IN BRIEF - The blood of this animal has saved millions of lives around the world
WORLDWIDE
Monday, August 12, 2024
The blood of the horseshoe crab has been crucial to modern medicine, allowing the detection of contaminants in medical supplies.
The horseshoe crab, a living fossil that is more than 450 million years old, has played a fundamental role in modern medicine. This animal, scientifically known as Limulus polyphemus.
Characteristics of the horseshoe crab
It has a unique blue blood due to the presence of hemocyanin instead of hemoglobin. This characteristic has allowed pharmaceutical companies to develop methods to identify contaminants and toxins in medical supplies, saving millions of lives in the process.
The blood of the horseshoe crab contains amebocytes, cells that react to the presence of endotoxins, which has been used to create Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL).
This compound is essential to ensure the safety of medical products such as vaccines and intravenous devices. Without this tool, the detection of contaminants would be much more complicated and less efficient, putting the health of millions of people at risk.
Endangered
Despite their importance, blood harvesting from these crabs has raised concerns among conservationists. The growing demand for their blood has put horseshoe crab populations at risk, especially in the North Atlantic.
Producers are under pressure from competition from countries like Norway and Chile in key markets like France, and from internal bureaucracy that hinders investment and sustainable growth.
Scottish salmon, internationally recognized for its premium quality, continues to be the UK's favorite fish and one of the country's most important food exports. However, its success is not guaranteed and it increasingly depends on political support, both in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
The latest retail figures confirm its leadership: with an annual value of £1.5 billion (US$1.995 billion), salmon accounts for almost a third of all fish consumed in the UK.
Official Scottish Government salmon statistics show that the total salmon catch, across all gear types, is the sixth-lowest. Regarding the total sea trout catch, it notes that the last year's catch is the second-lowest since records began in 1952.
The reported angling catch of salmon (46,978 catches) is the eighth-lowest catch since records began, but represents 114% of the five-year average. Catches have declined from a peak of 111,405 in 2010, and reports for 2024 show a general pattern of declining numbers of wild salmon returning to Scotland.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
After U.S. President Donald Trump instituted new rounds of tariffs on Chinese goods starting early this year, Chinese customs authorities in the east coast city of Taizhou – a key seafood export hub – have pivoted to help local seafood firms increase their exports to Southeast Asia, the E.U., and the Middle East.
Though the trade war between the U.S. and China has temporarily cooled off, customs authorities made the move in order to help exporters diversify their buyer portfolios and combat future trade uncertainty.
Author: Mark Godfrey / SeafoodSource l Read the full article here
Land based salmon farmerAquaBounty Technologiessaw positive cash flow in the first quarter of this year – but this was largely thanks to the sell-off of key assets.
US-based AquaBounty’s net income for the quarter ended 31 March 2025 was $401,000 (£301,723) compared with a net loss of $11.3m (£8.5m) for the same quarter last year.
Included in net income 2025 was a non-cash gain of $2 million (£1.5m) on the forgiveness of an outstanding loan.
Author: Robert Outram / Fish Farmer l Read the full article here
Napier takes delivery of Tauroa, the world’s largest harvesting vessel.
Norwegian shipping company Napier has taken delivery of Tauroa, the first of two stun and bleed vessels ordered from Turkey’s Sefine Shipyard. The company described the vessel as a major milestone in its 30-year history and a new global benchmark for processing vessels in the aquaculture sector.
Tauroa has been developed in close cooperation with the customer and was designed by Salt Ship Design. At 70 meters in length, it is described as the world’s largest and most advanced vessel of its kind.
Source: SalmonBusiness l Read the full article here
Salmon producer Scottish Sea Farms (SSF) increased its harvest volume and revenue in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, but saw its operating profit fall by 44%, from NOK 138 million (£10m) to NOK 77m (£5.6m).
The figures are included in the Q1 2025 report and presentation by Lerøy Seafood Group, which co-owns SSF 50-50 with fellow Norwegian salmon farmer SalMar.
SSF’s Q1 harvest volume was 8,414 gutted weight
Source: fishfarmingexpert l Read the full article here
At its last meeting, the Andalusian Government Council learned of the €1.64 million increase in the initial funding for investment aid in the marketing and processing of fishery and aquaculture products. With this budget increase, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development explains, "a total of €6.64 million is allocated to support all applications that meet the requirements of the regulatory bases for the 2024 call." More specifically, this amount allows for the award of 19 grants that cover 50% of the more than €13 million in overall public-private investment associated with the subsidized projects.
Source: iPac.acuicultura l Read the full article here
The Regional Minister of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Amaia Barredo, stated that "the food of the future will be smarter, fairer, and more sustainable, and the Basque Country wants to be an active part of this transformation."
Barredo spoke at the opening of the Food for Future (F4F) - Expo FoodTech 2025 event, which runs from yesterday until May 15 at the BEC fairgrounds in Barakaldo and brings together the world's elite in food technology and innovation.
This international food technology industry gathering (foodtech) is held concurrently with Pick&Pack for Food Industry and brings together more than 8,000 professionals.
In 2020, Mohamed Mansour, a tilapia farmer from Sharqia Governorate, was facing challenges on his 40-acre farm. He was experiencing a too-high feed conversion ratio, and could only get a single production round per year.
With the help of Skretting Egypt’s Sales Manager Hassan Ali, Mr. Mansour decided to switch over to using Skretting Egypt’s tilapia fish feed. This product is known fondly as the 'mango sack', as its vibrant orange colour is similar to the flesh of the local Egyptian mangoes. Soon, his FCR improved by 40% to 1.2.
Under the guidance of Hassan Ali and the Skretting Egypt team, Mr Mansour gradually expanded his farm. By 2024, his farm had reached up to 200 acres, achieving two production rounds annually. His farm was able to achieve maximum efficiency in production, which also enhanced his way of life.
How life in different parts of the Barents Sea reacts to climate change.
Since 2005, many species of zooplankton, fish, and benthic animals have increased significantly in number in the northwest Barents Sea. In the southeast Barents Sea, most fish species have decreased in number, while jellyfish—especially lion’s mane jellyfish—and snow crab have increased considerably. Juveniles of commercially important fish species have spread over larger areas of the Barents Sea: cod and haddock during a particularly warm period, and capelin when the sea cooled down again.
WORLDWIDE
UNITED KINGDOM
Producers are under pressure from competition from countries like Norway and Chile in key markets like France, and from internal bureaucracy that hinders investment and sustainable growth.
Official Scottish Government salmon statistics show that the total salmon catch, across all gear types, is the sixth-lowest. Regarding the total sea trout catch, it notes that the last year's catch is the second-lowest since records began in 1952.
CHINA
After U.S. President Donald Trump instituted new rounds of tariffs on Chinese goods starting early this year, Chinese customs authorities in the east coast city of Taizhou – a key seafood export hub – have pivoted to help local seafood firms increase their exports to Southeast Asia, the E.U., and the Middle East.
UNITED STATES
Land based salmon farmer
NORWAY
Norwegian shipping company Napier has taken delivery of Tauroa, the first of two stun and bleed vessels ordered from Turkey’s Sefine Shipyard. The company described the vessel as a major milestone in its 30-year history and a new global benchmark for processing vessels in the aquaculture sector.
Salmon producer
SPAIN
At its last meeting, the Andalusian Government Council learned of the €1.64 million increase in the initial funding for investment aid in the marketing and processing of fishery and aquaculture products. With this budget increase, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development explains, "a total of €6.64 million is allocated to support all applications that meet the requirements of the regulatory bases for the 2024 call." More specifically, this amount allows for the award of 19 grants that cover 50% of the more than €13 million in overall public-private investment associated with the subsidized projects.
The Regional Minister of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Amaia Barredo, stated that "the food of the future will be smarter, fairer, and more sustainable, and the Basque Country wants to be an active part of this transformation."
EGYPT
In 2020, Mohamed Mansour, a tilapia farmer from Sharqia Governorate, was facing challenges on his 40-acre farm. He was experiencing a too-high feed conversion ratio, and could only get a single production round per year.
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
How life in different parts of the Barents Sea reacts to climate change.
