurisdiction at the end of the run, the overall sentiment remains high. Despite a slight dip in density during the final days, crews remain very satisfied with the robust volumes achieved throughout the season.