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August 4 / 2014 C 44346
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Spanish processing sector targets foreign markets with success Spain: The Spanish fisheries and aquaculture sector is one of the largest in Europe by most measures; employment, production, fleet tonnage, value of output from the processing sector, or trade. The size of the sector meant Spain was also the largest recipient of aid from the European Fisheries Fund in the 2007-2013 programming period. Some of this aid has been used to reduce the size of the fleet to make it commensurate with the resource, while some has been used to fund fisheries local action groups, which are working to improve the economies of remote fishing communities. The popularity of fish in Spain (consumption per capita is the second highest in the EU) necessitates the import of approximately 1.5 m tonnes of fish and seafood each year. The processing industry uses domestic production as well as imports to produce a range of products for the Spanish market as well as for export, and has been successful at finding new markets even during the crisis years. Read more from page 44 COFI: The FAO’s Committee on Fisheries is a global intergovernmental forum that meets biannually to discuss international fisheries and aquaculture issues and to make recommendations to governments, the FAO, regional fisheries bodies, and others. COFI’s other main function is to review the programme of work of the FAO in the field of fisheries and aquaculture. Among the highlights of this year’s session was the launch of international guidelines dedicated to the small scale fishing sector that ultimately should help the sector contribute to poverty elimination and food security. Another set of recommendations that were released at the meeting, Guidelines for Flag State Performance, will hold states more accountable for the activities of fishing vessels flying their flags and thereby contribute to the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, an activity that causes global losses estimated at USD10 bn to USD23 bn a year. Read more on page 36 Aquaculture: While farming inshore is now well-established there are constraints on its expansion. Increasingly inshore farms have to compete with other users of the coast, including the tourism, shipping, energy, and fishing industries. One of the ways mooted to prevent conflicts between these different interests is to push the aquaculture industry offshore. Here, the theory goes, there is space for expansion and the stronger winds, currents, and waves should ensure the dispersal of fish faeces and uneaten feed making the cultivation of fish more environmentally acceptable. However, offshore farming is a completely different proposition from inshore farming, starting from the legislation that governs it to the technical, financial, environmental and economic considerations that need to be taken into account. Read more in Dr Manfred Klinkhardt’s article from page 62 Iceland: The fisheries sector is a vital part of the Icelandic economy. It contributed 10.7 to GDP in 2013 and contributes to 42 of export value. The industry directly employs 9,000 people, 5.3 of the workforce, and the number of jobs in fisheries has risen by 25 in the past five years. The management of the industry is guided by extensive research on fish stocks and the marine ecosystems. The industry is governed by a system of individual transferable quotas (ITQs) that give each vessel a fraction of the total allowable catch based on the vessel’s history and species caught. Recent years have seen many companies merge and so the 50 biggest operators now account for 86 of the TAC, up from 74 in 2002. The 2013 fleet was made up of 1,700 vessels—decked, undecked and trawlers. The main species caught include cod, herring, haddock and capelin. page 55 NASF: The pelagic and whitefish sessions at the North Atlantic Seafood Forum attracted large numbers of delegates. Speakers at the pelagic session highlighted the fact that although small pelagics are still overwhelmingly used for the production of fishmeal and fish oil, an increasing proportion is being used for direct human consumption. This is a welcome development as these fish are rich in nutrients, not least of which are Omega-3 fatty acids. A mere 100 g of small pelagic fish a week such as anchovies or sardines will more than cover the Omega-3 requirements of an adult, says the FAO. Whitefish generally do not have the same content of healthy fats, but they are nonetheless one of the most popular types of fish in Europe. The European processing sector is heavily dependent on imports as domestic production is insufficient to meet local demand. Alaska pollock is one of the key raw materials for northern European processing plants and European import dependency is almost 100 with most of the fish coming from the US, Russia, and China. Read more on page 32 www.eurofishmagazine.com
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Table of News 6 International News
Events 16 SEG and SPG: Nearly 1,700 exhibitors from 76 countries Broad range of ready-to-eat products and modular convenience 18 Baader Food Processing Machinery Successor model for the tried and tested trout deboning machine 18 Maquinaria Conservera Second-hand processing machines 20 Liman Taking over Bagci doubles capacity 20 Zila Laguna Salmon sausages as a healthy alternative to hotdogs 22 Islauzo Zuvis Making the first steps towards an export market 23 Agromey Selling fish is as important as producing it 24 Norfisk (Suempol) Culinary tour with salmon products 26 Due Miljø Membrane filtration for fish proteins and oils 26 Gosławice Fish Farm Antonius Caviar from Siberian sturgeon 28 Cromaris New hatchery to count among biggest in Europe 29 Ristic Seafood products for the barbecue brand Weber 29 Stalam SpA Defrosting with radio frequency technology 30 Certification organisations want to cooperate more strongly Reduction of duplicate testing 32 Pelagic and whitefish summits at the North Atlantic Seafood Forum, Bergen Pelagic fish increasingly used for human consumption 35 GFCM, 38th Annual Session, 19-24 May, Rome New agreement will help GFCM rationally manage resources 36 FAO COFI, 9-13 June, Rome Countries recognise the vital role of small-scale fishers 37 National aquaculture workshop, 6 June, Izmir, Turkey Technology, state aid, markets were popular topics at workshop 4
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
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Contents Projects 39 Food Spoilage and Safety Predictor (FSSP) software Predicting the shelf life of seafood under different storage conditions
Spain 40 AndrĂŠs Hermida Trastoy, Director General of Fisheries Management, Spain Profitability of fleet increases 42 Aurora De Blas Carbonero, Deputy Director for Fisheries Economics Encouraging the role of women in Spanish fisheries 44 The fisheries sector in Spain Processing industry weathers the crisis 48 Promising growth continues in the Canaries Fishing in the Canaries is soaring 50 Tunamar is approaching fifteen years in the tuna industry Fishing, processing and Europe-wide distribution of sashimi-grade tuna 51 Isidro de la Cal have pioneered seabream aquaculture Mix of aquaculture and imports, fresh and frozen, processed and distributed throughout Europe
Fisheries
Worldwide Fish News Africa
page
11
Belgium
pages
7, 8, 11, 14
Denmark
pages
6, 12, 13, 14
Italy
pages
8, 10
Norway
page
10
Peru
page
10
Portugal
pages
Russia
page
8
Scotland
page
8
Spain
page
15
The Netherlands
page
10
UK
pages
6, 14, 15
US
pages
9, 12
7, 13
52 All-purpose plastic containers in the fisheries sector Storage, transportation, maturation and collection
Iceland 55 Iceland’s fisheries sector supplies Europe with what it wants Sustainable, top quality, highly demanded species 60 Promens is a market leader in containers for the fisheries sector Looking to Asia for growth
Aquaculture 62 Offshore aquaculture solves old problems but creates new ones Farming in the open sea is very demanding
Technology 65 American clam-breeding company mechanises production Vibratory screener helps raise little neck clams
Service 66 Diary Dates 66 Imprint Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
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[ NEWS INTERNATIONAL ] Denmark: ICES scientists recommend largest cut in Baltic cod fisheries in years On May 30th, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) presented its recommendations for 2015 catches in the Baltic Sea. These included the largest cuts in total allowable catches for cod in years. Over the past few years, the stock has reportedly shown a strong recovery from an
almost depleted state, but this year’s analysis indicates that it is in very poor condition, and consists mainly of unusually small, slow growing individuals. Oceana has expressed concern about this latest news and has urged decision makers to heed these scientific recommendations. Hanna Paulomäki, Oceana’s Baltic
Sea project manager, stated that “it is past time for the Baltic Sea and EU decision makers to wake up and start taking action to save the marine environment”. The Baltic Sea ecosystem consists of relatively few species, and cod, as one of its top predators, plays a vital role in maintaining balance. In addition
to cuts in catches, announcement included a recommendation that fisheries for sprat and herring (the main source of food for cod) be moved away from cod feeding grounds. A meeting for Fisheries Ministers to set fishing policies in October will present an opportunity to act upon the ICES scientists’ advice.
are most important. The scientists analyse small fin samples taken from each fish in order to locate the genes that lead to disease and therefore can predict the resistance of each fish that will be used in breeding. This progress should
lead to significant reduction to the numbers of salmon affected by sea lice and Landcatch will make several million of these newly identified eggs available for sale in December, in Landcatch’s next spawning.
UK: Landcatch sea lice breakthrough Scottish aquaculture company Landcatch has made significant progress in improving the resistance of Atlantic salmon eggs to sea lice. Landcatch’s scientists, led by director of genetics Dr Alan Tinch, identified eggs most resistant to
lice infection using genomic selection after locating the necessary DNA regions that determine lice resistance. Although thousands of DNA regions have some effects on lice resistance, the Landcatch scientists discovered those which
Denmark: Baltic Sea Advisory Council discuss ICES advice for 2015 fisheries The Baltic Sea Advisory Council (BSAC) held its Executive Committee meeting in Copenhagen on 26 June at Charlottenlund Castle, where the Danish research institute DTU Aqua has its offices. The Baltic Sea AC dealt with several important aspects for the Baltic Sea region with a view to stronger references to the Advisory Councils under the revised CFP. In particular, very active discussions took place about the scientific advice from ICES for the fishery for 2015. This is crucial for the fishing sector and all the fishermen engaged in fishing in the Baltic. Michael Andersen, Danish Fishermen Association, Demersal WG chair, presented a draft output from a recently held working group to discuss the advice. The heated discussions showed that there is not full consensus among the different stakeholders. This is particularly the case for the ICES advice for both the eastern and western cod stocks. The majority of the members expressed strong reservations. They pointed out inconsistencies in the advice for cod and criticised the 6
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
fact that the advice presented was a dramatic shift from the terms of the existing management plan for the Baltic cod stocks. Representatives from environmental organisations regretted the implications that the advice would have for the industry, but recommended following the ICES advice. The other stocks (herring and sprat) were less controversial, but there were recommendations from the members for ICES to improve the surveys that form the basis for these assessments. There was no consensus on salmon: the industry called for a rollover of this year’s advice, whilst the environmental NGOs and the European Anglers Alliance adhered to the advice. The BSAC commented that there are new challenges such as regionalisation, which will require a different approach on a number of issues. The regional cooperation of BALTFISH is seen as a good model in this regard. However, although member states worked together, closer collaboration with the Advisory
Discussions over the 2015 ICES advice for cod stocks in the Baltic Sea were particularly heated as it recommends sharp cuts in quotas.
Council in BALTFISH would pave the way for a win-win situation. The BSAC also referred to the growing cormorant population in the Baltic Sea region, especially in inland waters. A sustainable long-term solution to this problem is necessary for all sectors affected. The position of BirdLife International was presented to the AC. This called for a lasting sustainable solution to this conflict based on sound
science and multi-stakeholder engagement. The BSAC participates to different degrees in various fisheries related research projects. New project initiatives under the HORIZON 2020 programme were mentioned, with the aim of minimising discards. The coming landing obligation remains a key issue for the BSAC: it will be enforced on 1 January for cod, sprat and herring. www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ NEWS INTERNATIONAL ] Portugal: Call for Portuguese deep-sea fishing ban to be extended The Portuguese government has issued a decree prohibiting all deep-sea fishing - with the exception of longlining, which is authorised under certain conditions - in an area spanning 2,280,000 km2, four times the size of the Iberian Peninsula, to promote sustainable fisheries and the conservation of deep-sea ecosystems. Oceana have
applauded this decision but have urged for the ban to be extended to the EU’s entire fleet and internationally. Xavier Pastor, executive director of Oceana in Europe stated that although Portugal “has made a significant step and should take it a step further by banning bottom trawling and other forms of destructive fishing in waters where
they are more commonly used.” This decree will also contribute to building up the information database on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) by establishing a requirement to collect samples of accidentally captured corals and sponges. VME’s are unique and biodiverse, but grow very slowly, which makes them very sensitive
to the impacts of fishing and particularly to trawling. It is assumed that Portugal’s initiative will protect VME’s in the North East Atlantic. The approved decree was presented at the meeting of the OSPAR Commission, which took place in the last week of June in Cascais (Portugal). Oceana participated in the capacity of the observer.
Belgium: Oestrogen in wastewater disrupts fish reproduction over generations New research has found that hormones in wastewater from contraceptive pills can adversely affect fish reproduction and survival, with these effects intensifying over several generations. This pollution predominantly affects freshwater ecosystems. Climate change has led to lower levels of rainfall, whereas
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growing population have generated more polluted wastewater that can come to dominate many rivers and streams. Steroidal oestrogens such as 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) come from human birth control pills and negatively affect fish reproduction. A study has shown the effects of EE2 exposure on fathead minnow
populations. The presence of the hormone increased the chance of death in males by a factor of 1.7 for every nanogram per litre added to the environment. Females were less affected but the numbers of eggs, embryos and juvenile fish all decreased. Importantly, the second generation created almost no eggs
or larvae, and the effect was cumulative on the third generation, showing that fish populations might not be able to recover from such exposure. It has been suggested that wastewater treatment should therefore focus on removing oestrogen-like pollutants and breeding habitats should be conserved in unpolluted areas.
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[ NEWS INTERNATIONAL ] Belgium: Herring dispute between European Union and Faroe Islands nears end The dispute between the European Commission and the Faroe Islands over Atlanto-Scandian herring in the North-East Atlantic is drawing to a close after an agreement was made between European Commissioner for Maritime
Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki and her Faroese counterpart, Jacob Vestergaard. The Faroe Islands will end its unsustainable herring fishing and in return the EU will draft a repeal of import prohibitions against
mackerel and herring caught by the Faroe Islands dating back to last August. These progressions were initiated by Faroese officials in the context of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Damanaki stated her satisficiation
that this dispute could soon be considered “as something of the past” and looks forward to the more important issue of “working hand in hand towards sustainable fisheries in the North-East Atlantic.”
Scotland: Neogen develops test for paralytic shellfish poisoning Neogen Europe Ltd. have established a new test to detect the toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). The test, named Reveal® 2.0 for PSP, detects PSP-causing toxins at a level of 800 parts per billion (ppb). It is compatible with European Union Commission permitted levels and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The shellfish toxin test can be used in the field or in a lab by harvesters and processors to test mussels, scallops, oysters, clams and cockles. It is designed to be used with Neogen’s AccuScan® Pro lateral flow test reader. Steve Chambers, who works at Neogen Europe, stated that these “new tests represent a significant advancement in shellfish toxin technology” as they “can
provide accurate results in only 5 minutes after extraction— other tests for PSP can take up to 3 hours”. Toxins that cause PSP can be produced by dinoflagellates of different genera, including Alexandrium and Gymnodinium; the most researched of these toxins is saxitoxin (STX). In addition to contamination of seafood, these marine biotoxins can result in
human and marine wildlife mortality. Neogen Europe Ltd., the European subsidiary of Neogen Corporation (NASDAQ: NEOG), is a high technology business that focuses on developing and marketing diagnostic kits that address the quality and safety of food and agricultural products throughout the food production process.
Russia: The government plans to double the aquaculture industry by 2020 The Russian government plans to allocate new zones for aquaculture in Russia through auctions, rather than by tender, in a bid to more than double the size of the industry by 2020. The new system, which was
announced recently in a decree by the Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, would involve deposits for participations and mandatory contributions to ensure a more fair and transparent scheme. The
new producers will have to follow state allocated guidelines for the volume and production of their stock in order to prevent monopolisation of the market. The industry would continue to specialise in
carp production, which currently accounts for roughly 80 of the Russian market, and would aim to increase production from 140,000 to 300,000 tonnes of fish a year by 2020.
FAO, Italy: Marine capture fisheries in the 10 major producer countries Country
2012
2011
China
13,869,604
13,536,409
2.50%
Indonesia
5,420,247
5,332,862
1.60%
United States of America
5,107,559
5,131,087
-0.50%
Peru
4,807,923
8,211,716
-41.50%
Russian Federation
4,068,850
4,005,737
1.60%
Japan
3,611,384
3,741,222
-3.50%
India
3,402,405
3,250,099
4.70%
Chile
2,572,881
3,063,467
-16.00%
Viet Nam
2,418,700
2,308,200
4.80%
Myanmar
2,332,790
2,169,820
7.50%
Total 10 major countries
47,612,343
50,750,619
-6.20%
Total other countries World total
8
Variation 2011-12
32,093,567
31,859,307
-0.70%
79,705,910
82,609,926
-3.50%
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The 10 biggest capture fisheries producing nations caught 59.7 of the world’s catches in 2012 compared to 61.4 in 2011. Total capture fishery production in 2012 was stable at about 80 million tonnes. Currently, less than 30 of the stocks monitored by the FAO are overfished, a trend reversal observed over the last few years.
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[ NEWS INTERNATIONAL ] USA: Institutions develop road map for aquaculture sustainability The World Resource Institute, partnered with WorldFish, the World Bank, INRA and Kasetsart University enquired into the sustainable future of the aquaculture industry and identified key approaches for this industry to grow in the right way: Investment in technological innovation and rapid transfer of new technology within the industry,
helping aquaculture catch up with the much older livestock farming business. Understanding the bigger picture to make sure that individual farmers in an area do not all focus on the exact same thing as this will greatly amplify certain effects on the environment — the article cites Norway’s zoning laws in the salmon industry as a
positive example of this practice. Shifting incentives to reward sustainability — this would mainly be spurred by government subsidies. Leveraging the latest technology like increased connectivity and satellite and mapping technology to help the industry and societies plan for sustainability. Eating fish lower down on
the food chain — those with a lower trophic level that have vegetarian diets, like tilapia, catfish and carp. It is also suggested that societies should no longer look to the oceans for its fish supplies but should recognise that the only truly sustainable future lies in an effectively developed aquaculture industry.
USA: Oceana CEO calls for increased product labelling Oceana CEO Andrew Sharpless highlighted the lack of information available to seafood consumers about product sustainability. An Oceana survey discovered that 33 of U.S. seafood tested was fraudulently labelled. Sharpless
praised Barack Obama’s recent announcement for a comprehensive federal program to eradicate such fraud and to take further measures against illegal fishing as well as highlighted that seafood fraud is not just a labelling problem
but also can lead to people consuming products filled with contaminants and toxins and hinders consumers’ abilities to make good decisions about seafood purchases. Further, it can mislead the public about problems caused by
overfishing by making them think a certain stock is more abundant than it is in reality. This fraud also drives the illegal fishing market as it makes it easier to launder illegally caught products through the market.
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[ NEWS INTERNATIONAL ] The Netherlands: Inter Fresh Concepts announces partnership with Iberoprac Soluciones The Dutch packaging company Inter Fresh Concepts recently established a partnership with the Spanish company Iberoprac Soluciones SL. This alliance is motivated by the desire to overcome previous issues with transporting perishable products. It will also help Inter Fresh distribute its new Gel Ice Pack Product, known as Ice Pack XL, which is manufactured in the Netherlands. The ice pack maintains low temperatures
during the transportation of seafood products and uses a micro perforated HDPE layer to prevent sticking. A plastic sheet and absorbent powder converts into an ice pack when mixed with water. Iberoprac Soluciones will distribute this product from its warehouse in central Spain. The Gel Ice Pack will be exhibited at the Seafood Expo-Southern Europe Stand in Barcelona, Spain, September 22-24.
Peru: El Nino temperatures peak Sea surface temperatures showed the highest anomaly of the year at +0.9°C on June 20th, according to data from National Oceanic and Aquatic Administration (NOAA). This occurred in the region known for the current El Nino, and would confirm the development of this phenomenon. Water temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean increased drastically last week, prompting expectations of an upward warming trend that would confirm the development of the warming of El Nino. Luis Icochea, who was involved in this report, stated that “this is a big jump in temperature, from now on waters will hardly be cooled, the event is irreversible.” Surface temperature
abnormalities have been noticed in Peru since May, as anchovy stocks moved south, nearer the shore where industrial fishing is illegal. Consequently, thus far, anchovy catches have been poor this season, with only 36 of the allowable catch caught. Icochea said that “fishmeal players in Peru will be the most harmed by El Nino, as anchovy is the resource most affected by the weather event.” These types of pelagic fish respond to increasing temperatures by moving to cooler, deeper waters where feed is more readily available. However, the temperature increase could also lead to higher catches of species like hake, tuna, mahimahi, swordfish and shark.
Italy: Maria Damanaki announces ban on environmentally-damaging gear at GFCM meeting
The ice pack keeps seafood cool during transport preventing the growth of pathogens.
Norway: Trout affected by virus outbreak On 20 June, a Norwegian veterinary authority submitted a notification to the World Organisation for Animal Health concerning a virus outbreak that is thought to have caused recent mortality in farmed Norwegian rainbow trout. The outbreak began on June 11 at Osland in Sogn and Fjordane, where the farm holds 300,000 fresh water rainbow trout. The outbreak has been rated 2 out of 5 on a morbidity and mortality scale. Four different hatcheries have already 10
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been reported and the disease seems most prevalent in fresh water—mortality rates drop when the fish are transferred to the sea. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute has connected the outbreak to ‘virus Y’, as it is now called, and the infectivity trial concluded that the virus is contagious via horizontal transmission. Common signs of the virus include pale visceria and circulatory failings, inflammation in the heart and cellular neurosis in the liver.
European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki spoke at the GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) Annual Session meeting in Rome on 20 May. Ms Damanaki’s address focused on her concern about the stocks in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, which, in some cases, she described as critically low. She bemoaned the increase in unregulated activities in both sea basins and announced a new initiative to ban in all EU waters “the use of gears that adversely affect the ecosystem”. Damanaki urged cooperation and a common approach in both areas because of the similar problems that they face. She outlined that the right context existed for the GFCM to assume more prominence in regulation in line with the increased importance of the Mediterranean and
the Black seas amongst the EU’s conservation policies—she sees the GFCM as crucial for engendering positive policy change. Damanaki cited new management models in Sardinia and Catalonia as signs of positive changes in the regions that the GFCM can assist and expand in order to secure the long-term management of these shared stocks, both for environmental and economic reasons. She proposed the endorsement of the text of the new GFCM Agreement by its members and for this to be ratified straight away to renew the way that the GFCM operates. This would incorporate common standards, a common approach and unity in applying principles and rules. Damanaki called for agreement on long-term conservation measures and commitment to the cause of preserving the fisheries in these two regions. www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ NEWS INTERNATIONAL ] West Africa: Illegal ďŹ shing threatens local ďŹ sheries The Guardian addressed the prevalence of IUU fishing in African coastal waters and how this threatens local small fisheries. Almost a quarter of jobs in West Africa are linked to fisheries and women play an essential role in regional industry trade. Fleets from Europe, and increasingly Asia, extensively fish these waters
in response to rising global demand for seafood. An estimated $1,3 billion of fish is lost to illegal activity every year and this both lowers local catches and damages the marine environment and in doing so can destroy local communities. The Global Ocean Commission addressed this issue and the Africa Progress
Panel stipulated terms including a desire that fines on illegal fishing should be increased and that full disclosure be provided on the process of obtaining fishing permits to ensure fairness between large commercial and artisanal fisheries. It is also important that EU and Asian nations with large fleets stop
subsidising vessels that are acting illegally in African waters as often the African nations themselves are not powerful enough to enforce compliance. Further, ports should more closely control whether illegal catches are recorded and punished, as Norway suggests, as a transnational crime.
Belgium: EAA reports EU seabass management plan The European Anglers Alliance (EAA) reports that a seabass management plan is under preparation by EU Member States. The plan concerns some of the northern Atlantic EU waters (Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, English Channel, and southern North Sea). The EAA views the European seabass as one of the most important
species to recreational angling and its dependant businesses. European seabass stocks are in decline due to overfishing by commercial fisheries in the 1960-70s and poor recruitment in recent years. ICES, the scientific fisheries adviser to the European Commission, has advised that commercial landings should be reduced from the 2012
level of 4,600 tonnes to no more than 2,707 tonnes this year to reflect the diminishing seabass stock. The EAA estimates that one million (out of 8-10 million total) of anglers fish seabass in the waters concerned by this management plan.
management plan to stop the inclusion of seabass in the TAC (total allowable catches) and quota system. Only France would be happy about that and could reasonably expect to be allocated the biggest part of any such TAC, more than 60 based on historic landings. The EAA foresees that the preparation of a suitable seabass
The EAA is encouraging Member States to agree a seabass
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[ NEWS INTERNATIONAL ] management plan is a difficult task. Issues include a lack of sufficient scientific information; the change in the European fisheries
management regime based on landings to one based on catches and the complications caused by existing CFP management areas.
This seabass plan only concerns some Northern EU waters but there are seabass in other EU waters also. Therefore, an EU wide seabass
management plan has to be developed gradually and adjusted in the short/medium term and in the longer term.
Denmark: Science in the City comes to Copenhagen Science in the City is a festival for everyone who is curious. Participation is free and the event aims at bringing together researchers and the general public to learn more about science. Part of the festival, the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF), an interdisciplinary science and science policy conference held every second year in European capital cities, brought together the scientific community, policy makers and industry to discuss new research, technologies, and innovation. ComFish, an EU-funded project, participated in Science in the City with a film and forum discussions on European fisheries and their perception by consumers. The audience had the opportunity to talk with experts and to find out how important consumers’ opinion and choices are. The short film produced by ComFish on European
A group of school children were enthusiastic participants in a discussion initiated by partners in the ComFish project on European fisheries and their perception by consumers.
fisheries was the starting point for a dynamic and informal debate, facilitated by a moderator and assisted by representatives from research
and industry. The event enabled effective participation and reflection on key issues relevant to European fisheries, specifically fisheries
management, eco-labelling, ecosystem protection, biodiversity, mixed fisheries, sharing stocks and consumer choices.
Denmark: ICES considers role of cephalopods Experts from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) Working Group on Cephalopod Fisheries and Life History (WGCEPH) recently met in Lisbon to discuss the role of cephalopods in Marine Strategy
Framework Directive. Cephalopods, which include species such as squid and octopus, are important in ecosystems and capture fisheries due to their short life cycles and ability to reproduce rapidly. ICES saw the species’
high environmental sensitivity as a challenge in documenting population numbers and management. The Group are considering how these species can be used to determine the biodiversity of ecosystems, and how these can
be affected by environmental changes, many of which have stemmed from human activity. ICES are also analysing the role of cephalopods in trophic interactions and in relation to their surroundings.
USA: EMS still signiďŹ cant, but solutions are under way George Chamberlain, President of Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), has stated that early mortality syndrome (EMS) still has a significant impact on the global shrimp-farming sector but that scientific progress is leading to better control of the disease. The GAA undertook a case study to better understand the types of shrimp 12
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
farming that prevent EMS, and this will be important for future approaches to preventing EMS. The study surveyed different regions of China, such as eastern and southwestern Guangdong, where the disease was not prevalent, and the Pearl River and Zhangjiang regions, where it was. Factors like the existence of nodavirus, and
other parasites and pathogens clearly affect the hepatopancreas organs and cause greater levels of EMS. Nevertheless, high prices have led to expansion of the industry in Viet Nam. Thailand, which has recently been under huge scrutiny for alleged slave practice within the industry, was affected particularly badly by EMS this year. Mexico
has recently had its first outbreaks of EMS in Nayarit and Sonora. Recommendations include ensuring EMS-free broodstock, selective breeding for resistance, improving farm practices to eliminate EMS from the system, establishing biosecure intensive problems and identifying feed additives that reduce rates of EMS. www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ NEWS INTERNATIONAL ] Denmark: WWF releases new Danish ďŹ sh guide The World Wildlife Foundation has released a new Danish fish guide that addresses the sustainability of different types of seafood by listing 35 species under the categories of ‘okay to eat’, ‘be critical’ and ‘find an alternative’. Danish prawns caught in the North Sea and Skagerrak are in the red category. Iben Wiene,
a WWF spokesperson, stressed that Danish prawns have “actually always been in the red category� but have been considered ‘yellow’ because they are usually classified together with ‘yellow’ cold-water prawns. Other species categorised under ‘red’ include shark, Norwegian lobster, monkfish, tuna and cod
caught in the North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat. However, west Greenland prawns, certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, are labelled ‘green’. It is hoped that this new guide will make consumers more aware of the choices that they are making and will therefore promote sustainability.
Portugal: New research aims to improve prevention of seafood contaminants The EU-funded project, ECsafeSEAFOOD, which aims to improve detection and prevention of seafood contamination, is underway. Antonio Marques, the project coordinator, recently discussed the aims of ECsafeSEAFOOD with CommNet. He cited the desire to raise awareness
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of seafood contaminants, especially new-emerging and non-regulated ones, like micro plastics and toxins from harmful algal blooms. The project will provide data and an accurate risk assessment of the contaminants and will seek to understand how the transfer of
contaminants occurs and how climate change might affect this in the future. Marques expressed concern that fast screening and cheap tools are not yet accessible and hopes the project might resolve this problem. Marques stated the need for particular focus on new toxic algal blooms
F SKEGU DE
2014
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that have become prevalent across Europe—these do not affect the fish, only the consumer, and for new insight into the nutritional values of different cooking methods.
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
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[ NEWS INTERNATIONAL ] Belgium: Commission announces intention to ban all driftnets The European Commission will seek a full scale ban on the use of driftnets in EU waters by January 1st 2015. This would expand on current regulation that prohibits the use of driftnets to catch migratory fish like tuna and swordfish. In spite of the current
laws, the damage to marine habitats and wildlife and threat to sustainable fisheries still caused by driftnets is seen as significant enough to warrant their prohibition. The Commission hopes this ban will send “out a clear message that [it] no longer tolerate[s]
any irresponsible practices,” says Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Vessels will be banned from even carrying such nets on board to stop loopholes in the system being used, as has previously happened with existing policy,
as small boats in particular have found in easy to evade detection. It is hoped that the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, established under the new Common Fisheries Policy, will provide funding for the implementation of these changes.
UK: Sealpac safe and sustainable packaging of seafood The food packaging company Sealpac has released new products that focus on fulfilling the increasing demand for sustainable packaging. Sealpac, which specialises in traysealing and thermoforming technology, has developed products
to deal with products both from aquaculture and wild fisheries. They have patented a system called Easylid, which allegedly combines sealing and lidding in one step and reduces storage requirements, transport costs and packaging
waste. According to Sealpac, this technology is “creating a buzz in the industry” and has “received various international packaging awards… largely acknowledging its economic and ecological benefits.” Sealpac has also developed
skin packaging technology which will be used for smoked, fresh and frozen fish and seafood and a new two-compartment packaging system, named TenderPAc, which separates the product from any liquid lost during storage.
Denmark: Armenian delegation studies recirculation systems A delegation from Armenia visited Denmark in the last week of June 2014. The visit was organised by the Danish AgriFish Agency of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark under the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX) programme managed by the European Commission. The delegation comprised Mr Tigran Aleksanyan, Head of the Fishery and Beekeeping Division, and Mr. Samvel Sahakyan, Head of the Land Use Department, in the Armenian Ministry of Agriculture. The two ministry officials were accompanied by Arthur Atoyan, President of the Union of Fish Farmers of Armenia who represents the interests of Armenian aquaculturists. On June 27, the delegation visited Eurofish International Organisation to discuss opportunities for future collaboration, including through the Central Asia Regional Programme for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and the Central Asian and Caucasus Fisheries and Aquaculture Commission 14
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
Tigran Aleksanyan, Head of the Fishery and Beekeeping Division, Ministry of Agriculture; Arthur Atoyan, President of the Union of Fish Farmers of Armenia; and Samvel Sahakyan, Head of the Land Use Department, Ministry of Agriculture.
(CacFish). The current co-operation with Eurofish has enabled Armenian experts to participate in international and regional seminars organised by Eurofish and FAO, which provided an opportunity to develop networks at the regional level and to increase awareness of international expertise and best practices. The Armenian aquaculture sector was also featured in the EUROFISH Magazine creating
awareness about the sector and promoting it worldwide. The Armenian government is keen that the aquaculture sector adopts more efficient technologies for fish farming to conserve water resources. The main target is to ensure that fish farms manage water resources effectively and decrease water consumption at farms. Today, farms are drawing on
artesian water in the Ararat Valley, which is a finite resource. The government aims to introduce water saving technologies and especially semi-closed recirculation systems to the aquaculture sector, conserving the country’s water resources and ensuring the sustainability of the food supply. This also calls for adjusting and improving educational programmes to reflect the industry’s evolving requirements. www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ NEWS INTERNATIONAL ] UK: MEECE project develops state of the art of marine ecosystem modelling A Marine Ecosystem Evolution in a Changing Environment (MEECE) project, funded by the EU, has concluded that the biomass of phytoplankton and zooplankton will decrease by six and eleven percent respectively over the next century because of climate change. These results were calculated through
models that considered acidification and temperature changes and the effects of fishing, invasive species and pollution. Region specific results were found throughout the research process. For example, the Adriatic, Black and Baltic Sea regions are sensitive to wind stress and eutrophication whereas the
North-East Atlantic and Bay of Biscay are more responsive to changes in nutrient levels. It is predicted that lower nutrient levels in Central and Southern Europe, combined with increased thermal stratification of the ocean, will reduce phytoplankton production, although it should increase in the Baltic,
Barents and Black seas. Reduced plankton biomass could lead to a dramatic decrease in fish numbers, especially amongst pelagic species. Further, algae accounts for a large portion of photosynthesis globally and so reduced levels will worsen the ocean’s capacity to effectively stabilise the climate.
Spain: Spain commits €250k to tackle IUU fishing The Spanish government has pledged €250,000 towards the creation of a Global Record of fishing vessels. This figure is half of Global Record’s current annual budget and will give Spanish authorities strong influence in guiding the project’s progress. This would create a central
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database that would contain information on vessels, like the unique IMO number, so they can be tracked even if they change their names, flags or identification markings. This would help to combat IUU fishing as it would increase the transparency and traceability of the global fishing
fleet. Steve Trent, executive director of the Environmental Justice foundation, has supported Spain’s efforts, saying the Global Record “has huge practical use and will bring direct and significant benefits to the marine environment, legitimate fishing operators and coastal communities around the
world” and hope that other countries will follow Spain’s lead. Members of the seafood sector are also interested in the Global Record as it will help them identify vessels supplying fish to them so that they can ensure they have not been involved in IUU fishing or the abuse of crews.
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
15
[ EVENTS ] SEG and SPG: Nearly 1,700 exhibitors from 76 countries
Broad range of ready-to-eat products and modular convenience The international fish and seafood industry met in Brussels for its annual event from 6 to 8 May. It was the 22nd edition of fish fair and the 16th of tecnology fair. The names of the fairs has changed: ESE is now Seafood Expo Global, and SPE is now called Seafood Processing Global. The concept of the fairs has not changed.
The organisers of the two fairs this year again experienced nearly 30,000 professional visitors from 150 countries.
T
he two Brussels exhibitions are the most important events in the global seafood industry, claims the organiser, US company Diversified Communications, and in this respect boasts the extraordinary quality of the exhibitions. And the organisers should know, because Diversified Communications also organises other significant seafood fairs in Asia and North America. The statistics, too, confirm the importance of both the SEG and the 16
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
SPG. This year nearly 1,700 companies from 76 countries presented their products and services in the huge halls of the Brussels Expo site next to Atomium. The abundance of exhibits makes the fair the shop window of the global fish industry. As in previous years, the organisers welcomed over 28,500 visitors from nearly 150 different nations: importers, exporters, retailers and wholesalers, food service and catering, brokers, aquaculture producers and fishermen,
hotel and restaurant operators, fishery politicians, NGOs, etc. Whether buyer or seller, anyone who trades large product volumes beyond their own national borders or simply wants to keep up with market trends and find out about new products can’t afford to miss Brussels. SEG and SPG have matured to global platforms upon which international and global companies and the industry’s key decision-makers present their services, source the products
they need, and build networks. Nowhere is it easier to get an almost complete overview of products, services and new technologies in the seafood industry than in Brussels. This was confirmed by the two fairs that presented themselves with 71 regional and national pavilions – a new participant record. It was an impressive turnout, with two interesting new group stands from Libya and Japan. www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ EVENTS ] As usual, Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global had a lot of new and established products on show – fresh, live and frozen – plus numerous species from aquaculture and fishing, highly processed products, packaging materials and the necessary machinery, processing plants, transport, logistics and storage services, and various other equipment. This year the large range of readyto-eat products was particularly striking. These products require only a short preparation time and hardly any notable effort. Modular convenience products whose individual components can be combined freely with one another was a further outstanding feature of the Brussels fair. Neither of the concepts is really a new trend but the range has grown noticeably in breadth and depth. A lot of companies revealed a higher degree of flexibility where customised products and services were concerned. This is probably partially thanks to new technologies and modern processing machines that are becoming increasingly intelligent and that offer many more possibilities. It was also notable that some threshold countries that in the past exhibited traditional and regional products that were not easy to sell in the western world have noticeably improved their product standards and adapted to market demand. This can be said of both the kind of processing and the packaging. A lot of products from Asian and African countries are probably in the meantime able to meet our standards and expectations. This remarkable development was sometimes unfortunately
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submerged in the monotony of these countries’ group pavilions where a large number of almost identical looking stands were to be found next to one another. But some companies still have some catching up to do with regard to preparation of their exhibition participation. Many of them simply present their products and then wait patiently to see if anyone calls by. More experienced exhibitors organise their success already in the run-up to the fair by inviting regular and perspective customers to meetings for making new business contacts.
Seven prizes for the contestants of the Seafood Prix d’Elite The competition for the prestigious Seafood Prix d’Elite has been a firm part of the SEG for 14 years. The seven prizes are rated highly internationally. Only 34 products from 11 countries were entered for appraisal by the seven highly reputed members of the jury under the leadership of Jürgen Pauly (Category Manager Fresh Fish at the Globus Group). The decisive criteria were, as usual, not only the flavour and the overall impression but also the packaging and the marketability, the nutritional value and the originality of the products. The main prizes for the Best Retail Product and the Best Food Service Product went to Kermarée (France) and Vilsund Blue (Denmark). Kermarée got the award for its Coffret Plateau de Fruits de Mer. This was a set of freshly cooked seafood products (langoustine, shrimps, crabs’ legs, whelks), packed in four separate trays and in a
carton with two display windows. With these components the consumer is easily in a position to make his own crustacean soup himself at home. In the food service category Vilsund Blue won the main award for an aromatic powder without additives that is produced from the cooking water of blue mussels produced sustainably in Limfjord. The powder can be used in a variety of ways, for example to add aroma to poultry, meat and vegetables or to enhance the flavour of fish dishes and sauces. The Coffret Plateau de Fruits de Mer from Kermarée won a second prize too, for it was also awarded the Seafood Prix d’Elite special prize for Health and Nutrition. The jury justified its choice with the naturalness and health of the selected crustaceans that contain only little fat but a lot of protein and many beneficial trace elements. Marine Harvest VAP Europe (Belgium) won the Prix d’Elite special prize for Convenience for its Salmon Filo Pastry Pie. This product which is made of a multi-layer pastry cup with natural and smoked salmon in a creamy white sauce and a topping of grated Emmental cheese
is perfect as a starter or as a light meal. The Paella 1-2-3 Delfin from Delfin Ultracongelados (Spain) won the Seafood Prix d’Elite special prize for the Best Retail Packaging. This paella kit contains all the ingredients that are needed for the home preparation of a traditional paella. The recipe is explained on the pack in several easy steps and in several languages. It is additionally possible to link up to a video with cooking instructions using a QR code. The quality of all the ingredients is directly visible through a display window in the packaging. The prize for the Most Original Seafood Product went to the Big Prawn Company (UK) for their Double Dippers Prawn Cracker. This snack consists of king prawns, a sweet chili sauce and prawn crackers that are packed separately in a three compartment tray. The consumer should use the included stick to dip the prawns first into the sauce and then into the cracker. The result is a crispy, spicy seafood snack. The two Brussels seafood fairs will take place next year from 21 to 23 April. mk
Keeepepittitcoforl,esh k
INTER FRESH CONCEPTS BV. info@icepackxl.nl Tel.:+31252340687
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
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[ EVENTS ] Baader Food Processing Machinery
Successor model for the tried and tested trout deboning machine
T
he well-known machine and plant manufacturer Baader presented the successor model of its classic trout gutting and deboning machine Baader 135 at the SPG. Like its predecessor, the new Baader 136 stands out for its clean cut, high performance, easy operation and maintenance. Although all the bones are cleanly removed the fish looks fully intact from the outside. The head and tail fin remain on the fish. According to Marketing Manager Regina Dedow the Baader 136 can process both round and gutted trout weighing between 160 and 650 g. If the operator manages to put the next trout in quickly the Baader 136 can debone up to 50 fishes per minute. Numerous constructional details make operation and maintenance of the machine easier. All the hoods and protective parts can
be opened or removed for cleaning. The drive motor, control box and operator panel are easily accessible. Cleaning nozzles free the adjustable transport belt (which has a quickrelease facility) of blood and dirt. Baader optionally offers an attachable blade sharpener that is then driven by the 136. Apart from that, there is a jam control with an automatic stop which prevents incorrect cuts. The adjustable platform which offers operating staff ergonomic working conditions is very helpful during routine work processes. The second new machine on show was the Baader 588 which like its successful predecessor, the Baader 581, is designed for filleting fresh and defrosted whitefish (e.g. cod, haddock, hake). This filleting machine, too, stands out for
Regina Dedow, Marketing Manager. An attachable blade sharpener, driven by the Baader 136, is optional for the gutting and deboning machine.
its high standards of hygiene, food safety, maintenance, immense capacity and optimum fillet quality. Regina Dedow emphasised that the 588 delivered excellent fillet quality even if the fishes had relatively soft flesh. The cut surfaces are smooth without gaping or bloodspots. This is ensured by
the gentle filleting with rotating lateral blades. No sticking or scraping blades are used. On top of these advantages the Baader 588 is very easy to operate. This machine is cam driven and has no electronic or pneumatic assisted parts. A small intuitive touch panel is all it takes to operate the machine.
Maquinaria Conservera
Second-hand processing machines
T
he Spanish family business Maquinaria Conservera Tomás Guillén buys second-hand processing machines from producers and insolvent companies that are then refurbished and resold. Maquinaria is what one might call a secondhand shop for individual machines and complete processing lines from the food, chemicals and pharmaceutical industries.
of all kinds. Although most of them are from the canning industry which is particularly strong in Spain (for example vacuum fillers, can sealers, autoclaves) there are also other devices such as packaging machines, band saws, tunnel and plate freezers, vacuum systems, injectors, compressors, transport belts, washing units, tumblers, industrial centrifuges, labelling machines and even complete processing lines.
Itziar Garcia Gomez, Export department. Thanks to professional reworking a lot of the second-hand machines are almost like new.
According Itziar Garcia Gomez from Export department the company’s five-hectare storage halls always contain more than 8,000 machines
The team at Maquinaria Conservera is convinced that it would be more than a shame simply to write the machines off: many of
them have been used for much too short a time. Their production took time, work, money and valuable material. “By prolonging
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their service-life we are relieving the environment and making an effective contribution to sustainability.” www.eurofishmagazine.com
11th
25-27 September
The largest commercial fishing exhibition in the North!
www.icefish.iss Organiser
Official airline/air cargo handler & hotel chain
Official Logistics Company
Official Icelandic publication
Official International publication
[ EVENTS ] Liman
Taking over Bagci doubles capacity
L
iman is a producer and processor of trout, one of the oldest in Turkey. A year ago, it took over Bagci, another wellknown producer and processor making Liman among Turkey’s biggest trout producers. As the two oldest trout producers in Turkey we had a good relationship, says Mehmet Papila, the director, so when Mr Bagci decided to retire we took over the production sites, processing facilities, the Bagci brand, and the customers, giving us a production capacity of 4,500 tonnes a year and doubling our processing capacity. Bagci had a facility with an EU approval number that was also approved to supply fish to Russia and China as well. The Liman facility is also approved by both the EU and Russia, so we are in a good position now, says Kemal Babila, also a director in Liman, to get further economies of scale. In the past year, the company has been shipping to the Far East, Kazakhstan, Russia, Israel, as well as several countries in the EU. The range of products is wide, the fish is smoked, filleted, the colour may be red or white (adjustments are made to the feed depending on the client’s requirements). Fillets are also frozen, and can be packaged in boxes, bags, barbecue packs or other packaging. The fish can be gutted and gilled, with bones in or out, butterfly or single fillet. The products are
Mehmet Papila and Kemal Babila, directors at Liman, are planning a new processing facility for the production of value-added products.
not sold directly to the retail chains, but to importers who supply the retailers and take care of the sales and distribution. Like other processors Liman is aware of the need to move higher up the value chain. The company is planning a new processing facility, where value added products, such as coated trout fillets, will be produced. The company today has five sites and a total of eleven facilities. The original Liman facilities are all in the Marmara region close to Istanbul, while the Bagci facilities are near
Izmir. All the on-growing facilities are land-based, that is, the fish are grown in raceways and not in cages. This makes for a more muscular fish with firmer flesh as it has to fight the flow in the raceways. The company now has two hatcheries, but is developing plans to build an additional one. The economic crisis in Europe has had an impact on the Turkish trout industry. Sales prices are low, says Mr Babila, while costs keep increasing. He expects overall trout production in Turkey to fall partly as a result of
the European economy, but also because he foresees European production of trout increasing this year. Liman’s farms are certified to the GlobalG.A.P. standard and now the company is seeking certification to the ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) standard too. Certification needs to be more streamlined says Mehmet Papila, the effort and expense involved in getting a single certification is significant and if producers have to get several it can have a serious impact on the economics of a trout farm.
Zila Laguna
Salmon sausages as a healthy alternative to hotdogs
F
or Latvian company Zila Laguna, there were several good reasons to be at the Seafood Expo Global this year. The company works primarily
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Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
with the raw materials herring and mackerel, but also salmon and trout. The company buys the raw material from Iceland, Scotland, and Norway and then
process it, selling the end products to the retail and food service sector. Marinated fish, as well as hot and cold-smoked fish, are among the company’s
traditional offerings, but, at the Seafood Expo Global, it is also displaying sausages that are made from salmon meat. We think these sausages offer www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ EVENTS ] a healthy alternative to hotdogs, says Renars Indriksons, the export sales manager, who is launching the product for the international market at the show. Developing a new product takes time, he says, these sausages took eight months from concept to a final product. Currently they are being sold on the local market, and the company is negotiating with gas station chains, to offer them at their outlets, where hotdogs are standard fare. Mr Indriksons is also contemplating a crew to cook the sausages at the next show. The company has also been working together with hotdog kiosks persuading the owners to try the salmon sausages. We find that if people are eating less meat then they almost never visit a place that sells hotdogs, says Mr Indriksons, so the salmon sausages may be one way of attracting people back to these hotdog kiosks. This is something that the kiosk owners understand, so we have had some success in convincing them to carry the salmon sausages. The same potential customers will also find that they are not reduced to eating only the vegetables at a barbecue, the salmon sausages give them an alternative to the cuts of meat that form a big part of most barbecues. The sausage comprises 80 salmon, as the idea was to make a high quality product, and the raw material comes from Norway. Volumes are not very big at the moment, but if the deal with the gas stations comes through the volumes will be significant. Although a fish processor, Zila Laguna also produces humus for the local market, a product that when it started some years ago was unknown in Latvia, but has become increasingly popular since then. Greece and Italy are www.eurofishmagazine.com
the biggest international markets for the company followed by the UK and Ireland, where the company supplies the ethnic market, Latvians living in these countries. Israel is also a potential market and one where the company has been negotiating with its counterparts to sell products under its own “Mr Fish” brand. In Europe, however, most of the production is sold under private label.
Some of the products in Zila Laguna’s portfolio. The salmon sausages (bottom left) have a salmon content of 80%.
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[ EVENTS ] Islauzo Zuvis
Making the ďŹ rst steps towards an export market
Islauzo Zuvis, a Lithuanian company farming and processing carps and other freshwater species, exhibited at the Seafood Expo Global to test the response to its delicatessen products and hot and cold smoked fish.
T
he Lithuanian National Association of Fish Processors and Wholesalers, under its director Vytautas Andriuskevicius, returned to the European Seafood Exposition this year with a pavilion hosting eight companies of which seven were from the processing sector. The eighth company, Islauzo Zuvis, is a family-owned fish farming enterprise. The company is 50 years old and has nearly 500 ha of ponds growing 18 species of fish, giving a total yield of approximately 700 tonnes of fish a year, of which four fifths is common carp. A third of the 40 ponds production is organic. The production is distributed between processed products (a third of the production), and live fish. Two
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years ago, the company diversified into fish processing using, however, only its own farmed fish as raw material to produce a range of hot and cold smoked fish, delicatessen items, as well as fillets, and gutted fish which it sells chilled, frozen, or vacuum packaged. Andrius Lukosius, the owner, says he would like his products to stand out from others in the field, which is why he emphasises their natural aspects; there are no additives in the products, everything is made by the company itself. Currently, the main market is within Lithuania, but gradually the company is also planning to export its products, starting with the UK, where there is a significant Lithuanian community. This is the first time
the company has exhibited at an international seafood show. Coldsmoked carp and bighead carp are specialities that have elicited interest in Germany and the US among other overseas markets. Carp, a bottom feeder, can sometimes have a muddy taste, but Mr Lukosius avoids this by feeding the fish on a diet of organic grains and peas, so that the fish are not tempted to forage at the bottom of the ponds, and also are certified to an organic standard. Among the other species that the company cultivates are the bighead carp, grass carp, tench, European catfish, and Siberian sturgeon. The fish are grown in polyculture, that is, different species inhabit the same pond, which means the
resources in the pond are utilised optimally. Finding the right recipes and the techniques that give the best results has been a long process of experimentation. While Mr Lukosius concentrated on growing the fish his wife was instrumental in developing the range of processed products. Originally they were intended only for sale through a local shop, but the success of the products suggested that there may be a wider market for them. Producing the raw material should not be a problem as the farm is not operating at full capacity yet and even the mix of species can be adjusted to what the market demands. www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ EVENTS ] Agromey
Selling fish is as important as producing it
J
uvenile production in Turkey has fallen the last three years says Tolga Uruk, marketing and sales director of Agromey, from 380 million juveniles in 2012 to 290 million in 2013 and a provisional 270 million this year, a 30 reduction since 2012. The reduction in production volumes is a possible sign that companies realise that being an efficient producer alone is not enough, the fish also has to be sold. For Agromey there are several new markets that are becoming more interesting, in the Far East, in Hong Kong for example and South Korea. The potential of these markets has convinced Agromey to attend the Asian Seafood Expo in Hong Kong later in the year, which will
shmagazine.com www.eurofishmag zine.com
also be an opportunity to explore other markets in the region, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Hong Kong itself. The company will be promoting its 400 to 600g and 600 to 800g sizes and is hoping to find opportunities for fresh fish in these sizes. Fresh fish is the core of Agromey’s business, though it also does some frozen fish. The logistics are decidedly easier with frozen fish, says Mr Uruk, but the margins on the fresh fish are better. South America is another region where the company thinks has a lot of potential. Mr Uruk says that with direct flights from Turkey to Mexico City scheduled to start in
the near future, it will help to open up the market to Turkish fish. The market in Russia has expanded as well since Turkish fish first started being exported there several years ago and South America may well show the same trend. The main market is still by far the EU, but growth there is limited, which is why Turkish companies are aggressively looking for other opportunities. Among them is the United States, where the potential exists because seabass and seabream are relatively unknown fish. The costs of developing such a market are high, on the other hand, but are the potential rewards. Agromey has some advantages in this regard; it is a vertically integrated company
Tolga Uruk, marketing and sales director, is rapidly expanding the number of countries that are buying Agromey’s fish.
and has just been given an injection of capital and so can better afford to play for the long term.
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[ EVENTS ] NorďŹ sk (Suempol)
Culinary tour with salmon products
Marcin Wojciuk, CEO; Julia Loth, Junior Sales and Marketing Manager; GĂźnter Rees, Sales and Marketing Manager. Smoked salmon accounts for about 97% of production volume.
T
he family company Norfisk has specialised in processing salmon and other salmonid species using traditional methods. The product range includes mainly cold and hot smoked products but also gravad products and other processing forms (for example carpaccio). The raw materials for the products come from certified aquaculture or sustainable wild catches. The company processes the fish carefully by hand, combining this with modern processing methods which guarantee a constant high product quality. In addition to their in-company testing and in order to meet both their own and customers’ quality requirements Norfisk also has its products checked regularly for their sensory properties (appearance, flavour, smell
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and consistency) and chemical and microbiological status by recognised independent institutes. A visible result of Norfisk’s processing expertise and imaginativeness is the impressively large number of products that are traded both at delicatessen stores and discounters: smoked and marinated salmon, stremel (strips of smoked salmon fillet) and barbecue salmon plus trout products, Atlantic salmon from Norway or Scotland, wild salmon (sockeye), trout and salmon trout, partly in organic quality. The finished products are vacuum packed or in MAP in sizes from 50 g to pre-sliced sides. The Junior Sales Manager Julia Loth told us that Norfisk had just completed an overall packaging
relaunch for the product range. The newly designed cardboard sleeves and outer packs are now in elegant black with blue edges with appropriate nature motifs. A round display window allows customers to view the fish product inside. Seven Käfer delicatessen products that are being traded under the theme “Culinary Tourâ€? are meeting with good response: r "TJBO )BSNPOZ NBSJOBUFE salmon with lemon grass and wasabi and horseradish cream r 4QBOJTI1BTTJPO TNPLFETBMNPO with orange and mustard sauce r 4XFEJTI 4FSFOJUZ TNPLFE TBMNPO with cranberry and horseradish cream r (FSNBO $PVOUSZ -JGF NBSJnated salmon with wild garlic
r 'SFODI 5BTUF NBSJOBUFE TBMNPO with herbes di Provence and tomato r *UBMJBO %PMDF 7JUBF TBMNPO DBSpaccio with vinaigrette and Parmigiano Reggiano r 0SJFOUBM .BHJD NBSJOBUFE TBM mon with oriental spices and fig and mustard sauce. Norfisk is a successor of Suempol which was founded in Bielsk Podlaski by Urszula and Edward Scieci´nski. In 2010 Suempol Deutschland took over the majority share of the German company Norfisk Berlin, where today they also produce for the Käfer Feinkost brand. Since 2013 Norfisk has been a 100 subsidiary of Suempol Deutschland. www.eurofishmagazine.com
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[ EVENTS ] Due Miljø
Membrane ďŹ ltration for ďŹ sh proteins and oils
D
ue Miljø (Norway) is a highly specialised company that cleans proteins and oils at molecular level with the help of membrane filtration technologies to free them from undesired substances such as pesticides. Due Miljø had been working on the separation of fish tissue and components since its foundation in the year 1896, said company director Eddy G. Torp. This used to be done using mechanical methods but today modern membrane technologies were used. In the first process stage, the fish body is still separated into the three fractions water, protein and fish fat. These are then treated further (i.e. cleaned and separated at molecular level) using a patented technique. Due Miljø does not only offer cleaned fractions for the food and pharmaceutical
industries but also produces the technical plants that are required to do this. Currently Due Miljø is mainly active in five different fields, Eddy G. Torp tells us: r &YUSBDUJPO PG IJHIMZ EJHFTUJCMF fish meal and fish protein isolates (anti-nutrients are removed) from the process water of fish and krill processing. The water is cleaned effectively and sustainably, and freed from any remaining fish fat. r &YUSBDUJPO PG NBSJOF QFQUJEFT via fractioning of marine hydrolysates from fishes, molluscs and other raw materials. There is high demand for these molecular isolates in the feed industry and they get good prices there. They are used as feed additives, for example, or as a starter feed for fry.
Eddy G. Torp, Director of Due Miljø. Using the company’s membranebased technique, proteins can be cleaned and oils freed of undesired substances.
r 3FGJOFNFOU PG MPX HSBEF PJMT to high-grade oils. r (FOUMF DMFBOJOH PG PJMT %VSing this process undesired substances such as colour and odour substances, enzymes and PBT toxins (Persistent Bioactive
Toxins) are removed in accordance with EU requirements. r &YUSBDUJPO PG TVCTUBODFT GSPN micro algae. Enzymatic fractioning and membrane separation of concentrates that contain Omega 3 and other substances.
Gosławice Fish Farm
Antonius Caviar from Siberian sturgeon
G
osławice Fish Farm was founded in 1967 near to Konin (Central Poland). It is one of the biggest farming companies in Poland and also one of the largest producers of sturgeon and wels catfish in Europe. The company was originally founded to cool the heated water from a power plant in two pond complexes with a total area of 330 hectares. The warm water was at the same time used for farming
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Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
fishes such as carp, grass carp and silver carp. Today the company, which was privatised in 2001, has over 2,000 hectares of lake and 500 hectares of pond area plus several intensive fish farming units (net cages, tanks and raceways). The traditional fish species are still part of the regular production programme. Gosławice produces both fish for consumption and fry which are mostly sold at weights of 0.3 to 2 g.
In the 1990s began the search for new warm-water fish species that might be more promising candidates for production under the competitive conditions of the free market than the previous species. Some sturgeon species such as Siberian and Russian sturgeon or paddlefishes were found particularly promising. All three species have since then been farmed and regularly reproduced in Gosławice. Soon
the idea arose to not only produce the fish as consumption fish but to use them for caviar production, too. In the farm’s warm water sturgeon grow faster and reach sexual maturity considerably earlier than under natural conditions. After the company succeeded in gaining official approval for the processing and packaging of caviar they first sold ripe sturgeon females as from 2008 with roe that was ready
www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ EVENTS ] for removal to other farms. This changed however when Gosławice purchased the majority share of the Olsztyn II fish farm in Ru´s. At this plant there were two former trout units with clear water from the Masurian lakes (this water is ideally suited for holding sturgeon) and also a processing unit that was then modernised and converted for caviar removal. In Brussels Gosławice presented caviar from Siberian sturgeon that is to be marketed on the international market for the first time this year under the brand name Antonius Caviar. Gosławice has plans to extend its product range and hopes soon also to offer caviar from Russian sturgeon.
www.eurofishmagazine.com
Agata Lakomiak-Winnicka and Szymon Lakomiak. Gosławice is one of the biggest farms in Poland and one of the largest producers of sturgeon and wels catfish in Europe.
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[ EVENTS ] Cromaris
New hatchery to count among biggest in Europe
C
romaris was formed in 2009 from a fusion of three longestablished Croatian companies, Cenmar, Marimirna, and Marikultura Istra, that had been in the fish farming business for over thirty years. Cromaris today is a vertically integrated company, farming, processing, and marketing fish. The company has a capacity of over 7,000 tonnes with grow-out sites at five locations in the north and central Adriatic, and a hatchery, all of which are monitored from the company’s headquarters in Zadar in the central Adriatic. Fish from Cromaris has a number of advantages over its competitors not only in Croatia, but also compared with producers in other
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countries around the Mediterranean, says Davide Furlan, marketing manager for Italy. Production is low density and has been certified to several ISO standards, to IFS, and to HACCP and we can deliver to our main European markets within 24 to 48 hours of the fish being harvested. All the company’s products, seabass, seabream, meagre, dentex, and red seabream are sold under the Cromaris brand. The seabass and seabream is sold either gutted or whole round in modified atmosphere giving the product a longer shelf life. The on-growing site in the Bay of Lim is surrounded by a special marine reserve, which the company
would not like to disturb in any way. Production here is therefore certified to several organic standards including the European certification for organic production, the German Naturland, and the French AB. The organic status means that the density in the cages is relatively low, the vegetable and fish-based raw materials that go into the feed are from sustainable sources and are GMO free, and the feed has a lower proportion of fat than regular feeds. Cromaris also produces smoked and marinated seabass and seabream fillets free of preservatives that are sold in vacuum packaging and plastic tubs. Sales have been
Davide Furlan has overseen a steep increase in sales of Cromaris products on the Italian market.
booming in Italy, says Mr Furlan, they went up by 40 last year even though prices were 10 higher, but we are also developing new markets in Poland, Hungary, and the US.
www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ EVENTS ] Ristic
Seafood products for the barbecue brand Weber
T
he seafood specialist Ristic announced at the SEG that the company had developed a number of barbecue products in cooperation with the cult brand Weber and that these would be going onto the market under the Weber brand. The premium range currently comprises four frozen barbecue products, all in the same design (3 in a carton, one in a bag): r $MBTTJD ##2 TISJNQ CVSHFST r $MBTTJD ##2 TISJNQ TLFXFST r $MBTTJD ##2 HJBOU QSBXOT r $MBTTJD ##2 TBMNPO ĂŞMMFU According to Ristic Sales Manager Stefan EĂ&#x;mann the Weber
BBQ products will be in the price segment 7.99 to 8.99 euros. The retail trade had shown great interest in the range, and a lot of retailers had already listed the products. Media presence in good time for the start of the barbeque season had probably contributed to this good market launch. Among other things Weber uses TV spots, and during the football world championship Thomas MĂźller appeared as a sport ambassador to advertise for the barbecue company. The products became available in the market in June.
EĂ&#x;mann describes the cooperation with Weber as a real win-win situation. Weber had approached the seafood expert Ristic because they wanted to build up an exclusive range with fish and seafood. Weber was making specific use of the long-standing seafood experience of Ristic, and Ristic would benefit from Weber who is the bestknown BBQ brand not only in Germany but elsewhere, too. In Germany, Weber has BBQ academies in 24 locations where training courses are run to convey detailed knowledge about this particular way of
The high-quality appearance of the Weber barbecue products from Ristic underlines the premium character of this seafood range.
cooking food. The company also publishes special BBQ guides.
Stalam SpA
Defrosting with radio frequency technology
T
he Italian company Stalam is one of the market leaders for defrosting plants based on radio frequency technology. With these machines that are suitable for thawing frozen
blocks, bags and other frozen products the defrosting process can be reduced from several hours or even days to just a few minutes. Drip loss is reduced to a minimum, flavour, chemical and
physical status are hardly altered, and the development of microorganisms is effectively inhibited. Thawing can be a continual or just-in-time process. According to the company, not only are
product losses reduced but also the costs resulting from the thawing process, although the electricity consumption of the new model RF 7kW that was exhibited in Brussels is quite significant.
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[ EVENTS ] In two daily demonstrations at SPG the company showed how quickly, homogeneously and gently frozen blocks of shrimps or cod could be thawed from -20°C to between -3 and -1°C. The frozen products go past two metallic plates (electrodes) in the machine that are connected to a radio frequency generator oscillating at about 27.12 MHz, equal to about 27 million cycles per second. This makes the dipolar water molecules inside the frozen blocks oscillate and through the friction between the molecules uniform heat is developed within the whole product mass which leads to even thawing within the product, whatever its size, weight or shape. It takes about 20 minutes to get a 25 kg block of mackerel from -20°C to -1 to -4°C. A 10 kg frozen block of Alaska pollock at -18°C reaches a temperature of just below zero degrees after 15 minutes. The company said that some of the thawing plants had already been sold during the fair.
About 95% of the Stalam machines are exported. 1,800 machines are currently in operation in 50 different countries, both as individual solutions and within automatic production lines.
Certification organisations want to cooperate more strongly
Reduction of duplicate testing
T
he certification organisations GlobalGAP and Friend of the Sea (FOS) announced during the Brussels seafood fairs that they want to intensify their cooperation. This could give more than 2 million tonnes of additional aquaculture products that have a sustainability seal access to the markets. FOS is a certification scheme for aquaculture and fishing. Seafood products from fisheries can be granted the FOS seal if they do not come from overfished or IUCN red listed stocks and are caught using selective fishing methods that do not damage
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the seabed. The standards in the aquaculture sector include for example doing without any genetic modulation techniques or growth hormones. Up to now over 350 companies in more than 50 countries throughout the world have been certified according to FOS standards. GlobalGAP, which is probably the best-known B2B certification system for foods worldwide, has also covered aquaculture in its certification scheme for more than 10 years. Important core elements are food safety, environmental protection and social responsibility aspects.
Both certifiers have agreed that producers who already fulfil all the requirements of GlobalGAP will no longer have to go through the entire certification process to gain the FOS seal. Because GlobalGAP already covers a very large number of sustainability criteria, FOS will in future only be testing a few special aspects. This should reduce the effort demanded from the applicants considerably and would also avoid duplicate testing. In return, FOS certified farms will be able to gain the GlobalGAP seal much more easily during subsequent testing. Consumers
can recognise the “cooperation logo” by the addition “Responsibly farmed” which is printed above the seal together with a thirteen figure number denoting the farm (GGN-No.) which makes it easier to find the company in the GlobalGAP database. The trend towards closer cooperation that has been recognisable among certifiers for quite a long time was continued at SEG. The certifiers are presumably reacting to growing criticism about the increasing variety of seals that ultimately all more www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ EVENTS ] or less cover the same issue. This pushes effort and costs up without offering more safety or other benefits. A year ago – at the ESE – GlobalGAP, ASC and the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) already signed a Memorandum of Understanding, one of the intentions of which was to harmonise standards for aquafeeds. Now the three certifiers presented the progress made in this area and announced that they this year intended to found a working group on the topic of fish feed. In the context of their annual update meeting the MSC also informed fair participants of the progress made so far, for example, that already more than 15,000 MSC products are available in 100 countries and that they together represent about 510,000 tonnes raw materials with a total value of 4.5 billion euros. Nearly 10.5 of all catches worldwide currently bear the MSC seal. Europe was the decisive driving force behind the MSC, said Rupert Howes (CEO of MSC); nowhere in the world was MSC stronger than in Europe. Within Europe, MSC enjoyed the best response in Germany where according to the current survey every second consumer apparently knows the blue logo. There are more than 5,700 products with the MSC seal in Germany. Certification was also worthwhile from a financial point of view: on average MSC products enjoyed a price premium of 13.1 compared to their uncertified counterparts. The fact that the value of the standards and seals themselves is now being examined is probably something new for most certifiers. This examination is actually long overdue because it might mean that the large www.eurofishmagazine.com
Sustainability events at the fair were mostly well attended which confirms producers’ continuing interest in the certification topic.
number of seals can be reduced. The Global Seafood Sustainability Initiative (GSSI 2013) that was founded in 2013 has set itself the aim of examining the seals according to a benchmark system. This should make it easier for potential applicants to decide on a seal that was likely to be effective in attaining the desired goals. On the first day of the fair it became known that GSSI had chosen Global Aquaculture Alliance’s BAP seal as its first candidate for the pilot programme. The GAA was very pleased about this, declared Peter Redmond, the Director of Market Development of GAA. Producers and traders needed a comparison that was based on fair standards and evaluations. It would make orientation easier and could indicate weak points in the programmes. Peter Redmond is convinced that in the long run benchmarking will be worthwhile for everyone. In the USA the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Programme that like other environmental organisations publishes a kind of buying guide for fish buyers has set all shrimp producers who already have a
2-star BAP seal to “yellow”. That means they are now considered a “good alternative” when buying. They had previously been
“red”, like all aquaculture products. At the end of 2013 BAP certified shrimp farms produced 132,000 t worldwide!
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[ EVENTS ] Pelagic and whitefish summits at the North Atlantic Seafood Forum, Bergen
Pelagic fish increasingly used for human consumption
A
udun Lem, FAO, presented the outlook for the global pelagic fishery supply and demand. Dr Lem highlighted the most important developments in the pelagic industry, such as major investments in vessels and processing facilities, development of more efficient storage and transport technologies, globalisation of supply chains and increased diversity of pelagic products for human consumption. For example, in the latter case, the industry has seen a growing demand for Omega-3 fish oil nutritional supplements, products designed with a focus on convenience and time saving, a variety of preservation forms and an increase in frozen and canned products.
Highly nutritious and cheap At present, the use of pelagic species for direct human consumption is increasing, although the major stocks, such as anchovy, are still used for fishmeal and fish oil. Small pelagics have great potential as a highly nutritious and cheap food source, particularly for nutrient deficient populations. “Market development for human consumption is driven by income growth, lack of marine seafood alternatives and increased awareness of nutritional value of pelagic species”, said Dr. Lem. In particular, pelagic fish provide 32
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
Ronny Rosenberg
The pelagic and whitefish sessions were among the wide spectrum of events organised during the 9th North Atlantic Seafood Forum held on March 4-6. The current issue of the EUROFISH Magazine provides a deeper review of these sessions, presenting some of the main trends and expectations in the pelagic and whitefish industries. many valuable nutrients such as protein, long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, iodine, zinc and selenium. They also provide numerous health benefits such as a reduced risk of cardiac death, stroke, depressions, etc. Enricho Bachis, IFFO (The Marine Ingredients Organisation), also presented findings on this topical issue. He described the growing importance of the latest trends observed in the three categories of forage fish. The first, Industrial grade forage fish, is usually not wanted as human food as it is small, bony and not very appetising or familiar to consumers. Species in this category include sand eel in Scandinavia and menhaden in the USA. The second category, Food grade forage fish, is desirable as human food, but the logistics of transporting these species in good condition and at a realistic price level have so far been problematic. Peruvian anchovy is an example of a food grade forage fish. The third group, Prime food fish, is mainly used for direct human consumption. But, due to seasonality and unpredictability of the harvest, landings are too large to be preserved or processed and so are also utilised for reduction purposes. Mackerel, herring, capelin, blue whiting, sprat, sardine and other fish species are classified in this category of forage fish.
Audun Lem, Branch Chief, Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, FAO.
More fish oil goes for direct human use and less to feed According to IFFO, the global fish meal production reached 4.67 million tonnes in 2013, increasing 3 compared to 2012. The total raw material was 9.64 million tonnes in 2013, growing 2 compared to 2012. The estimates for the total raw material for 2014 are currently 11.2 million tonnes (+16 to 2013) with Peru, Chile, USA, and South Africa as the main producers of fishmeal and fish oil. The total fishmeal production in 2013 was 2.1 million tonnes, while the estimates for 2014
are about 2.45 million tonnes (+16 to 2013). Total fish oil production in 2013 was 529,000 tonnes, and in 2014 it is expected to be 595,000 tonnes (+12 higher than in 2013). The share of fish oil usage for direct human consumption is increasing. In 2011 it was 19, while 78 was used in aquaculture feed and 3 for other needs. In 2012, the share of the direct human consumption increased to 22, while the share of usage in aquaculture went down to 74 and to 4 for other uses. Market forces drive raw material allocation between direct human consumption and reduction to fishmeal and oil. www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ EVENTS ] Herring needs a makeover on Polish market Piotr Janiec, of Lisner Poland, presented a thorough overview of the chilled herring market in Poland and indicated the main challenges and ideas for response to the market. Poland, which is regarded as one of the largest herring markets in Europe, is currently experiencing challenges for consumption of chilled herring products. These include the aging of herring consumers, the growth of alternative fish categories (especially in case of salmon) and the perception of herring as being an old fashioned species. Mr. Janiec’s analysis indicated that the share of chilled herring category
penetration in Poland decreased from 68 in 2010 to 54 in 2013. “The chilled herring market is currently in stagnation after the difficult years of deep recession, and the main reasons for the market drop in 2011 and 2012 have been high prices of herring raw material and distribution development of new, modern fish assortment in the discounter channels”, said Mr. Janiec. “For example, salmon sales grew 70 in the past 2 years. It is also very important to highlight a very dynamic growth of discount channel from 30 to 41 in sales value in 2010-2013. During the same period, all other sales channels for fresh herring in Poland such as hypermarkets, supermarkets and traditional trade channels experienced a decline”.
Lisner, which is Poland’s market leader in all chilled herring categories and is responsible for about 50 of the whole chilled herring market value in Poland, chose to respond to the market challenges by implementing the brand communication and new product concepts. The brand communication objectives included mass-market reach, a modern style of products and teaching people how to prepare herring in traditional and modern ways. The new concept development has been based on targeting younger consumers, new opportunities in consumption and new product concepts with media support. On average, the company expects a moderate herring market development of up to 5 growth per year.
One of the concluding remarks of the session was that aquaculture would continue to take the dominant share in the usage of marine ingredients. However, the growth of direct human consumption of fish oil is expected in the next several years. “The total global supply of pelagics for human consumption is stable at around 50 of the total catch, corresponding approximately to 10-12 million tonnes”, mentioned Egil Magne Haugstad, representing Pelagia, the result of the consolidation of AUSS and Kvefi AS, headquartered in Bergen. Pelagia had a production of 1 million tonnes, which roughly corresponds to one fish per person on earth. “The price development for pelagic species is expected to be generally stable
Visit us at Seafood Expo Southern Europe (Barcelona) 22–24 September 2014, Booth 3058 Servinal’s booths: Conxemar (Vigo) 7–9 October 2014, Booth A 25 www.eurofishmagazine.com
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
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[ EVENTS ]
Good pollock fishing in Alaska in 2013 The whitefish industry summit programme presented various outlooks such as global whitefish supply and markets. This included North American and Russian pollock supply, the two most important sources of Alaskan pollock on the whitefish market, and an outlook for individual species (cod, pangasius, tilapia) and markets (Germany, Russia). Rasmus Sorensen, of American Seafoods Company, presented the North American pollock supply outlook and highlighted that, in 2013, great conditions led to some of the best fishing in recent years in Alaska. However, 2013 was very challenging for the US pollock industry in financial terms. The production shifted heavily to PBO (pin-bone out) products due to the very weak surimi market at the beginning of the year and combined with a dramatic drop in value of JPY. The B-season for surimi market in 2013 recovered due to increasing demand in the autumn. By the end of the year, all products were sold despite all time high PBO production, and currently the demand is characterised as healthy. The Russian MSC certification of the Sea of Okhotsk Alaska pollock had led to delays in negotiations, and a softening of prices for blocks. In 2014, the A-season fishing is following this positive trend, and at present, Alaska pollock production is focused on surimi since PBO production is considerably down compared to 2013. The surimi market continues its rapid recovery, and is showing a strong upwards trend in all key markets. The market is driven by low inventories, weak supply from other surimi regions, 34
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
and positive sales in the key markets like Japan and China.
Russian pollock industry focuses on new product development Kristjån Hjaltason, of Ocean Trawlers Europe, discussed the challenges and opportunities for the Russian supply of Alaska pollock. In 2013, the catch of Alaska pollock in Russia amounted to 1,675,000 tonnes and the production of headed and gutted fish (74) represented the main part of this volume, while whole round, frozen fillets, fresh whole round and surimi made up the rest. MSC certification of the Sea of Okhotsk Alaska pollock, which was completed in 2013, is very significant for the industry and will lead to more stringent control, and it is important that all harvesters become a part of the certification of the Sea of Okhotsk Alaska pollock. The opportunities in the Alaska pollock production are seen in the new fillets as frozen at sea (FAS) production mix. This includes all
types of interleaved fillets, loins and portions, industrial blocks and deep-skin blocks, and increase of production land such as lightsalted frozen fillets, IQF fillets, loins and portion and industrial blocks using FAS raw material. The speaker outlined the promotion of premium FAS products, emphasising quality and service and investment in new process and product development as the core opportunities for the Russian pollock industry in the years ahead. He also stated that it is essential for the industry to take control of sales. At the end of the session, the panel discussion involved the key representatives of the industry focusing on the prospects of structural changes in European whitefish market. The German retail sector was highlighted with its main tendency of permanent price crunches and high quality. The food fight among retailers is also expected to continue to keep prices lower in North America, with the recent introduction of German discounters such as Aldi.
A similar situation is observed in the UK where Aldi and Lidl are forcing the big four supermarkets into severe price competition to stop a significant loss of customers to discount chains. Cod, which is currently priced 8 NOK/kg in contrast with salmon, which enjoys 50 NOK/kg, will need to overcome the main challenges that are common in the whitefish industry ensuring variety and innovation of standard products, and consolidating the industry. The 10th North Atlantic Seafood Forum is planned on March 3-5, 2015 in Bergen, Norway. It will be an excellent opportunity to meet and interact with the leading seafood players and financial institutions. Around 100 speakers will present papers in 10 seminars over 3 days, and around 600 delegates from 35 countries are expected. For further information, please visit www.nor-seafood.com. Katia Tribilustova katia.tribilustova@eurofish.dk Ronny Rosenberg
and adjusted for price variations caused by sub-markets and quality and size variations�.
The whitefish round table discussed the prospects for structural changes in the whitefish industry and the need to develop innovative variations of standard whitefish products. www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ EVENTS ] GFCM, 38th Annual Session, 19-24 May, Rome
New agreement will help GFCM rationally manage resources The GFCM, one of the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, is devoted, inter alia, to promoting the development, conservation, rational management and best utilisation of living marine resources. It is committed to favouring the sustainable development of aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black seas region. Its thirty-eighth annual session was held 19-24 May in Rome at FAO headquarters to explore the progress and prospects for the Mediterranean fisheries and aquaculture.
GFCM actively follows the line initiated in 2011 establishing Memorandum of Understanding with various organisations. This enhances collaboration and develops synergies with organisations with mandates and objectives similar to those of GFCM. The list of effective Memorandum of Understanding with www.eurofishmagazine.com
©FAO/Giulio Napolitano
M
r Arni Mathiesen, Assistant Director General, FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, acknowledged synergies built with GFCM, in light of the FAO Blue Growth initiative, and underlined its flagship role. This year marked a new milestone in the history of GFCM as a historical consensus on a new text of the GFCM Agreement was reached. This new framework should give the Commission modern tools to achieve its objectives more efficiently. On this occasion, Ms Maria Damanaki, EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, addressed the annual meeting and expressed full support for the GFCM reform process, which would provide the right context to gain prominence and take the role it deserves, and hoped that the GFCM’s role would grow in the future; she also expressed her concerns about the state of the fish stocks in the Mediterranean and Black seas.
Arni Mathiesen, FAO Assistant Director General, Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Union, Stefano Cataudella, Chairperson, Universita’ Tor Vergata, Abdellah Srour, Executive Secretary, GFCM at the 38th Session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean.
UNRP-MAP, ACCOBAMS, Black Sea Commission, ICES, MedPAN, RAC-MED and EUROFISH were amended by three new MoUs with INFOSAMAK, IUCN-Med and WWF. The many critical issues in the sector (such as the state of fish resources) call for stronger institutional links and increased cooperation. Current cooperation is succeeding in fields such as smallscale fisheries, marine protected
areas, impacts of fisheries on endangered species, aquaculture, communication activities and publications, and training. There will be more emphasis on small scale fisheries as a critical issue for many local communities, alongside the regular activities of different subsidiary bodies of the Commission. The regional Aquaculture Multi-stakeholder
Platform is considered an important tool to deal with both policy and technical issues related to the sustainable development of aquaculture in the region. Both new initiatives would offer an opportunity to address the social and economic components of capture fisheries and aquaculture. Aina Afanasjeva aina.afanasjeva@eurofish.dk Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
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[ EVENTS ] FAO COFI, 9-13 June, Rome
Countries recognise the vital role of small-scale fishers ©FAO/Alessia Pierdomenico
The FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) met in Rome for its thirty-first session from 9 to 13 June. The session was attended by 116 Members and 73 intergovernmental and international non-governmental organisations. Discussions included the importance of fisheries and aquaculture for global food security and the challenges posed by climate change.
Over 800 delegates, the highest number ever, participated in the FAO COFI session, during which FAO presented its "State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2014" report.
J
osé Graziano da Silva, Director General of FAO, inaugurated the meeting highlighting the importance of fisheries and aquaculture as an integral part of FAO’s efforts to achieve food security and sustainable development. He also pointed out the urgent need to address climate change, one of the most pressing challenges the world faces today.
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Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), emphasised the importance of enhanced cooperation between FAO and the IMO to improve safety within the fishing sector. The links between safety at sea, forced labour, and the occurrence of IUU fishing were also addressed by the Committee.
Positive development in stock trends Árni Mathiesen, Assistant Director General for Fisheries and Aquaculture, presented FAO’s flagship publication “State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2014”, which reports that growth both in global fish production and in trade continues and that more
people than before rely on fisheries and aquaculture for jobs and nutrition. At the same time there is a downward trend in overfished stocks, while the proportion of assessed marine fish stocks fished within biologically sustainable levels increase. The Committee called for further work to address the issue of post-harvest losses and waste in certain fisheries. www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ EVENTS ] The Committee endorsed the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries, as the first ever international instrument dedicated entirely to small-scale fisheries. Among other recommendations, the guidelines call for policy coherence to ensure that small-scale fisheries can fully contribute to food security, nutrition and poverty eradication. Árni Mathiesen said “the guidelines will
help small-scale fishers know and exercise their existing rights, and take charge of their own development.”
Fight against IUU fishing makes progress Countries took a major step forward in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, one of the greatest threats
to sustainable fisheries and related livelihoods, by endorsing the Guidelines for Flag State Performance that will hold states more accountable for the activities of fishing vessels flying their flags. The Committee expressed concern about over-exploitation, marine and land-based sources of pollution, declining biodiversity, increase in alien/invasive species,
ocean acidification and disease outbreaks. These challenges can be addressed by applying the ecosystem approach to fisheries and aquaculture management that takes into account not only the environmental dimensions of sustainability, but also its social, and economic aspects. Aina Afanasjeva aina.afanasjeva@eurofish.dk
National aquaculture workshop, 6 June, Izmir, Turkey
Technology, state aid, markets were popular topics at workshop The Turkish aquaculture sector has been recognised as a rising star in the country’s economy with considerable potential to provide a healthy boost to GDP. Turkey plays a leading role in Mediterranean aquaculture production. High quality of farmed fish, sustainable growth of production and facilitation of fish exports to the EU and other international markets were some of the topics highlighted at the Turkish national workshop, which was attended by more than 60 participants including representatives from the industry, governmental institutions and academia.
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he Turkish national workshop “Tendencies in aquaculture value chain” was held at the Izmir Trade Fair Centre on 6 June 2014. The event was organised by Eurofish International Organisation and the Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock in collaboration with the organisers of Future Fish Eurasia, an international fish fair. The workshop was opened by Dr Durali Kocak, Director General for Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock of Turkey. Dr Kocak stressed the importance of the Turkish aquaculture sector highlighting the need
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to achieve sustainable growth, and praised the high quality of Turkish production. Aina Afanasjeva, Director of Eurofish, said that the workshop aimed at transferring knowledge and legal requirements updates to facilitate the export of fish products to the EU, one of the biggest seafood markets in the world, and other targeted international markets.
Nets without knots and other farming technologies The programme explored the progress in and targets for farm Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
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[ EVENTS ]
Eurofish and the General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock organised a wellattended workshop that explored trends in the aquaculture value chain, including the role of governments in supporting the growth of the sector.
management and technological development, state aid and import requirements, best aquaculture management practices, as well as trade and markets. Recent developments in open sea fish farming technology and farm management were presented by Pierpaolo Patarnello, veterinary fish pathologist, and Darko Lisac, Refa Med. “Biosafety and quality must be the new target in modern marine fish farming because it is the only method to differentiate and valorise groups that invest in automation, mechanisation, and control of the product”, said Mr. Patarnello. Mr. Lisac made an overview of the latest developments of cages and ocean farm technologies. The use of different net materials, such as high tenacity polyolefin knotless netting and high tensile strength braided polymer knotted netting, plays a crucial role to optimise strength and flexibility of cages.
Criteria for receiving state aid are diverse The EU is by far the world’s biggest importer of fish and seafood, and the import rules for fishery products and shellfish aim to ensure 38
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that all imports fulfil the same high standards as products from the Member States. For non-EU countries, the European Commission is the negotiating partner that defines import conditions and certification requirements. Mr. Patarnello explained the general rules for fishery products, including prerequisite and border inspection, and procedures for the evaluation of the eligibility of third countries for exporting fishery products to the EU, specific requirements for imports of high-risk products such as shellfish. Roger Corey from Eurofish introduced the principles of state aid to aquaculture sector to promote its development and increase employment. “State aid helps the aquaculture sector by investing in rural infrastructure development, growth of skilled labour availability and environmental protection thus creating a “spill-over” effects on other related industries and helping all of regional economy,” he said. State aid is subject to rules about the size of the recipient firm (must be a small or medium enterprise), the availability of all qualified recipients to avoid providing unfair advantage to single firms and whether the proposed
project meets certain criteria such as employment goals.
Demand for seabass, seabream expands in Russia, US Certification not only helps producers gain access to the market, but also supports them in adoption and implementing best aquaculture practices. Various certification schemes for aquaculture were presented by Elif Terzioglu, Turkish office of Bureau Veritas. Ekaterina Tribilustova, of Eurofish, made an outline of the trade developments for seabass and seabream on the international markets. At present, Turkey is the largest country for seabass production in Europe with 60,000 tonnes and a market share of 38 in global seabass production in 2013, followed by Greece, Egypt and Spain. In the global production of seabream, Turkey is the second largest producing country after Greece with 45,000 tonnes and a share of 24. In 2013, Turkish exports of fresh seabass and seabream had a boom reaching 34,400 tonnes, up from 20,400 tonnes in 2012. The main markets for exports for fresh Turkish
seabass are the Netherlands, Italy, Russia and Spain. The main destinations for fresh Turkish seabream are Lebanon, the Netherlands, Italy and Russia. The Netherlands re-exports Turkish seabream to other countries, including both intra- and extra-EU countries. The main traditional markets for seabass and seabream are Italy, France and Spain, while the emerging markets such as Germany, the UK, Russia and the USA experience growing demand for those species. In the current year, the global production of seabass and seabream is expected to be on the same level as in 2013, although the main producing countries Greece and Turkey are showing various tendencies in the outputs. In fact, Turkey is emerging as the leading producer due to the more stringent economic conditions in the Mediterranean part of Europe. In addition to the transfer of knowledge, the seminar provided an opportunity for discussions and exchange of information between producers, and regional and national authorities. Katia Tribilustova katia.tribilustova@eurofish.dk www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ PROJECTS ] Food Spoilage and Safety Predictor (FSSP) software
Predicting the shelf life of seafood under different storage conditions Mathematical models for growth, survival or inactivation of microorganisms can be valuable tools to evaluate safety and shelf life of food. However, such predictive microbiology models can be difďŹ cult to use in practice unless they are included in user-friendly application software such as the Food Spoilage and Safety Predictor (FSSP).
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he Food Spoilage and Safety Predictor software contains various models to predict the effect of product characteristics and storage conditions on shelf life and safety of food. The first version of the software was launched as far back as in January 1999 and it is now widely used by more than 6,000 people/companies/institutions in 118 countries.
Latest version has new predictive models In 2014, a new and expanded version of the software, now named the Food Spoilage and Safety Predictor (FSSP), has been launched. FSSP contains new predictive models and new facilities in addition to all the features already available as part of the former version called Seafood Spoilage and
Safety Predictor (SSSP), e.g. models to predict the effect of temperature storage conditions on product shelf life, models for growth of specific spoilage microorganisms to predict shelf life of fresh fish and models to predict food safety including histamine formation in marine finfish. New predictive models in FSSP include: r (SPXUI BOE HSPXUI CPVOEBSZ model for lactic acid bacteria in seafood and meat products. This new model has been extensively validated and it can be used for a wide range of seafood. r &YQBOEFE NPEFM UP QSFEJDU UIF simultaneous growth of lactic acid bacteria and Listeria monocytogenes in various seafood and meat products including some mayonnaise based seafood salads.
r 1SPEVDU TQFDJĂŞD NPEFMT GPS UIF simultaneous growth of lactic acid bacteria and Listeria monocytogenes in chilled cottage cheese. r " HFOFSJD HSPXUI BOE HSPXUI boundary model for any microorganism/food combination where cardinal growth parameter values like the minimum temperature and pH for growth have been determined. This generic model can take into account the effect of various product characteristics and storage conditions. Predictions can be obtained for constant or for dynamic temperatures, pH and lactic acid conditions.
Multiple uses of this software tool FSSP can, for example, be used to document if Listeria monocytogenes is able or unable to grow in a ready-to-eat seafood product. This
specific use of the software is JNQPSUBOU UP DPNQMZ XJUI UIF &6 SFHVMBUJPO &$ ĨČÄÄŠ ĨČČč BOE JU JT described on the website of the DanJTI 7FUFSJOBSZ BOE 'PPE "ENJOJTtration (www.fvst.dk, in Danish). In addition, FSSP can be used to facilitate development or reformulation of especially lightly preserved foods. FSSP is an important tool for the public sector consultancy, teaching and industry advice given by the Predictive Microbiology research group at UIF /BUJPOBM 'PPE *OTUJUVUF %56 'PPE 5FDIOJDBM 6OJWFSTJUZ PG %FONBSL %56 *U JT GSFFMZ BWBJMBCMF BU http://fssp.food.dtu.dk. To help interested FSSP users benefit from this tool, series of one-day workshops are organised as indicated on the FSSPhomepage or on request to the author. Paw Dalgaard pada@food.dtu.dk
Situations where the FSSP software can be deployed
The safety and shelf life of fish and seafood products can now be evaluated with a new and free software – Food Spoilage and Safety Predictor (FSSP). www.eurofishmagazine.com
t Simulate your cooling chain to estimate the number of days the supermarket can sell the product. t Improve your cooling chain or change the recipe to estimate additional shelf life. t If there is a cooling chain rapture you can quickly decide whether you need a product recall or can continue without compromising food safety and quality. t Simulate the effect of new recipes and document shelf life and food safety in order to reduce the effect of microbiological product testing so the product will quickly reach the market. Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
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Andrés Hermida Trastoy, Director General of Fisheries Management, Spain
Profitability of fleet increases The Spanish fisheries sector is one of the biggest in the EU by most measures. Almost a fifth of total EU production volumes (capture and aquaculture) can be attributed to Spain, and the country accounts for a quarter of EU employment in the fishing sector. Gross tonnage of the Spanish fishing fleet is the highest in the EU amounting to 22% and twice that of the country with the next highest gross tonnage (the UK, with 11.5%). In the processing sector, the value of Spanish output is the third highest in the EU (after the UK and France), while in terms of employment it comes in at number two (after the UK). The fisheries sector makes a very important contribution in terms of employment and economic activity in several Spanish coastal regions. The reformed CFP came into force on 1 January 2014. What impact do you foresee it will have on the Spanish fisheries and aquaculture sector? Which aspects of the new policy do you welcome and which are you less enthusiastic about and why? I would like to start by pointing out that the CFP reform was needed, however it has not been very ambitious. Nevertheless, Spain is quite satisfied with the final result of the reform, especially taking into account the initial proposal from the European Commission. In this sense the Spanish administration has worked very hard together with the EU institutions and the sector to make the initial approach of the EC, as stated in the green paper on the CFP, more rational. Spain supports the principle that science should be the basis of the decision-making process in fisheries management, as well as agrees to establish the MSY for all stocks by 2020 at the latest (the initial proposal of 2015 was not realistic at all). For this aim, regionalisation is an important element, but it would be desirable to do it fishery by fishery. Regarding the small scale fisheries, we cannot agree on the 12 meters length limitation for coastal fishing vessels as the key element to define it, since it does not match the reality of the Spanish fleet at all. 40
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Andrés Hermida Trastoy, Director General of Fisheries Management, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
The external dimension has been one of the elements of the new CFP with better acceptance, both by governments and stakeholders. It is based on two main principles; on the one hand, to apply the highest standards of sustainability in fisheries management and on the other hand, to ensure a level playing field for all the fleets. The latter links directly with improvements to the fisheries control system to ensure better compliance. In this sense Spain is making significant, even pioneering, efforts. For example, it is taking measures against nationals involved in IUU operations even if they do it under a non EU flag; it is also seeking the validation of fishing licenses through
the Spanish and EU diplomatic network to ensure that the Spanish fleet operates legally, sustainably and in a transparent manner within the EEZ of a third country. In relation to the obligation to retain the full catch on board, i.e. the discard ban policy, I would like to repeat what I said to this magazine two years ago; Spain fully supports, as a principle, this measure, but it is regrettable that the Commission has not better prepared this proposal, which we are now faced with implementing, but there is no impact assessment nor plans to do so, which is far from being the ideal situation.
Finally, I believe that the EU has missed a good opportunity to establish an ITQ system that would have allowed a more effective and profitable fisheries management in European waters. Perhaps this is because some Member States are not comfortable with a possible break with the principle of relative stability. How does the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) fit in this scenario? Is there any remarkable new element for the Spanish sector? The new EMFF is the economic tool intended to achieve the objectives of www.eurofishmagazine.com
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this new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). It covers the period 2014-2020 and has a total budget of EUR6.5 billion. Fisheries must be managed on the basis of three main pillars: environmental, social, and economic. Thus the main priorities of this fund will be the creation of employment, the improvement of the quality of life in areas highly dependent on fisheries, the improvement of competitiveness through innovation, and fostering “blue growth” within the framework of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy. Regarding the Spanish sector, I would like to underline an important new measure, the possibility to support fleets affected by the suspension of a fisheries agreement with a third country, something which unfortunately has happened frequently in recent years. One of the most important aspects of the EMFF is the maintenance of aid for the permanent withdrawal of capacity, which will allow the adaptation of fishing capacity to the available resources, started years ago by Spain, to continue. Regionalisation is one of the pillars of the reformed CFP, whereby policy decisions are decentralised and tailored to fit the particular circumstances of an area, region, or sea basin. Since Spain is already highly politically and administratively decentralised, what will regionalisation actually come to mean for the administration of Spanish fisheries. And what changes can Spanish fishers expect to see? Well, I think these are two completely different things. The regionalisation of the CFP is intended to improve cooperation among Member States in concrete areas, looking for the best management possible of the fisheries in the region. However, with the Lisbon Treaty entering into force, which means co-decision www.eurofishmagazine.com
making by the European Parliament, there are many new aspects, such as how the different EU institutions will agree on different issues. In Spain, marine fisheries is the exclusive competence of the Ministry of Agriculture – the regional administrations have competence only over their internal waters. So, essentially, the ministry establishes the rules and the regional administrations are responsible for implementing them, but in the way indicated by the central government as well. What will be the impact of the new CMO on Spanish fisheries and producer organisations (PO) given that Spanish POs have been using intervention measures which have now been revised? How will the CMO contribute to more sustainable fisheries? Let me start by pointing out that the POs, (as well as the inter-branch organisations), are the pillars of the CMO. The new CMO gives the POs a greater role, both to manage the resources as well as to market them, and sets specific objectives for the fisheries and aquaculture POs. Thus, for the fisheries POs, promoting sustainability, reducing unwanted catches, improving traceability, and fighting IUU fishing, are among the objectives. Regarding the aquaculture POs, the activities of their members have to be in line with the National Strategic Plan and the feed has to be sourced from sustainable fisheries. To achieve these objectives, production and marketing plans have to be submitted, which may be funded by the EMFF. The intervention mechanism has been simplified, the withdrawals, compensatory allowances, etc., have been replaced by a single mechanism of private storage, which can be funded by the EMFF up to 2019.
Finally, the extension of the rules will allow POs and inter-branch organisations to reach objectives impossible to accomplish in isolation. How has the economic and financial crisis been reflected in the fisheries sector? What is the medium term outlook for these sectors now as the economic situation in Spain slowly improves? The Spanish fishing sector (and the EU sector in general) has had its own crisis, derived in part from the gap between the capacity of certain fleets and the fishing opportunities, and partly from the lack of bank credits in recent years. However, many commercial fisheries have since recovered and now we can see that all the sacrifices and investments made by the sector, those related to the reduction of capacity as well as those intended to improve efficiency, have increased the profitability of the Spanish companies. On the other hand the fishing sector has become more international, becoming an important player not only in Europe but in the global market. Spain has recently been making large investments in sustainability and in R&D, which are going to ensure the health of the fishing sector in the coming years. Member States are obliged to formulate national aquaculture strategies for 2014-2020, measures under which can apply to the EMFF for funding. What are the main priorities of Spain’s national aquaculture strategy considering the sector is already well developed? Drawing up a multiannual strategic plan for Spanish aquaculture is a prerequisite to apply to the EMFF
for funding. The strategic objective of the plan is to guarantee the economic, social and environmental sustainability of aquaculture in the medium term, increasing production and ensuring the sector’s development in a way that is compatible with the environment in which it takes place. To this end, the plan establishes a series of objectives and strategic actions aimed at removing the major bottlenecks identified both at the national and European level. These include: –
The simplification of administrative procedures; – Guaranteeing the sustainable development of aquaculture through spatial planning; – Reinforcing competitiveness of aquaculture (mainly through R&D); and – Promoting a level playing field for operators. The delay in preparing, submitting and approving proposals to be funded by the EMFF will upset schedules all over the EU. How is Spain coping with this issue which threatens the efficient and timely implementation of measures intended to achieve the objectives of the reformed CFP? I do not think this delay will be significant! Some of the main outcomes of the reformed CFP will also be delayed due to uncertainties about implementation, for instance the discard ban policy. Also, Member States can guarantee a project intended to reach the objectives of the CFP and apply to the EMFF retroactively. The Spanish Government has always firmly supported the sustainable management of fisheries and this delay will not prevent the objectives laid down in the regulation framework from being achieved, and we will take the necessary measures to do so.
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Aurora De Blas Carbonero, Deputy Director for Fisheries Economics
Encouraging the role of women in Spanish fisheries The Spanish fisheries sector is finding it difficult to attract the next generation of workers, as young people look first at alternatives to the hard life and limited profitability that the fisheries sector offers. Changing this is a priority for the administration which is using policy initiatives and the resources offered by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund to encourage fishers to diversify their activities. Aurora De Blas Carbonero, Deputy Director for Fisheries Economics discusses these and other initiatives in the fisheries administration aimed at improving labelling, traceability, and the lot of women in fisheries. How does the ministry view the active role played by Spanish associations such as APROMAR, CONXEMAR and ANFACO and how does the ministry support them regarding research and development? Sectoral associations have always played an important role in the continuous dialogue between the sector and the public administration. In fact, Spain created the first organisations within the fishing sector in the 11th century, and they have adapted their objectives and activities to different eras throughout their history. Their role is fundamental to innovation and to the technological development of fishing and aquaculture and for this, the entities need to be capable and knowledgeable of the needs of the different sub-sectors that they represent. In 2011 the large associations from the sector (from producers to retailers) created the Spanish Technological Platform for fisheries and aquaculture (Plataforma Tecnológica Española de la Pesca y de la Acuicultura or PTEPA), a forum that works on issues of common interest as well as on the transfer of knowledge. 42
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On 7 November 2013, the Secretary General for Fisheries presented the Strategic Plan 2014-2020 on technological innovation and development for fisheries and aquaculture, meeting thereby the requirements of the European programme Horizon 2020 and also the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). The EMFF supports innovation in four areas: marine resources, aquaculture, trade and market, and environment. In the Spanish ministry we understand that innovation is synonymous with competitiveness, profitability and employment generation, therefore we would like to promote several actions that let associations drive large innovative projects, funded by the EMFF. In the coming period 2014-2020 fisheries local action groups will play a major role, and the new EMFF, by encouraging diversification into related activities, offers them more possibilities. What do you think of this development and what is Spain doing in this regard? Fisheries in Spain have a strong historical tradition and play a
Aurora De Blas Carbonero, Deputy Director for Fisheries Economics, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
very important role in many coastal communities that depend on the sector for their social and economic wellbeing.
This is a sector which loves tradition and is resistant to change, but the current tough situation is forcing the fishing communities www.eurofishmagazine.com
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to re-think their strategies and adapt to the new reality. Fishing activities are no longer as profitable as they have been and the sector has become less attractive to new generations as it no longer ensures a way of life as it had in the past. There is a need to find new sources of employment and income, but related to the sea, thus strengthening the economy of communities traditionally dependent on fishing. In addition, there is a need to protect the (limited) marine resources by ensuring the sustainability of the fisheries – a requirement from the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) for all the Member States of the EU. Both the sector and the administration agree that there is thus every reason to strongly promote diversification as a complement to professional fishing. The new EMFF includes aid for activities that will support diversification of fishermen’s income, such as investments on board, fishing tourism, environmental services related to fishing, educational activities, etc. The ministry has created the Technical Group of Diversification for Fisheries and Aquaculture (Grupo Técnico de Diversificación Pesquera y Acuícola or DIVERPES) formed by representatives from regional and central administrations, which will be the tool to coordinate the different actions undertaken. Spain will try to focus its operational program to make the maximum use of this line of aid, aware that in the current socioeconomic situation it is necessary to promote diversification in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. www.eurofishmagazine.com
The new CMO Regulation demands more compulsory information for consumers, what would you say are the most important trends related to labelling? There are different standards to which fisheries products are certified, including sustainability criteria. Most of the certification schemes are private and voluntary, and they guarantee certain characteristics of the products. In my opinion this large number of private labels produces confusion among the consumers and we consider it discriminatory that sometimes the seller has to pay a fee to use the label. On the other hand, the Regulation (EU) 1379/2013 on the Common Organization of the Markets in fishery and aquaculture products, states that the Commission shall, by 1 January 2015, submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a feasibility report on options for an eco-labelling scheme for fishery and aquaculture products, in particular on establishing such a scheme on a Union-wide basis and on setting minimum requirements for the use by Member States of a Union eco-label. Even if the purpose of the European Commission is to put some light on this matter, from the Spanish ministry we have already started to work in this direction. There is a project to certify all the fish from fishing vessels, which would be a compromise that would comply with national, European and international legislation. There is no intention to provide a substitute for an eco-label; the certificate will just guarantee to the consumer that the fish was caught legally, however it could be expanded to cover the fish’s provenance or other details if needed. It would
not provide information related to the species or the gear since every fish legally caught can be sold on the market. And what about traceability and its control? The Regulation (EC) 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009, establishing a community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the CFP, lays down clearly the requirements to fulfil regarding traceability of fisheries and aquaculture products. The Spanish administration has tried to help the sector fulfil these requirements by organising workshops and by producing the publication “Traceability guidelines for the fisheries and aquaculture products”. From 1 January 2015, traceability information about fisheries products will be transmitted electronically and the ministry is working with the Spanish Association of Commercial Codification, to develop the tools needed. Finally, the administration has a continuous collaboration with the regional governments on control issues (not only traceability, but also hygiene), through the following national programmes: Traceability of the Fisheries and Aquaculture products, and, Official Control of the Hygiene of Primary Production of Fisheries and Aquaculture. These programmes enable the uniform application of control throughout Spain by harmonising the control criteria, concepts, procedures and protocols. Last but not least, an important issue not only in the fisheries sector, but in general, what policies is Spain pursuing to
enhance the role of women in this sector? The Fisheries Economics Unit is also responsible for the planning and management of gender equality policy in the fishing sector. The unit manages the Spanish Women’s Network in the Fishing Sector, and is aware that the promotion of diversification and of an entrepreneurial culture is the first step towards economic development, employment generation, and improving productivity, and business stability. Developing fisheries depends today largely on the promotion of enterprising women, and our policies must represent this new reality. Women play an important role in multiple areas within the sector, for instance as promoters of fishing tourism in coastal areas, since the kind of work traditionally carried out by women, such as shellfish cultivation or the repair work on nets are of interest for tourists, who want to enjoy the maritime culture. The administration is working together with a state tourism institution, Turespaña, with the aim of creating a national body related to maritime tourism, called “Maritime Spain”. The challenge is to successfully integrate the fishing sector with the tourist one. In addition, we are supporting groups of women, and also working on specific issues related to women´s activities in the fisheries sector, such as reparation of nets, social responsibility, etc. In short, policies that address the changes and challenges faced by women in the fisheries sector, need to encourage them to play a more active role, both in the development of the activity itself and at the level of representation and decision-making.
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The fisheries sector in Spain
Processing industry weathers the crisis The Spanish fisheries and aquaculture sector is the EU’s biggest by a substantial margin. Whether in terms of fleet size, employment in the sector, catches, imports, farmed fish and shellfish production, or even consumption, Spain is typically among the top one or two EU nations. Spain landed 812,465 tonnes of fish in 2012, of which 766,073 tonnes (94%) were landed in domestic ports and 46,392 tonnes were landed in foreign ports. That year Spain’s fishing fleet comprised 10,116 vessels with a gross tonnage of 384,795 tonnes.
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he fisheries sector in Spain is divided among the coastal autonomous communities bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea in mainland Spain, as well as the Canary and the Balearic Islands. Of the
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seventeen autonomous communities twelve have a fisheries sector, however the contribution from each of the twelve to the total varies significantly. Galicia in the northwest has by far the biggest fleet and the most extensive fisheries sector
in Spain, and is home to Vigo, the fisheries port with the highest landings not only in Spain, but in Europe. Other autonomous communities with significant fleets are the Basque Country, Andalucia, Catalonia, and the Canary Islands.
In terms of the number of vessels in the fleet, Galicia has 4,739 or 48 of the total Spanish fleet while the Canary Islands has 836 or 8.5. Galicia dominates also in terms of gross tonnage (43) and engine power (34), while for the Canaries www.eurofishmagazine.com
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Dealing with fresh fish is more about providing a service than supplying a product.
gross tonnage and engine power are each 6 of the Spanish fleet.
the Spanish fleet uses gillnets and other fixed gears.
Diverse fleet targeting multiple species with different gear types
According to the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) in its 2013 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet, the profitability of the Spanish fisheries fleet has fluctuated considerably over the years. In the four years from 2008 the economics of the fleet improved and it turned a profit in 2011. The fleet has gradually reduced in size from 10,505 vessels in 2011 to 9,871 vessels in 2013, a decline of 6, which was felt most by the longline fleet, which lost 86 of its 1,159 vessels or 20,000 tonnes over the period. However, while there was a net loss of longliners in total, there has been an increase in the number of vessels in some categories, for example, longliners between 11 and 30 years of age actually increased in number.
Vessels of 40m and above are up to 2 of each of the autonomous communities’ fleets except in the Basque Country where they are 13 and in Ceuta where they make up 11. At the other end of the scale, vessels of less than 10m can vary from 80 of the fleet as in Galicia to 13 of the fleet in the Basque Country. The Spanish fleet targets a number of species, including European hake, monkfish, mackerel (horse and chub), megrim, blue shark, cephalopods, and clams, and uses a variety of gear types to fish. The most commonly used are minor gear types which are used on 77 of the almost 9,900 vessels in the Spanish fleet, most commonly on small vessels less than 10m in length. Longlines are the next most common gear found in use on 10 of the vessels in the Spanish fleet and typically on vessels between 15 and 40m in length. Seines too are widely distributed across vessel size categories and can be seen on vessels from 12 to 40m in length. Trawls are used on vessels of all lengths from less than 10m to 40m and above. A minor proportion of vessels in www.eurofishmagazine.com
The roots of Spanish aquaculture and current developments in the industry References to fish farming in the Spanish region Galicia date back to the 12th century, and the country is now the top aquaculture producer in Europe, responsible for one fifth of total European volume. The archbishop of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia initiated
construction of the first trout farm on the river Sar, but it was not until 1866 that the first private fish farm was built in the Stone Monastery in Zaragoza in the region of Aragon. Two years later, the Experimental Zoology and Botanic Maritime Station was created in Santander. This eventually evolved into the modern Spanish Oceanography Institute. 1986 is also an important year for the Spanish aquaculture industry, as the country entered the European Union. In 2013, the Spanish farming of marine fish and seafood amounted to approximately 253,000 tonnes from species including mussels, turbot, seabass, seabream and sole. In addition, the freshwater fish sector contributed approximately 10,000 tonnes; rainbow trout and small volumes of eel and sturgeons are key species. Molluscs, and in particularly mussels, are the largest category of the total Spanish farmed production, accounting for 210,000 tonnes. More than 95 of Spanish mussels’ production is carried out in the coast of Galicia, a region located in the far North-Western corner of the Iberian Peninsula. The coastline is 1,200 km long, and mussels are cultivated in the coastal inlets by means of floating rafts in the five bays – Vigo, Ponteverda, Arousa, Muros and Ares. Galician mussels are famous for their quality, which is determined by a combination of factors, such as warm water temperature, high amounts of nutrients in the water and geographical location in the protected areas of the ocean of the bays with resistance to the unpredictable maritime weather. With its production level of over 200,000 tonnes, the Galician mussel industry is one of the largest seafood production sectors in the world, generating over 8,000 jobs and incorporating 1,000 aquaculture support vessels. “Galician Mussels
Protected designation of Origin” is currently the only aquaculture designation of origin in Spain. Turbot farming also occurs in Galicia, and its story goes back to early 1983, when the first industrial turbot farm in Spain was established in O Grove; the first turbot harvest was subsequently sold in 1985 at a price of 15 EUR/kg. The Spanish industry of turbot farming has overcome challenges during a series of good and bad years of production. In 2013, the region of Galicia produced 8,120 tonnes of turbot, a species that is highly appreciated on domestic and international markets. Rainbow trout is another ancient species produced in Galicia. The first industrial trout farm was opened in 1940, and between 1960 and 1970, the number of trout farms rapidly expanded. Trout farming was adapted to intensive farming and the introduction of improved technologies in the 1990 opened new possibilities for trade. However, in the early 2000s, production levels started to decrease due to the saturation of the local market and growing production in Europe in general. Currently, 4,500 tonnes of rainbow trout are produced in Galicia, while the total volume of rainbow trout produced in Spain has reached 16,000 tonnes. In 2013, Spanish production of seabass and sea bream reached 14,700 and 16,000 tonnes, correspondingly, while other farmed species included sole (350 tonnes), eel (315 tonnes) and snapper (228 tonnes).
Processing sector emerges stronger after crisis In addition to fishing and aquaculture sectors Spain is home to the largest fish processing industry in Europe, with a turnover of EUR 3.9 billion in 2012. Processing has a long tradition in Spain and the sector is particularly
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Tuna is the most important fish for canning industry, but it is also processed into higher value products.
Mussels hanging from a raft. When they mature they are harvested, cooked and canned or sold fresh.
important for the economic wellbeing of coastal communities as it provides employment in areas where other sources of jobs may be scarce. The sector employs close to 18,000 people, who work in over 480 enterprises, the most of any EU country, and 15 of the EU total. The industry has responded to trends in demand, has reduced its dependence on the local market in favour of international customers in Europe and beyond, as well as improved the quality of semi-processed products. In addition, it has made an effort to develop new products and packaging. These measures have contributed to the increase in turnover within the sector even during the years of the crisis in contrast to other parts of the Spanish economy.
shrunk from 308 to 282, while there has been virtually no change in the number of companies employing more than 20 people.
Historically, it was focused on salted and canned fish and shellfish due to the large size of the country. However, since the 1950s, it has become one of the most diverse and large industries internationally. The core parts of the Spanish fish processing industry are the canning sector and the frozen and fresh processed fish and seafood sector. The canning sector has a production volume of 348,000 tonnes and a value of nearly EUR 2 46
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billion, and is the most important in the Spanish fish processing industry. Tuna is the most important species in the canning sector, amounting to 241,500 tonnes, while other key species include sardines and anchovies. In the past few years, the Spanish fish processing sector followed the development of mixed trends due to economic constraints in the country, but the national canning industry has kept its production of fish and seafood products, both for domestic and international markets, acquiring niche markets and premiumprices. Frozen fish and seafood is the next biggest category in the Spanish fish processing industry, where frozen fish accounted to 160,000 tonnes, with tuna, hake and sardines as the most important species. Frozen molluscs and crustaceans amounted to approximately 126,000 tonnes. The upward trend in production of frozen fish has been evident in the recent years, and more than a half of the frozen fish volume is exported to third countries.
Considering the large capacity of the Spanish fish and seafood market, Spain relies heavily on imports to cover its consumption needs (predominately from third countries). The country is also a large exporter, mainly to the EU, which acquires approximately two thirds of Spanish exports. Spain imported ca. 1.5 million tonnes of seafood, for a value close to EUR 5 billion, in 2013. This was 1.3 less in volume and 2.9 less in value than a year before. Spanish exports also fell in relation to those in 2012, by 2.6 in value and 4.5 in volume. Shipments abroad decreased from over 1 million tonnes and ca. EUR 3 billion (2012) to 0.9 million tonnes and EUR 2.9 billion.
The number of companies in the sector has continued to decline from 572 in 2008 to 487 in 2012, a reduction of 15. Between 2011 and 2012 the number of companies in employing less than 20 people has
In 2013, the EU Member States supplied Spain with ca. 411,000 tonnes of fish and seafood products. The same countries received 620,000 tonnes of the Spanish fisheries and aquaculture
Crustaceans’ import value rises, while that of molluscs and cephalopods falls
products. Meanwhile, third countries sold Spain over 1.0 million tonnes of fisheries and aquaculture products. They imported just over a third of that amount, 339,000 tonnes. Frozen, prepared and canned fish, were the most important categories exported by Spain, representing 46 of the country’s total exports (in value). Frozen fish was exported mostly to third countries (ca. 65). Yellowfin tuna was the top exported species, and was sold mostly to Mauritius and the Seychelles for manufacturing purposes. In comparison 90 was sent to the EU Member States in the prepared and canned fish segment. Much of this was canned tuna, for which the largest markets were Italy and the UK. Both frozen and prepared and canned fish exports decreased in value in 2013, by 5.0 and 1.6, respectively. Spanish imports were predominantly composed of crustaceans, molluscs and cephalopods. These made up 40 of the value of total fisheries and seafood imports. In 2013, crustacean imports increased slightly (1.6), while mollusc and cephalopod imports decreased remarkably (-15.9). The increase of crustacean imports was mainly due to the higher value of shrimp www.eurofishmagazine.com
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originating from Argentina and Ecuador. In comparison, the decrease in mollusc and cephalopod prices was mainly triggered by the lower values of squid and cuttlefish species that Spain imported from Morocco.
Consumption figures show rising preference for fresh products Spain is also one of the largest markets for fish and seafood in Europe. Spanish consumers greatly appreciate fish and seafood, and for many years Spain has had the second largest annual fish and seafood consumption per capita (42.9 kg) in Europe after Portugal (61.1 kg per capita). More than a half of the fish and seafood volume consumed by Spaniards happens at home, according to a study on at-home seafood consumption, carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment of Spain. In particular, fish and seafood consumption in Spanish households increased by 1.8 during 2013, with an average volume of 26.8 kg per capita. Spanish consumers spent 13.12 of their budget of the food basket on purchases of fish and seafood, the equivalent of EUR 200 per person per year, an increase of 4 compared to 2012. Couples with children, elderly people and childless couples living in small cities with less than 2,000 inhabitants had the highest level of fish consumption at homes. The areas with the most frequent athome consumption of fish were the autonomous regions Castilla Leon, Galicia and Asturias. Understandably, as fish and seafood gourmets, Spanish consumers prioritise fresh molluscs and crustaceans; this is the most important category of fisheries products consumed at homes by Spanish people. In 2013, the www.eurofishmagazine.com
Fish and seafood from the rest of the country is delivered to the wholesale market in Madrid from where it is distributed within Spain and abroad.
share of fresh seafood represented nearly 58 of the total at-home fish and seafood consumption, and this had increased by 0.2 every year. Fresh fish is the second largest category in the total at-home consumption of fisheries products in Spain. The share of fresh fish consumed at homes accounted for 44.6 in 2013, increasing by
0.4 compared to the year before. In volume terms, consumption of fresh fish grew by 1.8 to nearly 12 kg per capita. Consumption of frozen fish at homes is currently 3.13 kg per capita, which corresponds to nearly 12 of the total at-home fish and seafood consumption. Large retailers such as Mercadona, and Eroski have
enabled the rise of fresh fisheries products and have led this trend by boosting their offers of fresh fish and seafood. In total, Spanish consumers spent over EUR 101 billion on food in 2013, rising by 0.6, and the national consumption of fish and seafood increased by 0.3 despite economic challenges affecting the country.
Enthusiastic Response to Axis 4 in Spain The European Fisheries Areas Network (FARNET) links Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) across Europe, creating a structure for the exchange of information that is backed by the FARNET secretariat. FLAGs are public-private partnerships that work towards the sustainable development of their fisheries areas, and include representatives from private industry, local administrations, professional associations, and civil organisations. Initiatives developed by the FLAGs are supported by Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund. The concept has resulted in over 300 FLAGs being established across Europe that are collectively implementing over 8,100 projects intended to contribute to the development of their fishing areas. In Spain 6 of the 17 Autonomous Communities have implemented Axis 4 and 28 FLAGs have been established. About EUR50m is available for Axis 4 from Spain’s European Fisheries Fund budget. The FLAGs’ objectives are similar, and relate to diversifying activities from fisheries into tourism and other branches, adding greater value to fisheries products, promoting local fish and seafood, providing training in sales and marketing, improving the local environment and creating awareness of the importance of a well-preserved environment. A review of Axis 4 in 15 Member States commissioned by DG Mare has found that each euro from the EFF brought in on average 1.06 euro in co-funding. In addition, 60% of the projects are expected to continue even after EFF support ceases. The projects have also had a significant impact on enterprise creation as well as on employment. FLAGs reported the establishment of some 220 companies both profit and non-profit, and the programme resulted in some 8,000 positions being created and another 12,500 were preserved. In the 2014-2020 programming period support for FLAGs will continue through CommunityLed Local Development strategies that are funded by the four European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds (the European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund, European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund). Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
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Promising growth continues in the Canaries
Fishing in the Canaries is soaring The fishing industry is showing positive signs in the Canary Islands. There has been overall growth over the past few years in the volume and value of catches and in the nascent aquaculture industry.
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he Canary Islands are located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, closer to the equator than to mainland Spain. With a total area of 7,493 km2, the archipelago consists of seven large and several smaller islands including Tenerife, Grand Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzartote, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro. The Canaries are one of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities and are considered among the most remote areas of the European Union. The Canary Islands have a population of 2,118,344 people, accounting for 4.5 of the population of Spain.
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Significant overall growth over the past decade Fishing activities are a fundamental part of the identity of the Canary Islands; many Canarian municipalities are dependent on this sector. There are three main fishing activities on the Canary Islands: coastal artisanal fishing for small pelagic, demersal and tuna species; cephalopod fishing by a fleet of freezer trawlers and high seas tuna fishing. All the catches are landed at ports that act as first-sale markets. At present, there are 31 entities authorised as first-sale points for fresh fisheries
products, and 17 for frozen fisheries products. In recent years, Canarian fresh capture fisheries have increased from 7,600 tonnes, with a value of EUR 9.8 million, in 2006 to 15,000 tonnes, valued at EUR 19.3 million, in 2012. There has been a 97 increase in volume and a 78 increase in value. In the following year, however, the quantity decreased by 27 to 11,000 tonnes, and the value dropped 9, to EUR 17.6 million. Pelagic fish contributed 87 of the total volume and 72 of the total value, while for demersal species the figures were 11.5 and 25, for crustaceans 0.6 and 2.5, while mollusc catches and value were minor.
Different islands have different specialties Tenerife is the largest port, especially for pelagics and crustaceans and accounts for approximately half of the total fresh fish volume. Pelagics are the most important species in terms of both volume and value. They also represent the majority of landings in Lanzarote. The total catches of pelagic species amounted to 9,600 tonnes in 2013 worth EUR 12.6 million, 29 less in volume and 16 less in value than in 2012, when pelagic fish catches were 13,700 tonnes, worth EUR 15 million. The Islands La Palma and El Hierro have significant www.eurofishmagazine.com
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crustacean landings. The total catches of crustaceans increased between 2006 and 2009 to 80 tonnes, but fell to 68 tonnes in 2013 (-15), while their value dropped from EUR 456 thousand to EUR 447 thousand (-2) between 2009 and 2013. Mollusc and demersal fish landings are carried out on the Islands of Gran Canaria. The total catches of demersal species peaked in 2009 with 2,200 tonnes valued at EUR 7.6 million, but by 2013 catches had declined to 1,260 tonnes, worth EUR 4.4 million.
The Canarian fishing fleet In 2013, the fishing fleet consisted of 836 vessels, of which 47, or 393 vessels, were 40 years or older, while only 41 were less than 5 years of age. The structure of the Canarian fishing fleet indicates a high economic and social dependence on small-scale fishing. Small vessels (less than 10m) form by far the biggest proportion of the fleet. They accounted for 78 of the local fleet or 654 vessels. In comparison, the biggest vessels, 40m and above, constitute 2 of the fleet or 14 vessels. This distribution is typical of the fleets of Spain’s autonomous communities. The remaining fleet consists mainly of high capacity trawlers that fish in international waters and in those of third countries such as Morocco, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau.
Aquaculture now provides 20% of Spain’s seabass and seabream Aquaculture production in Canary Islands started to develop in 1980’s on the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and after 2000, the fish farming sector spread to other islands. The aquaculture industry was declared a “strategic sector” by the Regional Government, and while the production was just 150 tonnes in 1992, it had increased www.eurofishmagazine.com
Aquaculture on the Canaries now produces 20% of Spain’s seabream and seabass.
to 4,365 tonnes by 2006. In 2009, this had almost doubled to 8,200 tonnes, but then fell to 5,995 tonnes in 2013. 2012 was the peak year for value, at EUR 28.5 million and this dropped slightly to EUR 27.8 million in 2013. Seabass and seabream are the main species representing over 95 of the aquaculture production in the Canary Islands, and approximately 20 of the total production of those species in Spain. The majority of the aquaculture production in Canary Islands is distributed to mainland Spain, while the rest is used for local consumption and is exported to other countries.
Frozen fish production is following a downward trend Production of frozen fish represents a minor part, roughly 6, of the total production of fisheries and aquaculture products in Canarian first-sale ports. This
has followed a downward trend in recent years. The quantity of frozen fish and seafood production fell dramatically from 6,500 tonnes in 2008 to 1,400 tonnes in 2013 (-79) and the value dropped even more steeply, from EUR 20 million to EUR 1.7 million (-91) over the same period. The main reasons behind this decline in volume is a massive drop in the quantities of crustaceans, molluscs and pelagic species. These declined by 90, 98 and 92 respectively to 30,696 tonnes, 88,918 tonnes, and 35,464 tonnes between 2008 and 2013. Production of demersal species also declined over the same period, but this was less drastic. The volumes fell 25 to 1,276 tonnes, however, the value fell 48 to EUR 1.4 million. In spite of the decreasing output of the frozen fish sector, the total performance of the fisheries and aquaculture products supply is positive. Between 2006 and
2013, the total volume of fish and seafood increased 53 to 18,388 tonnes and the corresponding value went from EUR 26.4 million to EUR 47.1 million, an increase of 79. The Canary Islands is home to several organisations for research and development in marine science, such as the Canarian Institute of Marine Science, the Oceanographic Institute of the Canary Islands, the Marine Biotechnology Center and other groups of international and national centers. They contribute to the research and technological development of marine science, inter-disciplinary oceanographic research on marine environment, fisheries resources and aquaculture, environmental education, business innovation and development of new types of work applying ecophysiological and biotechnical knowledge and techniques to marine resources.
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Tunamar is approaching fifteen years in the tuna industry
Fishing, processing and Europe-wide distribution of sashimi-grade tuna Tunamar, a subsidiary of Atunes del Maresme, is a company based in Cadiz, Spain, that specialises in sashimi-grade Atlantic tuna. Tunamar distributes its products through its sister Company, AVTS, throughout Europe. The two companies are part of the August Topfer group, a German company based in Hamburg. Origins of the catch Tunamar has a fleet of 137 fishing vessels and 8 merchant vessels. The tuna caught comes from four different species Albacore, Yellowfin, Skipjack and Bigeye tuna. Tunamar’s Cadiz operation started in 2000 and specialises in sashimi tuna products. Almost all of Tunamar’s tuna comes from the Atlantic. A few Spanish vessels are fishing in the Pacific and the company gets some of that fish as well. Half the Atlantic fish is caught by Spanish vessels, while the other half is vessels flying the flags of Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Namibia. Once the fish are caught, they are gutted and gilled and blast frozen to -60°C. They are then discharged in West Africa, packed to EU specifications and end up at the processing factory in Cadiz in the Cadiz Port Free Zone area.
Product processing and distribution The Tunamar facility covers an area of 3,500 m2 and includes its own pier, a storage facility that can keep 1,000 tonnes of product at -60°C, a 1,500 m2 refrigerated processing area and an
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800 m2 logistics area for the loading and unloading of trucks. In addition, the company supplies Spanish canning factories with 7-8,000 tonnes of Albacore tuna a year. Bigeye, Yellowfin tuna and swordfish raw material amounts to a further 5,000 tonnes a year. Once at the factory in Cadiz, the fish is skinned and boned and processed into loins, fillets and steaks and packed into 25kg cartons, these are then distributed to markets across Europe, although a large amount of sales occur in Spain. A significant portion of products are still frozen when exported and are sold to wholesalers who then sell the products to supermarkets who most often use them when they run out of fresh fish. Tunamar uses the latest processing equipment to provide a high quality end product and have been certified by the Marine Stewardship Council to process, store and distribute MSC certified fish.
Expanding into wild salmon Jurgen Smet, the company’s owner, also reported that they are doing tests on MSC certified Alaskan salmon which could
Jurgen Smet, Tunamar, is testing the market for products from MSCcertified Alaskan salmon, which will expand the main business.
add another important product to the company’s portfolio. The same production and distribution model could be used, with only a modest factory extension needed. Further, the packaging
would be the same, trays with a film around them, and, most importantly, the price for this product would be reasonable by southern European standards.
Tunamar Company Fact File Recinto Interior Zona Franca Muelle Ribera S/N 1101 Cadiz, Spain Tel.: +34 956 200 971 Fax: +34 956 200 972 antonio@tunamar.eu www.tunamar.eu
Activities: Supply of sashimigrade frozen Yellowfin, Bigeye, Albacore tuna, swordfish, mahi mahi, and mako shark from the Atlantic; Skipjack tuna from the Pacific, Product form: Frozen or thawed loins, steaks, fillets, skewers
Managing director: Mr. Jurgen Smet
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Isidro de la Cal have pioneered seabream aquaculture
Mix of aquaculture and imports, fresh and frozen, processed and distributed throughout Europe The Spanish company Isidro de la Cal (IdC) was founded in 1952 by Mr. Isidro de la Cal Llorente. The company now specialises in the supply, production, processing, marketing and distribution of seafood, both fresh and frozen. It works through the major ports of Galicia and imports from five continents. Most of IdC’s products are sold in Spain and Europe. New facilities centralise operations Isidro de la Cal opened a new facility in Espiritu de Santo in 2005. This cost EUR 25 million to build and has an area of 25,000 m2 devoted to processing fish products. This new facility has enabled Isidro de La Cal to centralise their operations, improving quality control, research and development. IdC subsequently launched its two principle product ranges, “Galician Rias” for fresh products and “Rias Altas” for frozen products. IdC has been certified by the International Food Standard, British Research Consortium and Acuicultura.
Seabream aquaculture The company’s aquaculture division breeds species including rainbow trout, turbot and seabream. Isidro de la Cal first ventured into aquaculture at the Valdovino fish farm and in 1997 they began to develop captive seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) breeding. The farm began with 100 adult fish and younger ones that would become a significant part of the current stock. The stock was developed through only adding www.eurofishmagazine.com
the best individuals caught in years of fishing sessions. It now numbers roughly 650 adult individuals; their average age and weights, respectively, are 7 years and 1.5kg. Quality control is ensured by monitoring embryonic development and examining the hatched larvae and removing those belonging to non-compliant individuals. The fish are kept in cages to prevent the spread of disease. They are market size after roughly four years.
Rainbow trout and turbot production and certification IdC also specialises in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) aquaculture. For these species, they focus more on the optimisation of production and the development of disease vaccines. The company is committed to sustainable growth and seeks to go beyond merely just complying with environmental regulations. Consequently, IdC considers the trade-off between economic growth and environmental protection and in 2001 joined the Environmental Management System (ISO 14001) and was the
These vacuum packed convenience products make a good meal with rice, pasta, potatoes, or even just a piece of baguette.
first European aquaculture company to be certified in this way. It is also certified by the German Naturland, which has very
demanding standards for organic production throughout Europe. This helps IdC to be successful in the substantial German market.
Isidro de la Cal Company Fact File Poligono Ind. Espíritu Santo Calle Zeppelin 29-39 15650 Cambre - A Coruña, Spain Tel.: +34 981 17 85 20 Fax: +34 981 64 91 94 www.isidrodelacal.eu
CEO: Mr. Pablo Gasco Products: Seabream, rainbow trout, turbot from aquaculture, many other species imported. Markets: Spain, Germany, the rest of Europe Customers: Lidl, Dia, Carrefour, El Corte Ingles Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
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[ FISHERIES ] All-purpose plastic containers in the fisheries sector
Storage, transportation, maturation and collection Fifty years ago, the advent of the first barrels, drums and tubs made of plastic heralded the end of traditional wooden containers in the fisheries sector. Tubs and bins made of plastic are robust, hygienic and easy to clean. Today, they are to be found almost everywhere in the sector. They are used for storing fish, transport of live fish, during maturation of fish products, and as bins for collecting fish waste.
P
lastic containers are used for very different purposes within the fisheries sector. Although some of them are allrounders that are suitable for many different uses, containers are usually tailored to specific functions with regard to their size, design and the exact material they are made of. In general, a container’s appearance and the design of many details will depend on its intended function as on where it is to be used. Tubs for dry products must meet different requirements than containers for liquids, for example, tubs for frozen fish products usually have to be more resilient than for fresh fish, and in the food industry hygiene standards are higher than in the technical or industrial sectors. There are many factors that have to be considered when choosing a container but the range of plastic tubs and bins on the market today makes it possible to find a product that will meet the specific requirements of almost every possible application.
Polyethylene versus polyurethane The materials used for making tubs and bins today mainly consist of two plastics: polyethylene or polythene (PE) and polyurethane (PU, PUR). The thermoplastic material polyethylene was developed 52
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already in 1898 but only gained importance for containers as from 1933 with the industrial production of the first pressure-resistant high density polyethylene (HDPE). HDPE has actually only been used in larger quantities since the late 1950s, for example for pipelines, tubs and bins as well as for flexible packaging materials. Depending on the molecular fine structure, a distinction is made between several PE types, for example low-density PE (LDPE), linear low-density PE (LLDPE), or ultra-high molecular weight PE (UHMW), of which, however, for the manufacture of tubs and bins only HDPE is of importance. The properties of PE can be modified by using appropriate additives to meet the intended use. Polyethylene has a high mechanical and chemical stability, and it is resistant to acids, alkalis and other chemicals. Depending on its composition it can withstand temperatures in the range of about -85°C to +90°C. It becomes softer at higher temperatures and can easily be moulded. Without pre-treatment PE does not stick well but it can be easily welded. Although the plastics used are often equipped with some UV protection they tend to become brittle if exposed to strong sunlight over a longer period of time. First synthesised in 1937, polyurethanes can be hard and brittle
The climate conditions in Central Europe make it possible to store iced fish in insulated tubs for about eight to ten days with no serious quality losses.
or soft and elastic depending on the manufacturing method used, and their possible applications are thus correspondingly diverse. They are used for mattresses, insulation materials and cast floors, textiles and potting compounds, for making rubber boots, adhesives and varnishes. Polyurethanes are particularly suitable for applications which require high wear resistance, such as for pipes or transport containers. It is possible to get an idea of the hardness of foamed PUR (whose density varies between about 1,000 and 1,250 kg/m3) by taking a closer look at bowling balls, the outer layer of which is usually made of polyurethane. Foamed polyurethane is not only
lightweight, but also has a firstclass insulating effect against heat and cold. That is why the material is often used for the construction of double-walled temperature insulated tubs and bins. The inner and outer walls of the containers are made of hard, durable PUR, and in between there is an insulating layer of foamed polyurethane.
Elaborate production using rotomoulding Both PE and PUR containers are today mostly manufactured using the technique of reaction injection moulding (RIM), also called “rotomoulding”, which is technically very complex. For www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ FISHERIES ] the RIM method, a gimballed, heated mould is rotated continuously around different axes, during which the plastic material is distributed evenly in the mould right up to the final hardening. In this way, it is possible to give complicated products, such as large, fully insulated, doublewalled, seamless containers, a very uniform wall thickness, even at the edges and in hardly accessible nooks and crannies. This is one of the main reasons for the high stability and durability of the containers produced using rotomoulding. However, the constant movement, the heating and the gimballed positioning of the moulds make very large plant sizes necessary and when manufacturing large tubs and bins these can quickly exceed the dimensions of a detached house. During the construction of large containers, however, rotomoulding has asserted itself over the injection moulding technique. It requires reaction masses with relatively low viscosity and good flow properties to enable longer flow paths, and thus uniform wall thicknesses. The processing of thermoplastic polyethylene using rotomoulding is comparatively easy because the
raw granules really only have to be melted to allow the material to flow into the heated mould. Polyurethane plastics demand much more effort because the raw material mass hardens very quickly. That is why the reaction components for polyurethane synthesis cannot be mixed in until immediately before introduction into the mould. This is carried out under high pressure of between 100 and 200 bar in a mixing chamber from which the mixture is immediately injected into the shaping tool. There the mass hardens within just a few minutes and can then be removed from the mould. Double walled fish containers can be insulated with polyurethane or polyethylene foam. The inner wall is often thinner than the outer wall which has to bear more mechanical stress. Containers with PUR insulation are 25 to 30 lighter and are characterised by a strong insulating effect which is three times better than that of PE foamed containers. PUR insulated containers are therefore ideal for conditions with very high or very low ambient temperatures, since their excellent insulation keeps the conditions inside the container constant for a long time. In cases where insulation
During processing, single-walled plastic containers are frequently used for short-term storage as well as for maturing, salting and marinating fish products. www.eurofishmagazine.com
is not so important the walls can be lined with a thinner layer of polyurethane insulation which makes the container lighter. The recommended amount of ice to keep fish inside the container cool and fresh depends primarily on the ambient temperature and the intended duration of storage. A simple rule of thumb is that a tub should contain at least 30 ice. Compared to the highly insulating PUR containers which keep the cold inside the container constant over a long period the insulating effect is significantly lower in PE containers. That is why they are used in areas that have their own cooling system and so keep the fish cool “from the outside”. An advantage of PE tubs is, however, that they are particularly durable, long-lasting and can even reach the age of five, ten or more years even under the daily rigours on board fishing vessels, at auctions, in the processing area and during transport. How durable a container will actually be depends upon the concrete conditions of its use, and upon whether it enjoys careful treatment and regular maintenance.
Foamed plastics have optimum insulation effect The inner and outer walls of tubs and bins made of plastic are smooth and hygienic and comply with all requirements in the food industry. PE containers can be cleaned with hot water (70 to 80°C) and at high pressures of up to 200 bar. Polyurethane is slightly more sensitive and often endures water temperatures of only 40 to 50°C. The use of these large plastic containers in the frozen products sector is basically possible, but they should be specifically made for this purpose. In the case of regular double tubs, the solid inner and outer walls might separate from the inner
insulating layer, which will reduce their service life. Of course, regular containers are suitable for the storage of fish on ice. The range of tubs and bins made of PE or PUR is immense and includes containers of nearly all sizes, shapes and designs for various purposes. A common standard is transport containers with a capacity of about 300 litres to over 1,000 litres, which usually have the same sized base and are thus easily stackable. The external dimensions of the tubs are often based on existing EU standards to enable effective use of the space in containers and trucks. Usually, the containers have two or more closable 2-inch openings in the base area to enable the drainage of melt water and other liquids. With their matching insulated lids that fit precisely onto the containers the tubs are very well suited to storage and transport of temperature sensitive goods. Under the climatic conditions in Central Europe iced fish can be stored about eight to ten days in insulated tubs. That is why these containers are often used on small fishing vessels in order to store the fish after the catch at sea. Plastic tubs make it possible to sort the fish by species and sizes, they reduce the pressure that under other storage conditions would weigh on the fishes in lower layers, and they allow for rapid unloading of the sensitive cargo after arrival in the port. In the fisheries sector it is mainly single and double-walled plastic containers that are used for storing the fishes themselves and also slaughter products. Tubs are used for salting, maturing and marinating, containers for storage or thawing of frozen products, containers that can be closed tightly and have their own oxygen supply for transporting live fish,
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[ FISHERIES ]
This plastic container is not perfect for iced fishes but it is only being used to cover the short distance after landing in the harbour.
almost hermetically sealable containers for dead fish and offal. Manufacturers of bins and tubs try to modify their products in some design details so that they can be used for as many purposes as possible or for very special purposes. A relatively easy way to achieve this is to produce the container in different sizes that, depending on the amount of fish, always makes optimal use of the available space. Anyone who stores 30kg fish in a 300 litre tub or transports it by truck is wasting space and energy. That is why the Icelandic company Borgarplast produces double-walled PE or PUR insulated fish containers in over a dozen different sizes. One of them is a fully insulated 1,250 litre container that is designed for extremely large species such as tuna and swordfish. Nearly two metres long and 1.20 metres wide, it is probably currently the world’s largest container made using the rotomoulding technique. Containers larger than these are hard to imagine, because that would require the heating chamber in which the mould rotates to have almost gigantic dimensions. 54
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
All tubs and bins in the range are designed to fit the standard dimensions used in the regions in which they are to be primarily used. In the case of fish containers for the European market the insertion openings at the base are for example the same size as in euro pallets, which facilitates transport of containers by forklift. Apart from that, the openings in the pallet-like substructure of the containers are particularly large and slope at the edges to facilitate the insertion of the forklift truck and prevent damage. Depending on the size, design and how full the container is, up to eight containers can be stacked on top of one another. Tub and bin manufacturers often stamp the company logo, name, etc. on the plastic during production since such stamps usually rub off quickly and so don’t last long.
Special products extend the range of applications A lot of manufacturing firms do not only have insulated tubs in their production programme, but also non-insulated tubs, multi-purpose containers with or without drainage holes in the bottom, and multi-compartment containers
for sorting shrimp on board ships, for example. A sought-after product is defroster tanks that have been developed for thawing frozen fish products. In some of these, special nozzles have been embedded into the base, through which water and compressed air of a few bar flow into the interior. The corresponding connections are located outside of the defroster tank where they are easily accessible. When air and water are pumped in simultaneously this creates a whirlpool-like effect which shortens the thawing time of the frozen food by about half. Special cooling bins with particularly tight fitting lids that can be optionally equipped with their own refrigeration unit are also available for aquaculture farms where dead fish occur regularly or where slaughter and processing waste occurs. These products must, of course, be isolated until their final disposal to prevent infection. Such bins mostly consist of high-quality HDPE which meets all HACCP standards and can be cleaned and sterilised with hot steam. One special application for insulated containers is to use them as mobile stalls for selling seafood and other temperature-sensitive products. The user just has to place a counter top made of glass or Plexiglas onto the container. Such stalls have the advantage that they do not require a separate cooling unit. The products are pre-cooled and packed in the insulated containers and will maintain their temperature then for many hours, especially if more ice or dry ice is added. These simple and relatively inexpensive stalls enable traders to carry out additional promotion campaigns quickly and easily. Although the tubs and bins are made of plastic they are relatively
heavy, especially the larger containers. The main reason for this is that they must be built to last and need thick walls because they are often exposed to countless mechanical stresses on land and at sea. During transfer from one place to another by a forklift the tubs are often knocked or put down sharply, and when stacked they have to bear significant loads. In order to be able to occasionally move smaller containers between 200 and 500 litres by hand, the industry also offers ergonomic carts and buggies on wheels for in-company transport. For small tubs the carts are often made of plastic, for larger ones usually of stainless steel. Many manufacturers optionally equip their containers today with RFID chips (Radio Frequency Identification). The chips can be read by sensitive sensors at a certain distance without direct contact, which enables continuous control and better monitoring of the internal flow of goods by computer. Such sensors are available as flexible hand-held readers, but they can also be attached directly to forklift trucks, conveyor belts or hall doors. Once an RFID-tagged container passes one of these sensors, its data is collected and the retrieved information transmitted to the computer. Meanwhile, some service companies have even specialised in the care and maintenance of tubs and bins. They provide a professional repair service or take over the cleaning of soiled containers, for example. This is particularly worthwhile if the containers do not belong to a specific company but circulate among different users as rented property from a central pool. Centralised cleaning guarantees that each member of the rental system can always rely on clean, hygienic containers. mk www.eurofishmagazine.com
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Iceland’s fisheries sector supplies Europe with what it wants
Sustainable, top quality, highly demanded species The fisheries sector is an important part of the Icelandic economy contributing an estimated 10.7% of GDP in 2013 and employing some 9,000 people or about 5.3% of the workforce directly. But if the indirect contribution of the fishery sector were also counted it would amount to some 25% of GDP. The sector consists of capture fisheries, aquaculture, a processing industry, and an equipment manufacturing sector that can boast some world-beating companies. More recently, innovative Icelandic companies are adding significant value to by-products from fishing and processing operations.
Number of small vessels increases, of trawlers goes down Historically, fisheries have been an important part of Icelandic culture and tradition, states Islandsbanki in a report (Icelandic Seafood Market Report, September 2013), providing both food and employment and therefore determining where the country was settled. Population centres generally developed in areas close to the fishing grounds with good harbour facilities for the fleet. In 2013 the fishing fleet comprised about 1,700 vessels divided into decked vessels (783), www.eurofishmagazine.com
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I
celand has a coastline of about 5,000 km and since 1975 an exclusive fishing zone (EEZ) of 200 miles giving it an area of 758,000 square km which includes some of the richest fishing grounds on the globe. With a catch of 1.4 million tonnes in 2012 Iceland was the 17th biggest producer in the world catching 1.8 of the global total. Marine product exports amounted to just under 786,000 tonnes worth EUR1.76 billion or a hefty 42 of total exports in 2013. The value of exports increased by 1.4 compared with 2012. The main exported species in 2013 in terms of volume were capelin, herring, cod, redfish, saithe, and haddock.
undecked vessels (862), and trawlers (51). Within the three categories the undecked vessels have an average gross tonnage of 5 tonnes, the decked vessels of 120 tonnes and the trawlers of 1,200 tonnes. The number of vessels in the fleet fell to a 10-year low in 2008 when it totalled 1,529 vessels, according to figures from Statistics Iceland. Of these 700 were undecked, 769 were
Gross domestic product by fisheries industries in Iceland, (%) 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012* 2013*
Aquaculture
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
Fishing
4.2
4.7
5.8
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.7
Fish processing 1.8
2.8
4.4
Total
7.6
10.3
6.1
3.4 10
4
4.1
3.9
10.7
10.9
10.7
* Preliminary data Source: Statistics Iceland
Catch of Icelandic vessels from all fishing areas (tonnes) 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008
Total
Cod
Capelin
Shellfish Other
1,448,548
204,646
Haddock Saithe Redfish Herring 47,676
50,984
55,419
192,260
582,800
12,960
3,01,803
1,148,867
182,034
51,299
50,487
56,776
202,504
329,018
11,340
265,408
1,063,467
178,516
64,948
53,894
56,305
254,474
114,100
10,627
330,602
1,129,621
188,976
81,832
61,332
57,858
331,200
15,090
8,234
385,098
1,283,078
151,452
102,326
70,106
76,376
370,823
148,581
12,386
351,027
Source: Statistics Iceland
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Catch value of main species, thousand ISK 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008
Total
Cod
Haddock
Saithe
Redfish
Herring
Capelin
Shellfish
Other
159,272,496
49,506,202
12,212,171
9,447,986
14,536,399
7,851,367
13,531,560
4,147,144
48,039,667
153,869,993
46,387,130
11,992,052
9,139,463
14,972,974
5,632,364
8,884,771
2,977,926
53,883,313
132,979,232
44,581,541
15,235,733
8,480,154
12,016,191
2,918,940
2,637,266
2,524,864
44,584,543
115,454,085
36,901,146
15,390,754
7,813,449
10,011,132
3,641,436
412,334
1,886,514
39,397,320
99,152,533
32,235,852
15,123,907
6,482,223
9,215,779
4,588,644
1,845,507
1,051,843
28,608,778
Source: Statistics Iceland
Exported marine products by product categories, million ISK 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008
Total
Frozen
Salted
Fresh and chilled
Dried
Meal/fish oil
Other
272,465
139,099
24,293
49,063
12,184
43,184
4,642
268,631
141,920
26,929
44,226
12,924
36,927
5,705
251,573
143,595
28,510
41,782
6,535
29,156
1,995
220,488
120,884
27,818
40,159
6,748
23,039
1,839
208,624
101,025
28,003
43,856
7,912
26,503
1,325
171,349
84,859
25,021
34,015
4,243
22,386
824
Source: Statistics Iceland
category is somewhat ambiguous because it covers a wide range of vessels including boats smaller than the undecked vessels, multipurpose vessels, and large purse seiners. Many of the decked vessels use trawls as well so the distinction Promote Iceland
decked and 60 were trawlers. Since then the number of undecked vessels has increased by 23, while the number of decked vessels has stayed more or less constant (+1.8) and the number of trawlers has fallen by 15. The decked vessel
between them and trawlers is also academic. According to the former Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture (now merged into Ministry of Industries and Innovation) many of the decked vessels are structurally similar to trawlers while some trawlers have been converted to purse seiners, which brings them into the decked vessels category. Essentially this categorisation dates back to a period when trawlers were larger than all other types of fishing vessels and its use has continued despite the evolution in vessel design.
Trawlers contribute a third of total catch value
Demersal species including cod, haddock, saithe, redfish, as well as pelagic fish, such as capelin and herring contribute the most to the value of the Icelandic catch. 56
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
The undecked vessels generally range from 3 to 7GT in size and target fish in sheltered coastal areas. They tend to be owned by part-time fishers, who catch groundfish with handlines or longlines. The large number of decked vessels is further divided into two large categories, small decked vessels up to 100GT and large decked vessels from 101 to 1,500GT. Within these two groups
there are further subdivisions by size. But the fleet contributes very differently to the total Icelandic catch. In terms of tonnage, in 2012, decked vessels bigger than 1,000GT, some 23 in total, caught 57 of the catch or 829 thousand tonnes out of a total of 1.4 million tonnes. Most of this fish was pelagic species: herring, Norwegian spring-spawning herring, capelin, blue whiting, and other pelagic fish. Trawlers of 1,000GT and above, about 30 vessels, were responsible for 260,000 tonnes. In terms of value however the greatest contribution comes from the biggest trawlers, 15 vessels, which were responsible for ISK50 billion or almost one-third of the total value of ISK159 billion. These vessels target mainly demersal species including cod, redfish, saithe, and haddock, but also pelagic species like herring, Norwegian spring-spawning herring, and capelin. The biggest decked vessels with the large catches of pelagic fish contributed ISK34 billion or 21 of the total. Among the sub-1,000GT vessels, the category 301 to 500GT had catches of the highest value, ISK14 billion. These vessels, 39 in number, target a wide range of species primarily demersal, cod, haddock, saithe, and redfish, but also smaller volumes of flatfish, some pelagic fish, and importantly, shellfish like nephrops and shrimp. To catch this mix of species fishing vessels use a variety of gear during the different seasons. Purse www.eurofishmagazine.com
Value of exported marine products, selected countries (ISK) 2008 Total 171,232 United Kingdom 42,691 Norway 13,391 Spain 15,672 Russian 3,798 Federation France 7,071 Nigeria 5,443 Netherlands 10,792 Germany 7,946 United States 8,449 Lithuania 5,586 Japan 6,504 Others 132,116
2009
2010
2011
2012
208,624 48,667 20,731 19,243 4,720
220,488 46,783 15,204 20,768 10,592
251,573 44,660 18,765 21,959 17,987
268,631 46,855 21,289 19,724 16,708
11,369 10,182 15,614 10,380 8,902 5,578 7,953 166,676
13,135 10,374 13,632 10,277 10,355 8,211 11,605 177,242
16,501 12,257 16,409 11,617 9,226 11,388 12,092 198,960
16,653 16,501 15,266 14,271 13,334 10,605 10,559 211,273
Source: Statistics Iceland
seiners for example target capelin during one part of the year, herring in another and may also trawl for shrimp in between. The gear includes handlines, longlines, gill nets, Danish seines, purse seines, bottom, pelagic, nephrops, and shrimp trawls, as well as scallop and shellfish dredges. Four gear types, bottom trawls, pelagic trawls, bottom longlines, and purse seines were responsible for 84 of the value and 93 of the volume of the catch in 2012 with bottom trawls alone responsible for 38 of the value. Species caught with this gear are mainly demersal fish, of which cod is the most popular followed by redfish, saithe, haddock and Greenland halibut. Pelagic trawls target mainly capelin, Norwegian spring-spawning herring, blue whiting, herring, and other pelagic fish, while the bottom longlines target also mainly cod and haddock, as well as ling and tusk. Finally, the purse seines catch mostly capelin and herring.
Fisheries managed with ITQs, among other measures Fisheries in Iceland are governed by a system of individual www.eurofishmagazine.com
transferable quotas (ITQ) which were first introduced for herring in 1979 and have since spread to other fisheries. By 1990 all Icelandic fisheries in its EEZ were managed with ITQs. The system works by allocating to each vessel a fraction of the total allowable catch (TAC) for the species. The size of the fraction is based on the vessel’s catch history for that species. The quota is transferable though there are some restrictions, and there are also limits placed on the share of a TAC that a company or a group of related companies may hold. These limits are meant to prevent the consolidation of quotas in the hands of a few fishing companies and vary from species to species. For cod it is 12 of the TAC, while for saithe, haddock, Greenland halibut, capelin and herring it is 20. The TAC for a species is determined by the Ministry of Industries and Innovation and is based on a scientific assessment of the stock carried out by the Icelandic Marine Research Institute. In addition to quotas, fisheries are governed by other management measures including closed areas, fishing gear restrictions, and area restrictions, which are intended
to maintain the sustainability of the fisheries. Complementing the fishing management measures are systems for monitoring and control that are a necessary part of a responsible fishing regime. A separate system of quotas is used for small vessels that are only allowed to fish with longlines or hand lines. These quotas are freely transferable within this fleet segment, but, again to prevent consolidation, cannot enter the quota system used by the bigger vessels. The introduction of ITQs brought several advantages to the fisheries. A fisher no longer had to race to catch the maximal amount of fish in the shortest possible time, but could fish when conditions suited him best. Fishers were tuned to market demand and prices rather than to the need to catch the most fish to maximise revenues. As a result, they dedicated more effort to improving the quality of the catch. The quotas were tradable, but only within the allocated region, which contributed to greater stability in terms of raw material supply to the local processing sector. However, the ITQ system is not without its flaws. Chief among them is the barrier to becoming part of the system. A fisher who wants to join the system has to buy his quota, which is expensive. In addition because quality is now more important than in the past fish that are slightly lower quality may get offloaded in favour of fish of higher quality. Despite the safeguards there has been an increase in the concentration of quotas. According to Islandsbanki, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the share of the 10 largest quota holders in the share of the total catch has increased from 24 in 1992 to 52 in 2013. Despite these issues, Icelandic fisheries
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The Iceland Responsible Fisheries Management Certification Programme has certified four fisheries since 2010, cod, haddock, saithe, and most recently, golden redfish.
are among the best-managed in the world and have served as a model, which many other countries have adapted to their needs.
Fourth fishery receives sustainable fishery certification The principles governing the management of Iceland’s fisheries were further strengthened, when, after discussions with all the members of the seafood supply chain, the Iceland Responsible Fisheries Management Certification Programme was developed and launched in 2008. The programme is based on the FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the FAO Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products and essentially documents Icelandic fisheries to the highest level of assurance, promotes a consensus among stakeholders to support disciplined fisheries management, and provides customers with an alternative to other certification schemes. So far four fisheries have been certified by an independent certification body, the all-important cod fishery in 2010, the haddock and
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57
Fish exported in many forms
Salting fish is an old Icelandic tradition and uses mainly cod as the raw material, though other codtype fish, roes, and herring are also salted. The fish is gutted, washed and kept under refrigeration on Promote Iceland
Icelandic fish is processed into different products intended mainly for the export market. Only a tiny fraction of the catch (0.5 in 2012) is used for domestic consumption. Fish is processed both on board the vessels, mainly freezer trawlers,
and in land-based processing factories. Fish is exported both fresh and frozen as whole fish or fillets primarily to markets in Europe. The overwhelming majority of the fish is exported frozen; in 2013 exports of frozen fish amounted to 437,000 tonnes out of a total export of 785,000 tonnes or about 56. That year exports of fresh and chilled fish were 66,000 tonnes, of salted fish 38,000 tonnes, and of dried fish 22,000 tonnes. Fish for human consumption is however not the only export. The value of fishmeal and fishoil exports has been increasing almost each year since 2008, when it was ISK22 billion, reaching ISK43 billion in 2013 an increase of almost 100. In value terms frozen products are the biggest export earner amounting to ISK139 billion in 2013 or 51 of the total export value. Fresh and chilled products come next with a value of ISK49 billion followed by salted fish with ISK24 billion.
Vessels can change their gear to target different species depending on the season. 58
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
The Icelandic fleet has grown somewhat in size over the last few years as the number of small vessels has increased, but the overall gross tonnage has in fact reduced as the number of trawlers has fallen.
ice. At the time of processing it is headed and split or filleted, trimmed and placed in a solution of brine for a couple of days. It is then placed in dry salt for one to two weeks under controlled temperature after which it has a salt content of 18-20. The process can continue to give a drier and stronger tasting product depending on the customer specifications. Often the customer himself will further process the product to ensure that it appeals to local tastes. The market for the different varieties of salted fish is primarily in southern Europe – Italy, Spain and Portugal. However, Nigeria, Germany, and
the Netherlands have also acquired a taste for Icelandic-salted cod. Fish, in particular cod, is air dried in Iceland by hanging it on racks and the product is exported to Italy as well as Nigeria. Drying is a way of preserving the fish for long periods and the final product has a very high protein fraction as a result of the removal of almost all the water from the fish.
Cod, the champion of the fisheries export economy Cod is the sovereign most-valued export out of the total fish and Pall Gunnarsson
saithe fisheries in September last year, and in May 2014 the golden redfish (Sebastes norvegicus also called Sebastes marinus) fishery was also certified. The latter are a slow growing species that reaches maturity after 12-15 years and inhabit depths of 200-400m. The independent certifying body, Global Trust/SAI Global, that assessed the golden redfish fishery said that the review included site visits, a five-member assessment team, and two peer reviewers, who assessed the ITQ system, management rules, support measures for the species, the data collection and stock assessment systems, before concluding that the management system adopted a precautionary approach, allowing for responsible harvesting and careful treatment of the ecosystem.
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Different species of redfish, golden redfish, Norway redfish, and deepwater redfish, are among the most common fish in Icelandic waters. The biggest markets for redfish products are Germany, the UK, and Japan. www.eurofishmagazine.com
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seafood export contributing in 2012 a relatively modest 100,000 tonnes or 13 in terms of exported volumes, yet almost a third (31) or ISK83 billion in terms of value. A lot of the cod is exported fresh, as whole fish and as fillets, which accounts for the high value of cod exports. In addition, significant volumes of cod are exported both as block frozen and individually frozen fillets, as dried-salted fish, uncured salted fish, and salted fish fillets. Nigeria is a big importer of dried fish heads. Cod is thus a highly versatile fish that is processed and exported in many different forms to a variety of markets. These are predominantly in the EU with the UK the dominant destination, but the US and Nigeria were also among the big importers of Icelandic cod products in 2012. Capelin with 11, herring (9.5), mackerel (7.3) and redfish (7.2) follow cod in terms of the value of exports in 2012. Capelin is exported as whole frozen fish, but there is also a substantial export of capelinbased fishmeal and fishoil to Norway and Denmark for conversion into feed for fish, mink, and other farmed creatures. In addition, Japan imports between two and three tonnes of capelin roe a year. Exports of herring and mackerel on the other hand are primarily as frozen product – whole-frozen fish and frozen fish fillets in the case of herring, and whole-frozen fish in the case of mackerel. Of the total value of exports of ISK269 billion, European markets absorbed ISK211 billion, while the remainder was divided between Asia (ISK24bn), Africa (ISK17bn) and North America (ISK15bn) in 2012. Good transport links and relatively short distances enable the fish to be flown or sailed to markets in the EU. Of all the markets for Icelandic fish, the UK is the most important, a position it has held for a number of years. In www.eurofishmagazine.com
2012 the value of exports to the UK amounted to ISK47 billion or 17 of the total, however over the last five years this fraction has been declining as Iceland’s exports to other countries including Norway, Russia, Spain, Germany, and France have been increasing faster than those to the UK. Exports to Russia in particular have seen a steep rise since 2008 with the pelagic fish, mackerel, herring, capelin, and blue whiting dominating the export trade to Russia in 2012. On the other continents there are typically one or two main destinations for Icelandic seafood. In Asia it is Japan and China, in Africa, Nigeria, and in the Americas, the US is the main market.
Fisheries sector creates world beaters in related fields The importance of the fisheries sector to Iceland cannot be underestimated. Not only does it make a significant direct contribution to the country’s economy it has also triggered the development of several ancillary industries including packaging, fishing gear, mechanical manufacture, shipping, as mentioned in a report by the Icelandic Ocean Cluster. These industries not only supply the fisheries and fish processing sector, but through their dealings with this sector have acquired the knowledge, technology, and manufacturing capacity necessary to start to supply other sectors both within Iceland and abroad. Supplying the fishing fleet and the land-based processing sector with advanced technology has created leaders in the fields of trawl doors, trawl nets, fishing boats, safety equipment, electronics, hardware and software, processing machinery, storage and transporting equipment, and protective clothing, to name a few. The presence of a dynamic fisheries sector has thus led to the establishment of an ecosystem of related industries
that has a multiplier effect on the contribution of the fisheries sector to Iceland’s GDP. However, the authors of the report feel that a comprehensive public policy is needed to nurture this cluster of industries if it is to grow and prosper and provide new opportunities for future generations. The fisheries sector is a vital part of the Icelandic economy and one that
needs to be able to compete effectively in an increasingly globalised world. This will call for investments in technology and skills, something that has slowed down in recent years. With its sustainably fished stocks, high quality products, and sought after species, Island’s role as an important supplier to European markets would seem to be secure for the foreseeable future. bt
Aquaculture in Iceland: focus on Arctic char and salmon farming Iceland’s aquaculture industry has a limited production that more or less stagnated at around 5,000 tonnes between 2008 and 2011, but then jumped to 7,400 tonnes in 2012. Production is primarily of two species Arctic char (3,100 t) and Atlantic salmon (2,900 t) and a few 100 tonnes each of cod and rainbow trout. Iceland is the world’s biggest producer of Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), a freshwater salmonid, that grows best in cold northern waters. The quantities of farmed cod are set to fall as much of the production capacity has been withdrawn, however, salmon and marine farmed rainbow trout volumes are likely to increase over the next years and licenses for over 26,000 tonnes of these species have been issued. Farmed fish exports increased from ISK3.6bn in 2011 to almost ISK5bn in 2012 thanks mainly to a doubling in the value of salmon exports from ISK1.2bn to ISK2.4bn.
Harvested farmed fish, whole ungutted ('000 tonnes) 10 0.1 0.6
8 1.0 6
3.8 0.1
0.1 4
2
0
1.0
1.5
0.3
0.2
0.5
1.2
3.1
3.7
2.4
3.1 4.0
3.0
3.1
0.3
0.8
1.0
1.1
2008
2009
2010
2011
Trout/Arctic char
2012
2013*
Other species *Estimate Source: The Icelandic Aquaculture Association/Landesbanki
Salmon
Cod
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Promens is a market leader in containers for the fisheries sector
Looking to Asia for growth The use of plastic bins and tubs is widespread in the fisheries sector thanks to, among other advantages, their excellent insulation properties, strength and durability, the ease with which they can be cleaned, and the ability to mould them into a wide variety of shapes and sizes. As a result, in the fisheries industry, these versatile containers are used to store and transport fish on board and on shore, as receptacles to hold the fish during processing operations such as salting or marinating, and in many other applications.
O
ver the last half century the multiple advantages offered by plastic have gradually made it the material of choice for the containers used in the storage and transport of fish, replacing the traditional wooden barrels and crates. Among the main suppliers to the fisheries sector of these containers is the Icelandic company Promens, whose well-known brand Sæplast, the label under which the company sells its insulated containers to the fishing industry, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The company was established in 1984 in a small Icelandic fishing village and since then has grown to become a multinational with production and sales around the world.
Expansion by acquisition Since it was founded in 1984, Sæplast as it was then known, has expanded both organically and through an
aggressive strategy of acquisitions that has seen the company establish units in India and China, and take over companies in several European countries, North America and North Africa. With these acquisitions, the company also decided to change its name from Sæplast to Promens as it was felt that the new name would help integrate the different companies into a unified whole, while Sæplast was kept as the product brand for the insulated containers.
on insulation properties, but more on hygiene, stacking strengths, and durability. The reason for this development, explains Mr Valdimarsson, is that customer needs vary between regions and market segments and Promens is striving to meet these different requirements by expanding its product offerings.
Promens has its roots in the fishing industry. “Fishing and fish processing companies were our first customers for the polyurethane insulated containers we were making, when we started 30 years ago,” says Dad–i Valdimarsson, the Vice President of the Material Handling business unit within Promens. Since then the company has developed an additional line of polyethylene foamed containers with less focus
The different needs for insulation properties is but one of the changes, to which the company has responded. For many years Promens has focused on preserving the quality of the catch. This has led to the development of containers of different sizes and heights. For some species of fish the weight of the upper layers can damage the fish at the bottom of the container, and Promens has therefore specially designed containers that protect species that are vulnerable in this regard. Another milestone was the introduction of technologies into the product that enable tracking and tracing. About 15 years ago Promens started with passive RFID (radio frequency id) tags that could be moulded into the containers and allowed companies to register the containers electronically. This evolved in to a new system, MIND Your Value Chain, which was launched in 2013. The system consists of an active sensor that is moulded in to the tub and can transmit information to
The Icelandic company Promens is among the main suppliers to the fisheries sector of plastic insulated containers. 60
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
Improved tracking and tracing with new sensors
a transceiver up to three hundred metres away, compared to the few meters range of a typical RFID chip. The battery in the new sensors has a lifetime of eight years and the long range makes it possible for a single transceiver in a typical factory to register all the sensors that are present in the plant. The transceivers can be located at sites or in vehicles and record the information from the sensors including their location, and the location of the transceiver (if placed in a vehicle). The new MIND sensors also include a temperature logging function which transmits a constant record of the temperature in the surroundings of the container to the transceiver unit so that a complete history of the temperature of the tub is available. This makes it possible to ascertain whether the tub has spent time in the sunlight or has been kept under refrigeration throughout. At the Seafood Expo Global this year, the company demonstrated a compact tub intended for use on smaller vessels. The novelty of the tub is the split lid which facilitates filling it up with the catch without losing all the cool air that is inside. The product is intended for markets which have lots of small boats catching small volumes of fish each day. Promens also supplies the industry with polystyrene boxes from its plant in Iceland. These boxes are mainly used to carry fresh fish from Iceland to Europe by air. At the exhibition the company announced that it had developed a method of adding www.eurofishmagazine.com
ICELAND
Excellent insulation properties, strength and durability, ease to be cleaned, and their availability in a wide variety of shapes and sizes make plastic tubs very popular in the fisheries sector.
graphics and texts to the boxes so that they could be customised for the client, a development which generated significant interest at the show.
Regular improvements, large and small While there have been certain very marked developments in Promens’ containers, such as the MIND system, more common is the series of incremental improvements over the years that have made the containers better and better at their primary function – protecting the quality of the catch. Compared with older models, containers today are not as tall, have better drainage, and have more features that ensure safe handling, than did the tubs a decade or two ago. Protecting the quality of the catch and improving the safety when handling have been the main focus areas of the company’s development efforts. Hygiene too is a high priority when designing the tubs, as they must be made easy to clean without any dirt traps. The company can also meet the fishing industry’s requirements for a wide variety of containers attributable to the diversity of vessels within the sector – from small coastal vessels to huge trawlers – which make it necessary to be able to offer containers of different shapes and sizes to make optimal use of the limited www.eurofishmagazine.com
space on board. Promens’ tubs are also used in the meat industry. Here however, unlike in the fish industry, there is no need for the tubs to have handles as there is no requirement for them to be hoisted. Another difference is that tubs for meat products have no need for drainage, while drainage holes are critical for fish. In addition, the meat industry uses mainly non-insulated containers as the containers are almost always in a chilled environment.
Rent or buy containers Promens has established a rental company from which fishing companies can rent the tubs they need rather than buying them. The rental company’s focus is the on-board handling in which it has a specific expertise. The service is being offered in Northern Europe for now, and it consists of making sure the customer has the tubs when and where he needs them, collecting the used tubs, cleaning them, repairing them if necessary, and delivering them again to the customer. For customers this gives cost efficiencies as they do not need to own as many tubs to cover their needs. The company, called iTUB, was started in 2010 in Norway in cooperation with three of the leading Norwegian fishing companies and is now expanding into other geographies. All the tubs in the
iTUB pool are equipped with MIND sensors so they can be tracked and the customer billed depending on the number of days the customer has had them and the distance they have travelled during that period. The iTUB service offers the sector an alternative to having to buy a lot of containers. As Mr Valdimarsson observes, the market has different needs and with iTUB Promens offers companies an alternative to investing in their own tubs.
and last year it opened a facility there to supply the Chinese market as well as markets in neighbouring countries. For the moment it is mainly containers for the fisheries and aquaculture industry that are being sold in China, but the plan is to start supplying the meat industry as well. With these investments Dad–i Valdimarsson is confident that the company will participate in the opportunities offered by these fast-growing markets.
Focus moves to Asia
The last thirty years have seen Promens expand massively with both sales and production starting in other parts of the world. The group now counts 41 manufacturing facilities in 20 countries all over the world with close to 4,000 employees. The products also cover a wide range including consumer packaging for food and beverage, chemicals, personal and health care, as well as components for vehicles, in addition to the larger material handling products, such as the tubs. As a supplier to the fish and seafood industry Promens hopes to benefit from the growth that is forecast for the sector as people become ever more aware of the benefits of eating fish and increasingly have the means to support this consumption. Much of this growth will be in Asia and other emerging markets and the company aims at expand its presence in these areas in order to maintain its position as a market leader.
The material handling business within Promens has grown steadily since it was established thirty years ago. At the time it had a single production facility in Iceland and the output was perhaps 15 tubs per day, but today there are seven plants within the business unit located in Canada, Iceland (2), China, Spain, Holland and India and the output per plant today is much higher. While the bulk of the company’s sales are currently in Europe, it is keeping a keen eye on the Asian and the American markets. The relationship to Asia goes back 18 years when the company opened a facility in Ahmadabad, India, its first expansion outside Iceland. That plant has since been expanded and serves the Indian and several other Asian markets, primarily with insulated tubs. In China, Promens has had a sales office for the last 12 years
Promens Dalvik Business divisions (percentage of gross revenue from each business division): Chemicals (26%); vehicles (24%); personal and healthcare (20%); food and beverages (19%); materials handling (9%); and medical (2%).
Gunnarsbraut 12 620 Dalvik Iceland Tel.: +354 460 5000 Fax: +354 460 5001 sales.dalvik@promens.com Vice President Promens Material Handling: Dadi Valdimarsson Gross revenue 2013: EUR600m Plants: 41 (in twenty countries)
Main sales areas: Europe, North America, Australia
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
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[ AQUACULTURE ] Offshore aquaculture solves old problems but creates new ones
Farming in the open sea is very demanding Global aquaculture has to face some major challenges in the coming years. On the one hand, it has to produce more fish and seafood to meet the rising needs of a growing world population. And on the other hand, we are already now reaching the limits of what the available locations can offer for new farms. One way out of this dilemma would be to shift farming into the offshore region, but this necessitates new concepts, more robust technology – and more risk capital.
A
nyone who has followed developments in the aquaculture sector in recent years will likely have realised that there is no way around the expansion of mariculture and the shifting of farming from the relatively protected coastal zones into the offshore region. At present, most of the fish that are produced in aquaculture come from land-based ponds and tanks or from net cages that float in rivers and freshwater lakes. Nearly 88 of the total volume of farmed fish are freshwater species! The only aquaculture segment in which marine species dominate is molluscs. The further extension of land-based aquaculture is hardly going to be possible, nor would it be responsible. Land is becoming scarcer, suitable locations are lacking. Drinkable freshwater has become a valuable food over which hefty disputes prevail in some parts of the world. But producing fish in the sea is currently still not a satisfactory solution. Up to now it has been carried out almost without exception directly off the coasts, which in many places leads to conflicts with other potential user groups such as tourism, shipping, fishing, energy industry and others. So wouldn’t it be a good idea to move the farm cages further out to sea and so avoid these tiresome 62
disputes? After all, the environmental conditions prevailing there are mostly better than those closer to the coast. Up to now, however, only a few companies have dared to make the step into the offshore region, and there are a lot of good reasons for this. Aquaculture in high-energy, wind and wave swept offshore waters where the farms cannot be reached for days and so have to be left to themselves as it were, requires completely new techniques, innovative production methods and good staying power if the commitment is also to be socio-economically successful, environmentally sound and sustainable. Based on cautious estimates the costs of the offshore investment required to produce the same volume of fish are at least twice as high as they would be in the inshore region. Anyone who has hopes of economic success under these conditions needs original ideas, sound concepts and perhaps also new fish species that can cope with the particular farming conditions. Apart from that it should not be forgotten that offshore installations always require a land-based unit, too, for example as a quarantine station for fry, for feed storage or as a landing stage for the service and supply vessels. Although the first real marine farms have already been set up and there
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
are more plans and projects for new ones underway, offshore aquaculture continues to be a haven for dreamers and visionaries who, with their sometimes quirky ideas, awaken interest and fascinate the public. One only has to think of the popular and frequently rumoured utopia described in media reports: ocean enclosures that drift freely between the continents, stocked with fry months ago and now full of fish that are ready to harvest in some far-away place. Unfortunately journalists hardly seem to question the feasibility of such scenarios, for example whether the effort, costs and benefits of these systems are in reasonable proportion to each other, who is liable for the damages in the event of accidents or wreckage and, indeed, whether it is possible at all to insure such facilities. Not to mention problems of feeding the fishes, checking and controlling their growth. A lot of the problems of offshore aquaculture are still unsolved. And there is as yet no satisfactory answer to many of them.
A lot of investors still put off by high costs and risks One of the illusions that persists, for example, is that through moving into the offshore area aquaculture will be able to get around many of the problems that currently exist due to its present location close
to the coast. This might be true in certain regions but in many areas there is already severe competition for “offshore” locations. During planning procedures aquaculture projects are often in a rather weak position because aquaculture frequently comes under the criticism of the public and some NGOs. Offshore aquaculture is more than the mere relocation of the current farms to areas that are further away from the coasts. It is a paradigm shift that requires a huge research and development effort, and it is costly. As with almost any new technology, mistakes will be difficult to avoid in the initial phase and this will have to be accepted by society. The risk of financial loss is much higher than in current aquaculture environment, it can take much longer for a commitment to pay off for the investor. Just how many problems and questions related to offshore aquaculture are still open and what possible solutions there might be became apparent at the international “Offshore Mariculture Conference 2014” which took place in Naples (Italy) from 9 to 11 April 2014. The lectures held there looked at legal, biological and technical issues; scientists and hands-on experts talked about the design of offshore farms, possibilities for maintaining and controlling the different systems, investment options, technical www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ AQUACULTURE ]
Katherine Hawes from the Australian legal office Aquarius Lawyers, which has specialised in legal aspects in aquaculture and fishing, noted that the geopolitical and legal framework for marine aquaculture is dealt within two conventions: international maritime law in the Law of the Sea (LoS), and the International Environmental Law. The LoS creates a legal platform for fair and peaceful utilisation of the seas, the conservation of biological resources and the protection of the marine environment. Interestingly, aquaculture is not mentioned in the Convention, apparently because the issue was at that time not yet considered to be of international importance. But the LoS regulates the sovereign rights of coastal states and divides the oceans into areas of responsibility to which the 200 nautical mile economic zones (EEZ) belong. Article 60 of the LoS entitles the coastal states to permit, build and regulate “installations and structures” in their own EEZ. What exactly the term “systems and structures” means is defined in Article 56, where aquaculture facilities are not explicitly mentioned, however, which leaves plenty of room for interpretation in the event of disputes. The vague wording makes it easier for each coastal state to prevent the establishment of aquafarms of other states in its EEZ. The International Environmental Law (Part XII of the Convention, Article 118) narrows the scope for marine aquaculture further. It demands that aquafarming should neither threaten nor destroy marine wild animal stocks. Article 192 additionally commits coastal states to the protection and maintenance of the marine environment. States www.eurofishmagazine.com
Josef Melchner, SUBflex
equipment and important findings from existing offshore farms. (See also article on the conference in June issue of the EUROFISH Magazine).
Four SUBflex systems are currently in operation at locations up to 12 km off Israel’s coast. They were eco-friendly, could be lowered into the sea when necessary, and had already survived 12 m high waves in the Mediterranean.
have to ensure that their offshore activities will neither pollute nor damage the environment either in their own waters or the waters of other coastal states. Articles 207 to 213 list in detail which laws and regulations the states have to pass for the protection of the marine environment.
Offshore technology has to be robust, independent and affordable The special demands, which offshore aquaculture systems have to fulfil in the open sea, are understandably much higher than those for systems directly off the coast. Most experts favour integrated systems that are largely independent and can be left on their own, for longer periods. There are still a lot of design propositions for the net cages but it would certainly be helpful if this area of business would agree on system “standards” as quickly as possible so that larger numbers could be produced which would reduce costs. A lot of technology manufacturers favour spherical net cages for offshore regions because these constructions are particularly stable and have an optimal surface/volume
ratio. However, they are mostly relatively expensive and also rather heavy which makes handling and maintenance of the facilities as well as the control and care of the fish stock more difficult. That inshore cages are of little use in the offshore region was one of the things that Terry Drost (President Four Links Marketing Ltd) made clear in his conference paper. Conditions in the open sea demanded a completely new approach, net materials had to be more stable, long-lasting, reliable antifoulants were needed to prevent growth on the nets, and automatic washing facilities for cleaning the nets were required on site. Much of what had become routine work for the staff of inshore farms would have to be done remotely or automatically in offshore farms. For example feeding, or necessary controls and the removal of dead fishes from the cage. Josef Melchner, Vice President of the Israeli technology company SUBflex, pointed out that tried and tested offshore net cages already existed. Four of his company’s SUBflex systems were currently in operation at four locations up to 12km off Israel’s coast. They were eco-friendly, could be lowered into
the sea when necessary, and had already survived 12m high waves in the Mediterranean. What is special about the Subflex system, in which several net cages are movably connected to each other like pearls on a chain, is their single point mooring, i.e. attachment to a single anchor. This meant that the whole installation could rotate freely 360° around the anchor point. Faeces and uneaten food were spread over this circular area whose diameter was sometimes more than 1,000m. And it was also a kind of sanctuary for wild fishes and plants, said Melchner, because the casting of nets and fishing were impossible there. The importance of anchoring for the stability of the farms was made clear by Ludvig Karlsen from the Department of Marine Technology (Trondheim, Norway). The net cages of the salmon farms in Norway were mainly kept in shape through the anchoring, making this ‘anchor frame’ the fundamental element of the farm: without the stabilising effect of the anchor frame, the cages would be a plaything of the force of currents and waves, and the enclosure could quickly be deformed. It was, however, rarely possible
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
63
to install a complex anchoring system in the offshore area. The cages have to be stabilised mainly by the shape, material and structural design of the floating support structures that keep the net in position at the surface. However, that alone is seldom sufficient to resist the destructive effects of wind and waves during severe weather and so many facilities can in such situations be lowered beneath the water surface. The technicalities and possible problems encountered during this process were explained by Alessandro Ciattaglia (Badinotti Group, Italy). In his opinion, floating and submerged systems both have their advantages and disadvantages. Floating cages can, for example, be more easily maintained and controlled, feeding is easier and it is also easier to recognise the fishes’ condition. However, a disadvantage of these systems is their strong dependence on the weather, which increases the risk of a total loss. In addition, plastics age faster in strong sunlight (UV light). Submerged cages are one way to get around these problems. The fish are disturbed less, there are fewer fish thefts and temperature conditions are more constant. But even submerged cages have certain disadvantages: the fish stock is harder to control and feed, for some species (e.g. seabass), problems with the swim bladder can arise due to differences in pressure when changing the depth. Further, submersible systems cost around 20 more compared to floating installations. The Ciattaglia Team develops and tests various methods for submerging floating facilities if necessary quickly to greater depths in the offshore region. These techniques are basically similar to those known from the submerging and surfacing of 64
submarines. To submerge, ballast water is pumped into the floats, to surface, it is forced out again by pumping air in. The selective lowering of the cage has the additional advantage that the fish can be positioned in particularly favourable temperature zones in the sea. A research group led by Carlos Andrade from the Centro de Maricultura da Calheta (Madeira, Portugal) has calculated (using model) that fish growth and the profitability of the farming facility can be significantly improved by selectively moving the mobile cages to areas with optimal temperature conditions. The calculations were based on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), but similar results were to be expected for red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) and amberjacks (Seriola sp.) A particularly detailed, complex and almost futuristic design proposal for offshore farms was presented by Aquaculture Consultant Siegfried Beck. It is far removed from the cage shapes used previously in aquaculture, proposing instead an elongated cylindrical structure which is somewhat reminiscent of the hull of a submarine. In the standard version, the cylindrical cage, divided into ten cross sections, measures 100m in length with a diameter of 16m, giving a volume of 20,000 cubic meters. Air chambers in a pipe that runs longitudinally through the construction like a spine forming the central axis of the cage and contains various cables from the sensors, aeration, feed and other supply lines, make it possible to lower the installation 20m deep into the sea and bring it back up again to the surface. Feed pellets are fed into a 6 bar water current by an injector and distributed between the sections; for the removal of dead fish or for harvesting the system rotates around the longitudinal axis like a
Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
TLC cage, www.refamed.com
[ AQUACULTURE ]
The tension leg cage system minimises the strain on cage components by moving with the waves rather like seaweed, and enabling the principal net-pen to remain stable under all condition.
lottery drum, and when the outer net skin is in need of cleaning the pipe rises to the surface where the sun and wind dry away any growth or fouling. These ideas culminate in a concept for a “Marine Aquaculture Center” (MAC), in which one or more of the 100m long net pipes is attached to a ship which serves as a hatchery and feed store. Wind power and photovoltaic systems on board ensure sufficient energy supply.
Multi-use platforms to concentrate marine activities Karl Iver Dahl-Madsen and Lisbeth Jess Plesner from Danish Aquaculture looked at offshore aquaculture a little more soberly. They calculated that through the expansion of the offshore farms in Danish territorial waters alone, it could be possible to produce about 120,000 tonnes of fish and seafood annually instead of today’s 10,000 tonnes. And they believe that in the whole of the Baltic approximately 500,000 t/year are possible. It would make sense, they said, to combine aquaculture with other offshore activities such as energy
production (wind, waves). This would result in significant cost savings because transport, maintenance and all the logistics could be better coordinated and at the same time it would reduce environmental impacts by focusing on just a few sites. Erik Damgaard Christensen from the Technical University of Denmark, who is coordinating the EU project MERMAID, presented the state of developments at the multiuse platform at Krieger’s Flak in the Baltic, east of the island of Møn. There, apart from a 600 MW wind power plant, the first offshore power grid is being built including the necessary transformer stations. Christensen believes that aquaculture could also be carried out at the site. Due to the abiotic conditions he particularly favours salmonid cultures (rainbow trout and salmon) and shellfish farms. Macroalgae such as the commercially valuable red alga Furcellaria lumbricalis that were used for the production of Danish agar would flourish there, too. The combination of the three species groups to integrated multi-trophic aquaculture would thus be possible at the site. mk www.eurofishmagazine.com
[ TECHNOLOGY ] American clam-breeding company mechanises production
Vibratory screener helps raise little neck clams New Jersey company Clam Daddy’s has been selling hard shell little neck clams (Mercenaria mercenaria) since 1984. The company breeds and grows clams in a temperature controlled hatchery. The company focuses on upscale outlets such as gourmet restaurants and seasonal produce markets that demand top quality, rather than mass markets that buy primarily on price.
T
he clams begin their lives in late March as microscopic organisms invisible to the naked eye, growing to the size of a grain of sand in about 17 days and gradually increasing to market size over three to four years. The hatchlings start growing indoors, where they are moved from the breeding tank through increasingly larger vessels, and then to downwellers in which warmed sea water circulates.
Clams grow in circulating bay water Once the water in the bay warms to between 10˚C and 15˚C, the clams are transferred outdoors to upwellers, through which the bay water, which contains naturally occurring algae, is continuously circulated. When the clams reach a sufficient size, they are transferred to long, shallow raceways on Clam Daddy’s pier, through which bay water is also continuously circulated. As the clams grow, they are transferred from one raceway to the next, each holding clams of the same size. When the largest clams reach the last raceway, they are ready to be planted in the bay. To prepare same-size clams for each raceway, the larger clams were separated by placing several handfuls in a manual shaker screen – a wooden box with a www.eurofishmagazine.com
mesh screen bottom – and shaking it until the smaller clams passed through the mesh. This was not only time consuming but resulted in a lot of sore arms. As sales continued to grow, manual separation became increasingly burdensome. So Mr. Mayer automated his screening process by installing a 914mm diameter circular vibratory screener manufactured by Kason Corporation. “Our screener eliminated the need for a time-consuming, repetitive task,” he says. “It not only does in minutes what used to take hours, but allows me to deploy my staff to perform more important operations.”
Vibratory screener automates classification by size The circular vibratory screener consists of two screening decks, one above the other, with an imbalanced-weight gyratory motor that causes them to vibrate. “When the time comes to remove the larger clams from a raceway, we scoop several handfuls of them into the top deck of the screener, which has a slightly larger mesh than the lower one,” Mr. Mayer explains. “For example, we might have a 9,500 micron screen on top and a 6,300 micron screen on the bottom. As the clams move toward the periphery, the smaller clams fall through onto
the bottom screening deck. Those small enough to pass through the tighter mesh of the lower screen are ejected through a discharge spout into a collection pan. Those too large to pass through the smaller mesh are ejected through another discharge port into a separate collection pan. The largest clams, those that failed to pass through the larger mesh of the upper screen, remain on that screen.” “Once all the clams in a raceway have been screened, the smallest ones are returned to the raceway from which they were originally taken,” Mr. Mayer explains. “Those slightly larger are placed in the next raceway with clams
of their own size, and so on until the largest clams from the last raceway are placed in special leased areas of the bay, where they continue to feed and grow until harvested to fill an order.” When the clams reach their full size after 4 to 5 years, they are harvested, rinsed, sorted by size, counted, bagged and refrigerated, ready for delivery. “The reason restaurants and farmer markets prefer our clams is that they are never gritty with sand because we use special rakes to clean the nets and harvest the clams,” Mr. Mayer says proudly. “We also don’t harvest them until they are needed to fill an order, so they are the freshest clams you will find anywhere.”
A 914mm diameter circular vibratory screener automatically sorts the seed clams by size in minutes, replacing the slower, labor-intensive manual shaker screen shown at right. Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2014
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DIARY D ATE S 19-22 August, 2014 Nor-Fishing Trondheim, Norway Tel.: +47 73 568 640 mailbox@nor-fishing.no www.nor-fishing.no
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