The Magallanes Region has established itself as the new pole for the development of the salmon farming industry. According to figures from the Association that brings together the main local companies, during 2022 167,000 tons were harvested, which translated into returns of US$655 million.

While from the Magallanes Economy Seremi, they indicated that the harvest registered by Sernapesca of Atlantic salmon in the area between 2006 and 2022 accumulated a total of 907,172 tons, being last year the one that registered the highest number.

Source: Salmon Expert | Read the full article here

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) has called for aid to promote and support fishing associations for the year 2023 for a value of 550,000 euros. The deadline for submitting applications is 15 business days from tomorrow, May 19.

These subsidies, the call for proposals for which has been published today in the Official State Gazette (BOE), are intended for national associations to carry out representation activities before the General State Administration, before the European Union and before international institutions.

Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here

UK-based aquaculture software business Aquanetix is moving to Greece, following its acquisition by Innovasea.

The cloud-based farm management software developed by Aquanetix is in use at more than 200 farms in 31 countries, helping to grow more than 30 species of fish and shrimp.

The US-based aquaculture tech group Innovasea announced yesterday that it had acquired Aquanetix, and that the UK company’s operations would be relocating to Corinth, Greece.

Source: FishFarmer | read the full article here

The MOWI salmon brand has expanded into a new category – the ready-to-cook, added-value sector with the launch of MOWI Bistro Bakes. A range of four salmon recipes ready to go into the oven are now available in various UK retailers, including Sainsbury’s and Asda stores nationwide.

With Scottish ASC certified salmon at centre stage, the MOWI chefs have come up with differentiated recipes that take the hard work out of preparing delicious meals for a special occasion. 

Source: FishFocus | read the full article here

Lots of frozen sockeye carryover from the 2022 season are pushing down wild salmon prices across the board.

The massive record-breaking sockeye season from 2022 continues to have a major impact across the entire salmon complex.

The most immediate is the general weakening on frozen sockeye. With the upcoming season about a month away, there is pressure to move through older inventories. Many market participants report heavy discounting among some sellers to incentivize sales and keep things moving.

Sockeye 2-3 lb. frozen fillets at the start of 2023 were at an average price of about $9.25/lb. Prices started to fall at the beginning of February and continue to do so. Pricing is currently at $7.75, down 16.2% in only three months.

Author/Source: Laine Welch / alaskafish.news

The first auction of "Noto Torigai", one of Ishikawa's brand agricultural, forestry and fishery products "Hyakumangoku no Kiwami", was held  at the Kanazawa General Market operated by JF Ishikawa.

Two out of the 273 listed (403 in the previous year) hit a record high of 15,000 yen per piece, up 2,000 yen from the previous year, making a good start. The goal is to ship 60,000 pieces inside and outside the prefecture by early July, which is the same level as in recent years.

Kazuaki Koizumi, the head of the Noto Torigai Producer's Association made up of aquaculture producers, gave a greeting before the first auction.

Of the 273 items listed on the stock exchange, two of the top-ranked "premium" items weighing more than 200 grams each (2 items in the previous year) were purchased by Kappo Ikkon, a members-only Japanese restaurant in Tokyo's Minato Ward.

Source: The SUISAN-KEIZAI (translated from original in japanese)

Chris Shearlock has joined Thai Union as their new Sustainability Director for Europe. He follows Tracy Murai in this role, who has been promoted to Assistant Director, Global Fisheries Sustainability.

“Chris’ appointment comes at an important moment in the group’s sustainability journey as we will soon announce a major update to our sustainability strategy SeaChange® with new and expanded goals and commitments through 2030,” said Adam Brennan, Group Director, Sustainability at Thai Union.

He will play a key role across Europe and Africa in the roll-out of SeaChange® 2030 and will be working closely with the group’s commercial teams to ensure Thai Union supports its customers in achieving their sustainability commitments in the best ways possible. Chris brings with him a wealth of experience joining Thai Union from Princes in the UK, where he worked as Senior Sustainable Sourcing Manager.

Thai Union promoted Tracy Murai, who held this role previously, to Assistant Director, Global Fisheries Sustainability:

“I am excited to now be able to take my skills to a global level and continue to implement our sustainable practices in the fisheries we source from around the world,” she said.

Thai Union will further build its global sustainability team as SeaChange® 2030 will introduce aggressive goals, which will be the broadest reaching in the industry and establish new standards on a global scale.

Source: FishFocus

PORTLAND, Maine — A staple seafood species caught by East Coast fishers for centuries is experiencing overfishing, and regulators have cut catch quotas by more than 80% to prevent the fish’s population from collapse.

Haddock are one of the most popular Atlantic fish, and a favorite for fish and chips and other New England seafood dishes.

But fewer haddock will be caught in New England this year after regulators cut fishing quotas. A recent scientific assessment found that the Gulf of Maine haddock stock declined unexpectedly, and that meant the catch quotas for the fish were unsustainably high, federal fishing managers said.

The NOAA added the Gulf of Maine haddock stock to its overfishing list last month. The New England Fishery Management Council, a regulatory board, has lowered catch limits of the fish in an attempt to halt the overfishing, said agency spokesperson Allison Ferreira.

Author/Source:  PATRICK WHITTLE / AP

Asahi Foods announced on the 15th that it has acquired all shares of Kosai Bussan held by Toyo Reizo.

By making Kozai Bussan Co., Ltd., which operates a sushi ingredient wholesale business in the Shikoku region, into a subsidiary, with the aim to expand the area of the seafood wholesale business.

With the acquisition as an opportunity, the Asahi Foods Group will expand its business in the Shikoku region, Okayama Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefecture, etc., which had been a blank area for seafood wholesale such as sushi toppings.

Source: Minato-Yamaguchi (translated from original in japanese)

Despite delivering higher profits during the first quarter of 2023, Lerøy CEO Henning Beltestad believes the results should have been better.

He said: “We are not satisfied with the results in Aquaculture in the first quarter, but we have implemented a number of measures in which we have great confidence.

The combined fish farming, trawling and seafood processing group , which also owns a half share in Scottish Sea Farms, delivered a Q1 operational EBIT of  NOK 989 million (£74m) against NOK 889m (£66m) last year.

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