Eurofish Magazine 2 2024

Spain

EUROFISH member country

pavilions at SEG, SPG

SMALL SCALE FISHERIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE

UKRAINIAN company exports dried fish to the EU and North America

DESPITE tax

Norway continues as EU’s primary salmon source

Register today with promo code EUROFISH24 to secure pre-event rates!

Online: seafoodexpo.com/global/reg

Tel: +31 88 205 7200

Interested in exhibiting at the largest seafood trade event in the world?

Contact the team at sales-global@seafoodexpo.com

Network with a global seafood audience

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global is the world’s largest and most diverse seafood trade event bringing together industry professionals from around the globe for three days of sourcing products, networking and conducting business – all in one location!

+ F IND new products and suppliers from around the globe

+ CONNECT with industry professionals

+ HEAR from industry experts

Spain’s small-scale fishers tackle climate change impacts

Spanish small-scale fisheries, like those in other countries, are suffering impacts of climate change such as unusually intense rainfall, warming waters, and invasive species. This matters because the segment provides livelihoods and high-quality animal protein and contributes to the community in social and cultural terms. How it responds to the threat posed by climate change can therefore have far-reaching consequences (page 32)

In Spain fishers are organised into guilds, bodies that offer similar advantages as associations with some additional social benefits. The guilds in turn can belong to federations of which the national federation is the largest. This organisation is responsible for coordinating its members’ interaction with federal ministries and other stakeholders at the national level. The national federation has other roles too, from promoting fish consumption, through supporting digitalisation, to combating ageing in the fishing sector (page 34)

An activity related to fishing that is closely associated with women, at least in Galicia in northwestern Spain, is net-making and mending. The women are organised into associations which in turn join to form a federation. In one of the associations, Atalaia, based in A Guarda the netmakers do not only make nets but use their skills to produce clothing accessories and items of jewellery from the remnants of the materials that go into the nets. The association also promotes itself and the work its members do to the public by conducting workshops and by extending open invitations to visit the facility and interact with the workers. This outreach effort is intended to generate interest in the work and also to push for better working conditions, social security, and remuneration (page 41)

Aquaculture is generally considered to be more sustainable than the production of other animal proteins. However, as production from aquaculture increases, traditional marine and freshwater fish farming face a challenge. The cultivation of fish introduces nutrients into the water in the form of faecal matter and uneaten feed, and if unchecked this can have consequences for the environment. A possible solution is growing mussels and algae which feed on nutrients in the water and may compensate for those emitted by fish farming (page 23)

Commercial fishing in Montenegro has a long history and is deeply embedded in the social and cultural fabric of local coastal communities. Fishers target several species in nearshore waters of the Adriatic Sea as well as in Lake Skadar. The aquaculture industry is more recent and is dominated by rainbow trout cultivation. An industry priority is to add more value to the production, a development that will be facilitated by EU membership (page 49)

Artificial reefs provide habitats for fish and other marine species offering shelter, spawning, and nursery areas. Bamboo, stone, and wood structures have been used since ancient times to aggregate fish, while today they can be purpose-built shapes using modern materials. In EU countries legislation on artificial reefs varies from state to state leading occasionally to contradictory rules. The advantages and disadvantages of reefs would be better understood if a coherent legal framework was in place to further their deployment (page 52)

Robots are widely deployed in some industrial sectors, and they are even becoming more common in fish processing. Here, repetitive, monotonous work in cold and wet conditions is still often performed by human employees. Fish is a delicate product that need careful handling and its dimensions can vary significantly too. Dealing with this calls for sophisticated solutions to automate operations, says Dr Manfred Klinkhardt, and these are increasingly both available and affordable (page 60)

Events

11 Seafood Expo Global, Seafood Processing Global, 23-25 April 2024, Barcelona The excitement is palpable

12 Croatia: 2E701 New farmed products and familiar favourites

12 Denmark: 3CC201, 3DD201, 3EE201, 3EE401, 3FF201, 3FF401 Several product launches at Seafood Processing Global 2024

14 Estonia, 2J401

A wide variety of products

14 Latvia: 4F501 Committed to quality and innovation

15 Poland: 4G301, 4G401

Seafood for every taste and budget

16 Türkiye: 2B601, 2B701, 2C601, 2D601, 2D701, plus in halls 1 and 5 Seabass and seabream are only a part of the offer

16 Aquaculture Congress, 28-29 June 2024, Athens Defining a resilient future

18 fish international, 25-27 February 2024, Bremen If all people thought alike, nobody would gamble

22 AquaFarm 2024, 14-15 February, Pordenone Solo, but stronger

Aquaculture

23 Nutrient resorption in algae and mussel cultures

Positive environmental impacts of farming extractive species

Spain

28 Mitigation measures must take social and economic factors into account

Ensuring sustainability in the face of climate change

32 Small-scale fisheries stand to gain and to lose from climate change

Adaptation is not straightforward

34 The Spanish National Federation of Fishers’ Guilds Defending the interests of fishers big and small

36 Small-scale fishers’ response to climate change depends on many factors

Building resilience is a long process

Front cover picture courtesy Kofradia Itsas Etxea

Contents

39 Attracting youngsters to a rapidly evolving industry

PO works to secure generational change

41 Netmakers see the benefits of being organised into an association

Women repairing fish nets is an old tradition

43 Spain’s biggest mussel PO seeks to sell under its own brand

Galicians should consume even more

45 Sustainability labels for fishing and experiments with new fuels

Port of Vigo contributes to the green transition

47 Port of Vigo—Spain’s biggest fisheries port A guarantee for quality and traceability

Montenegro

49 Fisheries and aquaculture in Montenegro EU accession should boost value

Environment

52 The lack of EU-wide legislation on artificial reefs creates uncertainty

An underused instrument to foster biodiversity

Ukraine

54 Ukraine’s seafood business: Impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine

Niche products with long traditions and memories from childhood

Trade and Markets

56 Withholding tax has a negative impact on the Norwegian salmon industry

Where is the salmon market drifting?

Technology

60 Automatic systems – Effortless, fast and efficient Can robots be incorporated into fish processing?

64 Thermal processing of lying products with the REICH AIRMASTER® UKQ AIRJET

Smart airflow technology increases the quality and yield of fish products

Spain: GLOBALG.A.P. to hold the panel discussion on responsible aquaculture supply chains during Seafood Expo Global

On 23 April, during Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, GLOBALG.A.P. c/o FoodPLUS GmbH will host a panel discussion on fostering responsible aquaculture production and supply chain transparency. The aim of the panel discussion is to explore the crucial topic of supply chain legislation in Europe, the European Union (EU), and beyond, as well as the role of certification in supporting responsible farming practices.

Featuring a range of industry experts, the discussion will be facilitated by an external moderator. The aim is to engage participants in a comprehensive exploration of the current challenges and solutions on the topic

of supply chain legislation and the transparency of responsible aquaculture production.

The panel discussion format will provide a platform for new and exclusive sector insights and offer the opportunity to exchange perspectives and targeted solutions with stakeholders from across the value chain.

Objectives of the discussion:

• Addressing key topics facing the aquaculture sector, such as supply chain legislation, evolving regulations, and their impacts

• Considering the role of voluntary certification solutions in responsible aquaculture practices across the supply chain

The target audience for the coming event are industry decision-makers: producers, suppliers, retailers, certification bodies, relevant authorities, media, and the general public.

• Identifying methods of crosssector collaboration and highlighting the role of data-driven traceability systems for responsible farming practices

Iceland: IceFish 2024 preparations gather speed

With just over six months to go until the doors open, stands are booking up fast at the 14th Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition (IceFish), preparations are well underway to welcome the participation of companies and professionals from all over the world and to ensure they have the ideal platform to showcase their products and services. Returning to the Smárinn, Fifan Halls Kópavogur, Iceland, on 18-20 September 2024, IceFish 2024 will again be a must-attend event for everyone connected to the commercial fishing, processing, seafood, and aquaculture sectors. As well as celebrating 40 years of IceFish— the country’s longest-running professional exhibition, this year’s show will look to the future by presenting the latest innovations from established enterprises and emerging start-ups. With Iceland’s seafood industry going from

strength to strength, and significant gains being seen throughout the country’s commercial fisheries, aquaculture, processing, and value-added sectors, there’s never been a better time to join IceFish: to network with peers, explore the latest market trends and build lasting relationships with stakeholders and industry leaders.

A packed exhibition centre will feature many long-term IceFish partners as well as several new companies from Iceland, Turkey, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Malta. Event organiser Mercator Media is anticipating the participation of 400 exhibitors and national pavilions, and the engagement of 12,000 business visitors from 40 countries. This year’s show will also feature Matchmaking Meetings, bringing buyers and sellers together, and a Small Business Zone with walk-on stands

Date and place of the event: 23 April 2024 2:00–2:45 p.m. Conference Center 5, Conference Room CC 5.2

Free admission

First held in 1984, IceFish has developed into a showcase of every aspect of the commercial fishing industry and seafood sector.

for first-time exhibitors. Another key part of the programme will be the 5th Fish Waste for Profit— The 100 Fish Conference—with presentations and sessions demonstrating some of the most innovative international developments in by-product utilisation and featuring some of the industry’s leading experts. A further returning

highlight will be the 9th Icelandic Fisheries Awards, which will recognise outstanding achievements in the International and Icelandic fishing, processing, and seafood sectors.

For more information on bookings, please contact info @icefish.is or tel: +44 1329 825335.

Norway: Government seeks to improve fish-farming environmental regulations

Norwegian fish farmers are getting some positive government attention for a change, as authorities are changing some of the rules attached to new applications for farm sites. The new changes will increase predictability and lessen confusion, according to the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans.

Until now, successful site applications required an individual discharge permit – a time-intensive and costly procedure that required tailor-made regulatory conditions regarding pollution for each industry site. The rules now will provide for standard conditions and regulations industrywide.

The Fisheries and Oceans Minister explained that the new pollution regulations will become

more predictable and the same for breeders. The authorities’ application processing becomes more efficient while protecting the environment in the best possible way.

“It is good news for the industry, which has wanted this change.”

The Minister for Climate and Environment added that fish farming produces, among other things, emissions of nutrient salts, organic particles and environmentally hazardous substances that can pollute the environment around the facilities. “Many of today’s emission permits are old, and not necessarily adapted to today’s knowledge and technology,“ he said. The government recognizes the need to update the requirements for the operation of aquaculture facilities in the sea, so that these correspond

In 2022, the number of seawater sites in Norway was 989 for salmon and trout production, and 138 for molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. The number of land-based sites amounted to 29 for freshwater and 29 for salt water fish.

to a greater extent with environmental requirements that apply to other industries.

A two-year transition period will keep existing emission permits in place before replacement with the improved standard ones. Brand new sites will be subject to the new rules in addition to those for carrying out preliminary investigations on the site.

Spain: The same crab is a scarce delicacy in Galicia, an invasive pest in Brittany

Spider crabs, Maja brachydactyla, represent an interesting example of a marine animal generating completely opposing opinions between two nearby regions in Europe.

In Spain, in Galicia particularly, spider crabs are a pricey delight for consumers and a tempting target of the region’s fishing industry. There, the crustacean is called “the King of seafood,” and consumers love its flavor and delicacy. Fishing for spider crab is so heavy that its population and its harvests have declined recently and prices have risen. During the most recent season, from November 2023 through February 2024, the volume of the spider crab harvest fell to twothirds the level of the previous two years. Prices at dockside have risen in response: the region’s turnover from this resource, totalling nearly EUR 4.4 million in the 2023-2024 season, was 16 and 12, respectively, over that of the previous two

seasons and the dockside price was 27 and 33 higher in the same timeframe.

Compare that with northern France, particularly Normandy, where spider crabs also have a target: on their despised little heads. There, spider crabs are a big problem – a “plague” – becoming yet another invasive species that gobbles up the valuable English Channel lobster resource upon which many Norman fishermen depend. There is no significant market for spider crab in Normandy, certainly nothing compared to the demand for lobster locally and elsewhere in France.

The solution should be obvious to many people: catch the crabs in Normandy and sell them in Galicia. Or not even as far as Galicia – there is a limited demand for spider crabs in neighboring Brittany, where for unknown

reasons consumers are fonder of this seafood than in Normandy. But while that demand is nearby Normandy, it is not enough to absorb the volume that must be extracted from the waters to save the lobster fishery.

Therefore, the Normandy fishing industry will have work harder – maybe with effective assistance from authorities –to catch and sell a crustacean that is hated to distant markets where it is loved.

Barnabas Davoti

European spider crabs (Maja brachydactyla) are crustaceans found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Known for their distinctive appearance and flavorful meat, they are a popular seafood delicacy enjoyed in various European cuisines.

Iceland: Outdoor clothing company tries to ruin Iceland’s salmon-farming industry reputation

Patagonia, a distributor of personal outdoor gear and clothing, has released a video that tries to paint dark colors on Iceland’s salmon farming industry, in the hope that consumers will be shocked and government will ban the industry.

The central message of the video is that farmed salmon, especially those in sea-based pens, pose an existential threat to wild salmon. The threat – very real and in the industry view exaggerated – comes from the possibility that escapements will allow farmed and wild salmon to mingle and breed, leading to new generations of feeblebrain salmonids that won’t be able to find their own breeding ground and in any case will have

inferior-tasting meat sold at low prices in supermarkets, wiping out wild salmon with a double blow.

The video is co-produced by a pair of musicians who also led a protest against salmon farming last year in Reykjavik, and also features the land commissioner of the U.S. state of Washington who proposed a controversial ban in that state on salmon farming, an action opposed by salmon companies and Native American tribes. Patagonia had previously released a video about salmon farming in Puget Sound, Washington, with the same basic points about the industry and its product’s alleged environmental threats.

Salmon farming in Iceland is a rapidly growing sector. In 2022, the production volumes reached almost 45 thousand tonnes – a 15-fold increase compared to 2013.

Patagonia’s actions have gotten the desired attention of consumers of fish and of mountain-climbing backpacks, and from Iceland government officials. The Icelandic

National Audit Office has said that the extraordinary growth of the salmon farming sector suggests the sector might need greater oversight.

World: The benefits of Omega-3 emphasised in annual promotion

By now, every health-conscious person has heard of, if not yet tried, Omega-3, a group of fatty acids that play a role in maintaining and improving human health. Omega-3 is reported to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and associated outcomes such as heart attacks and strokes.

What many people don’t know is where to find Omega-3. It is not synthesized (manufactured) in the human body, it must be consumed as part of a well-rounded diet. The type of Omega-3 that comes from plants is usually plentiful in the foods we eat. The type from marine-based sources is usually not and must be consciously supplemented in diet. It is well known to come from seafood made of fatty fish such as sardines and herring, and Omega-3 capsules in pharmacies typically contain oils sourced from marine animals and plants.

Improving consumer awareness of the importance of Omega-3 in our diets is the goal of International Omega-3 Awareness Day, celebrated each year on March 3 (of course). This annual effort began in 2010, originating by Dr. Carol Locke, founder of the nonprofit organization OmegaBright, which supports education in, and knowledge of, the benefits of Omega-3.

Now renamed Global Omega-3 Day but still held on the 3rd day of the 3rd month, this effort promotes many important positives about Omega-3, such as:

• Omega-3s are key to the structure of every cell in the body.

• These nutrients act as an energy source to keep the major organs working properly.

• Omega-3s are particularly important to the eyes as well as the brain.

Seaweed is a lesser-known but valuable plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly in the form of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). Incorporating seaweed into the diet can provide a plant-based alternative for those seeking to increase their omega-3 intake, particularly for individuals following vegetarian or vegan diets.

• These fatty acids are vital in supporting pregnancies so babies can grow in a healthy manner.

While fish and seafood continue to be promoted as Omega-3 sources, seaweed is often vastly underappreciated, because many people don’t think of seaweed as a food. In a serving of salad, for

example, the seaweed (in any of its colorful red, green, and brown varieties) typically contains 4 fat, 50 of which is Omega-3. (It is nearly “bad-fat” free!)

Therefore, Global Omega-3 Day this year and in the future will shine a light on an extremely underutilized source of an extremely important dietary ingredient, Omega-3.

Faroe Islands: Europe’s leading seaweed conference takes place June 18-20 in Thorshavn

The Seagriculture EU conference has built up a reputation as the leading seaweed conference for Europe. The theme of Seagriculture EU 2024, Bridging Continents, transcends borders and oceans to unite seaweed enthusiasts from diverse corners of the world. We’ll delve deep into the global landscape of seaweed cultivation, harvesting, and innovation, learning from the unique experiences and perspectives of experts and enthusiasts from various countries and continents. Get ready to build connections, share insights, and uncover the potential of seaweed on a global scale. Seagriculture EU 2024 is where the world of seaweed meets, exchanges, and thrives.

Find out more about the conference program: https://seagriculture.eu/ conference-program-2024/

Don’t miss out and join the exclusive site visit during Seagriculture EU 2024! The site visit is a full day trip to Ocean Rainforest and will take place on 18th June. Embark on a breathtaking boat journey to explore the cultivation site of Ocean Rainforest. Witness their innovative processing plant and experience a scenic drive on the Faroe Islands. Seagriculture EU 2024 is a Limited Edition as there is only a limited number of places for the site visit available.

Register now at www.seagriculture.eu

Seagriculture conferences are pivotal for driving the sustainable growth of the seaweed industry and acknowledging its potential as a significant crop with a positive impact on climate change mitigation.

More about Seagriculture EU:

Seaweed cultivation in Europe is showing promise in terms of growth, however challenges in regulations, cost, and market viability could affect the pace of this growth in the future. The Seagriculture

conferences focus on addressing those challenges in the seaweed industry, fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, and emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices, innovation, research, and regulatory adaptability for long-term success.

2024

28-29 June 2024

Organized by With the support of

Poland: Industry worried about proposed EU hygiene requirements in salmon processing

Draft EU regulations pertaining to fish processing unfairly favor competitors in France and other countries compared to Polish salmon processors -- according to Polish industry, the parliamentarians who represent them in Brussels, and even Norwegian exporters that supply the raw material for Poland’s largest seafood export.

The proposed regulations govern the stiffening time for meat and the maximum temperature ranges during the cutting process – rules designed to block the bacteria listeria, a dangerous infection, especially for pregnant women and others with weakened immune systems. In the case of salmon, the stiffening time could be 96 hours and the temperature could be -3 degrees C, which Poland argues is so different from current Polish

industry practice that competitors will be able to operate at lower cost and threaten the viability of Polish processed salmon throughout the European market.

Currently, Polish processors freeze their fish to-4 to -7 degrees C before slicing it, which helps give their product its famous reputation for quality. If other countries can cut their fish at higher temperatures, it is argued, Poland’s advantage will be lost.

Of greater concern, however, is Poland’s complaint of secrecy in the EU legislative process. “The act carried out in a certain silence and lack of transparency will be the subject of debate in the EP,” stated Polish MEP Anna Fotyga. We are dealing with a not entirely clean competitive fight on the part

of producers representing other Member States, she emphasized, adding that in this area, Polish MPs from various factions work beyond political divisions to defend the interests of our country. Fotyga and other parliamentarians allege that scientific studies do not back up the rule changes and point out that a minuscule number of listeria cases

(2 out of 144 cases since 2018) originate from Polish processing plants.

Further investigation into the role of scientific studies and into the question of whether or not Polish parliamentarians were kept in the dark during development of the legislation will be continuing, officials said.

UK: New harvesting technique holds promise for reducing sea turtle bycatch

Every year, fishing gear accidentally traps and kills many thousands of sea turtles and other nontarget animals around the world, including some 40,000 turtles in the Mediterranean alone. Most species of sea turtles, such as green and loggerheads, are classified as endangered -- some critically so -- and their loss poses a risk of species extinction and damage to ecosystems. Tools to avert this loss include changes to net meshes, adjustments in hauling practices, and most commonly, time or area restrictions on harvesting activities. Moreover, the fisheries usually connected to turtles are typically small scale and harvesting unwanted bycatch damages relatively costly gear.

A new tool to protect sea turtles has emerged from efforts by British scientists at the University of Exeter and researchers at the Society for Protection of Turtles, in collaboration with the fishing industry in Cyprus. In a “why didn’t we think of this before?” innovation, these people developed and are testing a device called a “Netlight” that is attached to the net’s lines and shines a broad beam of light on the net to warn turtles about the imminent disaster.

The results of testing in Cyprus are very promising. The accidental catch of sea turtles dropped by more than 40 with the Netlight, according to a report by the scientists in the journal Fisheries Research, and there have been reduced catches of other

About 40,000 turtles are caught in nets annually.

endangered and nontarget species as well.

The Netlight is simple and affordable for small-scale fishermen, the type that most often run into turtles, as it is easily attached to the gear and is powered by two AA batteries. It is, therefore, a promising investment in marine ecology and in small-scale fishermen’s livelihoods.

Philipp Kanstinger01

Poland and France are the major destinations for Norway’s salmon exports with about 15 and 11% of volumes respectively. However, the exports of processed salmon from Poland are five times higher than those from France.

The excitement is palpable

Organised by Diversified Communications, the biggest and most international seafood show in the world will open shortly for the third time in Barcelona and the thirtieth overall.

Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global are known for the range of seafood products, services, and processing equipment that will be exhibited. In addition, exhibitors and visitors can look forward to a comprehensive programme of workshops and

seminars addressing sustainability, IUU fishing, traceability and transparency, and climate change among other topics. So far seventy-nine countries will be represented at the event with still five weeks to go. Companies from many of the Eurofish member countries will also be

exhibiting seeking markets for their products and suppliers of the raw materials they need (see following pages). Once again, the best seafood products at the event will be awarded the Seafood Excellence Global Awards on 23 April, an honour that generates wide publicity

and recognition. Seafood is seen as a climate friendly source of healthful protein and could even contribute to mitigating some of the impacts of climate change. Greater awareness of the merits of seafood is good for the industry, but perhaps also the planet (continued on next page).

Croatia: 2E701

New farmed products and familiar favourites

Croatia’s fisheries sector includes capture fisheries for small pelagics, primarily sardines and anchovies, and for demersal species (fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods). Fish farming can be divided into marine (seabass, seabream, meagre, dentex, greater amberjack) and freshwater (common carp and rainbow trout). Another important activity is the fattening of bluefin tuna in sea cages. Here, fish are caught in the wild transferred to cages and raised to 30 or more kilos for sale primarily to Japan.

The Croatian fish processing sector comprises some 50 companies employing about 1,400 people and most of the products manufactured are based on domestically sourced raw material. Eleven of these companies, all active on export markets, will be present at the Croatian pavilion which, as in previous years, is organised by the Croatian Chamber

of Economy. The exhibitors represent a variety of commercial activities including canning, tuna fattening, farming of marine species and of freshwater fish, salting, and marinating. Many of the products will be well-known favourites such as canned sardines and salted and marinated anchovies, says Zoran Radan from the Chamber of Economy, but a fish farming company will be bringing two new species, dentex and greater amberjack. The company, Cromaris, has already established a name for itself as a supplier of seabass, seabream, and meagre, which it sells whole fresh, and as fresh fillets, but also processed into value-added products, such as smoked and marinated items. The company also offers a line of bio products.

All four of Croatia’s canning companies, Conex Trade, Mardesic, Podravka, and Sardina, will present canned products at the event.

Denmark: 3CC201, 3DD201, 3EE201, 3EE401,

Visitors to the Croatian pavilion at Seafood Export Global will find salted and marinated anchovies, canned sardines, tuna products, seabass and seabream, and value added carp items among others (archive photo).

Mardesic and Conex Trade also manufacture salted and marinated anchovies, while Sardina has tuna fattening activities, as well as seabass and seabream production. Another company, Arbacommerce, with a long tradition of salting and marinating anchovies will tempt visitors with samples of these products. It also has production lines for individually or block frozen sardines and anchovies. Seabass and seabream are also the speciality of Orada Adriatic, which cultivates and processes the fish for export to several countries in Europe. PP Orahovica specialises in carp farming and in the

3FF201, 3FF401

manufacture of value-added carp products. As consumer preferences evolve producers must adapt and nowhere is this more apparent than in the market for freshwater fish. The days when carp could be sold live to a customer are now history and companies like PP Orahovica are creating innovative products that appeal to today’s consumers. Apart from the products that the companies bring, a further attraction is the presence of chefs at Cromaris, PP Orahovica, and Pelagos Net Farma, a tuna fattening company, who will be preparing fresh samples at regular intervals.

Several product launches at Seafood Processing Global 2024

Exhibiting at a trade show is always a good opportunity not only to meet the key stakeholders of the industry but also to showcase brand-new products and solutions. At Seafood Processing Global (SPG) this year, 36 Danish companies join the Pavilion of Denmark to showcase their solutions for seafood processing, aquaculture, and fishing, bringing some of the most innovative, sustainable, and energy-efficient solutions to the global industry. For several Danish companies this will be the first time they join SPG in Barcelona.

One of these companies is Beritech A/S, which, until recently, focused primarily on production for the food and pharmaceutical industries but has now expanded into the seafood processing sector as well. The company will showcase its seafood processing equipment, introducing brand-new and innovative products and solutions that have not yet hit the market.

Another new company to the Pavilion of Denmark is LSM Pumps. The company manufactures hose pumps for different industries, including

Pavilion of Denmark will be buzzing with activity, new exhibitors, and exciting product launches at Seafood Processing Global 2024.

We look forward to welcoming you in September

The Icelandic Fisheries. Seafood & Aqua Exhibition hosts the latest developments from the industry showcasing new and innovative products and services, covering every aspect of the commercial fishing industry from catching and locating to processing and packaging, right through to marketing and distribution of the final product.

For more information about exhibiting, visiting or sponsoring, contact the events team

Visit: Icefish.is

Contact: +44 1329 825 335 or Email: info@icefish.is

bioenergy, aquaculture, and fishing, where product needs to be moved gently and efficiently.

LSM Pumps bring a brand new peristaltic hose pump for the fishing and aquaculture industry to SPG. The pump, which is a bit smaller than some of the other

Estonia, 2J401

models from LSM, is not even on the market yet but has been tested at aquaculture facilities in Denmark. Director Leo Sørensen looks forward to presenting the new pump and to meeting new business partners in Barcelona. Our pumps are highly energy efficient due to the technology we use that really

A wide variety of products

The Estonian fishing sector consists of three different segments: trawling and coastal fishing in the Baltic Sea, high seas fishing in north-western and southwestern parts of the Atlantic Ocean, and inland fishing. Total marine fishing volumes in 2022 reached over 71 thousand tonnes, of which catches from the Baltic Sea represented about 80% of the total. Inland fisheries yielded around two thousand tonnes, and about 90% consisted of catches from Lake Peipus. The aquaculture sector comprises over 30 freshwater farms breeding rainbow

Latvia: 4F501

trout, crayfish, carp, and European eel. In 2022 the total farmed volumes reached over 800 tonnes of which 85% were rainbow trout. There are over 70 fish processing units in the country. The major part of the production is exported: frozen and spiced fish products go to East European markets, chilled and fresh fillets to Western Europe, while salmon and trout fillets, and smoked/dried/salted fish are sold in many countries. Together, Estonian fish processors exported their production to about 60 countries worldwide for over EUR200m in 2023.

stands out from the competition. It saves up to 80 percent of the energy and reduces emissions, says Mr Sørensen.

Pavilion of Denmark is organized by the Danish Export Association and is supported by the Danish Trade Council.

For more information please contact:

Martin Winkel Lilleoere, Head of Fish Tech, Danish Export Association, +45 6020 8557, maw@danishexport.dk

Mette Kristensen, PR & Communications Consultant, Danish Export Association, +45 2885 6430, mek@danishexport.dk

Estonia’s national pavilion at SEG will host 13 of the country’s 70 processing companies.

This year the Estonian pavilion at Seafood Expo Global will host 13 companies and the range of products will include processed salmon, sprats, Baltic herring, trout and trout caviar, shrimps, pike-perch,

Committed to quality and innovation

Latvia will be represented in Seafood Expo Global 2024 by a consortium of fish processors with a shared booth. For 15 years, Latvian fish processors have participated in the Seafood Expo Global, marking it as the most significant annual event for them. The show serves as a hub for industry specialists worldwide, providing an excellent opportunity to meet suppliers and clients, learn about the latest production equipment, network with industry professionals, and assess competitors’ growth. This year, Latvia’s joint booth will feature 14 companies, some attending for the 15th time and others making their debut. The booth will also host several professional chefs who will prepare samples for tasting, providing attendees with a glimpse of

Latvia’s culinary expertise. Additionally, visitors can indulge in Latvian beer at the booth!

Fish and seafood exports from Latvia have increased steadily since 2020 to over EUR153m in 2023. This increasing trend was even more marked for imports which reached close to EUR224m in 2023. For the companies Seafood Expo Global is thus an opportunity to strike deals with suppliers of the raw materials they need to process and to explore new markets. Several companies will introduce new products to their clients. For instance, Brīvais Vilnis will present their innovative fried sprats in unagi sauce, which has already garnered attention in the United Arab Emirates

bream, pike, and perch. The pavilion is organised by the Estonian Association of Fishery and will host 13 companies. For more information, contact Valdur Noormagi, kalaliit @online.ee

Latvian companies will show several innovative products including vegan salmon at this year’s edition of the seafood show.

and Japan. And, Atlantika International will debut their vegan salmon. The participation of Latvian fish processors in Seafood Expo Global

Poland: 4G301, 4G401

2024 underscores their commitment to innovation, quality, and market expansion. As they showcase their products and introduce new offerings,

Seafood for every taste and budget

Poland hosts a large fish processing industry. Approximately 230 companies with some 18 thousand employees supply the domestic and foreign markets with products worth over EUR3bn. Fish and seafood from Poland are exported to one hundred countries around the world. This vast market is testimony to the high hygiene and veterinary standards of the products. Salmonid products and smoked fish, the raw materials for which are imported, dominate the

export portfolio. The Polish processing industry is a major buyer of Norwegian salmon ranking just behind Sweden and Denmark. Companies producing a range of products including ready-tocook or ready-to-heat meals, caviar, fish marinades, salted fish, fish salads and spreads, canned fish, and frozen products, will be among those exhibiting at the stand. These products are packaged using the latest technologies including modified atmosphere, vacuum, skin, thermoformable trays, as well as glass

they aim to strengthen their presence in the global seafood market and explore new business opportunities. This collective effort highlights

Latvia’s position as a key player in the international seafood industry, contributing to its ongoing growth and development.

The Polish pavilion will host over 20 fish processing companies producing a huge variety of products in all kinds of packaging. Monika

jars. Many companies manufacture the private label products of major retail chains both in Poland and abroad and their facilities are certified to BRC and IFS standards and often to other standards such as MSC or GlobalG.A.P. as well. The importance of international trade for Polish seafood processors is among the reasons a large delegation will be present at Seafood Expo Global, where Poland will have a 400 sq. m pavilion. The pavilion will be divided

Türkiye: 2B601,

into individual booths for the attending companies with one reserved for representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, who will be there to show their support to the industry.

For the companies the seafood show offers an opportunity to meet existing and potential customers and suppliers. They will also get an idea of the latest trends, innovations, and products that

2B701, 2C601,

animate the European seafood market and can analyse the products and strategies of their competitors. Moreover, as they will be in close proximity to each other in the pavilion, they can have face to face meetings with their Polish colleagues from the industry to exchange experiences. As in previous years the Polish Association of Fish Processors organises the pavilion together with the Polish Fish Producers Association and with support from

2D601, 2D701, plus in halls 1 and 5

the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund. The support is for finding new markets and to improve conditions to market fishery and aquaculture products. Most of the companies at the pavilion this year were also exhibiting last year indicating the popularity of the seafood show. More would join the pavilion but space is limited and so the association is mulling steps to increase the stand size to include more exhibitors.

Seabass and seabream are only a part of the offer

Output from Turkish aquaculture reached 515,000 tonnes in 2022 of which 251 thousand tonnes worth USD1.65bn were exported. This volume represented a 41% increase over 2018. Turkish aquaculture, both production and exports, has expanded rapidly over the years thanks to a stable legal framework, sound management, strong research capabilities, as well as global demand for fish. Developments in production, processing, and preservation techniques have also boosted growth in the sector. Türkiye is the leading producer of farmed fish in the Mediterranean and the world’s largest producer each of seabass and seabream, and the second largest

Aquaculture

producer of rainbow trout. These three species are the country’s main seafood exports, but by no means the only ones. Small quantities of other Mediterranean species including red porgy, pink dentex, and sharp snout seabream are also produced in Türkiye. Bluefin tuna fattened in cages is exported mainly to Japan and the country also exports products based on wild-caught fish species. However, another fish that has generated a buzz is designated Turkish Salmon which is raised in the Black Sea. This fish can be grown to 5 kg but a market size of 2-3 kg is more common. Rainbow trout are grown on land to 250 to 300 g and then introduced into cages in the Black Sea, where they

Congress, 28-29 June 2024, Athens

Thirty companies will be present at the seafood show, most of them in the Turkish pavilion in Hall 2.

grow rapidly for six to eight months. The fish has proved popular in Russia and Japan because it is versatile— lending itself to be prepared in many ways. As the EU is the main market for Turkish exporters the sector will

Defining a resilient future

be well represented at the seafood show, where some 30 companies will be represented, the majority hosted at the Turkish pavilion organised by the Istanbul Fishery and Animal Products Exporters’ Association.

Greek aquaculture production has grown significantly in recent years. In total (fish and aquatic plants, and all water types), the production volume grew from just under 130 thousand tonnes in 2019 to 142 thousand tonnes in 2022, an increase of 10%. Production value during this period grew from EUR508 million to EUR853 million, a growth of 68%. Saltwater products dominate the industry’s output, accounting for 98% by both volume and value of total production during all of the 2019-2022 period. The overwhelming majority comprises gilthead sea bream, European sea bass, and Mediterranean mussel, while the balance is made up of smaller volumes of several species of fish and aquatic plants.

The Greek aquaculture sector is set to take center stage once again as it prepares to host the 3rd Aquaculture Congress 2024. The leading aquaculture producer among European Union member states, Greece has continually demonstrated its prowess in the industry, driven by its strategic location, skilled workforce, and commitment to sustainability.

Organised by AMBIO S.A., a consulting company in the aquaculture sector, in collaboration with the Hellenic Aquaculture Producers Organization, the 3rd Aquaculture Congress 2024 aims to serve as a vital platform for

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stakeholders across the aquaculture spectrum, fostering dialogue, innovation, and collaboration.

Forging a path towards sustainable aquaculture

The inaugural congress in 2018 and its subsequent iteration in 2022 underscored the need for a unified forum to connect stakeholders including producers, suppliers, investors, researchers, and public bodies. The 3rd Aquaculture Congress 2024 is poised to address pressing challenges while exploring avenues for sustainable growth and development within the sector.

Empowering aquaculture through collaboration

The presence and participation of all stakeholders is vital for advancing the development of a resilient industry and exchanging ideas, while promoting the principles of responsible and innovative practices in aquaculture.

Under the theme “Defining a resilient future,” the congress will examine issues such as regulatory frameworks, climate change, technological innovation, and global market dynamics. By fostering discussions, B2B meetings, and forging partnerships, the congress endeavors to chart a course toward a more resilient and sustainable future for aquaculture in Greece, the Mediterranean, the Arab countries, and beyond.

Despite facing challenges such as an ongoing economic crisis, rising energy costs, and wars, the aquaculture industry remains resilient and continues to grow.

Mark your calendars for June 28-29, 2024, at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, in Athens Greece. The congress anticipates the participation of approximately 750 delegates and the support of 40 sponsors.

fish international, 25-27 February 2024, Bremen

More information about the event can be found on the website:

https://aquaculture-congress. com/en/home-en/

For inquiries, please contact the organizers: paspaliari@ ambio.gr, kourakou@ambio. com.gr or call +30 210 9219948.

If all people thought alike, nobody would gamble

Organized biennially, fish international is Germany’s only seafood trade fair. The 19th edition combined with catering trade show GASTRO IVENT right next door, set a record of 13,729 attendees, up 33% from 10,302 people in 2022. Exhibitors numbered 322, unchanged from 2022, and came from some 30 countries in most of the world’s continents.

In the seafood world, fresh competes with frozen, wildcaught competes with farmraised, artisanal niche items compete with global brands, and in recent years, “fish-like” plant-based products compete with everything. fish international offered the full spectrum of fish—wild, farmed, and imitations—to fit the tastes and satisfy the curiosity of even the most demanding consumers.

Flat supply and growing demand for farmed salmon globally

Farmed fish, being a vital part of the solution to secure food security for the world’s growing population, has been on the rise for several decades globally. For salmon, Norway leads the global industry, providing between 1.2 and 1.4 million tonnes annually.

In terms of value Germany is the largest market for Norway, says Kristin Pettersen, the Norwegian Seafood Council’s director for Germany and it is also the largest market for Norway in terms of consumption. German consumers might not realize it though, as the Norwegian exports arrive in Germany from Poland, Denmark, and Holland, among others. This seafood enters Germany via big importers and not directly

through retailers. In this way, Germany is a kind of old-fashioned market in terms of the distribution structure. Yet, like in other countries, German consumers fall into different groups, some are willing to pay a lot for good food, price-conscious consumers buy frozen or convenience food, and in between you have a lot of people who buy private label, and this group has been on the rise.

Plans in Norway for a tax on salmon producers (read article on page 56 on the subject) have created a lot of noise but this was not the reason for recent price increases, according to Kristin Pettersen The development of prices is because production volume in Norway and Chile is flat while demand is increasing.

One cannot avoid mentioning Faroese output and exponential growth in Icelandic production. In terms of volume, however, these countries cannot compete with Norway’s and Chile’s industry giants. On the other hand, driven by higher prices they succeed in creating the image of a premium product.

Unlike wild-caught fish, salmon and other farmed fish species will continue their long-run growth and continue fulfilling their promise to feed the world’s growing demand.

Fresh fish is a busy business

Daniel Christen, from Swiss company Fish Scale which for 25 years has been selling fresh wild fish from New Zealand, describes his business as hectic. The catch is slaughtered immediately, and in the morning it arrives at the factory to be packed and sent to the airport immediately. At 10 in the morning, it is at the airport, and at 3 in the afternoon it flies to Europe, Dubai, Qatar, or Singapore, and the next morning reaches its final destination. The advantage is that the fish gets younger on the way—with a 12-hour time difference and the 26-hour journey, the fish caught 36 hours ago really gets “younger”.

Mr Christen doesn’t see much difference between German and other markets for fresh wild catch. I think every country has its own rules, traditions, and eating habits, he says. But we also have

globalisation in the fish industry and the market. Every restaurant can make sushi, make poke, make whatever. Seafood like shrimps and lobsters are eaten all over the world. It is a global sort of market. Besides a country’s national or traditional dishes, there is not much difference.

Nevertheless, Christen has his preferences for wild fish because he believes a wild fish has a better life than a farmed fish does. The jury is still out on this question.

Should seafood be made with fish, or is the “sea” part sufficient?

The usual questions about fish—is it wild? is it farmed?— will soon be joined by another one: is it fish?

Plant-based seafood, or fish substitutes, was another topic doing the rounds at fish international. Fish products that don’t contain any fish constitute a small but growing sector of the food industry and market, popular among consumers who for any number of reasons don’t want to eat fish meat and among producers who, at least in some cases, want to promote the consumption of seaweed.

Imitation tuna made from seaweed and other non-tuna ingredients is a convincing product from BettaF!sh, a Berlin-based company. Its founder and CEO, Deniz Ficicioglu, enthusiastically explained why they are making imitation tuna from seaweed: “It’s our Trojan horse, so to say, to make people eat seaweed. Hopefully, we’ll get to a point where people buy frozen seaweed in the supermarket, just like we buy spinach today.

Using seaweed rather than terrestrial plant ingredients could sway one of the main objections

to plant-based imitation seafood: the actual land required to grow the cereals and beans used to replace the fish raw material that can be saved is immense. A “veggie burger” may save cows but resources including land must be used to produce the ingredients of a veggie burger. The advantage of a seaweed-based burger is that the area for growing the main ingredient is available in abundance.

A problem with seaweed—a problem familiar to all promoters of fish consumption—is that consumers don’t know what to do with it. Before BettaF!sh’s imitation tuna, Deniz Ficicioglu tried marketing seaweed salad adding ingredients familiar to Western palates rather than Asian ones. Organic-oriented consumers liked it but others still reacted “ugh, seaweed!”. So, the approach switched to sneaking up on them with the Trojan horse “tuna” until consumers get used to the seaweed idea.

In addition to vegetarianism, there is another dietary trend that is older, but whose name is newer: flexitarianism, a word that entered America’s most popular dictionary only in 2012. Advocates of this diet focus their consumption on plant

foods, with limited or occasional inclusion of meat. It is by definition flexible, but the main idea is to eat less meat. For example, a flexitarian might eat meat only on certain days of the week.

Makers of seaweed-based meat alternatives think that flexitarians are serious candidates for these new products. This group of consumers, however vaguely defined, is open to trends, new ideas, and new products, which often is not unlike consumers who eat fish very often (pescatarians) who will eagerly sample seafoods that may be ancient traditions somewhere but are new to them. Whether it swims or waves its leaves in sunlight filtered through ocean water, seafood products of all sorts are the future and are good for consumers, producers, and the environment, and many were on display at fish international.

Optimism (even if limited) helps determine business trends

Exhibitors noticed a lot of returning visitors to the show—always an encouraging sign—yet some visitors held their purses closer to their chests than in the past, even as others seemed more optimistic.

Germany’s seafood trade show, fish international Bremen, is the place to gain insights into the EUR2bn German seafood market.

Eurofish

Werner Kuehl-Menk from Salmco, a Hamburg-based manufacturer of salmon slicing equipment, observed that while he had more visitors than at past shows, discussions about future business contracts after this year’s show were hampered by uncertainties about the general economy. The Covid-19 pandemic, he said, may be fading in memory, but Russia’s war against Ukraine is ongoing, still hurting general economic conditions in Europe. Salmco has partly made up for any lost sales in Europe by expanding sales abroad, including in the United States.

From Salmco’s perspective, one way to gauge his visitors’ situation is to see if they want to buy new equipment or spare parts. This time, there was a tendency towards the latter, he noted. The economic outlook may not justify expenditure on a new machine, so necessary spare parts for the old one will have to do. It’s all about expectations of the future.

The Eurofish Business Platform featured a wide range of freshwater fish products

Eurofish International Organisation came to fish international with its traditional Business

packaging, as well as breaded carp products; Liu Fish from Estonia offered fresh pike, pike-perch, and perch—whole or filleted; Lithuanian Išlaužo žuvis came with their signature product— cold-smoked “ham” made of carp, and “carp pizza” made of spiced hot-smoked carp; Pastravul din

international. The fair has shown us that there are a still lot of unexplored streets in Europe, says Jakov Bešli Gadžo from Panona Mare, Europe is not too small for us—there is place for everyone.

If all people thought alike…

Platform—a joint booth that Eurofish provides to SMEs from its member countries. Here they could exhibit and promote their products and services, communicate with visitors and other exhibitors, arrange product samplings, and hold meetings with potential business partners. This year, the Business Platform hosted four companies from four member countries: Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Romania; as well as Ukraine’s Association of Seafood Importers (UIFSA). Ukraine is not yet a member country of Eurofish, however, this exception was made in support of the country’s seafood sector which is suffering from the ongoing Russian invasion.

Consumers from Central and Eastern Europe have a long tradition of consuming freshwater fish, so it was not surprising that products from carp, trout, pike-perch, roach, and bream among others were showcased at the joint booth. The surprising part was that each participant came with unique products tailored to their own traditions and visions, preempting any competition between participants at the booth.

Panona Mare from Croatia showcased fresh carp fillets in MAP

Tara Ta from Romania displayed a wide range of trout products: hot-smoked fillets, caviar, pâtés, bites in oil, as well as their own version of the country’s famous zakusca—vegetable spread with chunks of fish in it; UIFSA presented dry- and salt-cured bream, roach, whitefish, rudd, and more.

The exhibitors at the Eurofish Business Platform showed overall satisfaction with the arrangement of the platform and with the opportunities offered by fish

…any seafood show would be boring and uninspiring. Creating your own unique product, sharing it with others, learning from others—these are the core points and major reasons for exhibiting at a trade fair. The next edition of fish international is scheduled for 8-10 February 2026. Look into the future and mark these dates in your calendar!

Aleksandra Petersen, aleksandra @eurofish.dk

Responsible aquaculture supply chains:

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Get the latest industry insights at the GLOBALG.A.P. panel discussion

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SEAFOOD EXPO

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BARCELONA, SPAIN 23 APRIL

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Representatives of SME associations from four Eurofish member countries and Ukraine promoted their products at the Eurofish Business Platform at fish international.

Solo, but stronger

AquaFarm is an international conference and trade show on aquaculture and sustainable fishing, organized by Pordenone Fiere in collaboration with API—the Italian Fish Farmers Association, AMA—the Mediterranean Aquaculture Association, and Studio Comelli–Conferences & Communication, which takes care of conference content and the press office. The first edition of the event took place in 2017.

The 2024 edition of AquaFarm took place for the first time without the presence of the other two sections

NovelFarm and AlgaeFarm. The event covered almost 7,000 sq. m of exhibition area, attracted over 100 exhibitors—of which about a quarter came from 13 other countries, and hosted almost 2,000 visitors. The conference programme featured some 120 speakers.

Focus on fish and shellfish farming

This edition of AquaFarm saw several novelties, such as an expansion of two exhibition halls, inaugurated last year, which were added to Hall 5, the event’s historical venue. Furthermore, AquaFarm 2024 focused completely on fish and shellfish farming while AlgaeFarm and NovelFarm, which cover innovative plant crops, algae, and mushrooms, will run independently this year.

Despite these changes, the twoday event in Pordenone repeated last year’s numbers for the aquaculture and shellfish sectors, both in terms of visitors, exhibitors, and conferences. On the first day, apart from the opening session, the session on circularity and sustainability in feed production was well attended. On the second day, the most attended event was the session dedicated to the blue crab invasion and the studies and

policies implemented to reduce the phenomenon, which in the past year caused a 60 decrease in the national production of clams, with losses of up to 100 in some areas.

The change of the format improved the event

In terms of visitors and exhibitors the seventh edition of AquaFarm was excellent, remarked Renato Pujatti, President of Pordenone Fiere. There was wide speculation

about how the public would react to the change in format caused by making Algaefarm and NovelFarm independent events. The result was completely satisfactory and we will maintain this format for the next edition. The organisers were completely satisfied with the structure whereby the official conference programme was flanked with workshops held by institutions, associations, and companies, including an FAO project focused on the opportunities and challenges of rainbow

trout farming in the Mediterranean area. The next edition of AquaFarm will take place on 12 and 13 February 2025. Admission is free of charge by registering online at www.aquafarmexpo.it

For more information contact:

Aurora Marin, Studio Comelli, aurora@studiocomelli.eu, + 39 347 1722820

Simona Maldarelli, Pordenone Fiere, smaldarelli @fierapordenone.it, + 39 380 3133728

The 7th edition of AquaFarm focused on production and marketing challenges, damage to fisheries and fish farms caused by climate change, as well as the opportunities waiting for producers that operate in sustainable environmental conditions.

AquaFarm

Positive environmental impacts of farming extractive species

Aquaculture makes a significant contribution to the global food supply. As the demand for healthy protein increases, its importance is likely to continue to grow. Unfortunately, this also exacerbates some environmental problems, as more intensive aquaculture introduces additional nutrients into aquatic ecosystems. Algae and mussel cultures, which extract many nutrients from water, offer a solution.

Global aquaculture produces more than fish, shellfish and algae for direct human consumption. Numerous products are also used as raw materials for animal feed, fuel, cosmetics, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals, as well as other products ranging from

enzymes to fish leather. Conventional aquaculture also produces various ‘wastes’ that can contaminate adjacent aquatic ecosystems. These are mainly uneaten feed and fish excrement, which are still rich in nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus compounds.

Compared to the amount of agricultural nutrients that enter rivers from arable land and are washed out into the sea, the amount of nutrients from aquaculture is much lower, but still contributes to pollution or even eutrophication of coastal waters. According

to conservative estimates, nutrient inputs from Chinese aquaculture alone amounted to nearly 99,100 tonnes of total nitrogen and 16,100 tonnes of total phosphorus in 2017.

The aquaculture industry is paying increasing attention on this

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issue as it seeks to become more sustainable. Environmental laws and regulations are being tightened almost everywhere due to growing global concern about the potential environmental impacts of aquaculture activities. Major research projects are looking at ways to protect coastal ecosystems and the marine environment more effectively. At present, we know relatively little about what technologies can be used to reduce or, even better, prevent the environmental damage caused by open aquaculture. However, there are some possible interventions that could potentially help curb nutrient emissions. Dissolved inorganic nutrients produced during metabolism and excreted by fish through the gills, kidneys or intestines (NH4 and PO4) can hardly be removed by technical means. While this is partly possible with particulate organic nutrients in faeces and unused feed, it would be very timeconsuming and correspondingly expensive. Reduction in nutrient inputs can be achieved much more cost-effectively through optimised feed management Although this does not significantly reduce environmental pollution, it should still be pursued. Especially as it also benefits the fish farmers themselves – every gram of feed

not eaten is an economic loss for the business.

Nutrient inputs are usually greater than nutrient removals

Reducing nutrient inputs into water lessens some problems, but does not solve them. Perhaps nature can serve as an example because it uses two strategies at once. One is the dilution effect caused by hydrodynamic turbulence in the water. Wind, waves and currents tend to disperse the nutrients quickly in the surrounding area. Although this does not eliminate them, their negative effects are less pronounced because the concentration has been reduced. In comparison, the second strategy is much more effective as it relies on the introduction of nutrients into the marine food chains. The solid particles of nutrients sediment are deposited on the bottom, where they are usually eaten by benthic animals. This works relatively well as long as the amount of sediment does not exceed the uptake capacity of bottom-dwelling organisms. The dissolved nutrients also quickly find consumers in nature. These are primarily algae, which can be

roughly categorised into microalgae and macroalgae according to their size. While microalgae, which mostly float freely in the water like phytoplankton, are tiny and can only be detected under a microscope, macroalgae are much larger. They grow on the sea floor and solid structures down to the water depths where light is able to penetrate. What both groups of algae have in common is the ability to photosynthesise and convert carbon into energyrich compounds. This ability puts micro- and macroalgae at the very beginning of aquatic food chains. They are the ‘primary producers’ on which almost all aquatic life relies, from zooplankton to apex predators. However, algae also need nutrients from aquaculture for photosynthesis. This realisation closes the circle: algae cultures can help extract some nutrients from the water and use them for their own development. They act as natural ‘treatment plants’ that reduce the nutrients in the water, thereby purifying it.

Due to their purification function, algae play a vital role in aquatic ecosystems. But it is not that simple, because algae, especially microscopic microalgae, can be both a curse and a blessing. On the one hand, as primary producers, they are the foundation of aquatic life and even offer us the opportunity to reduce environmental problems due to their ‘nutrient hunger’. On the other hand, they can themselves become a danger if masses of algae, known as algal blooms, develop in overfertilised and therefore extremely nutrient-rich (eutrophic) marine areas. Dense carpets of algae then often float on the surface, depriving plants at the bottom of light for photosynthesis and threatening the lives of many bottom-dwelling animals. Particularly dangerous are blooms of toxic algae, which produce poisonous

substances and can sicken or even kill many aquatic animals, including fish. It is just as dangerous when the microalgae die at some point and the bloom collapses and sinks to the sea floor. The putrefactive bacteria then immediately set to work on the nutrient-rich ‘algae graveyard’. In their decomposing activity, they draw so much oxygen out of the water that anoxic, oxygen-free zones can form near the bottom.

The potential of algae is far from exhausted

Almost 40 species of algae, mostly macroalgae, are cultivated in large quantities in aquaculture worldwide. Almost all of them are used directly or indirectly for human consumption. For example, edible algae such as the Porphyra species (Nori), which we know as the wrapping for sushi rolls, are used directly. Indirect use means that valuable ingredients such as agaragar or carrageenan are extracted from the algae and used for many products in the food industry and other applications.

Unlike macroalgae cultures, microalgae production has only recently attracted greater interest. This trend is driven by the demand for the valuable ingredients in microalgae, containing protein, carbohydrates and fats, micronutrients and bioactive or functional substances. These include the essential omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, as well as carotenoids, which are essential for animal and human nutrition. Algae, algae extracts and algae ingredients are used as feed additives in animal nutrition. They are said to strengthen the immune system and improve resistance to disease, increase growth performance and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Almost all of the

Algae absorb nutrients from the water, such as those produced by fish farms, and thus help to keep shallow coastal waters clean.

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projections also assume that microalgae will be able to replace fishmeal and fish oil in aquaculture feeds in the future. Microalgae in suspension are already used extensively as a supplement to ‘spice up’ the poor nutritional value of Artemia nauplii, which hatcheries often use to feed fish and shrimp larvae. This method, known as ‘enrichment’, provides the larvae with an extra portion of vitamins, fatty acids and trace elements, which ensures a significantly higher survival rate.

Utilising ecological ‘services’ in a more targeted way

Although algal cultures, with their nutrient resorption, make a significant contribution to water purification and the health of aquatic ecosystems, this free ecosystem service has hardly been utilised until now. This environmentally friendly option lends itself to use, as the cultivation of algae requires relatively little effort and is comparatively inexpensive. Moreover, the beneficial effects of algae go far beyond nutrient resorption, as they also produce high levels of oxygen, stabilise pH levels, inhibit harmful bacteria, act as natural biofilters and serve as cover and

food for fish. These benefits are already being used in a targeted manner in the rearing of fish and shrimp larvae in green water, which contains high concentrations of microalgae. Compared to almost clinically pure clear water, rearing success under these conditions is significantly higher.

While the potential of algae as an ‘environmental service provider’ has been recognised, it has not yet been fully exploited. However, work is already underway to develop suitable technologies to utilise microalgae and macroalgae for wastewater treatment. The natural method used by algae to remove nutrients from water is nothing short of ingenious: nitrogen compounds and phosphates are converted into biomass, which is relatively easy to remove from the system and can often even be economically used. It could hardly be more sustainable. In addition, algae can be grown at sea or in space-saving bioreactors, so it does not compete with the very limited arable land available.

However, it is not only algae that have nutrient-absorbing and water-purifying abilities, but also other species groups. These include filter-feeding fish and

numerous molluscs such as oysters and other Bivalvia. While algae only absorb dissolved inorganic nutrients, mussels and filterfeeding fish use their gill filters to sieve nutrient-rich organic particles out of the water. Mostly plankton, but also detritus. And because they do this non-selectively, rather than by food types, they are also known as ‘suspension feeders’. With their filter-feeding behaviour, farmed suspension feeders significantly reduce the feed balance in aquaculture, as they grow without supplementary feed. Although the relative share of non-fed species in global aquaculture production has fallen from more than 40 before 2000 to 27.8 in 2020, this is only a mathematical effect, because while the absolute production has remained at almost the same level, global aquaculture production has more than tripled. In 2020, 24.3 million tonnes of non-fed animal species were produced in aquaculture worldwide. Of these, 8.2 million tonnes were filter-feeding fish (mainly silver and bighead carp) and 16.2 million tonnes were aquatic invertebrates, mainly marine mussel species.

Water treatment with mussel cultures?

Mussels are particularly efficient as suspension feeders. Some species filter even tiny particles that are only 0.004 millimetres in size out of the water with their gill sieve, thus significantly reducing the turbidity of the water body. The collected nutrient-rich algae mush is then converted into body tissues and shells. This is why mussel beds are often referred to as ‘self-emptying vacuums’ or ‘the guts of the aquatic ecosystem’. However, in individual cases, their cleaning performance depends on how much water passes through the gills per hour or day. This value may vary from animal to animal and depends, among

other things, on the size of the animal and its position in the mussel bed. Literature data for individual adult oysters range from 75 to 120 litres per day. The filtration capacity of mussels is about 2 litres per day (but also between 1 and 5 litres per hour). Although the figures vary greatly, it is clear how important a role these ‘natural filters’ can play in keeping local ecosystems clean. This is compounded by their economic value, as many species, from oysters and clams to scallops and mussels, can be used as high-quality food for human consumption or in processed form as animal feed.

Provided, of course, that the shellfish do not contain any heavy metals, pathogenic germs or toxic substances. This is the essential issue of their non-selective filtration: they filter out the valuable and nutrient-rich substances from the water as well as useless waste and toxins. Mussels are efficient purification systems and at the same time robust survival artists that can cope with almost all environmental conditions and rarely become ill even in polluted water. This discovery has led some scientists to believe that mussels can be used not only to remove nutrients from aquatic systems, but also to filter out pollutants and microplastics from wastewater, i.e. for complete purification. An obvious idea. Because mussels filter all kinds of environmental pollutants out of the water and accumulate them in their body tissues, they are often used as indicators of water quality at their growing sites. Contaminated mussel beds are an early warning sign of pollution problems. Initial trials of the biological treatment of water with mussels have shown that this approach works and is feasible. Of course, such contaminated mussels are completely unfit for consumption and must be disposed of. However, the purification effect and clean

Mussel cultures not only produce high-quality food, but also filter a lot of plankton and detritus from the water.

water achieved are worth losing them as an edible resource.

Trophic level networking and climate protection

Fish production in aquaculture is one of the most favourable sources of animal protein production and arguably the only way to meet the demand of the growing world population. In 2020, aquaculture already accounted for 46 of global fish supply of 179 million tonnes and is expected to increase to 53 by 2030. This also puts more pressure on fish farmers to address the problem of nutrient inputs into water bodies. This is because with each additional fish produced, more feed residues and fish faeces, dissolved and

solid waste particles end up in the water. One option is Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA), which combines the farming of different animal and plant species belonging to different trophic levels. For example, salmon, sea cucumbers and sea urchins, mussels and macroalgae. The solid waste that sinks to the seabed from the salmon pens is processed by benthic sediment eaters. On the other hand, particles that drift sideways from the salmon pens with the current are utilised by mussels in suspension cultures, which act as a wall to protect the salmon pens from the outside. Some of the dissolved nutrients in the water are absorbed by adjacent algal cultures, stimulating their growth. IMTA systems have

already proven their practical suitability in some locations. IMTA is considered a successful example of ecological aquaculture. Despite measurable successes, they currently play hardly any role in global aquaculture, mainly due to the lack or inadequacy of governance structures and disputes over the use of space in the immediate coastal area.

However, algae cultures and mussel-macroalgae IMTA concepts offer further advantages, as algae also absorb enormous amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, which seeps from the atmosphere into near-surface water layers, upsets the original carbon balance and contributes to ocean acidification.

Algae cultures can mitigate these processes, at least at a local level, and counteract the drop in pH value. Similar effects are caused by mussels and other crustaceans, which also play a central role in local carbon cycles. They absorb some of the carbon and bind it as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as they grow. Both algae and mussels can affect the carbon cycle of coastal ecosystems and improve the carbon absorption capacity of shelf seas. Seasonally, this effect is temporarily reversed (during the summer growth phase, large mussel cultures release more CO2 into the atmosphere than they absorb), but the overall balance is still positive. The oceans are essential as CO2 sinks for climate protection.

Manfred Klinkhardt

Mitigation measures must take social and economic factors into account

Ensuring sustainability in the face of climate change

The Secretariat General for Fisheries in the Spanish Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food is responsible for the EU’s largest national fisheries sector. Headed by Isabel Artime García, the Secretary General, the office has a vast number of responsibilities related to fisheries and aquaculture, both freshwater and marine. Ms Artime García is well positioned to deal with these issues having spent almost 17 years in the ministry in different roles before being appointed to her current position. She speaks here about some of the challenges the fisheries sector faces and how the ministry is supporting the development and implementation of solutions.

The Spanish fishing fleet with close to 8,700 vessels is among the largest in the EU. The average age of vessels is almost 35 years. Adapting EU fishing fleets to the demands of the energy transition is in line with EU policies including the European Green Deal and Fit for 55 (which aims to reduce EU emissions by at least 55 by 2030). How is the decarbonisation of the Spanish fishing fleet to be achieved?

Spain is committed to the energy transition process, which necessarily needs to encompass all economic activities, including the fishing industry. This transition, as outlined in the Fit for 55 strategy, must be fair and socially just, essential aspects when dealing with a sector like fishing that is crucial for food supply and preserving the social and economic structure of many coastal areas. In these regions, fishing serves not only as an economic engine but is also deeply rooted in their culture and tradition. During the Spanish presidency of the European Union, the informal meeting of Fisheries Ministers held in July 2023 in Vigo focused precisely on the need to define a common strategy for decarbonising the European fishing fleet.

During this meeting, the European Economic and Social Committee

(EESC) presented the conclusions of a report requested by Spain on applicable measures for the decarbonisation of the EU fishing fleet. The opinion concludes that there is currently no technological alternative that can be practically applied to different fleets. It emphasises the need to implement a suitable and realistic decarbonisation schedule aligned with technological, logistical, and legislative advancements. Thus, measures for the decarbonisation of fishing activities must ensure sustainability and profitability, considering the heterogeneity and peculiarities of the Spanish fishing sector. The strategy for decarbonising the fishing fleet should therefore focus on short-term measures to improve energy efficiency, reducing emissions from fishing activities. Simultaneously, medium and long-term measures should be implemented to incorporate the technological upgrade necessary for achieving a zeroemission fishing sector.

The 2023 annual report from APROMAR, the Aquaculture Business Association of Spain, mentions that drought is affecting farmed fish production in rivers. What are the avenues available to freshwater aquaculture farmers who are affected by droughts or floods. Has the

ministry measures in place to assist these producers?

Freshwater/continental aquaculture is deeply rooted in certain rural areas of Spain, with the regions of Castilla y León, Galicia, and Extremadura having the highest number of installations and production. The main species produced include rainbow trout, sturgeon, and tench. This sector generates employment and contributes positively to the development of rural areas. The General Secretariat of

Fisheries (SGP) is particularly concerned about the negative impact of drought on freshwater aquaculture development. Drought implies increased production costs and reduced production, resulting in significant losses for aquaculturists, job losses, and increased prices for consumers. The SGP has raised this issue in regular meetings with the European Commission and EU Member States.

Spain has stated that aquaculture is a strategic sector that needs

Ms María Isabel Artime García, Secretary General for Fisheries, Spanish Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food

minimum ecological flows to develop and that its water usage is non-consumptive. At the national level, as part of the new aquaculture strategy and Spain‘s contribution to the strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture for 2021-2023, there is a line of work aimed at facilitating access to space and water. This involves coordinated efforts with other administrations (Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge and autonomous communities) and the sector. Also, within the framework of the new aquaculture strategy and the national climate change adaptation plan, efforts are underway to diagnose and assess the risks associated with climate change in current and future continental aquaculture zones. This includes identifying which areas will be most favourable for the future development of continental aquaculture, considering their exposure to drought.

Finally, it is worth emphasising that aquaculture, in this context

of climate and environmental crisis, once again emerges as an alternative for producing food with a low water footprint.

Despite the proven health benefits and the climate friendliness of fish and seafood, over the last several years consumption of these products has declined in Spain. What do you attribute this development to? And how can the ministry contribute to reversing it?

While Spain remains at the forefront of the EU in terms of fish and aquaculture product consumption, data show a steady decline in recent years, particularly in the consumption of fresh and frozen products. This decline is not adequately compensated by increases in canned and processed product consumption. This trend is concerning not only for its impact on the sector but also because fish is an exceptionally high-quality product with excellent nutritional properties. The reduction

in consumption can be attributed to various factors, including consumer perceptions, particularly among younger demographics, the short shelf life of fresh products, purchasing power, and contemporary lifestyles.

Promoting fish consumption is one of the ministry‘s objectives. Therefore, these factors are being studied to emphasise product variety, gastronomic value, and health benefits in campaigns. The aim is to attract consumers and reinforce their confidence in fish and aquaculture products. Thanks to institutional campaigns by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Spanish foods and seafood products are featured in various media channels. These campaigns have evolved from initially focusing on generic promotion under hashtags like “#Explore, #Taste, #Share, and #Enjoy” to slogans like “Have you had fish today?” emphasising the richness, healthfulness, and safety of fish. The current campaign, “Spain, the richest country in the

world,” utilises the specific slogan for fishing: “A country abundant in sea products and recipes.”

Apart from public sector initiatives, it‘s understood that the success of efforts to improve consumer product knowledge and market positioning depends on a committed and active sector. Collective efforts are crucial for this task. The General Secretariat of Fisheries has strongly supported the promotion of these professional organisations, especially producer organisations and their associations, and interprofessional organisations. Since 2014, producer organisations have conducted various promotional and communication campaigns aimed at consumers as part of their production and marketing plans. These campaigns aim to improve consumer perception and image of seafood products by enhancing product knowledge. Examples include APROMAR‘s “Raising from Our Seas” campaign and campaigns by the recently formed association, Pesca España.

The success of these campaigns, like other measures included in plans to achieve the objectives of the common fisheries policy, underscores the continued support for producer organisations. Hence, in 2023, legislation regulating producer organisations was modified to ensure the continuity of such fundamental initiatives to improve fish marketing. Additionally, efforts have been made to encourage producers to join producer organisations, enabling a growing segment of the sector to benefit from European aid and implement measures to enhance their product marketing.

In the Mediterranean 58 of the stocks are still fished outside biologically sustainable limits. For Spain, the Mediterranean is an important fishing area supporting over a quarter of Spanish fishing vessels and generating 14 of the total catch value. As the leading fishing nation in Europe how does Spain contribute to improving Mediterranean stocks’ status?

Firstly, I would like to go back to the communication from the European Commission made in June of last year regarding fishing possibilities, from which important conclusions can be drawn about the situation of Mediterranean stocks. This communication highlights the fact that fishing mortality has reached its lowest recorded value in recent years, while biomass shows a very notable and uninterrupted improvement over the last decade, reaching the highest levels of biomass in the historical series. These indicators are encouraging, especially considering that the measures implemented by the Multiannual Plan for Demersal Fisheries in the Mediterranean have not yet been fully evaluated. These measures have led to a significant reduction in fishing effort days and the implementation of

additional measures, such as various fishing closures.

These improvements undoubtedly result from the considerable effort made by the fishing sector itself, as well as the collaborative work of administrations and the scientific sector. However, we must continue working in this direction and adopt new measures to try to achieve the main objective of the EU regulation to achieve maximum sustainable yield by January 1, 2025, for species where it has not yet been achieved, such as hake, always considering the social and economic aspects of sustainability as well. All this reaffirms our task of collecting data on the impact of these measures, and especially in the approach we advocate in fisheries management; that is, the balance and progressiveness of the measures to be taken, which allow maintaining the social and economic cohesion that fishing represents in our country.

In this regard, Spain has led the implementation of alternative measures to ensure this social and economic cohesion, along with biological sustainability, proposing alternatives to continuous decreases in fishing days. Specifically, following scientific recommendations, we have strongly advocated for improving fishing selectivity, something that has already been recognised in recent European regulations that have governed the implementation of fishing effort regimes in the Mediterranean. It has been acknowledged as one of the measures that mitigates proposed decreases in fishing effort days.

Internationally, Spain supports the strengthening and support of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), an FAO body where management and regulation standards for fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black

The Spanish fleet is among the largest in the EU. Decarbonisation is a priority for the ministry subject to sustainability and profitability of the vessels. In the medium to long term technological upgrades will reduce emissions from the fleet.

Sea are adopted, giving special relevance to the sub-regional approach. In this sense, Spain has supported the creation of the GFCM Office for the Western Mediterranean, based in Malaga and operational since October 2020, where common interest issues affecting this area can be addressed more specifically through joint work with neighbouring countries.

Furthermore, Spain was a pioneer with the first FAO fisheries cooperation project in the Mediterranean in 1995 through the COPEMED Project, whose second phase COPEMED II ended in 2022, representing overall progress in improving training and institutional reinforcement to support GFCM actions as a regional fisheries management body.

Likewise, we have supported various GFCM programmes and strategies through voluntary contributions initiated in 2013, which currently amount to an annual contribution of almost €100,000 to the “2030 Strategy of the GFCM for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.” This aims to promote responsible fishing

and aquaculture, in line with the objectives of the MedFish4Ever Ministerial Declaration and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 of the 2030 Agenda: “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.”

One of the points on Spain’s EMFAF programme is to increase by 2030 marine protected areas in national waters from 13 to 30 in alignment with European Commission plans for sustainable fisheries. Declaring a marine area as protected is only part of the solution equally important is to monitor and control the policy. How do you ensure that declaration and enforcement go side by side? What will be the effect of this measure on the Spanish fishing fleet and how can negative effects be mitigated?

In the current context, it is essential to ensure the integration of the environmental dimension into fisheries policy and vice versa, facilitating the interaction of both policies to enhance and strengthen the aspects and objectives they have in common, such as having

healthy oceans and seas, without which there is no future for fishing. Moreover, only by coordinating fisheries and environmental policies will the regulations emanating from them be coherent and not overlap. The General Secretariat of Fisheries (SGP) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA) is involved in the declaration of marine protected areas, as well as their management and monitoring.

Currently, one of MAPA‘s priorities is to reinforce the establishment and management of Fisheries Interest Marine Reserves, which originated over 38 years ago with the establishment of Tabarca Island. This is a specific category of space protection that emerged under fisheries regulations and aims at the regeneration and protection of fishery resources and, therefore, their habitat, as well as the maintenance of traditional fisheries.

Fishery protection zones are regulated in the current Sustainable Fishing and Fisheries Research Act of 2023, based on the best available scientific information and considering socio-economic studies. Currently, there are 12 marine reserves declared and managed by MAPA, covering an area of 103,000 hectares of offshore waters, of which 10 are integral reserves, meaning they have the highest level of protection, with MAPA allocating more than 4 million euros annually for the management of these areas. On the other hand, MAPA is involved in the declaration, management, and monitoring of all marine protected areas declared under environmental regulations, through close coordination with the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITERD). Thus, each ministerial department exercises its competencies in each of the areas.

In accordance with the above, MAPA establishes limitations or prohibitions on fishing activity in the offshore waters of Protected Natural Areas and protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network, as established by Article 26 of the Sustainable Fishing and Fisheries Research Act of March 17, 2023, while MITERD regulates spaces within its competencies. Thanks to this joint management, fisheries and environmental policies are aligned and coherent, ensuring sustainable fishing activity.

Among the issues faced by the fisheries sector is the ageing of the workforce as workers get older and younger people are not attracted to the profession due to the working conditions, levels of remuneration, or a lack of interest. What measures is the administration considering to reverse this trend?

We trust that, over the next few years, the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027 will allow us to address the challenges of fishing, particularly those related to the training of its professionals and the promotion of generational turnover. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food has included in the new EMFAF Programme for Spain, approved in November 2022, priorities such as training, improvement of working conditions on ships and on land, and the promotion of entry into the fishing sector for young fishermen and women, with the aim of reversing the described trend. Thus, grants are envisaged to facilitate the training of individuals under 40, the embarkation of recent graduates, and the first acquisition of a fishing vessel. Additionally, efforts are also aimed at promoting the creation of new business opportunities and fostering the entrepreneurial capacity of professionals, especially young people and women, as well as encouraging their participation

in the sustainable development of fishing areas, ultimately increasing the employment rate in the sector for these groups to ensure the future continuity of this activity.

Furthermore, the General Secretariat of Fisheries, within the framework of the Social Affairs Commission (CAASS) of the Advisory Council of the Fishing Sector, has prepared a foundational document entitled “Training and generational turnover in the fishing sector: context and actions”, taking as a reference the European Parliament Resolution of September 16, 2021, “on future fishermen: measures to attract a new generation of workers to the fishing sector and generate employment in coastal communities”. With this document, the aim is to outline the actions to be developed in coordination with the Autonomous Communities and all stakeholders in the fishing and aquaculture sector, aimed at tackling the challenge of attracting a new generation of fishermen.

Women are an important part of the Spanish fishing and aquaculture sector accounting for about 15 of the workforce. They also have their own associations and representative bodies. How does the administration support women working in the sector in their quest for greater acknowledgement and involvement in decision making?

Taking a global quantitative assessment, if we add to that 15 percentage the rest of the activities not included in the Special Sea Regime (such as the processing industry, marketing, or inland aquaculture), female employment in the overall fishing and aquaculture sector accounts for almost 36 of the total, which in turn represents almost 45,000 female workers.

The General Secretariat of Fisheries has promoted the creation

and maintenance of the Spanish Network of Women in the Fishing Sector, whose goal is to boost the role of women in the sector, as well as organisation, communication, and the exchange of initiatives and best practices among women who work or wish to work in the fishing field, in any of its various areas. The network provides visibility and strengthens the work carried out by the different women‘s groups in the sector, as well as organisations dedicated to promoting equal opportunities in this area of activity.

Furthermore, this commitment is reinforced with other actions, among which I would highlight:

• The development of the II Gender Equality Plan in the Fishing and Aquaculture Sector 2021-2027, which continues the previous sectorial equality plan 2015-2020.

• Support for the associative movement of women professionals in the sea through various actions such as the latest congress of the Spanish Network of Women in the Fishing Sector held on the island of La Palma.

• The integration and development of the horizontal principle of equality in the EMFAF Programme 2021-2027, including specific measures that women in the sector can benefit from, which affect aspects such as visibility or the promotion of participation in decision-making bodies of the fishing and aquaculture sector.

• The introduction in the new Sustainable Fishing and Fisheries Research Law of reducing coefficients for the retirement age for professions such as “neskatillas,” net makers, and packers, and the equalisation of coefficients for women shellfish gatherers on foot with those for shellfish gatherers at sea, which represents recognition of the hard work traditionally carried out predominantly by women.

Small-scale fisheries stand to gain and to lose from climate change

Adaptation is not straightforward

In many coastal villages small-scale fisheries play an important role in terms of nutritional security and employment, as well as from a social and cultural perspective. Developments, such as climate change, that affect them negatively can therefore also threaten their communities. A better understanding of the impacts of global warming will help the small-scale sector adapt.

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) are defined as fishing carried out by vessels less than 12 m in length and not using towed fishing gear. Instead, smallscale fishers use mainly trammel nets and set gillnets, pots, set longlines, and hand lines. They usually operate within 12 nautical miles of the coast close to landing points and one vessel may use multiple fishing gears. According to the latest STECF report1, in 2021 the EU small-scale fishing fleet amounted to about 41,300 active vessels or just over three quarters of the entire EU active fleet. The number of workers in the sector was 60,000 people accounting for half the total employment.

Small-scale fisheries are important for many reasons

The SSF thus play an important role in providing employment and food security and are a source of healthful proteins with a relatively low carbon footprint. In small coastal communities, SSF are often the social and cultural backbone of the community in addition to contributing to its economic welfare. The small-scale fleet is usually sustainable in its operations as fishers use selective gears avoiding overfished species and minimising bycatch. Given their economic and social significance, any disruption to the SSF

can have knock-on consequences for the communities in which they are embedded. Unfortunately, climate change is one such disrupting mechanism that small-scale fishers face. Although the SSF is heavily skewed towards the Mediterranean region, which accounts for 42 of the total value, coastal fishing vessels are found in all European sea basins. According to Arantza Murillas from AZTI, a research institute in the Basque country, an autonomous community in northern Spain, the smallscale segment in the Basque fleet

comprises vessels with a length of less than 15 m that fish in the vicinity of the ports along the Basque coast, where they also land their catches. They typically carry a crew of one to three people and use different gears (trammel nets, traps for cephalopods and crustaceans, longlines and hand lines) targeting different species during the year. Among the most common are Atlantic mackerel, albacore, European hake, European conger, Atlantic tuna, red mullet, and anglerfishes, but they land more than 100 species in total.

Guillem Chust, Head of Global Change in Marine Ecosystems at AZTI speaks of the signals scientists have identified that indicate changes in climate. One of these is the rate of warming in the Bay of Biscay, a metric that has been updated each year since the 80s and which clearly shows that the surface of the sea is getting warmer at a rate of about 0.2 degrees per decade. While this is focused mainly in the central part of the bay, scientists have noticed that the temperature on the Basque coast is increasing

Small-scale fishers contribute to the food and economic security of their communities. When their activities suffer the effect is widely felt.

faster. The rise in the water temperature is what affects the fish most. Other indicators such as rising sea levels has not had such an impact on fisheries nor has acidification—as far as we know, Dr Chust cautions. But scientists have related warming water to the distribution, phenology (the timings of cyclical or seasonal biological events), and to the size of fish, though not all species respond in the same way. Studies of Atlantic mackerel, for example, revealed that spawning was shifting towards the north pole to compensate for this warming. Horse mackerel, on the other hand, compensate by bringing the spawning season forward. The peak of this species’ spawning is in the spring and this is brought forward by one or two weeks, or more precisely, by twelve days per decade. This strategy is not unique to horse mackerel, it is also seen in anchovy. The impact on body size can be seen because the size of the adults is lower in warmer waters such as the Mediterranean, the Bay of Biscay, and the north of Africa and larger in cooler waters such as the North Sea. The reduction may, however, also be influenced by other factors such as abundance, and in other species, by fishing effort. But Dr Chust points to experimental work that has shown that metabolism changes with temperature affecting the growth and the body size. This effect is seen not only in fish, but in all cold-blooded animals.

Fish distribution, spawning period, and size can all change as waters warm

In terms of the impact on the fisheries it is not clear-cut. The Atlantic mackerel may move some hundreds of kilometres

for each degree of warming, but it has a natural range of thousands of kilometres, so teasing out the impact of the warming compared with other environmental variables is currently tricky. Dr Chust expects the impacts to become more explicit over the next 20-50 years. The fishing sector can start to adapt to different geographic ranges, changes in phenologies such as spawning periods, and in body size. Shifting geographic ranges of key species could also be a source of conflict between states as quotas would need to change to reflect the new geographic range of the fish. Another way that fish can respond to higher water temperatures is by inhabiting deeper water. Studies have shown that a lot of marine species do this and in the medium term the fishing sector would have to adapt. So far while a lot of resources are going into efforts to try and better understand the impacts of climate change on stocks, Dr Chust has not noticed any new regulations being enacted. But there is no doubt that mitigation strategies such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions must be implemented by the fleet just as other transport sectors are trying to decarbonize. The sustainable management of stocks is one way of making them more resilient to the impacts of climate change. By protecting different ecosystems, seagrass, or mangroves, for instance, or through marine protected areas where fishing pressure is restricted, policymakers can help stocks reproduce and thrive which in turn produces benefits for fisheries at least in the midterm.

Among the impacts of global warming is the spread of tropical species to temperate areas where they are normally only seldom

seen. Dr Chust and his colleagues have been analysing communities of species in different parts of Europe and have found that species that are adapted to warmer regions but that have always been present in European waters are increasing their abundance, while the frequency of those species that are adapted to colder place is decreasing. In other words, the composition of the species communities is changing which could change the local fisheries. In the Mediterranean, which is a semi-enclosed water body, the fish can migrate, but they remain geographically attached to areas in the sea where they spawn. The scientists have used several ecological models coupled with physical models which has deepened their understanding but not enough for them to predict how the fish will respond to warmer water in their spawning areas. The Mediterranean faces a severe problem with climate change with a rate of warming that is two to three times that of the Bay of Biscay. This combined with the fact that it is semi-enclosed, exacerbate the challenges of warming water. In addition, the salinity of the water is expected to increase as evaporation exceeds precipitation, acidification is also expected

to worsen, and the thermocline will change. Normally, says Dr Chust, the new conditions would allow species that thrive under these circumstances to occupy the niches abandoned by species that migrate away. But the semi-enclosed nature of the Mediterranean makes it more challenging for new species to enter and old ones to leave and scientists are not yet quite sure how this will play out.

More knowledge needed to help the sector adapt

For the small-scale fisheries the consequences of climate change are likely to vary widely with some fisheries benefitting from new and (potentially) valuable species that move into fishing areas, while others struggle with declining catches as traditional species disappear. The small vessels used by the sector do not permit fishers to switch to other areas more distant from their home ports which constrains their opportunities to adapt. As scientific insights into global warming and its consequences deepen, policymakers will be better equipped to tackle the challenges facing small-scale fisheries helping them to adapt.

Pots are among the low impact gear that small-scale fishers use to trap certain species, such as octopus.

The Spanish National Federationof Fishers’ Guilds

Defending the interests of fi shers big and small

A century-old feature of the Spanish fisheries sector, the cofradias or fishers’ guilds were created to defend the interests of the fleets at each of the country’s ports, a role they still play today.

Fishers’ guilds are different from other associations in that they have an important social aspect. For example, the first doctor in Burela, a municipality in north Galicia, was brought there by the cofradia which also built the regional hospital, and the town hall. They also provided a form of social insurance to their members, who would receive a payment if they were struck by misfortune, a role which has largely been taken over by the government. The cofradias have a democratic structure—representation in the board is split evenly between the vessel owners and the crews. Today, however, only part of the coastal fisheries are organised into guilds, while other subsectors, such as the industrial fisheries, have their own system of representation.

A democratic institution

But the cofradias represent over four-fifths of the employment in the fisheries sector. In the whole of Spain including the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands there are 220 cofradias of which 200 belong to the national federation. This covers about 20,000 workers. Three Cantabrian cofradias and those from the Basque Country are not members of the national federation. Galician cofradias are represented in the national

federation and number sixtythree, the highest number from any autonomous community reflecting the importance of the fisheries sector in Galicia. A cofradia generally includes all the fishers working in a geographical area. It comprises two groups one representing the owners and the other the crew. Each group elects the same number of members to the executive bodies. Members are obliged to sell the catch through the auction established by the cofradia, and to cover the administrative costs each member pays a

proportion of his sales as a fee to the cofradia.

The national federation coordinates the cofradias’ interaction with the national ministry of agriculture as well as with relevant ministries in the autonomous communities. Basilio Otero, president of the national federation of fishermen’s guilds (Federación Nacional de Cofradías de Pescadores) says he speaks regularly with the presidents of the four provincial federations that are members of the national federation, but also

with vessel owners and other stakeholders; most of the time it is to coordinate the response to issues and even sometimes just to listen to what the caller has to say. To retain membership of the federation the cofradias must pay a fee. This is 0.05 of the sales if the cofradia has a harbour market and a flat EUR7.25 per member per year if there is no market. About 70 members of the 200 are currently paying their dues up from 30 when Mr Otero took over as president. I have made them understand that being a member is

Basilio Otero, President, National Federation of Fishers’ Guilds (Federación Nacional de Cofradías de Pescadores)

worth the money they pay, he says, and some of the cofradias are in a financially stronger position today.

Women’s role in fisheries, multiannual plans, among the federation’s priorities

The national federation has several objectives including highlighting the role women play in Spanish fisheries, but also the implementation of the multiannual plan in the Mediterranean there, and the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems in the North-East Cantabrian area and the Gulf of Cádiz. Creating awareness about fishers and their work and explaining to the public that fishers are workers in a modern economy with vessels that are equipped with sophisticated technology. The federation also presses for improvements in working conditions for the fishers on board the vessels and in the past has tried to get more space on board vessels to create larger and more comfortable living conditions for the crew. The measures were not approved, however, which Mr Otero thinks is a pity, because in addition to greater comfort for the crew it would have been an argument to attract a new generation of fishers to the profession. Young people’s lack of interest in fishing ranks at the top of the sector’s concerns for the future, Mr Otero notes. Vessels are already equipped to allow internet on board so internet calling and messaging—crucial for the young—is possible, but we need to go further. The federation represents provincial federations from all over the country since many of the issues that plague the sector are universal, irrespective of whether it is based in the Mediterranean or the Cantabrian area. Getting young

people interested in fishing, for example, or increasing women’s visibility are common objectives. In addition, office-bearers from the provincial and national federations talk to each other on a regular basis to ensure a common understanding of contentious issues.

One sore point for Mr Otero is that the national federation is not recognised as a producer organisation, despite having approached the European authorities more than once. Some of the cofradias and some of the provincial federations have formed producer organisations. The benefit of forming a PO is that they are entitled to support from the EU. For example, the federation in Asturias through its producer organisation received support from the EMFAF (European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund) to install satellite internet as part of improving working conditions on board its vessels. In return for this kind of support producer organisations contribute to resource management by drawing up production and marketing plans for their members.

Strong belief in digitalisation

The digitalisation of the sector is another of Mr Otero’s priorities. Updated regulations require vessels over 9 m to have a vessel monitoring system which allows that vessel to be automatically located and identified. Moreover, vessels less than 12 m in length shall declare their catches electronically. Skippers have been granted a grace period that concludes in 2028 to implement this requirement. The federation encourages the adaptation of these measures as recording and transmitting the

Women make an important contribution to the fisheries sector in Spain and for the National Federation of Fishers’ Guilds creating more awareness about the role women play is a priority.

catches electronically is much more convenient for the fishermen who must otherwise fiddle with paper and pencil with wet hands in a rocking boat. With the app everything is preloaded and the fisher just has to tap the screen a few times. The ease with which catches can be reported when using electronic solutions has helped the gradual spread of adoption among the fishers after a slow start. At the same time, Mr Otero supports a modification to the requirement that allows skippers of small vessels to only report after they have returned to the port but before the first box is unloaded.

The national federation has also invested in a label for fish from Spain. The federation created the standards underpinning the label so that all fish that complies with the requirements (is less than 24 hours old, comes from capture fisheries, and is caught by Spanish producers) can bear the label. The label is an example of how we try to encourage producers to add value to their catch, and to distinguish our product from the other fish

on the market. By adding value to the catch fishers can compensate for a drop in catch volumes. Over the last decade or so EU capture production for human consumption has declined so that today only 30 of the supply to Europe comes from domestic sources, while 70 is imported. This development concerns Mr Otero for three reasons: environmental, social, and economic. He fears that exporters of fish products to Europe may not maintain the same standards in these three spheres as European companies giving them an unfair advantage. The Mediterranean, for example, hosts several EU fleets but vessels from countries at very different stages of environmental, social, and economic development also fish there. This means if we maintain strict environmental standards while other fleets are more lax, we are at a disadvantage, he argues.

Promotion campaigns attempt to reverse falling fish consumption

Fish and seafood consumption per capita has been falling in

Spain for several years provoking analyses as to the causes and the remedies. One way of reversing this trend is by promotion campaigns and here, Mr Otero points out, the national federation has contributed with a campaign that covers the tourism sector to attract high-end tourists, shopping malls to reach the end consumer, and dormitories at educational institutions to target the chefs of the future. The campaigns are

organised in collaboration with the cofradias who decide the product to be promoted and supply the samples. In this way, fish from the northern part of Spain was promoted in the south and vice versa, to expose consumers in different regions to Spanish products with which they may not have been familiar. The cofradias may date back centuries, but they still play a decisive role in the fisheries sector both among fishers and consumers.

National Federation of Fishers’ Guilds (Federación Nacional de Cofradías de Pescadores)

Prta. del Sol, 6, 4º Izq. 28013 Madrid

Spain

Tel.: +34 91 5319804 federacion@fncp.eu fncp.eu

President: Basilio Otero

Number of member cofradias: 200

Number of employees represented: 20,000

Small-scale fishers’ response to climate change depends on many factors

Tasks:

Defend the socioeconomic interest of the fishers

Contribute to adapting fishing activities to the modern day

Modernise the sale and marketing of fish

Organise training activities for fishers

Improve working conditions on board and on shore

Building resilience is a long process

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) play a huge role in global fisheries production accounting for 37m tonnes or 40% of total inland and marine fisheries production, according to the FAO. Nine out of ten of those employed in capture fisheries operate in smallscale fisheries, a figure that increases to 94% if subsistence fishers are included. The world over, almost half a billion people depend at least partially on the sector for food and livelihoods.

At the same time, the sector is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change which puts at risk the livelihoods of those working directly and indirectly in the sector and threatens the food security of communities in many developing countries. Small-scale fishers in developed countries too need to adapt to changes that are likely to get more severe and more frequent in the future. The environmental impacts of climate change are already manifold. In Galicia, Spain unusually intense rainfall, for instance, prevents shellfishers from going to sea and dilutes the salinity of the water in the estuaries. The increase in water temperature affects native bivalve species like pullet carpet shell, grooved carpet

Scientists from the Future Oceans Lab at the University of Vigo. The lab studies climate adaptation in marine systems. From right, Elena Ojea, Xochitl Édua Elías Ilosvay, Haritz Ayarza.

shell, and cockles. In the Mediterranean region other problems related to increasing numbers of warmer water species are another manifestation of climate change.

An institution dedicated to climate change adaptation

For small-scale fishers the socio-economic impact can be devastating. This has multiple consequences because the small-scale fishery is an important source of livelihoods, contributes to food security, and supports economies around the globe. Climate change induced bad weather can force them to remain in port, or can cause large-scale mortalities that affect their catches and lead to poor sales at critical times of the year such as the Christmas season when

demand peaks, states Dr Elena Ojea from the University of Vigo. Local fishers report that mortalities in the catches of the dredging fleet fishing for bivalves in the Galician estuaries in 2023 were up to 40, while among the shellfish harvested by shellfishers working on foot the mortality rates were even higher.

Dr Elena Ojea is the principal investigator of the Future Oceans Lab unit at the University of Vigo, a group of scientists that studies climate change adaptation in marine systems. In a paper1 she co-wrote the authors cite research showing that SSF in low-income countries are particularly vulnerable from a socioeconomic perspective under current climate change projections. At the lab, the researchers are convinced that current management of marine resources may not meet the requirements of a world

experiencing climate change. Shifts in climate patterns pose a threat to the environment and by extension also to livelihoods and the economic viability of coastal communities. Research at the lab focuses on solutions that contribute to the long-term management of marine systems as well as on socioeconomic issues such as equitable resource sharing and livelihood support.

Not all fishers are willing to diversify into other livelihoods

Communities of small-scale fishers that face the effects of climate change can take adaptive steps, such as diversifying their livelihoods to meet their social and financial needs, a development that can have benefits for the environment. Dr Ojea and her co-authors,

whose research was based in Galicia, found that fishers generally chose to diversify their livelihoods under medium to extreme negative climate change impact scenarios (corresponding to a 5090 decline in income) though the proportion of those diversifying fell, when the negative climate change impact was not as extreme. On the other hand, when the impact was positive, there was no increase in diversification. In the researchers’ sample, just over a third of the fishers would opt for a livelihood outside the small-scale fishery at least once under ten climate impact scenarios, while just under two thirds would not. The relatively low proportion of Galician fishers willing to diversify may be due to a feeling that suitable alternative livelihoods are lacking. It may also be influenced by the commitment

CREATING

EUMOFA

To learn more about Eurofish’s aquaculture-related activities, contact projects@eurofish.dk or visit www.eurofish.dk

1 Salgueiro-Otero D, Barnes ML and Ojea E (2022) Transformation in times of climate change: what makes a fisher diversify livelihoods? Front. Mar. Sci. 9:888288. doi: 10.3389/ fmars.2022.888288

Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products

that fishers feel for their work. Other results demonstrated that the degree of learning and the amount of flexibility shown by a fisher correlated positively with a willingness to diversify livelihoods, while experience as a fisher had an inverse relationship. Fishers that had already diversified their livelihoods (showing greater flexibility) were more likely to respond to climate change impacts by diversifying. Other factors that correlated positively with a tendency to diversify livelihoods were the number of species a fisher targeted, the communication with other fishing groups, and the level of trust in SSF institutions.

Greater flexibility in the rules would increase the resilience of SSF

Among the ways that Galician fishers are adapting to climate change is by taking voluntary steps to increase stock resilience. In the case of some species, for example, they are fishing less than the quota allows, says Dr Ojea. The annual management plans that they draw up do not allow for such climate change-inspired adaptations, nor do they offer flexibility to the fishers themselves. Other adaptation strategies such as diversifying to other species are hindered by the rules governing permits that make it difficult to switch from one species to another. Fishers do, however, get into tourist-related activities such as offering fishing trips, meals, or overnight stays, and some fishers supplement their income by making creative handicrafts which they can sell to tourists. But the researchers have also noted that fishers and their associations are deeply rooted in the territory through decades of history and traditions, that have built an identity and regional pride. Switching to different sectors is not a solution for these livelihoods. Another

bottleneck to testing and implementing solutions is that stakeholders in management systems often include different government departments and persuading all the partners of the merits of a case is often a political discussion.

Diversifying to new species is easier said than

done

New species that appear in fishers’ nets as a consequence of climate change could potentially be marketed but this calls for certain minimum quantities as well as customer acceptance—which can take years. Haritz Ayarza, from the Future Oceans Lab, recalls the triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) that first arrived in the 50s and had no value at the time, but today sells for EUR10/kilo. Migrating fish species are not as well documented as sessile species such as shellfish or algae, where researchers have noted some varieties being displaced by other species probably for climate-related reasons. Water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) is found in the waters of Portugal and Galicia. With higher temperatures the plant is moving north and displacing some algae species. This in turn creates space for Sargassum (a genus of brown seaweeds) as well as some species of red algae. Algae are potentially interesting from a commercial perspective as they have a wide variety of applications. Currently algae production in the EU is a fraction of global production and the European Commission is keen to change this. Various EU policies and strategies identify algae as an important source of sustainable protein for human consumption and a route to EU objectives related among others to circularity, biodiversity, decarbonisation, and the protection of ecosystems. The collection of algae is established with some companies

Dredging for shellfish in a Galician ria. In 2023 local fishers reported that mortalities among shellfish were up to 40%.

already active, but it could also be a more promoted activity for fishers, where instead of catching fish they harvest algae. Some (mainly women) are already engaged in this activity, but demand for algae will need to increase further before it becomes profitable.

Scientists and administrators need to work closer with the sector to develop solutions

The Future Oceans Lab unit started with a European Research Council funded project, CLOCK—climate adaptations to shifting stocks, that looked among other things at the Galician artisanal fishing sector and its adaptation to climate change. The team conducted a series of workshops where they informed the fishers how the scientists interpreted the adaptation strategies that the fishers were implementing. The

Future Oceans Lab

Torre CACTI, University of Vigo

Campus Lagoas Marcosende 36310 Vigo Spain

+34 986 130 173

futureoceanslab@uvigo.es

https://futureoceanslab.org/

fishers found it interesting but not very useful, admits Dr Ojea, because it did not lead to an adaptation plan yet. Besides, at the time (2016-21) the impacts were not severe enough to make it urgent. Today, the situation is different, mortality rates are higher, and they are more affected economically. This calls for a more adaptive management and perhaps for a more participatory approach where the fishers can also contribute to decisions in a larger extent. Organising artisanal net fishers would also give them a unified, and thereby louder, voice and as they are the ones directly facing the impacts of climate change, they should also have a vote on what is to be done— subject, of course, to the scientific data and the principles of sustainability. Top-down solutions may not respond to the realities being faced by the fishers, so strengthening participation, co-management, and communication is the best way forward.

Research lines: Social-ecological systems, institutional arrangements, adaptive management

Team: Elena Ojea, Juan Bueno Pardo, Xochitl Édua Elías Ilosvay, Julia Ameneiro, Haritz Ayarza

Attracting youngsters to a rapidly evolving industry

PO works to secure generational change

In the Basque Country on Spain’s northern coast inshore fishermen from the province of Gipuzkoa have formed a producer organisation, Opegui. The PO is responsible for providing services to the fishers such as managing the labour on board and applying for fishing permits, so they can concentrate on their primary task, fishing.

The fish is landed at five ports in Gipuzkoa, these are Donostia, Orio, Getaria, Hondarribia, and Pasaia. Only the latter three ports, however, have markets to sell the catch. In addition to managing services for the fleet, the PO also develops projects and applies for support to implement them. Each year the PO consults with the fishers and drafts a production and marketing plan which offers insights into the needs of the sector. The projects consider these needs of the sector and could, for example, seek to improve the safety and comfort of life on board or to improve the quality of the catch.

Bringing

a new generation into the industry has consequences for coastal communities

Miren Garmendia, the director of Opegui, also prioritises the need to create greater awareness about the fisheries sector and its role in coastal communities. As she says, it the past the profession used to be handed down from one generation to the next, but that is now changing as the children of fishers go to university and no longer wish to work as fishers. This evolution influences the fishing villages, which

start to decay. To prevent this Ms Garmendia wants to promote how the fishing sector too is evolving, demonstrate how fishers deploy computers, mobile phones, perhaps soon even artificial intelligence, and other technologies in their dayto-day lives, show the huge improvements in working conditions. This promotion she feels will introduce young people to a profession quite different from the one they imagine and perhaps give them something to consider.

Through its Kofradia-Itsas Extea project the PO also tries to add value to the catch and get a higher price for the fish caught. In this way, another project activity investigates the potential of developing products more attractive to the younger generation such as burgers and croquettes made from bonito and anchovy. The response to these products is then tested at the PO’s own restaurant where diners can taste them. They have even developed their own logo for the products with the brand name “Kofradia-Itsas Extea”. As part

of the project the PO organises activities for children, workshops, for example, that teach them the history of the port; or tours to nearby islands to familiarise them with the fish species usually found along the coast. One of the workshops takes place on board a vessel where children learn about the tools and equipment that a fisher uses while working, while another takes them fishing in a boat to show them the reality of a fisher’s life. Such experiences teach them to fish sustainably. Fishers, says Mr Moises, the vice-president of

Mr Moises, Vice-president, Miren Garmendia, Director, Opegui producer organisation in Gipuzkoa, and Leyend Velilla, Communication Manager, Kofradia-Itsas Extea.

the PO and a fisher himself, operate sustainably and wish to leave behind a thriving sea for future generations. In the past this was never given a value, but now the PO is using this philosophy to create a whole story about the fishers to market and promote them and their catches. And for even greater legitimacy one of the main species caught by the fishers, anchovy, has been certified to the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) standard. But younger people who might consider a fishing profession regard the bureaucracy they must face both at the local and the European level as a further deterrent. Reducing red tape for the sector would benefit existing fishers but also contribute to the longer-term viability of the profession.

Some workshops highlight the work of women in the sector, such as netmakers and net repairers, as without them it would not be possible to fish. At the workshops, attendees can buy locally made products including drinks and food items sold under the PO’s brand, and bags made by the netmakers from recycled pieces of netting. An activity under the project involved restoring the building housing the fishermen’s guild. Built in 1943 the building underwent a renovation and now accommodates the Kofradia-Itsas Extea project.

The impact of warming waters has been largely positive—so far

In Opegui the 74-vessel fleet is divided into two groups: the purse seiners are vessels bigger than 24 m that target small pelagics such as anchovies and mackerel from mid-February to June. From midJune to the end of July or even until October if the quota is available these vessels fish for tuna and bonito some of them using live bait

and others trolling. The other vessels are smaller and work closer to the coast fishing with other gears for mackerel from mid-February to the end of April and then for bonito, hake, monkfish, and turbot. The Basque Country PO and its members work closely with the PO in neighbouring Cantabria since the targeted stocks are the same. There have been changes out at sea, the fishers say. They have noticed species in their catches that they did not use to see in the past. One fisher recounts catching a species that normally frequents the water from around the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa to the Strait of Gibraltar. Tuna too appears closer than they did in the past when fishers would sail further out to target them. For the moment, says Ms Garmendia, the impact of climate seems more positive than negative for us. Another phenomenon she notices relates to the temporal overlap between the two species, Atlantic chub mackerel and anchovies. In the past fishers caught first one and then 5-10 days later the other, while now, before the fishing for one concludes the fishing for the other can start.

Added value products are forced to compete with cheaper alternatives

The PO works with scientists from the local research institution, AZTI, when preparing the production and management plans. The fishers themselves have noticed a slight decline in the size of anchovies, for example, and look to the scientists for answers. But they know that much time and money needs to go into monitoring stocks and that data from many years needs analysing before any answers emerge. Reporting the current situation in real time is not easy, says Ms Garmendia. The fishers are obliged to sell the

catch through public auctions at Getaria, Hondarribia, or Pasaia. These are managed by the cofradias themselves who guarantee the traceability of the catches through the system. The buyers must be registered with the auction if they want to place bids. The system, says Mr Moises, is transparent to ensure a level playing field. Fish is sold fresh. Bonito, if handled properly, can keep for 10 days while anchovies perish much more rapidly. The PO does not have its own processing facilities preferring instead to collaborate with companies that specialise in processing. But because of the restaurant the PO runs it has employed chefs. These develop recipes and products that can be tested at the restaurant and then, if successful, can be manufactured by a processing company. Currently, small volumes of the products developed by the PO are sold to the public, but the process of fully commercialising these products is ongoing. Competition is fierce and other countries have lower costs than we have in Spain, says Ms Garmendia, who feels that Spanish products are subject to requirements that other countries’ products are not. She has taken up the issue at the European level but senses that there are powerful

lobbies that benefit from the current situation.

Upgrading the fleet will contribute to a reduction in emissions

The use of electronic logbooks and other digital technology is widespread in the fleet. Only the smallest vessels that operate close to the coast are still using paper-based reporting. Some of the larger vessels have even installed cameras on a voluntary basis allowing them to be monitored remotely. These efforts are not acknowledged at the European level, Mr Moises feels, as some of the European regulations that govern his fishing are baffling and attempts to change them get nowhere. What he finds most trying is being subjected to the same restrictions faced by fishers who do not fish as sustainably. PO members have started talking with AZTI about energy-saving measures that will contribute to decarbonisation of the fleet, and some projects have been carried out with electric and hybrid motors, but more importantly Mr Moises thinks the fishing sector needs to be gradually restructured to bring capacity in line with the resource, to renew the fleet, and to reduce its carbon footprint.

Some of the value-added products made by Opegui in the framework of its Kofradia-Itsas Extea project.

Netmakers see the benefits of being organised into an association

Women repairing fish nets is an old tradition

In Galicia, an autonomous community in the northwest of Spain, where fishing is an important activity, net-making and repair is carried out by women’s associations. These associations have joined together in a federation, O Peirao, the Galician Federation of Artisanal Netmakers. The federation has eight member associations, of which one is Atalaia, the association of netmakers of Baixo Miño in A Guarda.

The Atalaia association was created in 2005 and initially the women worked on the nets in their homes. They worked with nets that were used on vessels larger than 24 m that fished in the Grand Sole Bank, an area in the Celtic Sea between Ireland and Spain. The main species targeted by this fleet were demersal species—hake, anglerfish, and megrim. They also repaired nets used by inland fishers fishing closer to the coast in smaller vessels. The nets were brought to the women in a large truck that left them in the town square, from where a van would distribute them to the houses of each of the women. At one point the women managed to persuade the town council to give them a place they could work together and for a decade ten women worked in this facility adding the top and bottom lines to the gear and repairing nets.

National federation efforts revive the association at a critical point

Subsequently, the ten women were reduced to three as the others fell ill or retired and the organisation was on the verge of closing altogether. Marina Álvarez contacted the O Peirao federation, of which the Atalaia association is a member, and explained that her association was about to

close due to a lack of members. The response from the federation was to organise courses in netmaking for all the associations in Galicia. This resulted in another four women joining Atalaia so that today they number seven.

Ms Álvarez is delighted at the progress the newcomers have made. They can now do everything independently without having to ask me, she says. For her, the four women who joined not only meant that the association could continue, but also showed

that there was a degree of interest in joining the trade. The association also faces the issue that people do not join but instead work from home without declaring it.

According to Ms Álvarez the reason is that the economic situation is not very bright now forcing people to try and earn money any way they can. Apart from making and repairing nets the women also create other objects from the materials that are left over.

Brooches, bracelets, rings, keychains, earrings, bags, necklaces,

and scarves are among the accessories they make for pleasure— and for pride—and display them in a store in the warehouse, where they work.

Outreach efforts to win support for the cause

Atalaia does more than organise women working with nets, it also promotes the work its members do to the wider public by extending invitations to tour its facilities and to learn about the work,

Netmakers of the Rederas Atalaia association in Baixo Miño, A Guarda, in Galicia. From left, Sara González Pacheco, Sonia Fernández González, Nuria González Adrover, Mila Martinez González, and Marina Álvarez Rodríguez.

profession, culture, and traditions of the netmakers. As part of the promotion the netmakers also conduct workshops for the public including for schoolchildren to introduce them to the world of netmaking and net repair. Apart from creating awareness about the netmaking profession, promotion efforts are intended to trigger improvements in working conditions, social security, health, remuneration, and environmental impact. The women repair all kinds of fishing gear; stationary longlines placed at the bottom, or at the surface, or those where the line and the hooks lie flat on the seabed; pots and traps that are used to fish for crustaceans and octopus; as well as fixed gillnets, curtain like nets that stand upright in the water where the bottom light with the weights runs along the seabed and the top line is kept suspended in the water column with floats. Among the towed gear that is repaired are different kinds of trawls.

Federation activities strengthen the netmakers’ position

At the federation level, O Peirao seeks to regulate nationally the netmaking and repairing profession as well as to ensure that a new generation of netmakers can take over as the older generation retires. At the same time, it also looks for alternative employment opportunities for Galician netmakers, so they have other options if they are forced (or choose) to stop working with nets or if they experience periods of inactivity. Moreover, improving port infrastructure where the networkers operate, and reducing the risk of occupational injuries are two further priorities of the federation. O Peirao can claim several successes that have increased the profile of the

networkers and placed some of their demands on the agenda of the Galician parliament. It has also successfully organised training sessions for the netmakers to improve their skills and thereby their employability. In this connection, it has implemented a professional netmaking certification that will confer a recognised qualification on to a new generation of netmakers who fulfil the prerequisites. A related achievement is a professional accreditation intended for netmakers with experience to gain recognition for their skills and proficiency in the field. To this end it has trained the instructors who deliver the lessons.

Undeclared work is a serious threat to the industry

At Atalaia, the netmakers’ clients bring not only the nets but also all the material necessary to make or repair them, but we do not repair purse seines, says Ms Álavarez, as there are a several ports where purse seines can be repaired. We only assemble new ones. While most of the work relates to nets, there are days when there is no work to be done on nets, so the women switch to making crafts such as imitation jewellery. This is supported by a designer colleague who creates the designs that the netmakers then produce. Netmaking is still the main source of income, however, and it is critical that the nets conform to the current regulations governing, for example, mesh sizes. When there are changes the people selling the nets let us know what is forbidden, but we can also check the legislation, and we take added precautions to be on the safe side. Ms Álvarez uses lamprey nets as an example. These may not exceed 120 m, and so the netmakers make them 116

or 118 m to account for expansion as they age. The netmakers all work manually. Their work, they say, is better than that made by a machine. Ms Álvarez received an order to repair several machinemade nets. Because of the way machines make the nets even repairing them was difficult, she says. The advantage of that is we do not fear competition from machines. What concerns us much more is the undeclared work that people do. That is killing us, she says, and will ultimately destroy the entire industry. The people working illegally not only undercut the wages of those working legitimately, but their actions also make it unattractive for younger people to join the association. The number of people to do the work will gradually reduce as the workers retire and with nobody to replace them the profession will die out, she feels.

Recycling nets contributes to the sustainability of fisheries

As focus increases on abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), biodegradable nets may contribute to a solution to this challenge. Ms Álvarez expects them to become more popular over time. She thinks they will never be fully

Rederas Atalaia

Fishing porto s/n 36780 A Guarda Spain

atalaia-redeirasdegalicia.org

Tel.: 34 +34699 963 250

https://www.redeirasdegalicia.org/ es/asociaciones/atalaia

President: Verónica Veres Tasende

Member: Marina Álvarez

Rodríguez

biodegradable as that would compromise the strength of the net but sees mixtures of biodegradable and conventional materials as an environmentally friendly yet fully functional solution. For the netmakers’ work, more important than the net material is the nets they can acquire from fishers. The women have agreements with the fishers whereby netting that can no longer be used is collected and handed over to the netmakers who make handicrafts from it or can send it locally for commercial recycling that converts it into ropes and nets for mussel farming in Galicia. When the netmakers reuse the nets they also remove the lead weights and recycle them. In general, the work is hard and not well paid, but it is possible to make a living from it. Being part of an association brings benefits in the form of giving the women a voice and greater power when lobbying. Through the association and the association’s membership of the federation at the autonomous community level and of bodies further up at the national level, they managed to negotiate earlier retirement linked to the number of years they had spent working at sea. Since the netmakers formed the Rederas Atalaia association in 2005, they have not looked back.

Total members: 7

Profession: Fabricating and repairing fishing nets, making costume jewellery and accessories from recycled nets

Other activities: Organising workshops for adults and children; conducting courses in net making.

Spain’s biggest mussel PO seeks to sell under its own brand

Galicians should consume even more

The autonomous community of Galicia in Spain’s northwestern corner was responsible for the production of 97% of the country‘s almost 200,000 tonnes of mussels in 2022. This makes it the most important area in Europe for mussel production. Some 1,200 km of the approximately 1,700 km long Galician coastline is characterised by the presence of a series of deep inlets, termed estuaries or rías, where freshwater from rivers mixes with water from the sea. This, together with the action of waves, make these areas particularly suitable for the cultivation of mussels. The warm waters and the high production of phytoplankton on which the mussels feed further favour the production of these bivalves.

Galicia’s association with mussels dates back to the fifth century AD according to some reports. Producers tried different methods of cultivation over the years until the mid20th century, when the practice of suspending ropes from a floating structure was established. This technique has persisted to the present day with steady improvements to the materials and equipment used. Today, mussels are typically cultivated on ropes suspended from rafts and there are about 3,300 rafts in all the Galician rías.

A PO offers its members several benefits at the cost of some autonomy

The owners of the rafts are organised into associations which in turn can be members of a producer organisation. A European PO is established by fishery or aquaculture producers and is recognised across the EU. It is responsible for the day-to-day activities of its members including supplying and marketing the production, using certification schemes to promote the products, guiding the members towards sustainable fishing or aquaculture, and defending the interests of members at the regional and national level. In Galicia, 11 associations of mussel producers with a total of 313 members jointly representing some 579 rafts have joined together into the PO Opmega established in 1986.

Opmega is the Producers’ organization of Mussel from Galicia, the first aquaculture product organisation recognized by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In July 2022, it was recognized as a transnational OP. On average, roughly two rafts are owned by a family, that shares the work and the proceeds from the sale of the mussels. While the producers benefit directly from the production and sale of the mussels, there is a vast network of commercial partners— truckers, ships, mechanics, other companies—linked to the PO and that also benefit from the production. A PO has a distinct philosophy and members must subscribe to this way of working as it involves a certain loss of autonomy for the

individual producer. On the other hand, Opmega offer the producers a degree of stability—charges are guaranteed, payment terms are laid down in advance—and the production volumes that a PO can offer open the door to clients that would stay firmly closed for the individual producer.

Production is on ropes suspended from rafts

The mussel life cycle starts when the sexually mature male and female mussels spawn releasing their gametes, sperm and eggs, into the water. In Galicia, there are two major spawning periods, the main one in spring and a smaller one in the fall. Fertilisation takes place in

the water and the fertilised eggs develop into larvae and then into a veliger that leads a planktonic life for 1-2 months. When a shell length of 0.25 mm is reached the veliger attaches by its byssal threads to a substrate. Attachment after the spring spawning takes place from April to July and after the autumn spawning attachment is from October to February. The veligers can detach and re-attach themselves to another substrate. The young mussels are collected either from natural beds or from ropes that are suspended from the rafts or from hatcheries. As they float through the water the young mussels attach to these collector ropes. Mussels collected from the natural beds are taken to the rafts and attached

The boats used by the producers are typically shallow and wide to accommodate the crane and other equipment needed to harvest, wash, grade, and package the mussels.

to on-growing ropes within 24 hours of collection. The mussels are attached to the ropes manually or by machine which secures the mussels to the rope with a cotton mesh. The mesh is removed after a few days, but by this time the mussels have attached themselves to the ropes with their byssal threads. Farmers place 1.5 to 1.75 kg of seed per metre of rope and the ropes are 6-10 m in length and about 3 cm thick. The ropes are attached to the raft with a thinner string 12-14 mm thick. Some one to three ropes are attached per square meter of raft. At this density the ropes do not touch each other and the flow of the water, from which the mussels draw their nourishment, between the ropes is enough to give the mussels the nutrients they need. The rafts supporting the ropes vary in size from 100 to 500 sq. m and are made of eucalyptus wood. After 20-30 years when it wears out and can no longer be used as a raft, it can be recycled. The same is the case with the floats which are made of iron covered in fibreglass or polyester. Once they reach the end of their life the iron can be reused. One to six floats keep the rafts suspended at the surface and one or two mooring chains attached to an anchor holds them in place. Two chains are the case in areas that are more exposed or where maritime traffic is heavy. The rafts are grouped into areas called parks the locations of which are regulated by the authorities. Rafts in a park maintain an 80-100 m distance from each other.

Cooked items are also part of the product portfolio

At Opmega the harvesting season is between July and December. Ricardo Herbón, the manager of Opmega, says that the mussels taste different depending on the ría they come from. Salinity, nutrients, and currents of the

rivers vary from ría to ría and influence the taste of the mussels. The product takes about 18 months to reach market size which varies from small to large. During this period the lines are checked periodically to monitor growth but also to make sure the lines are not loose and have not moved or snapped. The mussels are harvested whereby a crane on board a vessel hoists a rope of mussels out of the water on to the boat where they are washed and graded by machine. Following the grading the mussels are packed in 10 kg nets which are brought back to the port for depuration. After spending a minimum of 48 hours under depuration the mussels are packaged for the market, typically in nets of one kilo and above depending on the customer. The PO has invested in a commercial kitchen so that the mussels can be supplied cooked as well. The cooked product is packaged in modified atmosphere trays to prolong the shelf life and is mostly sold to the canning industry. But the PO also sells mussel meat to supermarkets and the HoReCa sector. The product, whether intended for industry or for consumers, is usually sold fresh, but the PO also has freezing facilities where the mussels can be individually quick frozen. The PO’s facilities are distributed between, among other towns, Vilagarcia de Arousa, Boiro, Muros (depuration), and even in Valencia on the Mediterranean coast as that is where one of the PO’s important customers is based.

Mussels are both healthful and sustainable

Opmega is one of the biggest producers of mussels in Spain with an annual output of about

48,000 tonnes, roughly a quarter of the total Spanish production. However, production fluctuates and in 2023 it dropped markedly. Mr Herbón believes higher water temperatures may have played a role. Producers noticed that meat yields were lower than in the past, and there were longer periods with toxic algal blooms. The PO works with research bodies and with universities to test hypotheses, and to find how production can be made more efficient. The results are then communicated to the producers to have them validated. This is a long drawn-out process but is really the only way to ensure improvements in efficiency and, in the long run, the continuation of the activity. The ongoing discussion on the impacts of global warming led the PO to commission a study on mussel farming’s carbon footprint. According to Mr Herbón, the study, which was carried out by Bureau Veritas, showed that mussels’ ability to remove nutrients from water and their low trophic status meant that they released a carbon dioxide equivalent of 115 g per kilo of harvested mussels. The report estimated moreover that Opmega producers had a net fixation of almost 1,500 tonnes of carbon equivalent per year. It was also important that the infrastructure, rafts, chains, ropes etc. were made from mostly recycled material. Mussels are thus

Opmega

Avenida de la Marina 25

Building Mexilón de Galicia

36600 Vilagarcía de Arousa

Pontevedra

Spain

info@opmega.com

www.opmega.com

Tel.: +34 986 501 338

Fax: +34 986 506 549

Manager: Ricardo Herbón

an excellent product both from the perspective of health as well as from that of sustainability, says Mr Herbón, and we need to get better at promoting these benefits to encourage consumers to eat more mussels. More mussels per capita are already consumed in Galicia than any other autonomous community (apart from Asturias), but Mr Herbón feels that mussels should be made much more available in Galicia. If we cannot increase consumption here, the place where the mussels originate, how can we increase it in other places, he asks. To this end the PO has produced a recipe book with simple and quickly prepared dishes with mussels and it is exhibiting at different seafood events presenting the product in different formats and organising tasting sessions, among other promotional activities.

Ultimately the PO would like to sell under its own brand at supermarkets to be able to distinguish Opmega mussels from those of other POs. Another idea would be to sell directly to consumers. Mr Herbón is keenly aware that implementing these ideas will call for changes to the organisation, how it works, and to the mindset of the people involved—which will only happen gradually. But the ground for these developments is already being laid.

Activity: Mussel farming and processing

Volumes: 25,000 tonnes/year

Products: Whole mussels, mussel meat

Product forms: Live, cooked, individually quick frozen (meat)

Packaging: Nets, modified atmosphere, plastic bags

Markets: Spain, other EU countries

Channels: Retail, wholesale, canning companies

Sustainability labels for fishing and experiments with new fuels

Port of Vigo contributes to the green transition

The port authorities in Vigo are doing their bit for the green transition but feel more financial support is necessary to encourage the development and deployment of new technologies.

The Port of Vigo is an ancient establishment and even the port authority dates to the late nineteenth century. The growth of the city of Vigo was closely related to the development of the port which today comprises a commercial and a fishing division. The fishing port is Spain’s biggest in terms of fish landings, a status that has been helped by the innovations that the port has introduced over the years. In 1914, for instance, the port introduced a computerised board to conduct auctions. Its location in Galicia, the autonomous community with Spain’s biggest fisheries sector may also have contributed to the port’s status.

Sales of farmed fish are increasing at the port

Fish landings, however, have declined in recent years, a phenomenon seen in ports across Europe.

In Vigo, Carlos Botana Lagarón, the chairman of the Vigo Port Authority and former head of its sustainability division, attributes this partly due to fishers’ uncertainty regarding policy. This makes them wary of placing any bets on the future of the sector.

Mr Botana, who has been in office for just six months, initiated a fishing action plan to revitalise the fishing industry. In the port there are about 5,000 jobs related to fishing including those selling fish at the markets and in the fish shops. The plan identifies the challenges the sector faces and will focus on

greater digitalisation, new markets, and new consumers. We recognise that tastes are changing and that consumers seek products that are easier and quicker to prepare and that the market is becoming more fragmented, he says. The plan will help those selling fish to adapt to these new demands. Among the changes on the market he has noticed is the growing popularity of Norwegian salmon compared with traditional products due to its versatility, taste, a general increase in farmed fish on the market, and strong marketing. The port does not only sell wild catch, but increasingly also farmed products.

Fish has been consumed in Galicia since time immemorial. This familiarity with fish and seafood of all kinds, according to Mr Botana, makes Galicians more open to new species including farmed products. And while in other areas or markets successfully introducing a new species may take time, in Galicia it is less complicated thanks to the long fish-eating tradition. We have a culture of exploiting what we can get and many of the species we consume today, such as haddock and saithe, were new species a few years ago. The port also trades in extra European fish which comes in both fresh and frozen. Volumes

of these have remained largely stable over the years, with perhaps a slight reduction as they move to other sales channels and do not reach the port at all. We see more activity from Asian fleets as well as some displacement of European fleets because they cannot compete with Asian vessels. Fish caught in other fishing grounds is very important for the port of Vigo, and for Europe in general, and Mr Botana is convinced that the fishing agreements the EU makes with other countries improve environmental and working conditions there. The port receives fish from many distant places

Carlos Botana Lagarón, Chairman, Vigo Port Authority

including from countries in western and southern Africa and in Latin America.

New tendency to land fish locally seems a consequence of Brexit

Brexit has brought about changes to the port and Mr Botana mentions two in particular. With the UK leaving the EU, British fish coming to Vigo faces administrative conditions that enforce the separation and that call for greater control and more logistical work. The other change, Mr Botana has noticed, is that the protectionism that Brexit introduced to the UK, seems to be spreading to EU Member States. Some states, for example, want fish to be landed in their ports. This is then transported by truck to Vigo, a bigger and more complex logistical operation than landing directly in Vigo, but which is still worth it because of the number of buyers there. Frozen and fresh fish follow two different paths to the market. Fish from the local estuaries is marketed under a brand, pescadeRías, or fish from the estuary. The idea is to try and differentiate fish that is caught locally in the wild and is healthful and fresher than a product which comes from further away. The unit price for fish under this brand is higher than that for fish caught far out at sea, but the volumes are much smaller. In general, the price for fish is increasing, pushed up by hikes in fuel and food rates, and the war in Ukraine, and this is hitting families’ consumption capacity, especially with regard to fresh fish. Mr Botana fears that over time this potentially could have an impact on consumer health. One way of counteracting the increase in prices would be to reduce VAT on fish products, a step that Portugal has taken. Not only is this likely to give consumption a boost, Mr Botana also feels it would correct the current impression

among consumers that fish is a luxury product meant only for the few, rather than a basic necessity. We also need more campaigns to promote fish consumption.

Sustainability combined with social practices

As a bustling centre for international trade the port is visited by people from all over the world and the authorities try to make it as positive an experience as possible. For example, the administration organised a football world cup with teams populated by the crews from different countries. At Christmas crews are given a Christmas present from the port. The authorities have also made it easier for crew members to file complaints about poor working conditions or illegal activities and there have been instances of vessels being detained until they make the necessary upgrades to the crew’s conditions. Spanish vessels also visit ports around the world and we would like our crews to receive the same good treatment when they arrive, explains Mr Botana. The port also works with the FAO and the network of blue ports to extend the practices concerning treatment of the crew, sustainability, environmental awareness, and inclusiveness from Vigo to other countries around the world. The port works with both the small-scale and the large-scale fisheries and one of the recent developments has been to start the online sale of fish. Fillets of fish will be sold online to be further processed into even higher value products that command a better price. The driving force behind this development, he says, has been the women who do the filleting in their shops. They have a very modern vision of the future of the fish processing industry. The port has launched other initiatives as well, such as training courses where companies handling the fish will

explain how they want it and what is important for them. An advisory board has been established where all the different activities that are carried out at the port are represented—the small stores, traders, vessels, inspection bodies, and processors. The port has also created work groups for landings from the major fishing areas, Grand Sole, for example, or Cape Verde.

Decarbonisation promises to be a long and complex process

A major challenge currently facing the port is the green transition to which it needs to contribute. This EU strategy is intended to reduce emissions further in part by decarbonising energy systems, and by developing sustainable transport solutions, both areas, where the port can make a difference. To decarbonise our activities we must adapt to new fuels, which raises the question of which new fuels should we switch to, Mr Botana asks. Fortunately, Vigo has 16 shipyards as well as centres for technology and so a roadmap for decarbonisation could be developed. The issue was the price of the new technologies that are needed. Just as solar and wind power are subsidised, this too will need subsidies at least until the technologies mature and prices fall, he says. The port is also involved in some experimental projects including one that seeks to produce hydrogen. This will be scaled up next year and used to

supply maritime vessels and terrestrial vehicles. Other long-term projects to produce large volumes of methanol and hydrogen are still in the very initial stages of development. The plan is to develop different energy sources that can then be tested on vessels at different ports across Europe, so that the risk of failure is widely spread. Mr Botana emphasises the need for support for these projects to ensure that the vessels or vehicles that are developed to run on these new fuels are produced in Europe. The fishing industry is nervous about decarbonisation as a single solution for all types of vessels does not exist, some will work better if electrified, while others must use ammonium, and still others, hydrogen. Another worry is refuelling vessels that operate in distant parts of the world. Switching to new energy sources is also about a change in mentality for captains and engineers, more training, and a greater awareness of safety issues.

The green transition is also about the sustainability of fishing which is expected to increase, when the port starts using its own brand, Puerto de Vigo, which will symbolise locallycaught fish and a traditional way of life and occupation. In Galicia, the label Galicia Calidade, which is used on many food products is now being considered for high quality fish that is caught sustainably by the local fleet. These initiatives will ultimately also contribute to mitigating the port’s carbon footprint.

Vigo Port Authority

Tel: +34 986 268 000

Fax: +34 986 268 001

apvigo@apvigo.es

https://www.apvigo.es/en/ paginas/inicio

Fishing Port

Tel: (+34) 986 214 235

Fax: (+34) 986 240 103

Chairman: Carlos Botana Lagarón

Employees: 5,000

Port of Vigo—Spain’s biggest fisheries port

A guarantee for quality and traceability

Taken together Spanish ports handle a greater tonnage of goods than any other country in the EU bar the Netherlands. Within Spain, Vigo is by far the largest port when it comes to handling fish and seafood.

Fishing vessels arrive in Vigo to unload their catches at all hours of the day and night, after informing the port authorities of their arrival. This notification is sent electronically through the digital platform, Gespesca Vigo, and is a prerequisite for landing the fish, says Alejandro Costas, an employee at the port authority. The notification includes information about the catch which also goes to the port police. They carry out spot checks to ensure that the declaration conforms to the cargo they land within a maximum variation of 10. The catches are entered by the skipper into the database and all sales are recorded as well. All the figures must match with the consignments that leave the port and the port authorities can control this.

Today overland routes to transport fish are as important as sea routes

Sales made at this stage are the first sales of the fish. Vessels could be fishing off Mauritania or in Grand Sole and the fish could be landed at the closest port. There it is not delivered to a customer or taken to an auction. Instead, the fish is placed on a truck or another vessel with the necessary documentation and sent to Vigo where it is unloaded. Today, says Mr Costas, approximately half the fish that arrives in Vigo is transported by truck. The advantage for the seller is that Vigo is a large port with all

the facilities to handle the fish and, critically, many buyers—so the fish could end up in either national or international markets. This makes it worthwhile to transport the cargo to Vigo. Smaller ports have fewer buyers in general and of those even fewer will have the capacity to purchase a large volume of fish.

At the Vigo port, Mr Costas says, the fish is carefully monitored; when it arrives, for example, it must go to designated areas, the

volume of the fish is checked as well as the species. Fish from the Port of Vigo is probably one of the most controlled products in Spain, if not in Europe, he avers. The port caters to the operators all along the distribution chain—from large buyers like retail chains and distributors who send the fish to other parts of Spain or export it, to small players who distribute the fish in the villages around Vigo. Fishers must constantly adjust to restrictions placed on their activities

by the rules. The sector feels that European fishers’ production is subject to more rules and regulations than imported fish products. The problem is that commercial agreements signed by the EU with third countries are less stringent than EU regulations governing fishing. Consumer protection in the EU comes at the cost of the producer. So, in the EU mercury levels in swordfish meat may not exceed 1 mg/kg. While in general this situation is good for European

Vigo is by far the most important port in Spain for the landings and sales of fish and seafood.

consumers, it also means that fishers who cannot meet the requirements do not have a market.

Port ensures the quality and traceability of the fish

The port is a hub for the fisheries sector. Port controls guarantee traceability, that the fish is not illegal, and that it meets sanitary standards, but if a consignment fails to meet the standard, correcting it is not the port’s task, but that of the shipment’s owner. The administration introduced a label TTQS (Transparency, Traceability, Quality, Sustainability) that guaranteed complete traceability of the product. Although an initiative of the administration, the sector has seen the benefits and now demands it. Nobody wants to risk that a product reaches the sales line only to be found wanting in quality, so a buyer is willing to pay more for these guarantees. Further down the value chain within the port are skilled fish cleaners and fish preparers, whose services are often sought by the companies buying the fish. Once cleaned the fish is then dispatched to its destination which could be a local market, another city or region in Spain, or somewhere abroad. The port offers a complete turnkey service; when the vessel arrives, it is unloaded, the fishers have a place to stay, the port is close to the city, ship repair services are available, if necessary, sales and distribution, transport and logistics, the port can offer everything. Second sales are also carried out at the port. These are fish that have been bought and then come to the second sales area to be sold. The fish sold here could, for example, have been purchased from a fish farm. The second sales area is divided into spaces where the fish is bought and sold much like in any other market with the port providing the infrastructure for this activity. Importantly, there

is a wide variety of fish on sale both wild and farmed.

Port services include garbage collection and sorting

The port also offers garbage collection services, which in addition to collecting the regular garbage from the arriving vessels also collects and sorts other waste—fishing nets, polystyrene, cardboard, as well as fish bycatch. Much of this material is sold or given away to be recycled into other products, while the fish bycatch which may not be sold is reduced to fishmeal and fish oil. The idea is for the port to have a circular economy as far as possible, says Mr Costas. The fish transport boxes are cleaned, subjected to a microbiological analysis, and then reused; the ice boxes go through a similar process as do the pallets. Not only is there a focus on recycling but also on ensuring that there are no toxins in the boxes. The water that goes into the making of the ice is also tested to ensure that it is safe to be used with food. The port controls for pests and even for seagulls, a menace that is checked with the help of trained eagles. This focus on food safety and quality started some five years ago and meant changes in systems and in the mindset of the employees. But the investments have paid off and have resulted in improvements to the quality of the fish. Fish prices increased too but whether that is because the quality is better or because there is less fish or for some other reason, is hard to say as it is related to multiple factors. While the port is a state-owned company, many of the services are provided by the private sector, and it was necessary for the private operators also to internalise the changes that the port had initiated and to understand that the objective was a higher quality product. Work practices at the port became

A wide variety of species is landed at the Port of Vigo reflecting its importance as a hub for the European fishing industry. Here, a box of surmullet.

more transparent with more information sharing between the private operators and the port administration but also between the different public bodies involved in the running of the port such as the police, coastguard, customs, and the state ministry. Mr Costas also notes an increase in respect for the rules by the fishers.

Joint effort could increase the popularity of fish

The volume of fish being handled by the port has declined, says Mr Costas, for a variety of reasons. Fish and seafood consumption has declined in Spain as people eat differently, spend less time in the kitchen, and look for products that

Port of Vigo

Central Office

Praza da Estrela

36201 Vigo Pontevedra Spain

Tel: +34 986 268 000

Fax: +34 986 268 001

apvigo@apvigo.es

https://www.apvigo.es/en/ paginas/inicio

are easy and quick to cook. Fish is also relatively expensive compared with other sources of protein and at a time when consumers must cope with inflation, they choose to economise on more expensive products. Moreover, landings have been lower, so there is less fish on the market, and prices have gone up. Interest in fishing as a profession is also waning partly due to the regulatory burden, but also because young people are put off by the demands of the job, and can easily choose other, more comfortable, options. Reversing these trends calls for a concerted effort by consumer organisations, the cofradias, the administration, and other stakeholders, and should give a boost to the fisheries sector from which the port also stands to gain.

Fishing Port

Tel: (+34) 986 214 235

Employee at Port Authority: Alejandro Costas

Port facilities: Auction, market for shellfish, market for second sales

Services: Fresh and salt water, electricity, fuel, ice, cranes

Infrastructure: Buildings for shipowners, for processing, for offices

Fisheries and aquaculture in Montenegro

EU accession should boost value

Fishing in Montenegro has a long tradition and is practiced in fishing areas on the coast, on Lake Skadar, and in other inland waters. For Montenegro, as a small Mediterranean country with about 300 km of coastline, fishing, apart from its economic value, has a strong social and cultural dimension, including its impact on the landscape of coastal and inland waters.

The fisheries and aquaculture sector in Montenegro covers a number of activities. It includes commercial fishing in the sea and on Lake Skadar, sport and recreational fishing in the sea and in fresh water, freshwater aquaculture and mariculture, fish processing, and trade in fishery and aquaculture products. Fishing, together with agriculture and forestry, contributes 6.5 to Montenegro’s GDP. Although the contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to GDP is small, the sector has the potential to increase this by adding value to primary production through processing.

Fishing is more than an occupation

Montenegrin fisheries must be viewed in the broader context that fisheries have in the countries of the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea. Here, fishing is not only an economic activity, but has a distinct social component and represents a way of life for the local population. At the same time, there is an exceptional intertwining of fishing with other branches of the economy such as local agriculture (primarily viticulture, olive cultivation, animal husbandry) and tourism. The biodiversity of species, the existence of rivers and lakes of exceptional fishing potential, as well as the Adriatic Sea itself—a source of water for aquaculture facilities, and vital for commercial as well as for sport and recreational fishing—all hint at the potential to improve the fisheries of Montenegro.

VMS

mandatory for vessels longer than 10 m

The Montenegrin fishing fleet is characterised by old, small vessels. The average age of all vessels in the fleet is about 32 years, while the average length is just over 7 m. A small number of vessels has cooling chambers or refrigerators on board, mainly vessels fishing with trawls and large seine nets. All vessels over 10 meters in length are required by national legislation to have a VMS (Vessel Monitoring System). In Montenegro, 10 of vessels have installed VMS, while AIS (devices for automatic identification) have been installed in around 8 of vessels. This significantly increases the safety of navigation and of the fishers. The total capacity of the fishing fleet of Montenegro, as well as the total number of fishing vessels, has shown a slight increase from year to year. There are currently 338 vessels in the fleet, of which 24 are trawlers, 27 purse seiners, 56 longliners, and the rest are vessels that use gill nets.

Montenegro still does not have a single dedicated fishing port. Fishermen moor their vessels in city marinas and in existing ports where several berths are designated for fishermen.

Commercial fishers target a variety of species

The Montenegrin fisheries sector is primarily coastal and with significant scope for further

development. Montenegro’s catch represents only a small percentage of the total catch in the Adriatic and Mediterranean (1-2). The catch of blue fish by commercial fishermen at sea includes sardines, anchovies, mackerel, tuna, bonito, swordfish, and goby. White fish that are targeted include hake, mullet, bream, bogue, sea bream, monkfish, gurnard, common sole,

seabass, seabream, and grouper. In addition, fishers also catch deepwater rose shrimp.

Production costs in the marine fishing sector are high, primarily due to the age of the fleet and the need for constant maintenance and repair of vessels. Labour, including the work of the vessel owner himself, that is, the fisherman, accounts for

A skilled (or lucky) fisherman with an impressive marble trout, Salmo marmoratus

the highest share of costs. Expenses on fuel range from 19 to 39 of the total and are highest in the trawler segment.

Professional fishermen’s earnings are not fixed and depend on the success of the fishing operation, the condition of the vessel, and the gear. The highest earnings are achieved by vessels in the small coastal fishing sector that target high-quality white fish species that are in demand on the market, and at the same time have the lowest costs (fuel consumption, labour, maintenance of vessels, and fishing gear). Although trawlers have the largest catch volumes, their high costs mean their earnings are proportionately lower than those of the coastal fishing segment. On the other hand seiners’ earnings are limited by demand on the market, and there is no organised processing industry to buy up large bluefish catches.

Commercial fishing on Lake Skadar is based on the fishing of several species, of which carp, bleak, and eel are the most important and for which demand on the market is high.

Rainbow trout is the main farmed fish

Freshwater aquaculture is focused exclusively on the breeding of coldwater fish species with the absolute dominance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). There are 24 trout farms, of which 19 are farms with raceways and five with cage systems. The sector employs some 150 workers. By area, the farms can be categorised into large (over 3,000 sq. m) of which there are five; medium-sized (from 1,000-3,000 sq. m), two in number; and small (up to 1,000 sq. m), 17. Although bred intensively, the volume of fish raised per unit area is relatively small—about 25 kg/sq. m. The

MONTENEGRO

largest farm is located on Piva lake and has a cage breeding system producing 100-130 tonnes per year. The total volume of farmed trout produced in 2022 was 721 t.

Over four fifths of the production costs go towards feed, labour, and fry, while water, transportation, medicines, and depreciation account for the remainder.

Some two dozen companies have permits to farm fish and bivalves in the Bay of Kotor. Finfish species produced include seabass and seabream, while shellfish farmers grow mussels and oysters. Of the total volume of production from mariculture, mussels constitute 61, oysters 3, seabream 17, and seabass 20. The total amount of farmed fish and shellfish in 2022 was 366 tonnes.

Recreational fishing is a popular activity

Sports and recreational fishing in Montenegro is popular both among local residents and tourists. The most popular places for sea fishing are Budva and Boka bay. Species caught from the flat coast or in the bay include seabream, seabass, and mackerel. Along the rocky shores of Montenegro, it is possible to catch seabass, barracuda, eel, and mackerel, while bullet tuna and flounder can be fished from a sandy beach or river mouth. Underwater fishing is extremely popular in Montenegro.

When it comes to lakes, popular destinations are Lake Skadar, Lake Biograd, Lake Piva and Lake Plav, and the most popular rivers for sports and recreational fishing are Tara, Mora a, and Lim. Brook trout (Salmo fontinalis), huchen (Hucho hucho), grayling (Thymallus thymallus), and marble trout (Salmo marmoratus) are among the common species caught.

Smoking carp goes back a long way

Fish processing has a long tradition in Montenegro, where fishers have always preserved fish by salting and drying. This gives a distinct taste to the product but also allows the fish to be transported and sold on distant markets. Probably the most famous freshwater fish specialty in Montenegro is hot- or cold-smoked carp. This is a famous delicacy that attracts numerous domestic and foreign visitors to Virpazar and Rijeka Crnojevi a, two of the most famous tourist destinations on the Lake Skadar. In historic times these specialties were consumed at the Austrian court (in the 19th century), as well as at markets in Italy (13th century). The tradition of preparing smoked carp and dried crucian carp has survived to this day, so these products can still be found in the markets of coastal cities.

Currently, there are only two fish processors in Montenegro and their production capacity is small. The fish factory Zeta fish has a wide range of fish products and an annual capacity of up to 10 tonnes. The MM Ribarstvo fish factory has a capacity of 50,000 cans of smoked carp per year. In addition to these two companies, commercial fishermen also deal with other traders, who sell their dried, salted and marinated products on the markets.

Existing consumption levels suggest scope for growth

Lack of auctions means catches are traded through markets or sold directly.

The consumption of fish in Montenegro is extremely small. FAO data show fish consumption to be 6.75 kg per capita. Cuttlefish,

squid, octopus, mussels, and oysters are the most widely consumed seafood. Fresh fish and fillets, frozen fish, smoked, and dried fish are also available. The value chain starts with aquaculture and mariculture producers, as well as commercial fishermen, and importers of fish and seafood. Farmers, fishers, as well as importers of fish sell their products to retailers, supermarkets, and restaurants. There are no auctions, but professional fishermen sell their catches through markets and directly to restaurants.

Montenegro has concluded free trade agreements with several countries. It has fully liberalised trade with all CEFTA (Central European Free Trade Agreement) partners. With the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) of 2008, trade liberalisation with EU members has begun. Montenegro is a full member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The country has a longstanding deficit in the trade in fish and fish products. Imports have grown particularly in the last five years. Official statistical data show that foreign trade (imports and exports combined) in fish and seafood products in 2022 amounted to around EUR26 million, an increase of 33 compared to 2021. Exports amounted to only 0.2. The value of imports in 2022 grew by EUR6.5 million or 34 compared to the previous year.

Sectoral policy seeks to increase production and value

Montenegro has valuable but underutilised resources. Sectoral policy is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, through the Fisheries Directorate. Government policy is based on the EU legislative framework which

is adopted into domestic legislation. Fish catches may not lead to overfishing, and capacity must be in line with the resource. Other priorities include increasing the production of fish and other aquatic organisms (aquaculture), using the potential of the open sea for the mariculture program, increasing processing, improving management resources, the fight against IUU, the protection of native species of fish and other aquatic organisms, product branding, elements of food safety, establishing an investment climate, researching fish and shellfish resources, and introducing new innovative environmental protection systems, and new farming systems.

Gradually moving towards EU integration

Montenegro is a candidate country for EU membership. Chapter 13 for fisheries was opened in 2016, and the latest report1 from the European Commission suggests that Montenegro has still some way to go. The report pointed out that Montenegro needs to finalise and adopt the new fisheries and aquaculture strategy with the action plan on aligning national legislation with and enforcing the EU acquis; adopt the pending legislation on market organisation, structural measures and State aid in fisheries and aquaculture and on governing marine fisheries and aquaculture; and continue to strengthen administrative, data collection, scientific advice, inspection and control capacity.

Montenegro has fully accepted the European method of data collection and processing and actively monitors the Montenegrin part of the Adriatic

Fish catches in Montenegro by main species (tonnes)

Aquaculture production in Montenegro by species (tonnes)

Sea in line with the EU data collection framework (DCF) and the GFCM’s data collection reference framework (DCRF). As a member of the GFCM, Montenegro has implemented relevant regulations related to IUU fishing in its legislation. The fishing monitoring centre, which has been in operation since 2018, enables 24-hour control of vessels at sea and is important primarily from the aspect of the safety of our fishermen. It was established with support from the European pre-accession funds IPA and IPARD.

Challenges exist but the future is promising

Montenegro has significant untapped potential in the fishing sector and currently faces a challenging period of adaptation and adoption of European legislation while at the same time strengthening infrastructure through the construction of fishing ports and through fleet modernisation. The conditions for a more innovative and robust processing sector that supplies the domestic as well as international market are also being created. Protecting and expanding

fish breeding grounds and exploiting the potential to deploy recirculation aquaculture systems are additional opportunities to increase production. Although the sector faces challenges, access to European structural funds will greatly support fishers, fish farmers, and processors to add greater value to their production in the future.

Katarina Burzanović Director of the Fisheries Directorate Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Montenegro

The lack of EU-wide legislation on artificial reefs creates uncertainty

An underused instrument to foster biodiversity

Artificial reefs offer many environmental benefits, but the rules and regulations governing their deployment are inconsistent across the EU. Remedying this may lead to greater utilisation of these structures and a better understanding of their impacts both positive and negative.

The concept of artificial reefs dates back centuries, though the term “artificial reef” itself is a more recent designation. Historical records from the Roman Empire already mention the use of brushwood and stone structures in coastal waters to attract fish. In ancient China fishermen used different materials like stone, bamboo, and wood to create artificial structures which provided habitat for fish and other marine organisms. In indigenous communities of the South Pacific stone structures were created underwater to enhance fish aggregation. All these practices resemble modern concepts of artificial reefs and are considered early forms, since they demonstrate an awareness of the benefits of creating structures in the marine environment to support fishing activities.

Better management of artificial reefs calls for legislative improvements

Since the mid-20th century, interest in artificial reefs has expanded globally, and various materials, structures, and deployment techniques have been employed for ecological restoration, coastal protection, fisheries enhancement, and scientific research. Greater

understanding of the ecological and economic benefits has led to the deliberate creation and management of artificial reefs in many coastal regions, including Europe. Countries, however, need to introduce new rules and regulations to better manage these structures. An updated legal framework must consider environmental and economic conditions, cultural and social backgrounds, the status of fisheries and related areas of activity in marine water, as well as general knowledge on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial reefs. These and other conditions can vary from country to country. For example, the

deployment of artificial reefs in Spain aims mainly to protect specific marine aquatic species, in France the objective is to increase fisheries production, while the United Kingdom focuses on research.

The main purposes behind artificial reef deployment can change over time. In the 1990s most artificial reefs were established for protection purposes, while support for recreational uses like scuba diving and angling only started to appear in 20001. As a result, each country that has deployed these underwater structures has followed its own path in terms of recognition and

usage. The result is a hotch-potch of rules and regulations where neighbouring countries’ rules may contradict each other—and sometimes even within a country the laws may conflict, for instance when different marine waters are considered.

Reefs are currently governed by different legal frameworks

As of today, there is no unified set of regulations governing artificial reefs across the EU. Instead, there are broader environmental, fisheries, and spatial planning regulations, that influence the legal framework

Artificial reefs have many functions including providing shelter, spawning, and breeding grounds for marine organisms, but the legislation governing them is fragmented across the EU.

Zadar Country, Adri.SmArtFish, www.zadarska-zupanija.hr

behind artificial reefs. Marine environmental protection laws aim to secure and set standards for environmental protection, and they also have an indirect influence on artificial reefs. One such piece of EU legislation is the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), which aims to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) of the marine environment. GES defines the environmental status of marine waters where they provide ecologically diverse and dynamic oceans and seas which are clean, healthy, and productive.

Another example is the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), a set of rules managing fisheries activities in the EU, which also has an impact on legislation regarding artificial reefs. Certain countries have specific regulations or guidelines related to the use of artificial reefs in fisheries management, and in many of them this was the main reason to establish a reef. The Habitats Directive and Birds Directive are habitat protection laws aiming to protect valuable and threatened species and habitats. Although not exclusive to artificial reefs, these directives have implications for the protection of marine ecosystems where artificial reefs may be located. The Habitats Directive aims to protect over a thousand species, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, and plants. In addition, it covers 230 characteristic habitat types. The objective is to ensure that these species and habitat types are maintained or restored to a favourable conservation status within the EU, and to allow them to recover and develop over the long-term as well.

Challenges to be overcome when developing new laws

Many EU countries are developing Marine Spatial Plans (MSPs) to manage marine spaces effectively. The inclusion or exclusion of artificial reefs in these plans depends on national priorities and considerations of conservation, economic activities, and sustainable development. Thus, maritime spatial planning is a tool to manage the use of the seas and oceans coherently and to ensure that human activities take place in an efficient, safe, and sustainable way. As many activities take place in Europe’s seas at any given time including fishing, aquaculture, shipping, renewable energy, nature conservation and other uses that compete for maritime space, maritime spatial planning supports EU countries to provide proper legislation on all the activities. While rules and regulations of associated areas can provide some guidance regarding the management of artificial reefs, the artificial reef industry will need to be controlled with more precise laws and standards that are clear, are in conformity with other uses of marine water, and comply with other EU rules, regulations and directives. However, there are various challenges and barriers that need to be faced when developing a coherent legal framework for artificial reefs. These include regulatory challenges, lack of standardised guidelines, limited scientific knowledge, public awareness and acceptance, and socioeconomic challenges.

Complex and varying regulatory frameworks across European countries pose challenges to all users of marine water. Obtaining permits for artificial reef projects may involve navigating different

regulatory requirements, especially when territories of different countries are involved, creating a barrier to streamlined development. The lack of a proper legal background at EU level adds to this. The absence of standardised guidelines on the design, deployment, and monitoring of artificial reefs is another barrier that can impede progress and create uncertainties and misunderstandings for stakeholders involved in such activities.

More research is desirable to better understand artificial reefs

Despite ongoing research, there are still gaps in scientific knowledge regarding several areas of artificial reefs. These include technical conditions, climate change aspects, long-term ecological impacts, socioeconomic features, role in the spreading of alien species, and impact on different marine species. A better understanding of these impacts is essential for making informed decisions and developing more efficient

legislative and management strategies. Moreover, cooperation and knowledge sharing is very limited, though an enhanced collaboration and information exchange among European countries could accelerate a better understanding of the status and role, development, and distribution of artificial reefs. Limited collaboration results in missed opportunities for shared learning and best practices. Socioeconomic impacts of artificial reefs, including effects on local fisheries, tourism, and recreation, must also be carefully considered by legislation. Balancing benefits with potential disruptions is crucial for the acceptance of artificial reef deployment.

Increasing public awareness and acceptance is very important at all times when a new concept is being developed. Lack of public awareness and understanding of the benefits and objectives of artificial reefs can lead to scepticism or resistance from local communities. Thus, as in many cases, public support is essential for success.

Eva Kovacs, eva@eurofish.dk

By hosting plants and other organisms, structures deliberately introduced into the water act as aggregators of marine life.

UKRAINE

Ukraine’s seafood business: Impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine

Niche products with long traditions and memories from childhood

Tamako-Invest LLC is a family-owned business with headquarters in Kyiv, founded by Kievan Jaroslav Novitsky. Eurofish interviewed Archil Tatrishvili, the company’s manager for foreign economic activity and an economist by background, a Georgian by ancestry, the founder’s son-in-law by family status, and a Ukrainian at heart.

This is the sixth in a series of articles in the Eurofish Magazine dedicated to seafood businesses in Ukraine and how they work and survive during the war.

Ukraine’s freshwater resources include over 60 thousand rivers, 50 thousand ponds, 20 thousand lakes, and over 1,100 water reservoirs. All these waters are home to about 200 freshwater fish species, and leisure fishing has always been a popular hobby for Ukrainians. Almost any adult Ukrainian born in the Soviet Union will remember a childhood treat: whole gutted, salted, and air-dried fish, that was caught and prepared by his or her father (mothers fished only rarely). The same treat accompanied by a glass of cold beer was also enjoyed by adults. Times, borders, and lifestyles have changed and now treats from the old days are available at a number of grocery stores, a development that can largely be credited to Tamako-Invest LLC.

Nearly one-third of the domestic market for dried fish

e company was established in 1995 under the name of Aris, and later renamed to Tamako-Invest. In the beginning, the company focused on imports of marinated sprats from the Baltic states, but in

2001 it switched to the production of dried freshwater sh—roach, bream, white sh, rudd, smelt, herring, silver bream, and pike perch, among others. To attract younger consumers, says Archil Tatrishvili, we added a product line for snacks. e sh is skinned, lleted, and cut into strips—same sh but in a more modern presentation.

In 2009 Tamako opened a processing facility in Cherkassy region and today the range of products includes dried, smoked, chilled, and frozen sh. e palette of species comprises 15 freshwater sh sourced mainly from local waters and partly imported from Kazakhstan, and about six marine species being imported from Estonia, Latvia, and Finland. Since 2010 the company’s branded products have been sold through national retail chains. But not only humans can enjoy Tamako’s products: since 2023 sh delights are also produced for cats and dogs so they can dine on dried cat sh, Baltic herring, round goby, salmon skins, and shrimp.

e company employs 130 people and its share of the domestic

Archil Tatrishvili, Manager for Foreign Economic Activity, TamakoInvest LLC

Tamako-Invest LLC

market for dried sh products is over 30 which makes TamakoInvest Ukraine’s largest producer of dried freshwater sh.

Tastes differ

Dried freshwater sh is a niche product popular among Central— and Eastern European consumers, who, through several waves of migration, have spread around the globe. Tamako-Invest started exporting to the US, Canada, and Moldova, targeting this group primarily, but this was not enough. In 2015, the company obtained EU certi cation which grants exports to the countries of the European Union. Understanding that Western consumers do not have a tradition for dried freshwater sh products, the company diversied its exports by adding chilled and frozen sh and cuts, as well as relishes for pets. EU destinations include the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary,

Poland, and Romania. Dried products dominate the company’s exports to destinations outside the EU, while within the EU fresh and frozen sh are more popular. e current split between domestic and international sales is about 50/50.

Family council determines the company’s future

Tamako-Invest is a family-run company, therefore its six adults make decisions about the future of the business. We discuss it both in the o ce and at home, explains Mr Tatrishvili, and even our dog is sometimes part of such meetings, tasting new products! Such councils are important, as we generate new ideas that help the company to stay in the market and develop. We understand that at some point the demand for dried sh will drop and then level o making our products exclusive to a certain group of consumers. We balance

between the decline in demand for one product and the rise in sales of another, and we adapt.

Lack of human resources is one of the major problems during wartime

Shocking—not unexpected, but rather unbelievable—Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the 24 February 2022 initially paralysed Ukrainian businesses, as people were thinking more about their country’s and families’ survival than about their businesses. However, everybody understood the importance of supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the refugees, and the local population. ere was even a competition between businesses over who would provide most support to the army.

From the very early stages of the war, Tamako has been providing help wherever possible. e company has a fund to nance the purchases of equipment for the army, as well as food, clothes, and other necessities for the civilians in need, and this help is not

just a one-time, but a continuous e ort. In general, I don’t like to talk about the problems, says Mr Tatrishvili, but the major issue now is the migration and the lack of skilled sta , as people want to move from the war as far as possible. We try to encourage, support, and create good conditions for old and new sta who have decided to stay in the country.

Can a war teach anyone anything?

We have survived the recession of 2007, the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and, so far, the war. From all this, we’ve learned to work under complicated conditions, explains Mr Tatrishvili, what can be worse and more di cult?! e war has shown us that our business can resist such challenges and remain stable. I hope that our children and grandchildren will be able to continue what we’ve started. I hope they will never experience what we experience now.

Aleksandra Petersen aleksandra@euro sh.dk

After the fish is cleaned, gutted, and salted, it is dried. The final product for human consumption contains 35 to 47% moisture, while the products for pets contain 7 to 14%; for them smaller fish are used without the addition of salt.

Dried freshwater fish products can be called exclusive, as highvolume production is neither possible nor necessary. Such fish is consumed mainly by people from Central and Eastern Europe. Due to recent migrations from this area, demand for these products has increased in Western Europe, Canada, and the US.

Tamako-Invest

Tamako-Invest LLC

Withholding tax has a negative impact on the Norwegian salmon industry

Where is the salmon market drifting?

Not so long ago, salmon was inexpensive and affordable for everyone. Market analysts even talked about the ‘democratisation of luxury’. Those happy times are gone now that the price of salmon has soared. Retailers, smokehouses, and processors complain about price volatility, and many consumers are already giving up the once popular fish. What will happen if the withholding tax comes into effect?

The development of aquaculture has made farmed salmon widely available to consumers in a variety of product forms and has been inexpensive for a long time. This has paid off for all parties involved, with a significant increase in demand and sales volumes. Since 2014, salmon has topped the ranking of the most popular fish species on the German market. Salmon is also in high demand in other parts of Europe. This benefits the Norwegian salmon industry in particular, which has done pioneering work and invested heavily in the development and implementation of sustainable farming technologies. The Norwegian salmon industry has grown rapidly since its inception in the 1960s and today, including its holdings in Chile, Scotland, and other countries, accounts for almost 70 of all Atlantic salmon produced in aquaculture worldwide. In 2021, total global production was more than 2.8 million tonnes of farmed salmon. By comparison, only 705,000 tonnes of wild salmon were caught, mostly in the Pacific.

Steady growth over decades

In order to grow and improve the efficiency of its aquaculture,

Norway has also made important contributions to improving salmon farming and has developed innovative disease prevention technologies that make the use of antibiotics redundant. All this has led to the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) becoming the world’s most produced salmonid species. Between 2005 and 2017, the amount of Atlantic salmon produced worldwide grew by almost 5 annually. However, growth slowed to just 4 after 2017, as Norway’s regulatory authorities were reluctant to issue additional farming licences due to

the unresolved salmon lice problem. Despite the lower growth in volumes, the value of sales of Atlantic salmon produced globally in aquaculture more than tripled between 2009 and 2021! The average market price of salmon was EUR 6.72 per kilogram in 2016, falling to EUR 5 in 2020, but rising sharply after 2021. The average price for 2022 is quoted at USD 7.89 per kilogram. This means that the price of salmon has risen the most compared to other protein-rich animal foods for human consumption. Many salmon buyers are already

wondering how long this will last. Based on market developments, analysts expect prices to fall slightly in the medium term and could stabilise at around EUR 6.15/kg. However, it is doubtful whether this will actually happen. This forecast is not reassuring, as this price would be roughly double that of ten years ago.

However, anyone expecting salmon farmers to be overjoyed by this trend is mistaken. The industry is struggling with problems such as salmon lice, rising feed costs, inflation, and stricter

Market shares of important retail sectors in fresh fish sales in Germany (2022).

environmental regulations. This was exacerbated by the decline in demand during the covid-19 pandemic, as restaurants and other catering establishments in many countries that are major buyers of salmon were forced to close due to lockdowns. This led to a short-term oversupply of salmon and a drop in prices. Fortunately, the impending sales crisis was absorbed by the retail sector, which reacted quickly by making more salmon available and supplying end consumers with salmon to their home offices. However, the temporary low price phase, if it can be called that, was only a brief episode, as prices rose sharply again shortly afterwards, reaching a record high of EUR 11/kg in mid-2022. This dampened the desire to buy in Europe – the EU is the largest and most important market for Norwegian salmon, but not everywhere in the world. Salmon is also becoming increasingly popular on more distant continents. Demand has been boosted in particular by the growing supply of fillets and value-added products.

Few other varieties of fish or seafood can compete with salmon in this respect. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the value of trade in salmon has grown at an average annual rate of 10 since 1976, and since 2013 it has been ranked as the most economically valuable resource in the entire seafood sector in terms of commercial value.

High salmon prices weaken demand in Germany

However, the limit seems to have been reached, at least in Germany, the largest buyer of salmon in Europe in terms of volume. Consumers, who are already price-sensitive and now also suffering from inflation, are less likely to choose their former favourite fish. In 2022, salmon lost its long-standing top position in seafood consumption to Alaska pollock. In an online price check in mid-August 2023, the prices for salmon fillet with skin were EUR 19.98/kg

(lachs-direkt.de), EUR 24.99/ kg (Deutsche See offer), and EUR 28.34/kg (Metro), depending on size and trimming level. Norwegian salmon halves were the cheapest at 16.99 euros/kg at the Lidl discounter, although these were defrosted products. Discounters such as Aldi and Lidl are the main addresses in Germany when it comes to selling fresh fish. They account for exactly 45, i.e. almost half of this market segment. This success was fuelled by the introduction of self-service 300 gram MAP trays, which increased fresh salmon sales tenfold. The average German consumer has little affinity for fish. Per capita consumption of 14–15 kg per year is more than a quarter below the European average. Nevertheless, the importance of the German market cannot be underestimated because of its large population. Direct exports from Norway account for around one-third of the German salmon market. The rest is imported in processed form from EU countries such as Poland, the

Baltic states, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

Driven by the desire for a healthy, high-quality, protein-rich diet, the global demand for salmon is growing. This may be why the Norwegian government proposed a ‘withholding tax’ in September 2022, which should apply from 1 January 2023. Increasing purchasing power and the growing interest of salmon buyers in many regions of the world seem to ensure the future of the Norwegian salmon industry. It has been generating attractive profits for many years. Nevertheless, the question remains whether this promising outlook will not be undermined by the introduction of an additional tax on salmon and trout farmers. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre justified the idea as follows: ‘In Norway, we have a long tradition that the values created through the utilisation of our shared natural resources should also benefit society as a whole.’ Therefore, the time has come to introduce a resource rent tax for the aquaculture industry. The government’s original proposal included a 40 VAT charge for farms producing at least 5,000 tonnes of salmon or trout per year. The tax should only be levied on the added value created during the offshore fattening phase.

Corporate withholding tax reduced from 40 to 25 per cent

As expected, the consultation on the pros and cons of corporate withholding tax proved difficult. Representatives of the salmon industry threatened that the new tax will leave large salmon companies with a lack of incentive to buy more production licences, which could lead to a drop in production and an erosion of the taxable pool. In

Development of aquaculture production of Atlantic salmon since 2010. The comparison of relative production shares shows that Norway maintains its leading position.

the face of persistent political opposition, the coalition government reduced its tax proposal in March 2023, initially to 35 and then to 25, in order to secure a majority in parliament. After eight months of intense debate, it took another four hours in the Storting before the controversial draft was approved by 93 votes to 76. Although the tax rate has been reduced from the originally proposed 40 to 25, combined with existing taxes it doubles the effective tax burden on salmon and trout farming businesses. Therefore, they are unlikely to be comforted by the fact that the additional revenue will benefit the counties where the farms are located. The funds will be used to strengthen environmental protection and finance innovation in aquaculture. Although payments will not begin until 2024, the withholding tax is to be levied retroactively from January 2023. According to a rough estimate based on current salmon prices and exchange rates, the 25 tax contribution is likely to cost the salmon industry around NOK 5.7 billion, or approximately EUR 480 million.

The salmon industry now lacks this money to invest in new farms and modernise existing farms, which would be urgently needed to meet the demand in the global seafood market, and to withstand global competition. The long-term consequences of this for the industry are difficult to predict. Especially as the industry is currently in a phase of technological change. Salmon farms are increasingly being relocated offshore or onshore, which is extremely capital-intensive. Falling yields are discouraging many investors and slowing the growth of production capacity. The Norwegian Seafood Association estimates that in the four

months between the first 40 tax proposal in September 2022 and January 2023 alone, investments worth around NOK 35 billion (EUR 3.2 billion) were postponed or cancelled.

Salmon industry threatened with economic losses

Grieg Seafood and the world’s largest salmon producer Mowi put all new structural investments in Norway on hold shortly after the withholding tax was announced. The new tax is neither sustainable nor forwardlooking, criticises Geir Ove Ystmark, managing director of the Norwegian Seafood Federation, especially as it imposes a huge administrative burden on companies. The months of uncertainty as to the actual level of the tax have already had a deterrent effect on many companies. Publicly traded companies have seen their value fall, hundreds of workers have been made redundant, and planned purchases of license capacities have been cancelled as a precaution. Cermaq, Mowi, and Lerøy Seafood Group have cancelled their investment

projects for land-based salmon farms. Mowi has cut 435 jobs to save costs. SalMar has announced that it will lay off 851 employees. The rigorous move was explained by the government’s salmon tax plans, which allegedly destroyed the market for long-term fixed price contracts. Representatives of the Lerøy Seafood Group also argued that the tax plans would have significant negative consequences for their day-to-day business and long-term effects on Lerøy and the industry as a whole.

In fact, these fears are not entirely unfounded. Immediately after the announcement of the new tax, the value of salmon companies’ shares on the Oslo Stock Exchange plummeted by several billion kroner. Mowi’s share price fell to NOK 140 (EUR 11.82) per share in September 2022, the lowest level in five years. SalMar and Grieg Seafood share prices almost halved within a few days. It was only after the agreement in the Norwegian parliament and the announcement of the 25 tax rate that the share prices of the three companies rose again. However, the salmon industry is already facing new difficulties.

The Norwegian government has announced that an independent committee will calculate and set the corporate withholding tax annually on the basis of salmon prices. This ‘Salmon Tax Pricing Board’ should include at least five experts, who will also take various qualities, fish sizes and contract and spot prices into account when determining prices. Fixed tariffs set by the Pricing Board would simplify the bureaucratic burden on tax authorities and aquaculture businesses.

Fixed tax is not expedient

However, the salmon industry is critical of this idea and instead insists that the tax rates should be based on the prices actually achieved. Salmon is not a uniform product, but comes in different sizes and qualities, with different types of contracts and end markets. As a result, fish of the same size and quality may be priced differently on international markets. This requires a differentiated view of the price landscape. Processed salmon is usually sold under fixed-price, fixed-volume contracts, which are often below

Atlantic salmon price development in the three main producing countries since 2017.

the reported spot price. Even these few examples show that salmon pricing is much more complex than in other industries, for example in some technical areas. An external panel, which calculates average salmon prices from Nasdaq data, cannot adequately reflect this diversity. The Salmon Tax Pricing Board cannot exclude with sufficient certainty the possibility that a company may have to pay tax on income that it has not earned.

However, regardless of the specific decisions taken by the Norwegian government, it is clear that a corporate withholding tax will reduce the profits of the salmon industry. This means that it will have less of its self-generated capital and its attractiveness

to investors will gradually diminish. The impact this will have on access to fresh capital, which is urgently needed for innovation in the salmon sector, is currently unforeseeable. The salmon industry fears the economic impact on downstream industries such as feed manufacturers, wholesalers, and primary processors, all of which could gradually weaken the market position of Norwegian salmon. This, in turn, could affect the price of salmon and the profitability of the industry as a whole and lead to an erosion of Norway’s competitive advantage.

All signs continue to point to growth

While some of these arguments are perfectly understandable, the

drama of the scenario painted seems exaggerated. Despite the new corporate withholding tax, Norway will remain Europe’s most important supplier of salmon and a dominant player in the global salmon industry. In 2022, Norway’s salmon industry achieved record export revenues of NOK 105.8 billion (around EUR 9.7 billion), an increase of 30 compared to the previous year. Salmon remains in demand worldwide, and demand is likely to continue to increase.

In 2022, the global salmon market amounted to just over 3.5 million tonnes (farmed and wild salmon combined) with an estimated market value of USD 30.87 billion. The forecasts for the compound annual growth

rates (CAGR) differ slightly. However, both IMARC Group (plus 3.54 annually over the period 2023–2028) and Research and Markets (plus 3.9 annually over the period 2023–2027) expect a long-term upward trend. If these projections are correct, in 2027 or 2028 the global salmon market will be worth just under USD 38 billion, with 4.3 million tonnes of wild and farmed salmon. A very promising outlook, especially for Norwegian salmon farmers. What this means for salmon prices, on the other hand, is another matter. For the buyers of salmon, i.e. the smokehouses, the processors, the fishmongers and, ultimately, for the end consumers, there is probably not much cause for optimism in this regard. Manfred Klinkhardt

Withholding tax applies only to the added value generated during the offshore fish fattening phase.

Automatic systems – Effortless, fast and efficient

Can robots be incorporated into fish processing?

Fish and seafood are delicate food products that require careful handling. The fishing industry has only minimally implemented automated systems, or robots, into seafood processing in comparison to other industries. However, given the increasing challenges of staff shortages, escalating costs, and supply fluctuations, the fish industry must now explore the possibility of utilising automated systems and think seriously about them.

Fish are a natural commodity that exists in a multitude of species and sizes, but unfortunately, they are prone to spoilage very quickly. This has a significant impact on processing and storage procedures, which in turn affects the quality and safety

of aquatic products. In the realm of fish processing, speed is a crucial factor. However, this often presents challenges due to staff shortages or fluctuating landing data. Despite these challenges, the level of quality requirements by the customer continues to rise,

placing immense pressure on processing companies. There is an urgent need for action in nearly all areas, including sorting, various processing steps, packaging, storage, and shipping of the products. Similar challenges exist in other industries, where innovative

technologies are increasingly being utilised to replace human labour, maintain precision, and enhance competitiveness. At the core of this transformation are intelligent processing machines, particularly robots, whose performance is constantly improving

A robotic system that picks up the product and places it in packaging. Although a simple manoeuvre for a human, this is highly complex for a machine. Engineers must take very many parameters into account when designing such a system.

Marel

thanks to image recognition systems, artificial intelligence and sensor technology. Where simple mechanics once prevailed, today, self-learning systems are often employed, enabling a partnership between human and machine.

Due to the increasing global demand for industrial robots, an international competition has emerged for the best solutions. In 2022, European Union member states alone installed approximately 72,000 units, representing a 6 increase from the previous year. Historically, the automotive industry has been the primary consumer of industrial robots. Everyone is probably familiar with images of deserted production halls where robots accurately assemble or paint car bodies, seemingly all controlled by some magic hand. However, robot technology is now being utilised in other sectors such as metal, machine, plastics, and chemical industries. With the rapid advancement of robotics, these remarkable machines are taking on more and more tasks. Robots are more precise and versatile than humans, working tirelessly around the clock without fatigue or shaky hands. Furthermore, modern robots can be just as sensitive as human workers.

Science fiction becomes a daily reality

The emergence of science fiction as a daily reality is a phenomenon that has been long in the making. In 1921, the writer Karel Čapek introduced the concept of humanoid robots in his drama R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots), coining the term "robot" from the Czech word robota (slave labour). The play depicts an unscrupulous entrepreneur

who seeks to replace his workers with artificial beings. Čapek‘s vision of human-like machines has continued to shape the public imagination to this day. Such robots in human form already exist in certain fields, such as the care of the elderly and catering, but they constitute only a small fraction of the spectrum. In fact, robots in everyday life often have a vastly different appearance, such that they are no longer immediately recognizable as such. For instance, mobile robots are now used to mow lawns and vacuum homes, defuse mines, plough fields, and transport materials in various industries as autonomous carriers. Not all robots have arms or resemble humans, but they are increasingly important in relieving humans of heavy, tiresome, boring, dirty, or dangerous work. Some even interact directly with humans, as in the case of “cobots” (a composite of “collaboration” and “robot”), which are designed to work closely with humans.

Despite the growing use of robots in various industries, the fish processing industry has yet to fully embrace this technology. Much of the work is still carried out manually, as this allows for better consideration of the individual characteristics of the fish. Even in areas where machines are already in use, they typically require manual feeding. Fully self-sufficient processing lines, in which humans only perform control and supervisory tasks, are exceedingly rare. However, there are certain aspects of fish and seafood processing that could benefit from automation. Some areas literally “cry out” for the use of intelligent machines. This is because some activities are monotonous and repetitive and the working conditions unpleasant and uninviting. Severely cold

rooms, humid air, slippery floors and sharp cutting tools can even pose a health hazard to employees. The volatility of supply chains also causes problems. As fresh produce arrives or market demand suddenly picks up, action must be taken quickly, which makes working hours difficult to predict. Under these conditions, it is not easy to find suitable personnel, especially since the rise of labour costs. As wages rise, some producers have relocated labour-intensive processes to countries with cheaper production costs. However, this leads to an increasing number of protests in their respective countries over job losses.

The potential of robots is only selectively used

In the medium term, greater mechanisation and automation of fish processing is unavoidable. With fish species such as salmon, herring or mackerel, which are available in large quantities in approximately equal sizes, mechanical processing has long been common. This is more difficult with non-homogeneous catches and fish of different sizes, which first have to be laboriously sorted before they can be processed. This is currently still mostly done manually, but it could

Robots could relieve humans of having to do repetitive and physically demanding work in cold, damp environments.

just as easily be done by robots. With intelligent image recognition systems, sorting objects of different types, textures, shapes and sizes according to defined criteria is no longer an unsolvable problem. Both robust products such as deep-frozen scallops and sensitive fresh fish and even delicate items such as breaded fish fingers can be handled quickly and gently using flexible end-of-arm tools (EOAT) with suitable sensors and adapted grippers. It should no longer be an unsolvable problem for intelligent systems, which can correctly identify objects and their position in boxes or on a conveyor belt and safely grip them, to be supplied to this precisely-targeted machine processing.

A worthwhile area of application for intelligent, self-learning systems and robots is the filleting of fish. Mechanical filleting machines today already cut very precisely and with high yields, but in the end, they often still work through routines that have been bluntly set. Individual differences between each animal are hardly taken into account. Experienced skilled workers still achieve an average of one to two percent higher yields when hand filleting. However, modern computer vision technology makes it possible to measure moving objects from a distance. With this support, for example, automatic beheading and filleting machines can be precisely adjusted to the shape and size of each individual animal. This fine adjustment takes place in fractions of a second in automated systems, which guarantees a very high working speed. The image processing software controls the knives of the filleting machine and ensures optimal cutting, which significantly improves the fillet yield. Such robots not only support fish processing, but also represent an

entry into the complete automation of processing systems.

High requirements make it difficult to use

The utilization of intelligent systems and robots in fish processing remains a challenge due to the high demands of the industry. While the benefits of such technology are compelling, the inadequate supply and high acquisition costs of these systems, coupled with the rigorous requirements of fish processing, make it a difficult field of application. The harsh conditions of cold and damp rooms, exposure to salt, vinegar, and fish slime, pose a significant strain on the technology, particularly the sensitive electronics and sensors. The high hygiene standards within the food sector are added on top of this. Everything must be easy-to-clean and disinfect so as not to create a breeding ground for bacteria or other germs. This is a challenging task, especially with robot technology, which often features joints, cables, and hydraulic hoses. Nonetheless, viable solutions do exist. The Norwegian research company Sintef employs the six-axis robot VS-087 from Denso Robotics for fish filleting. The robot uses fine sensors to precisely measure and analyze each fish, allowing the computer to determine where the knife should be applied and where skin and bones remain. The robot also identifies and separates unsightly blood spots accurately. Marel‘s FleXicut platform utilizes X-ray technology to detect remaining bones in fillets, which are then removed cleanly using a fine, highpressure water jet.

The path towards achieving fully automated processing chains for fish and seafood is still relatively lengthy, however, it is no longer an unattainable vision of the future. A plethora of potential

applications are being developed in the areas of packaging and palletizing of fish products, although several delicate work steps must also be addressed. At the fish international trade fair in Bremen, K-Robotix and its partner team unveiled a packaging system for smoked fish that utilises industrial robots from Kawasaki and Toshiba. The first robot lines Styrofoam boxes with foil. The second robot places the fish in the prepared boxes, which are then stacked on pallets by the third robot. What appears to be a simple process in theory is an enormous challenge in practice. Smoked mackerel fillets are susceptible to breakage and must be handled with care to ensure they reach their packaging undamaged. The most challenging aspect of the system is the robot, whose gripper is controlled by an image processing system. The camera captures the contours of each individual fillet and calculates their focal points to position the gripper accurately. This is an exceedingly complex task, as even a peppercorn or a spot of fat on the grill can interfere with the image recognition software. Additionally, the gripper must not grasp too tightly. Consequently, the cost of controlling the robots is exceedingly high. Experts estimate that the cost of the necessary peripherals is approximately three times the price of the robot.

The feasibility of industrial applications has been demonstrated through various examples, such as the impressive results achieved by the IPL robot from Marel. This robot can be configured for numerous pick-and-place applications in fish processing, including the handling of both fresh and frozen fish or portions, which are taken off the conveyor and placed directly into trays or thermoformer bags. The robot‘s

image processing system recognizes important features such as size, position, and orientation of the products and turns them in the correct direction if necessary. Marel also offers intelligent robotic solutions for packaging small-piece fish products that need to be combined to specified target weights, with the RoboBatcher series. The robot‘s sophisticated grippers ensure that even delicate fish products are not damaged during packaging. The state-of-the-art dosing software “batches” the product close to the target weight with minimal wastage.

Similarly, KUKA robots have been successfully employed in palletizing fish crates at Pakfish in Ruska, Poland since 2020. They are then frozen and serve as a buffer for other fish processors, especially canners. In order to meet the high demand, up to 80 tons of fish every day have to be packed in boxes weighing around 10 kg and stacked on pallets. The robots have relieved employees of physically demanding and tiring work, while also offering enormous potential for the retail trade, particularly in the area of packaged fillets in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). These products are popular with consumers because they have a predictable calculated weight, can be personally selected by the customer without any service personnel, and can often even be prepared in the retail box. This has led to significant sales increases, especially since the possibilities in this area are far from exhausted. Just how important MAP products have become is demonstrated by the sales success of salmon in discount stores, where the customer-friendly 250 and 300 gram packs have become a popular item. This has noticeably boosted sales volumes of fresh salmon, even though MAP trays

are said to account for less than 10 percent of the total market. With portioning and packaging robots, this profitable marketing channel could certainly be significantly expanded not only for salmon but also for other fish species.

Consequently, what applies to the packaging and palletizing of fish products also applies to the reverse process, unpacking and depalletizing. Robots can relieve humans of the burden of handling and emptying large fish boxes, cardboard boxes, and heavy insulating tubs. In some salmon processing companies, depalletizing robots are already in use, which can empty two cartons at the same time and supply two processing lines with their contents. Robots can also make a contribution to automating the process chains when it comes to infeed of raw materials.

Novel areas of application are continuously emerging

A promising domain for industrial robots is the cleaning and disinfection of processing plants. The stringent hygiene requirements in food processing companies render this task an essential but mostly unpopular permanent responsibility. Presently, machines and premises in fish processing are predominantly cleaned manually. The daily repetitive cleaning work is arduous, relatively costly, and poses a certain risk to staff and the environment due to the use of hazardous disinfectants and other chemicals. Despite professional routine and experience, human error occasionally creeps in, resulting in poor hygiene, endangering food safety, and necessitating costly, image-damaging product recalls for the producer. Such risks can be mitigated by employing

robots. If the cleaning robots are appropriately “trained,” i.e., programmed for the spatial conditions and particularly critical corners, they execute all the specified tasks according to the best practices of industrial cleaning. Always with the same care, without tiring or getting distracted. Their use can even be environmentally friendly and material-saving because robots do not waste any water and precisely maintain the programmed concentrations of the cleaning agents.

Modern cleaning and disinfection robots should even be capable of reacting interactively to different bacterial contaminations. They use sensitive sensor technology to measure the concentration of germs on the surfaces of the machines and can rework the contaminated areas accordingly. Tests have demonstrated that when it

comes to cleaning fish processing plants, robots perform as well as human cleaners with 15 years’ experience, as measured by the reduction in bacterial counts.

However, particularly high expectations rest on cobots, those collaborative robots that support people in many jobs and improve productivity. Cobots can be utilised for a variety of different applications, from pick-and-place jobs to feeding processing machines to packaging the finished products. Since cobots act “intelligently” and stop immediately when touched, they do not pose any danger to humans unlike conventional industrial robots, which enables direct cooperation. Innovative features such as machine vision should soon even enable cobots to carry out quality controls. All this demonstrates that robots also have a promising future in fish processing! Manfred Klinkhard

Automated slicing machines are programmed to slice a fillet very precisely in seconds. The machine automatically adjusts to the size and shape of the fillet to give the best yield.

Thermal processing of lying products with the REICH AIRMASTER

Smart airflow technology increases the quality and yield of fish products

Fish is a valuable product. It is diverse and challenging in the variety of thermal processes used to treat it. Homogeneous and efficient drying and thermal treatment are essential for perfect product quality, optimal yield, and consistency of the final product. Ideally, the airflow should be parallel to the product, so that the air can flow over it with the least possible resistance, transferring heat and absorbing moisture efficiently.

Typical lying products are fish fillets such as cold smoked salmon. Regardless of the specifications, the manufacturers of these products have the same goal: to achieve high trolley loadings for the most efficient production possible.

With lying salmon fillets and a high number of levels (typically 26 on a two-meter-high trolley), there is nearly no space left for the air to flow over the products evenly if the smokehouse works with vertical airflow. This also applies to vertical airflow systems with alternating air flaps to vary the airflow on the two sides of the chamber, as the vertical airflow component still predominates.

A leader in horizontal cross-flow knowhow

Therefore, systems with proper airflow technology that treat the products with absolutely horizontal airflow are essential. These so-called horizontal cross-flow systems work according to the principle that air must be flowing parallel to the product in order to ensure uniform and optimal treatment of all fillets at the same time.

Having introduced this technology already more than 20 years ago,

REICH is today the global leader in the area of thermal food processing systems with horizontal crossflow. Numerous references around the world impressively confirm REICH’s expertise in this field.

Systems in the REICH AIRMASTER® UKQ series cause air to flow absolutely horizontally from one side into the treatment chamber of the system and suction it out again on the opposite side. The direction of airflow changes at variable intervals. As a result, the airflow covers all levels of the trolleys evenly, and there are no areas that are under- or overdried. So the operator can control and adjust the weight loss exactly to his requirements. Losing yield unnecessarily belongs to the past.

When it comes to uniformity and effectiveness, the AIRMASTER® UKQ AIRJET is considered the benchmark in the thermal treatment of lying products. This precision increases profits by ensuring maximum yield.

Loading capacity can be increased substantially

Depending on the product, up to 42 levels per trolley are possible. In comparison to commonly available systems, it is possible

to achieve double the loading capacity for many products. Combined with shorter process times thanks to the outstanding air circulation volume, the system can even achieve significantly greater increases in capacity.

You can convince yourself of the advantages of AIRMASTER® UKQ

systems in the REICH technology centre: ask for an appointment to be inspired by our solutions for your product.

Contact:

REICH Thermoprozesstechnik

GmbH

sales@reich-germany.de

www. reich-germany.de

The REICH AIRMASTER® UKQ AIRJET offers uniform smoking of lying fillets thanks to the horizontal cross-flow of air in the chamber.

DIARY DATES

23-25 April 2024

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global *

Barcelona, Spain

Tel.: +1 207 8425504 customerservice@divcom.com www.seafoodexpo.com

26-30 August 2024

AQUA2024 *

Copenhagen, Denmark mario@marevent.com www.was.org

14-15 May 2024

Aquaculture UK

Aviemore, Scotland

Tel.: +44 1453 836363 carvonio@divcom.co.uk www.aquacultureuk.com

4-6 September 2024

Seafood Expo Asia

Singapore

Tel.: +1 207 8425504

customerservice@divcom.com www.seafoodexpo.com

18-20 June 2024

Seagriculture

Torshavn, Faroe Islands

info@dlg-benelux.com https://seagriculture.eu

11-13 September 2024

Polfish *

Gdansk, Poland monika.pain@mtgsa.com.pl https://polfishtargi.pl/en/

28-29 June 2024

Aquaculture Congress

Athens, Greece

Tel.: +30 210 9219 948 info@ambio.gr www.aquaculture-congress.com

1-3 October 2024

Conxemar *

Vigo, Spain

conxemar@conxemar.com

https://www.conxemar.com/en/exhibition/

10-12 October 2024

Future Fish Eurasia *

Izmir, Türkiye

Tel.: +90 212 347 10 54 info@eurasiafairs.com www. eurasiafairs.com

18-20 September 2024

IceFish *

Kópavogur, Iceland

ttattum@mercatormedia.com

Tel.: +44 1329 825335

https://www.worldfishing.net/icelandicfisheries-exhibition

10 – 13 December 2024

AlgaEurope 2024

Athens, Greece

info@dlg-benelux.com

https://algaeurope.org/

* Eurofish will be attending

Add your event to www.eurofish.dk

front

EasyCan

FIAP.

GlobalGap

Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition.

MSC Cargo

NOMA Nowicki machinery.

Polfish

Reich.

Salmco

Back cover

Nobbingmachines andAuto-packers forsardineandmackerel

VredenburgSouthAfrica

Mobile: +27 83 2620362

E-mail: easycancc@gmail.com

Website: www.easycan.co.za

Nobbing down to 110 pcs/kg Filleting down to 100 pcs/kg Up to 450 fish pockets per min

Slånbärsv.4, SE-386 90 Öland Sweden info@seac.se WWW. SEAC.SE

The specialist in fishbox compactors and recycling

Tel. +45 97371799

runi@runi.dk www.runi.dk A/S

SALMCO Technik GmbH

Robert-Koch-Straße 19

D-22851 Hamburg-Norderstedt

Tel.: +49 40 7131472

Fax: +49 40 71370166

info@salmco.com

www.salmco.com

Pick up your copy at the Eurofish stand 2A203 at Seafood Expo Global, Barcelona, 23-25.04.2024

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