The Xunta de Galicia and the Spanish Association of Wholesalers, Importers, Transformers and Exporters of Fishing and Aquaculture Products, Conxemar, have studied possible improvements for the Vigo Fair Institute, Ifevi, with the aim of offering the best conditions at the fair organized by this entity.

The Minister of Employment, Commerce and Emigration, José González, accompanied by the technical general secretary of the Department of Employment, Commerce and Emigration, Joaquín Macho, and the delegate of the Xunta in Vigo, Ana Ortiz, recently met with the president of Conxemar, Eloy García

Source: IndustriasPesqueras | Read the full article here

PRESS STATEMENT

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On Monday 22 July 2024 the Falkland Islands Maritime Authority received information that the fishing vessel Argos Georgia, with 27 persons onboard, was taking on water and requesting assistance some 200 miles east of Stanley. At 4pm local time on Monday 22 July 2024 the crew abandoned ship. 

The Falkland Islands Government, Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, HQ British Forces South Atlantic Islands, the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency, the fishing vessel company and other fishing vessels at sea, have been working closely with one another to coordinate an ongoing search and rescue operation. 

It has been confirmed today that FPV Lilibet and 2 fishing vessels in the area have been able to rescue a number of the crew members. Those that have been rescued will be brought back to Stanley and taken to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for medical assessment. The search continues for the missing crew members.  

The Falkland Islands Government send their thoughts to all the families involved. We would like to thank everyone involved in this search and rescue effort.

The search and rescue will continue throughout the night and the safety of all those involved is paramount.

PRESS STATEMENT

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Following an incident yesterday afternoon roughly 200 nautical miles east of Stanley that led to uncontrolled flooding, 27 crew members from the fishing vessel Argos Georgia were forced to abandon ship shortly after 4PM local time and crew members took to life rafts.  The BFSAI A-400M ‘Atlas’ was the first asset on scene and was able to track and report the position of the life rafts. Between the BFSAI ‘Atlas’ and A-330 ‘Voyager’ aircraft, overwatch has been maintained overnight and continues.  

FPV LILIBET and 2 fishing vessels have also responded to the incident and made best speed to the location overnight, with the first vessel having recently arrived on scene and commenced search operations.

Operating at extreme range, a Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter from the BFSAI SAR Flight attempted to recover personnel from the scene yesterday evening but the attempt was unsuccessful in the face of extremely challenging weather conditions and very limited time on scene due to range.  The helicopter returned to Stanley Airport to refuel prior to a second attempt but the weather worsened further, and rotary wing SAR operations were suspended.  As of this morning weather conditions mean the search area remains out of limits for helicopter SAR operations, but the situation is being reviewed regularly with a view to resuming operations as soon as possible.

Further updates will be released as the situation develops.

Following the incident that forced the Argos Georgia’s crew to abandon the vessel near the Falkland Islands, the chair of the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries Carmen Crespo (EPP, ES) said:

“On my first day as chair of Parliament's fisheries committee, my thoughts are with the missing fishermen in the Falkland Islands and their families. We sincerely hope their rescue is completed soon.

In these difficult times, the Committee on Fisheries offers its solidarity with the Galician people, so closely linked to the fishing sector and from which several of the missing crew members of the ship Argos Georgia come.

This accident highlights the harshness of fishing activity and the sacrifice and risk that sea professionals experience”.

The European Parliament member Carmen Crespo belongs to the Spanish conservative Popular Party and will hold the chair for the next two and half years. The MEP will also be sitting at the Agriculture and Rural Development Commission.

On taking office MEP Crespo said she will defend fisheries since “it is a key socioeconomic sector” and plays a strategic role for Europe's food security. Originally she was a member of the Agriculture, Water and Rural Development Junta of the Andalucía region in Spain.

Source: MercoPress

The New Zealand Government has pledged nearly $50 million (PGK 116.8 million) to support the advancement of fisheries in the Pacific over the next four years. This announcement was made on Tuesday, July 23, by Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters (left) and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones

The funding package was unveiled by Jones at a regional ministerial fisheries conference held in Honiara. He highlighted the significance of this support for the resilience and sustainability of Pacific countries, stressing that fisheries are a crucial revenue source for several nations in the region. Jones reiterated New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to the Pacific, noting that this financial support will address essential next steps in strengthening the region's fisheries.

The EU and Cabo Verde have signed a new protocol for the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) allowing access by EU vessels to Cabo Verdean waters for a period of 5 years, while preserving the development of the fisheries sector in Cabo Verde. The protocol will also strengthen fisheries governance and the protection of the marine environment, and support the creation of jobs and activities in the fisheries sector.  

An agreement for tuna fisheries 

The agreement will allow?56 fishing vessels from EU Member States?to access Cabo Verde waters over a period of?5 years. 

The European fleet will consist of 24 tuna seiners, 10 pole-and-line tuna vessels and 22 surface longliners flying the flag of Spain, France or Portugal, fishing for tunas and associated species. The agreed annual reference is 7,000 tonnes of catches, which reflects the trend of catches in recent years by Union vessels in the Cabo Verde fishing zone. 

The EU contribution to this new protocol is estimated at €3.9?million over a period of 5?years, consisting of €780,000 per year, of which €430,000 will be dedicated to promoting Cabo Verde’s sustainable fisheries management, control and surveillance capacities, and supporting local fishing communities. In addition to the EU contribution, shipowners will pay fees to the Cabo Verde’s administration to be authorised to fish.

In June 2024, imports of frozen capelin significantly decreased. 

A total of 47 tons of frozen capelin were imported last month, a 59% drop from the 115 tons imported in the same period last year. The cumulative import volume up to June this year was 431 tons, down 13% compared to last year. 

This represents 0.1% of the total import volume of 445,418 tons. 

By country, Iceland accounted for 195 tons (45%), Norway for 191 tons, and Canada for 45 tons of frozen capelin imports. 

The unit price of frozen capelin from Iceland was the highest at USD 3.39/kg, followed by Canada at USD 1.36/kg, and Norway at USD 1.16/kg.

The import value of frozen capelin in June was USD 120,000, a 33% decrease from USD 180,000 in the same period last year. 

The cumulative import value for this year was USD 940,000, a 24% reduction compared to last year. 

The average import price was USD 2.20/kg.

For reference, the domestic wholesale distribution price of frozen capelin from Norway is set at KRW 25,000 for a 7kg package of 40/50 size.

Source: Union Forsea Corp.

Vietnam's tuna exports continued to maintain growth momentum in June 2024. As a result, the cumulative export turnover in the first 6 months of 2024 increased by 23% over the same period in 2023, reaching 472 million USD.

Author/Source: Nguyen Ha/VASEP

London, July 21 (Jiji Press)--Police authorities Sunday detained Paul Watson, founder of antiwhaling group Sea Shepherd, in Greenland under an international arrest order from Japan, his foundation said.

According to the foundation, the 73-year-old was detained upon arrival in Nuuk, the capital of the autonomous territory of Denmark, where he stopped to refuel while en route to the Pacific Ocean to intercept a new Japanese whaling ship.

Watson could be extradited to Japan, according to a British newspaper report.

Founded in 1977, Sea Shepherd is known for its aggressive sabotage activities, including ramming whaling vessels with small boats and throwing harmful chemicals at them.

The Japan Coast Guard put Watson on an international wanted list on suspicion of causing injury and forcibly obstructing business, alleging that he interfered with the activities of a Japanese research whaling ship in the Antarctic Ocean in 2010.

Apair of fishermen from the U.S. state of Florida are suing the U.S. Department of Commerce, challenging the constitutionality of fishery management councils after the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) cut quotas for gag grouper by over 80 percent. 

Dominick and James Russo, brothers who run FFC Seafood, filed the complaint in federal court in the Southern District of Alabama, claiming the new regulation issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) – managed by NOAA under the U.S. Commerce Department – was not approved through the correct process. 

Author: Chris Chase / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here