Estonia: Record number of grey seals spurs calls for a cull programme

When two groups of predators compete for the same food supply, one group can benefit by reducing the size of the other. For the fish off Estonia’s coast, harvested by both grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and fishermen, this is exactly the proposed plan: a cull of the seal herds. Seals not only eat fish that swim free, but more detrimental to fishermen, they also eat fish in fishermen’s nets, damaging gear in the process. Seals also often take just a bite out of a fish, and the injury to the fish can cause parasite infection, threatening other fish within a population. Baltic fisheries are already in peril, according to ICES, with stocks of cod and other important species continuing their long-run decline. The grey seal population, on the other hand, is thriving, with an estimated growth rate of 5-6 annually and a Baltic population of about 30,000 animals. Within Estonian waters, researchers counted a 20-year high of 6,000 grey seals in the most recent aerial survey, according to the fisheries department of Estonia’s Ministry of Environment.

An annual quota for grey seal hunting is already in place in Estonia, set at one percent of population size, or currently 55 animals. But because the quota is not currently being met (the quota has been 25-50 filled in recent years), simply increasing the quota would be ineffective. A managed cull, perhaps with incentives, might produce more results. The possible opinion of the seals with respect to the proposed idea is expressed by many, including an expert on seal biology who argues that seals are blamed too quickly for the gear damage. More study of the fishing industry is urged, to possibly identify problems in the industry itself instead of blaming seals, cormorants, and other wildlife that feed on fish in fixed nets.

Other opponents of a simple cull include experts sympathetic

Denmark: Government appoints a new Fisheries Minister

A member of Parliament from Denmark’s Venstre, the second largest party in the coalition, has been appointed the new Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (Social Democrats) has announced. Jacob Jensen, 49, has been an MP since 2005, representing Zealand, including Copenhagen, and was the parliamentary spokesman on environment from 2017 until his ministerial appointment, his first ministerial job. Prior to election to Parliament, Mr Jensen worked in various capacities for the A.P. MøllerMaersk container logistics company from 1998-2007; he obtained an MSc degree in business administration and mercantile law from Copenhagen Business School in 1998.

As Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr Jensen oversees the Danish Agricultural Agency, the Fisheries Agency, and the Veterinary and Food Administration. The Ministry previously (2015-2020) included the Environment Agency, which was split off as a separate ministry (as it was prior to 2015). The Fisheries Agency supports and regulates commercial and recreational fishing in Denmark. It promotes Denmark’s green transition, in part using resources from the European Fisheries Fund, working to develop sustainable fisheries and aquaculture and associated maritime activities. Mr Jensen faces a disgruntled commercial fishing sector, who have had to endure ever-tightening fishing quotas in the North and Baltic Seas, and

Fisheries loss of access to British waters in the North Sea following Brexit. Other issues affecting fishermen, to the fishermen’s plight. One suggestion is a cull limited to immediate areas of fishermen’s nets, because it is believed that a minority of the seals are responsible for the gear damage -- “the smart ones,” in the words of an expert, i.e., the ones who know where the easy fish are. including fuel prices and the North Sea II pipeline, are outside his ministry’s purview.

Netherlands: Low self-sufficiency in fishery and aquaculture products adds to EU’s seafood costs

The EU imports 65 of the seafood it consumes, a dependency that raises EU vulnerability to cost increases such as that caused by the transport disruption during the pandemic, an expert told attendees at a EUMOFA webinar recently. Mark Turenhaut of the Dutch Fish Federation said that the high import share of finished product and raw material exposes EU fish processors, downstream distributors, and consumers to price increases in seafood itself, and in transport such as ocean freight and fuel. These costs may not be caused by the industry but there are solutions within the industry in concert with national and EU governments.

For example, the management of fishing quotas can be improved. Quotas are necessary and are set based on scientific advice, but they are not always efficiently managed. Some quotas are not completely filled, meaning EU-produced fish is less than it could be. Another example is aquaculture, where greater support by government, including investment incentives, would increase EU fish and shellfish production. Mr Turenhaut also recommended the development of alternative products from fishery and aquaculture, not only to grow more revenue per fish but also to spread that revenue across multiple product lines, to reduce total dependency on any one product market. Another action at EU policy level would be to expand trade agreements that provide tariff reductions on imports from developing countries, making imported raw material—and the products EU processors produce from them— cheaper, passing the lower costs on to consumers.

Boosting EU production of fishery and aquaculture products to shrink imports’ share of EU supply would contribute to the seafood sector’s ability to withstand import supply fluctuations and volatile costs of transport logistics and of other inputs that are often global in nature, and not easily addressed by individual companies.

Hungary: Fishery and aquaculture industry urged to keep a stiff upper lip amid pressures from all sides

For the fishery and aquaculture industry of Hungary, times have been tough recently. Ponds and rivers are in the midst of the worst drought in a century; production costs of fuel and feed, like elsewhere in Europe, are at record levels; markets are yet to fully recover from the pandemic, and the Russian war against Ukraine is disrupting the industry in many ways.

December saw the organization of the general assembly of the Hungarian Aquaculture and Fisheries Inter-Branch Organization (MA-HAL), at which the industry was urged to carry on, even though 2022 saw some companies’ balance sheets turning red. New technologies are needed, as well as improved marketing systems for value-added growth, and tighter enforcement of rules against excessive and illegal fishing and other activities. Technology and innovation support is forthcoming from the Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences, assembly attendees were informed. At government level, the recent adoption by the EU of the Hungarian Fish Farming Operational Programme Plus, covering the period 2021-2027, will provide needed support and development of the aquaculture sector. Over two thirds of that programme’s funding that comes from the EU is part of a larger package of EU funds for Hungary that is still being negotiated.