Estonian sector obtains some relief from the government

The last couple of years have not been easy ones for the Estonian fisheries and aquaculture sector. Just as the government lifted restrictions brought in on account of the pandemic, and travel and trade resumed, war broke out in Ukraine unleashing a new set of challenges. Sales of fish to Ukraine, a key export destination, were affected negatively early in the conflict for a few weeks. More lasting has been the impact on energy prices. Costs for fuel for vessels, gas, and electricity have shot up affecting fishing and fish farming companies as well as processors. The government is helping with an initial package of measures for SMEs and now a further measure for larger companies. These initiatives are intended to mitigate the increase in fuel prices for vessels and in electricity prices for processors and fish farmers. Higher energy prices also contribute to inflation, which in turn forces companies to rethink their investment plans. Some projects are likely to be delayed as a result. Estonia’s programme for the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) was recently approved. It aims to make the sector more sustainable, help it fight climate change, and preserve biodiversity among other objectives. Aquaculture is due to get a boost that should see production increase several-fold by 2025. Read more from page 14

Biodegradeable fishing gear may contribute to reducing the volume of plastic that accumulates in the sea, a huge problem that is still growing. The fishing and aquaculture industry, according to a WWF study, is responsible for a tenth of marine waste globally. Not only do fishing nets discarded at sea remain in the water for years, but during that time they damage habitats and kill marine wild life. There are many good arguments to switch to biodegradeable plastic. Made from biofibres that originate from potato or sugar cane, they break down in 2-3 years rather than the 500-600 years it takes for conventional plastics to degrade. They do not contain the harmful chemical compounds seen in plastic, their carbon footprint is smaller, and their use would help to achieve two or three of the UN’s sustainable development goals. On the other hand, biodegradeable nets are currently not as tough, durable, cheap, or reliable as regular plastic nets. In the EU, policies are aimed at reducing pollution with plastic nets by making it easier to recycle them and efforts to retrieve those lost at sea are being increased. In addition, several projects are testing biodegradeable nets with the aim of improving them to the point where they can compete with conventional plastic. Read Dr Manfred Klinkhardt’s article on page 36

In Poland too the fisheries and aquaculture sector can feel the effects of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. As in Estonia, exports to the east shrank, energy prices spiked, and Poland offered shelter to huge numbers of Ukrainians fleeing the war. The Polish fishing sector has made infrastructure such as fish boxes and coldstores available to Ukrainian fishers leading to a increased prices for these services in Poland. Wage costs have increased as Ukrainians employed in Polish processing or fishing companies returned home to defend their country. Replacing these employees has been expensive. The inland fisheries and aquaculture sectors noted a marked increase in the price of materials, notably fuel and feed, and in inputs such as oxygen. In the processing sector disruptions took the form of reduced demand from certain markets, and also supply chain interruptions making it more difficult and more expensive to get hold of key raw materials including salmon, mackerel, trout, and sprat. The Polish government is making use of EU funds to reduce the impact of market disturbances by compensating companies for additional costs they incur. Read more on page 45

Rapa whelk, a marine snail, has invaded the Black Sea from its home range in the Indian Oceana and the Sea of Japan. Thanks to its high fertility as well as its tolerance for a variety of salinities, temperatures, oxygen levels, and pollution intensities, the animal has been highly successful at colonising the areas it invades. In the Black Sea it has established itself so thoroughly that it has become a resource that is caught, processed, and exported by companies in Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey to destinations in east Asia. The snail is prized not only for its meat but also for its decorative shell and it is hunted by artisanal fishers in Turkey and in Bulgaria. Rapa whelks are highly predatory feeding on shellfish including mussels, oysters, scallops, cockles, and clams, as well as on carrion such as dead fish or crabs. It has few predators of its own, mainly starfish and blue crabs (in the Chesapeake Bay). The snails proliferate at a very high rate—older animals can produce up to a million eggs four times a year, a number that allows the animal to spread rapidly despite the high mortality of the larvae. Read more about this invasive species from page 56

Events

13 Sustainable fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea come a step closer

GFCM celebrates its 70th anniversary

Estonia

14 Estonian fisheries and aquaculture State support partly offsets cost increases

18 Sustainably exploiting Estonian resources of the algae Furcellaria lumbricalis

Strong environmental focus resonates with customers

21 A thesis seeks to improve coastal environments and offer an alternate income source

Inventing uses for mussels too small to eat

24 Owner of Peipsi lake processing company welcomes change in fishing system

Greater transparency will benefit the fishery

27 M.V. Wool processes fish for international and Estonian consumers

Increased input costs start to bite

30 Good catches of coldwater prawn help offset the rise in fuel costs

Decent prices contribute too

32 The Center of Food and Fermentation Technologies has created an international reputation

Research and development for the food sector

34 Power Algae designs equipment and protocols to cultivate microalgae

Optimising strategies to produce at scale

Environment

36 New ideas to reduce ghost nets in the sea

Fishing gear made from biodegradable plastic

40 A brief overview of maritime spatial planning (MSP) in Europe

MSP can help solve conflicts between maritime activities

Fisheries

42 Russian fishing sector faces shortage of new trawlers as sanctions bite

Lack of new vessels could impact future catches

Worldwide Fish News

Poland

45 The impact of the war in Ukraine on the Polish fisheries and aquaculture sector

Costs increase across the board

France

48 Turkish delegation travels to France to study shellfish cultivation

A new farming activity calls for thorough groundwork

50 Mussels sold under the protected designation of origin label Amphibious vehicles greatly facilitate harvesting

52 Planting bouchot further offshore will allow mussels to grow larger

New farming techniques are not always popular

54 Online meetings and working from home not conducive to oyster consumption Covid brings lasting change to the French oyster market

Species

56 Rapana – the predatory and highly invasive marine snail An uninvited guest in the Black Sea and elsewhere

Technology

59 Replacing plastic is currently very difficult Fish packaging is becoming a high-tech product

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62 The head of the Baltic Sea Advisory Council executive committee has his work cut out

Mitigating the socioeconomic impacts of declining fishing opportunities

Service

65 Diary Dates

66 Imprint, List of