Seafood Headlines January 12, 2017
CFIA fast-tracked tests on genetically modified salmon eggs for exports, documents suggest
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency fast-tracked safety tests on eggs from genetically modified salmon in order to hit an export deadline last year, according to internal government documents.
Documents obtained under Access to Information by researcher Ken Rubin and shared with CBC News show that veterinarians working in Prince Edward Island and other inspection offices of the CFIA were under "pressure" to get the inspections for diseases and viruses done quickly. To read the full article click here. Source CBC News.
UN Hub, Partnerships and Research Focus on Sustainable Oceans
5 January 2017: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) launched the Ocean Action Hub, which will host dialogues on ocean issues, facilitate the sharing of commitments, solutions and ideas by stakeholders and bring together stakeholders to assess opportunities and challenges related to achieving SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
With regard to research, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP or UN Environment) and partners released findings that underscore the importance of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to minimize annual coral bleaching events. UN Environment also announced a collaboration on oceans with the EU, and highlighted dugong and seagrass conservation efforts in concert with the Global Environment Facility (GEF). To read the full article click here. Source SDG Knowledge Hub.
New study shows Chinooks caught in westward region commercial and Kodiak area sport fisheries are from BC, US West Coast
Alaska caught, yes indeed.
Still, most of the Chinook salmon harvested in Westward Region commercial and Kodiak area sport fisheries from 2014 through 2016 were from the West Coast of the United States and British Columbia.
A new study released by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in late December concludes that these king salmon harvests were dominated by British Columbia and U.S. West Coast stocks, followed by smaller contributions from Southeast Alaska/Northeast Gulf of Alaska, Cook Inlet and Kodiak. To read the full article click here. Source The Cordova Times.
Study on the subsidies to the fisheries, aquaculture, and marketing and processing subsectors in major fishing nations beyond the EU
A ‘subsidy’ is a form of direct or indirect government support, often monetary and often provided to the private sector. Subsidies to the fisheries sector have been attracting increasing attention and are identified as important in terms of monetary value and the potential impact on fleet capacity, fishing effort, production and market value. However, there are difficulties in defining precisely what is meant by a ‘fisheries subsidy’ and existing information regarding such subsidies appear uncertain and somewhat patchy. The purpose of this study is to collate and standardise, to the extent possible, information on the value and scope of subsidies to the catching, aquaculture, and marketing and seafood processing subsectors in six of the major fishing nations beyond the EU - Japan, South Korea, China, the Russian Federation, Taiwan and the United States. To read the full summary or download the study click here. Source EU Bookshop.
Iceland’s new Fisheries Minister
New ministers are taking up their posts, including the new minister for fisheries and agriculture, Thorgereur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, taking over from Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, whose Progressive party was one of the election’s heavy losers.
There were extensive rounds of negotiation last year and this, with the mandate to form a government given to several party leaders, and only when it had been given to the conservative Independence party a second time, was a coalition finally able to crystallise. The new administration brings together the Independence party and the Reform party (Viereisn), formed largely of Independence party rebels who struck out of their own, plus the Bright Future party (Bj?rt Framtíe), and the new coalition has the narrowest possible majority in Parliament. All this could make it a short-lived government if the coalition with its knife-edge majority comes apart at the seams, and while the Independence and Reform parties are natural bedfellows, Bright Future looks to be the one least comfortable with its coalition partners. To read the full article click here. Source Fisker Forum.
Indonesian PT Karyacipta Buanasentosa obtains Friend of the Sea certification for tuna
PT Karyacipta Buanasentosa (PT KCBS) - an Indonesian tuna catch and processing company, wholly owned by Yamako Pacific Pte Ltd - has recently obtained the Friend of the Sea certification for Skipjack and Yellowfin tuna. The company complies with all Friend of the Sea requirements and can now display the official seal of approval on its products.
All tuna species are fished through pole and line method, without affecting or damaging the seabed, by Friend of the Sea approved vessels, in the Western Central part of the Pacific Ocean. This fishing method prevents any overfishing or the stocks being overexploited in those areas. In addition, all fleets are in compliance with the management measures and there is no bycatch of any endangered species. To read the full article click here. Source Friend of the Sea.
Island’s spring fishermen reject size increase
The Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association released the results Thursday of a vote taken among Lobster Fishing Area 24, northside, fishermen which showed 62 per cent of them favoured leaving the measure where it’s currently at, 72 mm. Thirty-eight per cent of respondents to the November survey were willing to accept an increase.
Those numbers practically mirror the results of a vote taken last February in LFA 26A, at the eastern end of the province, where 61 per cent of respondents were opposed to a size increase.
In between those two votes, however, was a DFO-imposed increase in LFA 25, a fall fishing zone shared by New Brunswick and P.E.I. fishermen. To read the full article click here. Source Journal Pioneer.
Catches and Values Down Compared to Previous Year
According to HB Grandi’s data, the company’s fleet landed 141,867 tonnes of fish valued at ISK14 billion during 2016. This represents an approximately 19% reduction in volume compared to the previous year, while valued were down by 16%.
The HB Grandi figures show that pelagic vessels Venus and Víkingur between them landed 95,600 tonnes valued at ISK3.7 billion. This is a considerable drop compared to 2015 when the company’s three pelagic vessels landed 128,000 tonnes with a value of ISK4.6 billion. This is equivalent to a 25% reduction in volume and a 19% reduction in values over 2015. It is notable that there was a substantial drop of 41,000 tonnes in capelin catches between years. To read the full article click here. Source HBGrandi.
Wastewater treatment upgrades result in major reduction of intersex fish
Upgrades to a wastewater treatment plant along Ontario's Grand River led to a 70 per cent drop in fish that have both male and female characteristics within one year and a full recovery of the fish population within three years, according to researchers at the University of Waterloo.
The 10-year study, published in Environmental Science and Technology found that the microorganisms used to remove ammonia in the wastewater treatment process also reduced the levels of endocrine disrupters in the water, which caused the intersex occurrences in fish to dramatically decline. To read the full article click here. Source Science Daily.
Optimising Antibiotic Usage to Treat Bacterial Infections
The discovery of penicillin in 1928 dramatically changed human and animal health and well being. Since then, the discovery of additional antibiotics has further increased survival rates in areas such as surgery and during cancer chemotherapy. However, a lack of new antibiotics and an increase in resistance means these advances are under threat1. Resistance to all antibiotics in clinical use has now been observed2, with the extensive use and misuse of antibiotics being attributed to the spread of these resistant genes3,4,5. This has caused considerable debate over the future effectiveness in treating bacterial diseases6,7. As such, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified antibiotic resistance as one of the major health concerns of the 21st Century. To read the full article click here. Source Nature.
Potential Use of Phototrophic Algae as Protein and/or Lipid Source in Aquafeeds
In aquaculture, producers commonly rely on formulated feeds to ensure optimal growth, health and quality of the farmed animal. Fish meal and fish oil from wild fisheries have traditionally been major constituents of aqua-feeds as they are excellent raw materials from a nutritional point of view, but their supply is finite, writes Dr Ingrid Lupatsch/AB Agri Ltd.
Therefore feed ingredients other than fish meal are selected for their nutritive value, balance of amino acids, digestibility of proteins, lipids and quality of fatty acids, availability and cost. There is already a choice of protein substitutes on the market including animal by-products and plant proteins, however, very few resources contain the long chain omega three fatty acids EPA and DHA and thus algae biomass is being considered as one of the alternative ingredients of the future. To read the full article click here. Source The Fish Site.
China’s first chartered air service for imported seafood arrives
A chartered plane carrying tons of Boston lobsters, a favorite on festive dining tables during Lunar New Year celebrations, arrived Monday evening in Zhengzhou, capital of the central province of Henan.
This is the first chartered air freight delivery of seafood ordered by Chinese buyers, another two planes will arrive before the start of the festival, which this year falls on Jan. 27.
It took the plane 19 hours to fly its cargo of 74.57 tons of Boston lobsters from Halifax Airport, Canada, to the transportation hub of Zhengzhou. To read the full article click here. Source Shanghai Daily.
GAA Expands Presence In China With New Partnership, Office
The Global Aquaculture Alliance has strengthened its presence in China through a cooperative agreement with the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance (CAPPMA) to open an office in the Jing’an District of Shanghai, the organization has announced.
The partnership with CAPPMA represents the next step in GAA’s efforts to advance responsible aquaculture in China through the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) third-party certification program, including better serving those already committed to BAP and responsible aquaculture. To read the full article click here. Source GAA.
Salmon devotees to fork out more after prices leap
Salmon devotees ought to put together to pay more for his or her smoked fish or grilled fillets after a leap in prices to file ranges final yr.
Severe outbreaks of sea lice in Norway and Scotland in addition to a lethal algae bloom that hit Chile in early 2016 meant provides of world farmed salmon fell nearly 9 per cent from the earlier yr, the primary decline in six years and the steepest fall in 1 / 4 of a century.
Reflecting the value surge on the spot market, wholesale contract prices between salmon producers and their clients this yr are anticipated to rise sharply. This is probably going to retailers and restaurateurs to both elevate prices, lower portion sizes or go for different sorts of fish, corresponding to cod or sea trout, say meals business executives and analysts. To read the full article click here. Source News On Hand.