20 minute read
International News
by Eurofish
GFCM-Lex helps Albania fi sh more sustainably
Albania along with Turkey and Tunisia have been selected by the GFCM to pilot a project creating an online repository for fi sheries and aquaculture legislation in the Mediterranean. GFCMLex, as the repository is known, is intended to harmonise national legislation at the regional level and make it accessible to policy makers, researchers, the general public, and fi shers. Each of the countries selected for the pilot represents a Mediterranean subregion—the Adriatic Sea, central Mediterranean and eastern Mediterranean, respectively. Th e next phase of the project will involve additional countries with a view to covering all the 21 countries in the Mediterranean by 2022. GFCM-Lex provides background information on fi sheries and aquaculture and on relevant decisions adopted by the GFCM, connecting national legislation to GFCM decisions. Th is information is available in English, French or the national language of the country covered. GFCM-Lex is already impacting the national legislation in participating countries. In Albania, for example, administrators have used the repository to identify gaps in their existing legislation and update it in line with GFCM recommendations. Th ese actions are helping to protect vulnerable species and support small-scale fi sheries while addressing issues such as bycatch and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fi shing.
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Albania, Turkey, and Tunisia will create an online repository for fi sheries and aquaculture legislation on the Mediterranean that will be extended to all 21 riparian countries.
Estonia: Purtse port, Estonian Public Broadcasting programme win fi shing achievement awards
For the second year running, the Fishing Achievement of the Year was selected under the aegis of the Fisheries Information Centre. Awards are handed out in two categories: the people’s choice and the grand prize. Candidates for the people’s choice can be nominated by anyone, and everyone living in Estonia is eligible to vote to decide the winner. Candidates for the grand prize are nominated and the winner selected by a jury of experts, including representatives from ministries, fi sheries associations and institutions of higher education. Last year the people’s choice winner was the removal of a dam on Sindi River, which opened access to new high-quality spawning areas. Th e grand prize last year went to the Paldiski fi sh meal component factory.
Th is year, Estonians voted for the restoration of the little Purtse fi shing port. It was a bit of a dark horse, but this victory showed that small harbours play an important social and economic role in coastal areas when it comes to preserving fi shing culture and traditions. Ports have also long ceased to be the domain of fi shermen alone— they are increasingly becoming community cultural hubs. Th e jury’s selection for grand prize was Estonian Public Broadcasting programme Osoon. Named after the Estonian word for ozone, it is a long-running (since 1993) nature and environmental programme on Estonian television. In recent years, topics related to fi shing and maritime issues have been covered frequently. In 2020, a wide range of topics were covered: microplastic as a source of marine pollution, alien species in aquatic environments, various fi sh species such as river lamprey, sea trout and Atlantic sturgeon. Eel migration, fi sh species of the Narva River, and youth fi shing camps were also featured, among many other topics. In 2019, Osoon also covered fi sh farming, seaweed, and freshwater pearl mussels. It is a pleasure to see scientists discuss their work, and it is gratifying that Osoon seeks to profi le a number of scientifi c research projects and fi ndings for its viewers, fostering a positive image of the fi eld and contributing to public interest in the sector.
Th e Fisheries Information Centre will continue to organise competitions in the years to come because it is one way of acknowledging and highlighting those who contribute to the fi eld.
The restoration of Purtse fi shing port, a small harbour on the north eastern coast of Estonia, won the public’s votes for the 2021 Fishing Achievement award
USA: Global Aquaculture Alliance changes name
Th e Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), an organisation promoting responsible and sustainable aquaculture practices, and the developer of the Best Aquaculture Practices standards, has changed its name to Global Seafood Alliance. Th e new name better refl ects the organisation’s growing involvement with capture fi sheries through the development of the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard and the Seafood Processing Plant Standard.
Th e change in name follows the merger of the GAA with its sister organisation, Global Seafood Assurances (GSA) which was launched in 2018 to address assurances related to environmental responsibility, social responsibility, food safety and animal welfare for farm-raised and wild-caught seafood. GSA works with existing standards that meet Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative and Global Food Safety Initiative requirements but will also develop standards where none exist.
Denmark: Thawing permafrost may lead to cooler groundwater
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the US Geological Survey have discovered that rising temperatures have an unforeseen eff ect on small water bodies in the Arctic. As global warming melts the permafrost, frozen Arctic soil, creeks, streams, and small rivers that fl ow into larger lakes and coastal waters seem to be getting colder. Th e researchers discovered that as the permafrost thaws, groundwater runs deeper becoming cooler than when it runs at the surface, according to the University of Copenhagen’s Faculty of Science. Th e permafrost exists just below the grounds surface and when it is intact groundwater runoff from springs and mountains tends to fl ow above it, where they get warmer during the summer months. When the permafrost melts this runoff sinks deeper into the ground, where it cools before joining bigger rivers, and streams, and lakes. Th e scientists placed over 60 sensors in diff erent streams in areas both with and without permafrost. Th e data from the sensors showed that water in the areas without permafrost was colder than in those with permafrost. A computer model calculated that the diff erence in temperature was signifi cant. In summer average temperature would be 11 degrees in areas with permafrost against 4 degrees in areas without. While the research was carried out in northwest Alaska, the researchers were confi dent that studies in other parts of the Arctic with similar landscapes would not give diff erent results.
Th e change in temperature may also have an impact on the fi sh species, including salmon, grayling, and sculpin, that populate these water courses. Fish biologists from the US Geological Survey suspect that the cooler water may limit how large a fi sh grows. In addition, run off from areas of melting permafrost could contain higher levels of carbon and nutrients aff ecting the aquatic environment.
Melting ice is not the only consequence of global warming in the Arctic. A melting permafrost is thought to make ground water colder too.
Turkey: Pandemic has little impact on Turkish capture production
Th e Turkish fi shing industry exported products worth over USD1bn in 2020 despite the pandemic and the one-month ban on fi shing for anchovy in part of the Black Sea, reports Bursa Hakimiyet. Altogether, 830,000 tonnes of fi sh were caught in the 2020-21 season including anchovy, haddock, turbot, horse mackerel, sardines, and sprat. Th e fi sheries law was amended last year to stiff en the sanctions for illegal fi shing. Despite the higher penalties and the over 176 thousand inspections carried out, 2020 saw a decrease in the fi nes imposed. Transgressions included poaching, lack of fi shing licenses, and sales of illegal fi sh. From 15 April to 31 August fi shing is prohibited in Turkish waters, however vessels that want to fi sh in international waters can obtain a license from the ministry of agriculture and forestry. During the closed season fi shers are expected to maintain and repair their nets and vessels.
Italy: FAO, IMO launch global Initiative against marine litter
Litter in the ocean, particularly plastic litter, is an increasing challenge. Millions of tonnes of plastic waste are carried by rivers into the sea. And this refers only to the large and visible plastic pollution, macroplastics. Th ese objects represent only a part of the problem because hidden from view deeper in the water column or on the seabed is more plastic, for example, lost or abandoned fi shing gear. Th e challenge does not end here for tiny particles of plastic (micro- and nanoplastics) are also to be found and because they are so small they are even present in the organs and tissues of marine organisms. Acknowledging the gravity of the issue, the FAO in partnership with the International Maritime Organisation and 30 countries recently launched an initiative to clean up the world’s oceans. Funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), the GloLitter partnership will assist developing countries to identify opportunities to prevent and reduce marine litter, including plastic litter, from the maritime transport and fi sheries sectors. Th e project aims to decrease the use of plastics in these industries and identify opportunities to recycle plastics. Th e project will study port reception facilities for their ability to receive and process marine litter, enhance awareness in the fi shing and shipping sectors and encourage fi shing gear to be marked so it can be traced back to its owner. Partner countries will be equipped with tools by the project such as guidance documents, training materials and strategies to help enforce existing regulations. Countries from fi ve regions, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacifi c, are partners in the project.
GloLitter, a partnership between FAO and IMO will assist developing countries to identify opportunities to prevent and reduce marine litter, including plastic from the fi sheries sector.
USA: Freshwater fi sh farming can contribute more to global food security than offshore cultivation
An article in the journal nature communications questions the use of marine waters for fish farming and argues that farmed fish production on land has the greatest potential to contribute to food and nutrition security. The authors point out that offshore fish farming is technically more demanding and more expensive than near shore cultivation so that the costs can be offset only through the cultivation of high value species of fish. These tend to be carnivorous with expensive feed requirements in contrast to herbivorous or omnivorous freshwater fish that can be fed on cheaper diets based on terrestrial crops. Breeding and growing species like carps, catfish, tilapia, is relatively cheap making the fish accessible to low and middle income consumers and to small and medium scale producers, while carnivorous species produced offshore require investments by major corporations. Expanding offshore fish farming would also increase demand for fishmeal and fishoil as substitutes such as algae are not yet viable and plant-based ingredients, though increasingly used in the cultivation of some species, may not be suitable for others without intensive research and development and selective breeding programmes as has been seen in the salmon industry. Terrestrial fish farming has grown rapidly over the years making freshwater farmed fish available to millions of consumers in countries that account for the majority of global aquaculture production. This production has far greater potential to contribute to global food security than marine fish farming.
Denmark: Costs of Brexit for the seafood sector lower than envisaged, new analysis shows
Denmark exported EUR202m worth of seafood to the UK in 2019 or approximately 5.5 of Danish total seafood exports. Roughly half of this amount (EUR107m) could be subject to customs duties as a result of Brexit. According to the Department of Food and Resource Economics (FRE) at the University of Copenhagen, the entire Danish fi shing industry and wholesale trade could lose a maximum of 2 of annual turnover because of customs duties. Th is suggests that the aff ect of Brexit on the Danish seafood sector will be less severe than originally envisaged. Analysing the fi gures for the Danish Ministry of Food Agriculture and Fisheries, researchers at FRE said that turnover could be further reduced by 0.5-2.6 due to restrictions on fi shing in UK waters—until last year the source of about a third of Danish catches. Max Nielsen, associate professor at DFE, explained that mackerel and herring quotas were the only ones that were fully exploited by the Danish fl eet. Quotas for other species were only partially exploited. Reductions in these quotas because of Brexit could be compensated for by exploiting them more fully and fi nding other EU markets to export to. However, the shrimp trade stands to suff er as Danish exports of cold water shrimp to the UK amount to some 7,000 tonnes annually valued at EUR68m, which will now be subject to customs duties. On the other hand a range of items including canned and fresh mackerel, fresh cod, sealed packages of mussels, and fi shmeal which together account for some EUR50m in exports will not be subject to customs. Brexit could, in the worst case, cost the Danish seafood sector between 150 and 270 jobs, the analysis revealed, but this is unlikely as new markets will probably be found for the products that are no longer exported to the UK because of the customs duty, said Mr Nielsen.
Brexit could potentially cost the Danish seafood sector up to 270 jobs, but this is unlikely as new export markets replace the UK.
Norway: Environmental and health benefi ts could encourage consumers to try seaweed
Seaweed is consumed in many parts of the world, but particularly in Asia, where it is used as a base for soups, salads, and sushi. Seaweed is rich in minerals, vitamins, and proteins, and has little fat and few calories. It also helps to reduce greenhouse gases by capturing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen at a higher rate than plants because it grows faster. In short, seaweed benefi ts both the environment and, through its nutritional properties, to humans. Or at least to those humans who eat seaweed. Th e question is whether more people can be encouraged to eat seaweed. Florent Govaerts, a Ph.D student at the Norwegian research institution, Nofi ma, is studying Norwegians’ attitudes towards eating seaweed and kelp as part of the Nordic collaborative project called SUREAQUA. He recently conducted a nationwide survey in which 550 Norwegians participated and found that most would be willing to try it despite knowing little about seaweed, such as its healthfulness or its positive impact on the environment. Young, educated, and environmentally conscious consumers were more interested in seaweed than older, less educated people. Th e survey showed that most people already consuming seaweed were in the 18-29 age bracket. Other trends such as increasing interest in organic, healthful, plant-based, and environmentally friendly foods may also encourage interest in seaweed. Mr Gevaerts advice to producers is therefore to highlight these aspects of seaweed when marketing and promoting their products.
Increased interest in organic, healthful, plant-based, and environmentally friendly foods should boost interest in and consumption of seaweed outside Asia.
Spain: FLAG-supported company proves a success story in Galicia
Th e Costa da Morte (coast of death) in Galicia shares its name with a fi sheries local action group (FLAG) in the area. FLAGs are local partnerships that bring together the private sector, local authorities and civil society organizations to identify needs and opportunities to create employment and new economic activity in the area. In 2017 the FLAG supported an innovative small enterprise established by Jacobo Bouzada Rodríquez, a chemical engineer from the University of Vigo. Mr Bouzada Rodríquez was interested in extracting an oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids from a species of microalgae. For the FLAG, he represented an opportunity to diversify the coastal economy which was heavily dependent on fi sheries and the canning industry. With the FLAG’s support Mr Bouzada Rodríquez found a production site and through the FLAG was introduced to local fi shers and shellfi sh gatherers who could help him fi nd and collect the microalgae that he would then grow in bioreactors. In cash terms the FLAG contributed with a grant of EUR200,000 which allowed the engineer to employ a couple of people and buy and equip the facilities. Four years later the company is still functioning although the FLAG was wound up in 2019. During the four years the market became interested in a diff erent microalgae species so, together with researchers from the University of Vigo, Mr Bouzada Rodríquez started to adapt his cultivation to the new species. Although he suff ered a setback when the pandemic locked down the research work at the university, today production of the new microalgae is well under way. Th e company continues to look for funding for more research that will expand productivity and make the company a model of a successful business in its local area.
Despite the closure of the FLAG that supported it, a company producing omega-3 fatty acids from microalgae has continued to function.
Norway: Krill fi shing company gets positive rating from sustainability assessor
Aker BioMarine has had its aquaculture feed ingredients evaluated as medium green and sustainable by Cicero Shades of Green, an independent provider of environmental assessments. Th e company’s aquaculture feed ingredients, like many of its other products for the animal feed, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries, are based on krill, a tiny marine crustacean found in the Antarctic. Th e report from Cicero Shades of Green states that Antarctic krill is source of sustainable aquaculture feed with a positive climate contribution potential. In addition to its sustainable use of krill, the company’s eff orts to reduce its carbon footprint, its launch of a circular economy company to recycle and reuse waste, and a clear strategy to make the krill-catching vessels more sustainable, contributed to the positive assessment. Recent investments in new and more energy-effi cient vessels that emit less carbon dioxide per unit of production than the older vessels also impressed the assessor. Over the last decade the company has halved the carbon dioxide emissions per tonne of krill and aims to halve it again within the next 10 years. Th e krill-based ingredient is used in salmon feed which is the main source of carbon emissions of farmed salmon. Th e company
Investments in more energy-effi cient vessels that emit less carbon dioxide per unit of production have enabled the company to halve its carbon dioxide emissions per tonne of krill. It aims to halve them again over the next ten years.
thus contributes to a Norwegian industry wide collaboration to reduce the carbon footprint of farmed salmon.
Closer Black Sea regional cooperation will contribute to greater resilience at the next crisis
Speakers at an international conference on fisheries and aquaculture in the Black Sea and Danube regions analysed the impact of the pandemic and suggested ways to mitigate its effects and rebuild the sector. Organised by the Balkan and Black Sea Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR BBSC) and the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS), the event was chaired by Carmen Avram, a member of the European Parliament (MEP) and vice chairperson for the Danube and Black Sea areas of the European Parliament intergroup, Searica, an acronym for seas, rivers, islands and coastal areas. An intergroup provides MEPs with a forum to informally discuss particular issues. At the conference Ms Avram said that national and international measures to contain the spread of covid-19 including lockdowns, the shutdown of borders, and restrictions on travel within countries had hugely challenged the sector in the region. According to an analysis by the GFCM the number of vessels operating in the region had fallen by 80 with the brunt of the decline being borne by the small-scale coastal fleet. Ms Avram pointed out that for many of the fisheries communities the impact of the pandemic came at a time when they were already in decline. She called for a mix of strategic initiatives and immediate action to secure the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture in the region.
In relation to the pandemic, the rules of the EMFF were tweaked to support Member States’ initiatives to mitigate its impact, said Barbara Focquet, European Commission Deputy Head of Fisheries Management in the Mediterranean and Black Sea. Bulgaria and Romania had been allocated an additional EUR6.6m and EUR6m respectively to support their fi sheries and aquaculture sectors. Across the region there has been an increase in direct sales, home deliveries, and internet sales of fi sh and seafood products as traditional retail channels, apart from the supermarkets, shut down. Th ese have been buoyed by consumer awareness campaigns promoting local and national production. Th e pandemic also showed that regional cooperation needed to be strengthened and given added fl exibility for a more eff ective response, the next time a crisis strikes.
Belgium: Commission promises boost to organic aquaculture
At 27,000 tonnes Ireland has the largest production of organic fi sh and seafood in the EU by a wide margin. Italy, the next largest producer, has just over a third of the volume coming from Ireland. Altogether, eight countries in the EU have a production of organic seafood totalling over 63,000 tonnes, a number the EU would like to increase. Organic aquaculture would contribute to the European strategy for sustainable growth called the Green Deal by contributing to one of the strategy’s objectives—sustainable food production and consumption. Organic seafood is gaining in popularity among consumers, growing on average by 20 in the fi ve years to 2019, and by almost 50 in France. To accelerate this development the EU has launched an action plan structured around three axes: boosting consumption, increasing production, and improving sustainability even further. Th ese goals will be accomplished through measures that promote the advantages of organic farming for the environment, that improve traceability, that prevent fraud, and that encourage local and small-scale processing. Th e commission will encourage the sector to use less plastic and use water and energy more effi ciently by issuing guidelines to this eff ect. Other commission instruments such as the strategic guidelines for EU aquaculture and the national strategic plans for fi sheries and aquaculture will also promote the sustainable development of EU aquaculture with support from the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF 2021-2027).
Organic seafood popularity has grown on average by 20% in the fi ve years to 2019, and to accelerate this development the EU has launched an action plan structured around boosting consumption, increasing production, and improving sustainability.
Denmark: Pandemic causes fall in landing values despite an increase in catches
Denmark’s upheld its status as one of the biggest fi shing nations in the EU in 2020. Altogether some 940,000 tonnes of fi sh were landed in Danish harbours by Danish and foreign vessels, but the total landed value fell 4 to EUR416m compared to 2019, reports FiskerForum. Industry captures, the fi sh that go into making fi shmeal and fi sh oil, accounted for half the landings. Catches of these increased by almost a third compared to the year before to 360,000 tonnes. Th e fall in value can be at least partly attributed to the pandemic which closed the Horeca trade across Europe, the market for the high quality, high value species like turbot, sole, and shellfi sh, that the Danish demersal fl eet specialises in. Th e impact of Brexit on catches and markets will also need to be factored in as more data become available in the course of the year. Th e fi shing sector in Denmark is important from a socioeconomic perspective as it employs some 12,000 people directly and indirectly in the main Danish harbours and the communities around them.
