Bakkafrost announced today that its Scotland business showed significant improvement during the first three months of this year, turning a loss into profit.

The SCT (Scotland) farming segment produced an operational EBIT or profit of DKK 155m (£18m) against a loss of DKK 55m (£6.5m) 12 months earlier.

On a group level, the Faroes-based salmon farmer announced an operating EBIT or operating profit of 565 million Danish kroner (£66m) against DKK 418m (£49m) 12 month ago.

Author: Vince McDonagh / FishFarmer | read the full article here 

Thai Union Group PCL has reported its earnings for the first quarter of 2023 and revealed that its turnaround business plan for the Red Lobster seafood restaurant chain has shown positive progress, with a share of profit from operations of THB 121 million compared to a THB 243 million loss in the first quarter of 2022.

The Group recorded a first-quarter net profit of THB 1 billion, a 41.5 percent decrease from THB 1.7 billion in 1Q22 which included two non-comparable items:

• In the first quarter of 2022, Thai Union booked preferred interest of THB 239 million 
• THB 200 million net profit dilution effect from Thai Union’s shares reduction in i-Tail from 99.5 percent to 77.8 percent following i-Tail’s listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand last December 2022

Source: FishFocus | Read the full article here

The Conference on Bioresources and Fisheries in the Arctic on May 11-12, 2023 in Arkhangelsk will discuss the full range of issues related to the research, rational development and conservation of aquatic bioresources in the Arctic region.

Round tables are planned within the framework of the conference: “Research and development of aquatic bioresources in the Arctic: realities and prospects”, “Infrastructure of the fishery complex in the Arctic”, “New personnel for the Arctic region”, “State of stocks, fishing and regulation of fisheries of anadromous fish species in the Arctic zone ”, “Marine mammals of the Arctic”, “Monitoring and conservation of ecosystems in the Arctic region”, “Traditional types of marine fisheries in the Arctic and their regulation”.

The conference program and registration is available at https://fisharctic.ru

Source: United Press Service of the Federal Agency for Fishery

The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) issued an Information Notice to exporters on the 3rd May 2023, in relation to technical requirements for Irish companies trading with the USA in an evolving third country regulatory environment.

The SFPA would like to remind all exporters to the USA that Live Bivalve Molluscs* and Frozen Unprocessed Bivalve Molluscs are not currently approved for export from Ireland to the USA. If these products are exported to the USA, they will be rejected at the Border Control Point and will either need to be destroyed at the Border Control Point or reimported into Ireland at significant cost to the exporter.

The only Bivalve Molluscs which can be exported to the USA are cooked or processed Bivalve Molluscs. Exports to the USA do not require an export health certificate however exporters must be registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and pre-notify export consignments using the FDA online system.

Source: Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority

It is a trawler that docked at the Chapela docks at the end of April

The International Federation of Transport Workers (ITF) warns that the fishing boat "Santa Isabel" docked in Vigo puts the health and safety of its crew at risk. Built in 1972 and sailing under the Belize flag, it is a trawler that docked at the Chapela docks at the end of April.

Before the arrival of the vessel at the port of Vigo, the federation received a request for advice and help through the ITF FishSupport service. The crew members alleged that they had not received their salaries and that they feared they would be repatriated upon arrival at port without receiving their money. When the ITF acknowledged receipt of the claim and contacted the workers, they said they did not know the port they were going to and were afraid of reprisals for asking for help.

In the search for information about the vessel and its origin, ITF discovers that it is a vessel accused of illegal fishing by NGOs and that it presumably comes from Montevideo. The ITF sends an inspector on board, in this case the area inspector, Luz Baz, to verify the scope of the claim and the conditions on board. During her visit, frustrated by an alleged Spanish representative of the company, she was unable to get close to the crew, but she was able to verify the general state of the ship and the absolutely substandard habitability conditions. Therefore, the ITF urges the immediate detailed inspection of the vessel.

Source: Atlantic

Kuwaiti Federation of Fishermen head Dhaher Al-Soyyan urged officials to act quickly to prevent the fishing sector from collapsing due to a severe labor shortage.

Since fishing seasons are approaching, Al-Soyyan emphasized that entry visas should be opened for fishermen. Many boats lack workers due to a lack of workers. Failure to address the labor shortage will result in a shortage of local marine products and a fish price rise. Since fishing labor isn't readily available on the local market, Al-Soyyan urged officials to ease the suffering of license holders by allowing replacement workers to be recruited.

Source: Kuwait Local

A federal judge in Washington state issued a ruling this week that threatens to shut down trolling for king salmon in Southeast Alaska this summer.

The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed three years ago by a Washington-based conservation group called Wild Fish Conservancy that aims to protect a small population of orcas.

The lawsuit centers ons whether Alaska fishermen should be allowed to harvest king salmon, which are considered essential prey for the Southern Resident killer whales.

KCAW’s Robert Woolsey has been following the lawsuit from Sitka, in the heart of the Southeast salmon troll fishing region, and says whether the king fishery will be closed this summer remains uncertain.

Author/ Source: Robert Woolsey, KCAW 

The Arbulu Group, specialized in naval technology and connectivity, marine electronics and satellite communications, has signed a Register Reseller agreement with the company Starlink, for the distribution of its satellite communication equipment and its communications services. The agreement includes all Group companies: Nautical, e3 Systems, Thalos, Aage Hempel Group, Marine Instruments, Radio Electronic, Navteam, Silecmar and SMD.

Source: IndustriasPesqueras | Read the full article here

Meanwhile, the value of seafood exports grew due to currency effects and the value of salmon experienced strong growth.

Norway exported in April this year 160,000 tons of seafood. This is the lowest export volume since 2007, when exports were 125,000 tons, Seafood.no reported.

“The downward trend with decreasing volumes also continued in April. Among others, this applied to trout, grayling and several species of white fish, while the volume for salmon is stagnant compared to the same month last year,”

Source: Aqua | Read the full article here

Mowi has announced the launch of a new product range to add to its UK ready-to-cook retail category.

A range of four recipe products ready to go into the oven are now available in various UK retailers, including Sainsbury’s and Asda stores nationwide.

Using Scottish ASC-certified salmon, the company said its chefs have come up with four special recipes that take the hard work out of preparing meals for special occasions.

Author: Vince McDonagh / FishFarmer | read the full article here