A UNSW Sydney researcher has received $2.6 million in funding to expand fish farming and its positive social impact in Papua New Guinea.

Associate Professor Jes Sammut from UNSW Science has received more than $2.6 million from the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research for a project that will build on previous work to improve fish farming in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

“We have transformed lives under our previous projects. It is exciting to be funded to do more in PNG,” A/Prof. Sammut said. 

“Over the last 13 years I have witnessed many positive societal changes where we have introduced fish farming. The increase in protein in diets is the most obvious, but the increase in self-esteem and pride in farmers is also uplifting. I am particularly heartened to see the peace and hope that fish farming has brought to people who were once engaged in long-term tribal fighting.”

In collaboration with the National Fisheries Authority (NFA), the new project will introduce technologies to boost commercialisation through larger farms and expand training networks for fish farming.

Author / Source: YOLANDE HUTCHINSON / Newsroom.unsw

Marks the end of Dissostichus eleginoides', fishing season

Toothfish Day is a public holiday celebrated in the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It is annually on 4th September, but if that falls on a weekend it may be observed on a weekday.

It is one of eleven public holidays in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, appointed by the Governor in Council

The holiday marks the end of the toothfish (Dissostichus, also called Chilean sea bass, and merluza negra in the River Plate) fishing season. Locals (which at this time of year number around 16) celebrate with a toast and some bake gingerbread toothfish cookies

The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, (GSGSSI) usually celebrates with a Toothfish Day Reception at Government House in Stanley, Falkland Islands. The reception includes a quiz, a toast, and a menu featuring many dishes made with toothfish. GSGSSI also holds meetings and a reception in London to mark the occasion.

Source: MercoPress

Muscat – Oman’s International Fish Feed Company (IFFC) has entered into a strategic partnership with a Netherlands-based company to give a fillip to the country’s fisheries and aquaculture industries.

This collaboration with Skretting, a subsidiary of the Nutreco, the global leader in aqua feed and animal nutrition solutions. is set to elevate IFFC’s impact in the aquaculture sector, capitalising on Skretting’s renowned expertise in feed and nutrition, industry experts said.

With a state-of-the-art aqua feed facility in the pipeline, Duqm-based IFFC is gearing up for commercial production by the end of 2024 with an annual capacity of 31,200 metric tonnes.[...]

Source: muscatdaily.com

Ana María Choquehuanca has taken office as the new Minister of Production, replacing Raúl Pérez Reyes, in a ceremony presided over by the President of the Republic, Dina Boluarte.

The new head of the Production portfolio is a businesswoman, an economist by profession and has studies at the Catholic University of Santa María de Arequipa and a master's degree in Administration by Values at Spenta University, Mexico. She also has a postgraduate degree in Agents of Equal Opportunities for Women at the Catholic University of Santa María / University of Zaragoza, Spain.

Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here

As previously reported, Mowi has launched a community engagement process to explore the potential for its farms at Loch Etive to grow post-smolt salmon.

The farms at Loch Etive are part of Dawnfresh Farming’s operations acquired by Mowi Scotland earlier this year.

Two events were recently organised to provide an opportunity for members of the local community to learn about current farming practices, proposed changes and to ask questions.

Source: FishFocus | read the full article here

A rule requiring escrow 30 percent escrow deposits on Indonesian export shipments valued above USD 250,000 (EUR 230,000) is under government review.

The outcome of that review will be pivotal to the future of the country’s seafood industry, according to National Fisheries Institute Chief Strategy Officer Gavin Gibbons.

“This policy is more than just an inconvenience and it has already caused some companies to reconsider their Indonesian sourcing,” Gibbons told SeafoodSource. “During this review period, we encourage the Indonesian government to reconsider the policy.”

Author: Cliff White / SeafoodSource | read the full article here

China is experiencing a boom in novel farming techniques, with low-cost “greenhouse” farms and recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs) both gaining significant traction in recent years.

This was one of the key components of a very entertaining presentation on Chinese shrimp production, which was delivered today by Guo Fuci, global aquaculture lead at Royal Agrifirm.

Speaking at this week’s Global Shrimp Forum, Guo explained that greenhouse systems – which are essentially 40 x 10 m ponds covered by transparent plastic sheeting – now account for 30 percent of China’s domestic shrimp production, with 10,000 such ponds being built every quarter.

Source: TheFishSite | read the full article here

Nothing less than 32.6 million kilos last year and 28 the previous one, only in national waters. So that all that fish would not go uncaught, which would be worth around 197 million euros at first sale, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food withdrew it from boats that used to have excess and distributed it free among others that had exhausted quotas. Now it will do the same with all the Spanish quotas in all the fishing grounds. To calculate how much can be left over in the last stretch of the year, he stops temporary transfers for a while, as he calls the purchase-sale or exchange of fishing opportunities.

Source: La VozdeGalicia | Read the full article here

• Norway exported 125,041 tonnes of salmon with a total value of NOK 10.7 billion (U$D 1 billion) in August.
• The export value increased by NOK 1.7 billion (U$D 158M), or 18 per cent, compared to August last year.
• There is a growth in volume of 6 per cent.
• Poland, the USA, and the Netherlands were the biggest export markets for salmon in August.
• The export value for Norwegian salmon is the highest that has been measured in the month of August.

“It is currently the last in a series of 30 months with continuous growth in value measured against the same period the previous year. We must go back to May 2011 to find an equally long continuous growth period”, says Paul T. Aandahl, Seafood Analyst with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Two contributing factors

Growth has been driven by an increase in demand following the coronavirus pandemic and a weakened Norwegian krone.

Poland had the largest increase in value this month, with an increase in export value of NOK 420 million, or 30 per cent, compared to the same month last year.

The export volume to Poland ended at 24,412 tonnes, which is 15 per cent higher than the same month last year. growth for salmon exports

Source: Norwegian Seafood Council