Eurofish Magazine 4 2021

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ISSN 1868-5943

August 4/2021 C 44346

August 4 / 2021

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Fishing continues as fleets adapt to covid-induced pressures BSAC members’ questions answered in joint webinar with EFCA, ICES Fish and seafood consumption in Croatia Species profile: Musky octopus (Eledone moschata) is a member of the FISH INFO network

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In this issue

Fishers devise their own measures to keep operating

Seafish

Italy: The Italian fishing fleet has become smaller in terms of power, gross tonnage, and numbers since 2004.

The fleet is divided into several segments which fish in all the eight geographical subareas surrounding the country’s coastline. In all subareas there has been a reduction in days at sea in 2019 contributing to a decline in catch volumes and values compared with 2018. Just as in other countries, the fisheries sector in Italy has reeled under the impact of the pandemic. The government imposed strict lockdowns to prevent the spread of the illness, the effects of which had been very severe in parts of the country. In addition to restrictions on movements into Italy from outside, there were also checks on travel within the country. These constraints combined with the prohibition on gathering, which effectively shut down the food service sector leading in turn to the closure of intermediaries in the supply chain, had a marked impact on the sector. Although fishing itself was excluded from lockdown regulations as it was designated strategic to the national economy, other links in the chain downstream from the vessels were not exempted and could not operate. Fishers adopted some innovative measures to maintain prices and to sell their fish. Read more from page 31 Eurofish webinar: The spread of covid-19 and the restrictions that came in its wake affected businesses of all kinds.

The fisheries and aquaculture sector deals with products that are perhaps the most globally traded food commodities of all, and the lockdowns, bans on travel, closure of international borders, and disappearance of markets and trade intermediaries, had a significant impact on the sector. Eurofish International Organisation, the publisher of the Eurofish Magazine, organised a webinar on the changes triggered by the pandemic in four major markets (China, Germany, UK, and Ukraine). The webinar presented the opinions of an expert from each country on what was required of exporters to access these markets. China, for example, has introduced new legislation to enter into force from the start of 2022. The new rules mean exporters to China must go through some new administrative steps to gain market access.

In the UK many changes in the import regime can be attributed to Brexit rather than covid-19, but exporters to that country must count on non-tariff barriers, more paperwork, and delays at the border. Ukraine offers a market for fish and seafood that is growing, but individual consumption is still well below the EU average. Companies interested in exporting to Ukraine should consider participating in marketing campaigns to boost interest in fish. Companies interested in exporting to Germany, one of Europe’s biggest and wealthiest markets for fish and seafood, must be prepared to invest in relation-building, product quality, and sustainability, if they want to succeed. Read more from page 15

PP Orahovica

Global aquaculture review: After growing at a blistering pace in the 80s and 90s the annual increase in aquaculture production has declined since the turn of the millennium. The slowdown in growth is not everywhere nor is it to the same extent, but at a global level growth has gone from double digits to single ones.

In China, the dominant producer of farmed aquatic products, and long the driver of global growth in the sector, the rate of increase has slowed as the country switches to more environmentally friendly production, more efficient use of resources, and higher product quality. At a global level the proportion of actively fed species, primarily fish and crustaceans, has increased compared to filter feeding or grazing species, which extract their nutrition from the water they inhabit or from vegetation in the environment. Non fed species are mainly bivalves which account for about 66 and freshwater fish which make up the remainder. Fish are the most varied of the different farmed aquatic animals with over 360 species. The largest production can be attributed to Chinese and Indian carps, while salmon and pangasius also feature in the top 10 most produced fish species. Read Dr Manfred Klinkhardt’s report on global aquaculture from page 22 Remote auditing: Many changes in work practices that were happening gradually suddenly became much more widespread as a result of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Among them is the move to remote auditing of company operations. Audits to verify that operations conform to certain standards are typically conducted on site, but during a pandemic both travelling and face to face meetings increase the risk of contracting and spreading the disease. Remote auditing is no less thorough than in-person audits, but it presents additional challenges that must be addressed. Reliable, secure, and fast networks and hardware that can run sophisticated software allowing the auditor to monitor video streams and providing access to documents and files, are among the requirements. A remote audit also calls for careful preparation to ensure that both auditor and audited are in agreement about the scope, content, and type of audit that will be carried out. An audit, whether a risk assessment, certification, or inspection service, helps a company reach its desired level of performance and auditors support this goal with their expertise. Remote auditing offers speed, efficiency, and flexibility and is therefore likely to persist even after the world returns to its pre-pandemic state. Read more from page 40

Table of News

6 International News

Events

15 Market diversification despite the pandemic, Eurofish webinar, 18 May 2021 Exporting seafood in the covid-19 era 19 Baltic Sea Advisory Council virtual meeting with EFCA and ICES, 6 May 2021 Frank discussion with control, advice, and management representatives

Aquaculture 22 Slower growth in global aquaculture Quantities produced reached a record level in 2019

28 FIAP’s profinet ALU, the aluminium fish landing net for commercial and recreational use Simple yet sturdy nets for fish famers and anglers

Projects

29 Roskilde University in Denmark investigates the commercial potential of breeding copepods as fish feed Research that could benefit aquaculture globally

Italy 31 Italy’s fishing sector and its response to the pandemic Adverse impact is tempered by positive developments

Croatia 37 New study confirms that Croatians are fairly avid eaters of fish and seafood Fish and seafood consumption in Croatia

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www.eurofishmagazine.com

Contents Certification 40 Audits and certificates done remotely via computer Remote audits reduce risks and costs

(CC BY-SA 3.0) Map based on https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Location_European_nation_states.svg

by Hayden120 and NuclearVacuum

Serbia

Species 48 Seafood speciality with nearly 1,000 suckers Musky octopus is a Mediterranean classic

44 Carp production in semi-intensive conditions can very significantly Extruded feeds offer advantages to carp farmers

Fish Infonetwork 52 News Eurofish, GLOBEFISH, Infopesca

Worldwide Fish News Albania

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Belgium

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Denmark

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Ireland

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Italy

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Norway

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Seychelles

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Spain

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Sweden

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Turkey

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UK

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USA

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Hungary

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Guest Pages 54 Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries Environmental, economic, and social sustainability are interrelated

Service 57 Diary Dates 58 Imprint, List of Advertisers

Scan the QR code to access the Eurofish Magazine website (www.eurofishmagazine. com), where you can also sign up to receive the Eurofish Magazine newsletter.

EUROFISH Magazine 4 / 2021

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] Denmark: Encouraging European soja production can reduce GHG emissions Carnivorous farmed fish like salmon, and seabass and seabream are typically fed with pellets of fish feed—sophisticated compounds traditionally based on fishmeal and fish oil derived from small pelagic fish species generally not used for human consumption. However, as the global aquaculture industry grows supplies of fishmeal and fish oil have not kept pace and feed manufacturers have gradually replacing the fishmeal and oil content of the feed with alternatives, that are often plant-based. BioMar, a Danish feed producer has recently entered into a partnership with Donau Soja in Croatia to increase the production of

safe and sustainable gmo-free soya in Europe. Three Croatian agriculture cooperatives involving 540 farmers will now benefit from training, advice, and certification to the Donau Soja standard. A significant part of EU imports of 35-40m tonnes of soybeans are from areas with environmentally sensitive areas such as the Amazon rainforest and the Cerrado savannah, an area also mainly in Brazil. Investing in sustainable soya production in Europe would also contribute to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Soy protein concentrate (SPC) as it is used in fish feed produces 70 less CO2 emissions if produced from European Donau Soja soybeans.

The partnership between BioMar and Donau Soja will contribute to more sustainable soja production for aquaculture feeds in Europe.

Belgium: Consequences for not complying with the CFP varies across the EU Infringements of the Common Fisheries Policy are subject to sanctions. However, these can vary from one Member State to another thus diluting their impact and allowing fishers from one country to get away more lightly than those from another country for the same transgression. The European Commission has therefore undertaken an analysis of national systems for punishing infringements of the CFP for all coastal states. The analysis reveals that the powers of inspectors vary from country to country. The most common powers are inspection of vessels, inspection of the supply chain and the power to take immediate enforcement measures (IEMs). However, only in 3 countries can inspectors exploit the full range of IEMs as defined

by EU law. Countries usually have both administrative and criminal sanctions in their legal frameworks though some have only the former and one only the

latter. Defining an infringement as “serious” also varied between countries with half the 20 countries analysed unable to qualify one or more breaches as serious.

Generally, however, most countries can distinguish between serious and non-serious crimes.

The report also found that sanctions available under national laws were varied but not necessarily sufficiently comprehensive. Fines for example varied between countries from a maximum of EUR1600 to EUR600,000 for administrative sanctions and from EUR10,000 to EUR16m for criminal sanctions. This may prevent a level playing field for operators across Europe and limit deterrence in countries with the lowest levels of fines.

The report is available at https://ec.europa.eu/ oceans-and-fisheries/news/ fisheries-control-commissionpublishes-study-member-statessanctioning-systems-infringements_en

A new report from the European Commission analyses the system of sanctions for violations of the CFP across coastal EU countries.

[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] EU UK fisheries deal means slightly less industrial fish in 2021 for Denmark The EU and UK have finally agreed on fishing quotas for joint stocks for the rest of 2021, reports the Danish Ministry for Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries. This is the first agreement on quotas between the two parties since the UK left the EU and is hopefully the first step in what will be a close and constructive relationship, said Rasmus Prehn, Danish Minister for Fisheries.

The agreement determines quotas for a number of species that are important for Danish fishers, including, monkfish, Norway lobster, hake, deepwater prawns, several kinds of flatfish, and the industrial species, sandeel, and Norway pout. The signing of the agreement will also enable both parties to engage in quota exchanges. The European Commission emphasised that the

deal was based on ICES’ advice on fish stocks and considered management principles such as the precautionary approach and maximum sustainable yield. UK waters are the source of about a third of Danish catches by volume, according to the Department of Food and Resource Economics (FRE) at the University of Copenhagen. However, it is only mackerel and herring

quotas that are fully exploited, while those of other species are only partially fished. The new agreement will mean a slightly lower quota for sandeel and Norway pout for Danish fishers, which Esben Sverdrup-Jensen, chief executive of the Danish Pelagic Producers Organisation, estimated would cost his members 10,000 tonnes in fishing rights.

Belgium: EU and UN join forces for the 2021 celebration of World Oceans Day Celebrating World Oceans Day, on 8 June, the European Commission announced during the 2021 edition of the #EUBeachCleanup campaign, that it would join forces with the European External Action Service, the United Nations, and the Smurfs to protect marine life. As part of the preparations for the international biodiversity conference (COP-15)

in autumn, the campaign will be devoted to biodiversity protection. This coming September, the organisations will be rallying thousands of volunteers to pick up litter on beaches across the globe in a step towards protecting biodiversity. The campaign will join forces with the UN’s Act Now inititiative. Like #EUBeachCleanup, Act Now incentivises people to

take sustainable action through changes in their daily habits and enables users to log and track progress. An app provides impact metrics, educational journeys, sustainability hacks and quizzes.

Users will also be able to share their progress on social media— turning every individual action, into a wave of change. The 2020 edition of #EUBeachCleanup

was primarily digital. Under the slogan “the ocean starts with you”, the campaign encouraged individual actions from home.

As parts of the world gradually reopen, the campaign hopes that even more physical clean-ups can be organised this year, and invites citizens worldwide to join, wherever the health and safety situation allows.

The EC, UN, and the Smurfs are teaming up to promote the #EUBeachCleanup in September.

[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] Seychelles: IOTC adopts updated resolution to rebuild yellowfin tuna At the annual meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) the main priority was the Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna stock, which has been overfished since 2015, according to NGOs, Blue Marine Foundation and the International Pole and Line Foundation. The IOTC adopted a new measure for yellowfin tuna

which comes into effect on 1 January 2022. If fully implemented, the measure sets the catch level at 401,000 tonnes which conforms to the recommendation of the IOTC scientific committee.

However, some members object to the measure creating the risk that the recommended level will be exceeded. In 2022 a new

measure is to be negotiated based on updated information and scientific advice provided by the yellowfin tuna stock assessment due to take place later this year. Other issues that were considered at the meeting included fish aggregating devices management, electronic monitoring, and a management measure to monitor and control

skipjack tuna catches, reports the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation. Progress was made on the issue of electronic monitoring with the agreement to create a working group, while a proposal from the EU to bring catches of skipjack back to the agreed Total Allowable Catch was not adopted.

Belgium: EMODnet to expand data and services and ensure their global availability Understanding the marine environment—to protect vulnerable areas, track trends, and forecast developments—calls for regular and reliable data. Accurate data and their wide accessibility are necessary for blue growth, an EU priority. Several organisations have joined together under the umbrella of the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) to observe the sea, process the data according to international standards and make that information freely available.

EMODnet recently held an open conference to discuss the consortium’s achievements, partnerships, and vision for the coming decades.

Over the last 10 years EMODnet has offered an increasing number of diverse and high quality integrated data sets which partners have used to develop data products and services. The data and services are being used in the areas of policy, research, industry, and civil society as demonstrated by presentations made at the event.

The network has expanded globally, entering into partnerships with international bodies and distant countries and discussions are ongoing about how to bring more countries on board. The EMODnet portal of the future will adopt a look common to EU websites as it enters the EU domain, and all

At the open conference Jan-Bart Calewaert, head of the EMODnet secretariat, presented the network’s achievements.

services will be centralised at the one site. Further progress will be made in the area of interoperability to ensure the data and services are accessible and can be used worldwide. EMODnet data and services will also be expanded so that they

can make a bigger contribution to EU policies like the Green Deal through open access to extensive and dependable data on the oceans. The conference concluded with an assurance from a representative from the Commission

that EMODnet would be one of series of innovative tools that bring greater understanding of the world we inhabit. Recordings of the conference sessions are available at www.emodnetconference2021.eu under the “agenda” tab.

[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ]

Red coral (Corallium rubra) is a precious coral found in the Mediterranean and used in the production of ornaments and jewellery.

The coral is collected by divers who detach it using a hammer and then sell it. High quality red coral can sell for up to EUR5,000/ kg. Like many other commercially valuable species in the Mediterranean red coral too is threatened by IUU fishing as well as by climate change. Recognising the vulnerability of red coral the GFCM has adopted several recommendations to prevent overfishing and to maintain the size of the red coral populations while allowing the sustainable exploitation of the stock. Thus, harvesting is only allowed below depths of 50 m, minimum sizes have been

established, catch limitations are required, and mechanisms to trace the coral from landing to retailer are recommended to try and prevent illegal fishing. In addition, the GFCM is coordinating a research programme on red coral involving researchers from institutes in seven countries (Algeria, Tunisia, Greece, France Italy, Croatia, and Spain) who will study the biology and ecology of the species as well as the status of its populations and the fisheries. The roughly 3-year programme which concludes in December 2022 will provide a scientific basis for the most appropriate management measures to preserve red coral in the Mediterranean and with it the livelihoods connected with harvesting, processing and trading this cnidarian.

FAO-GFCM/David Salvatori

Italy: Research on threatened red coral is prelude to management measures

The precious red coral is threatened by IUU fishing as well as by climate change. Seven GFCM countries are involved in a research effort that will provide the scientific foundation for its sustainable management.

[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] Hungary: The board of MA-HAL re-elected for another 4 years The last four and a half years in the life of the inter-branch organisation have included both successes and failures, but luckily, the number of successes was bigger, said the president of the Hungarian Aquaculture and Fisheries Inter-branch Organisation (MA-HAL), Dr István Németh, at the MA-HAL General Assembly. MA-HAL was established on 16 December 2016 with the merger of its two predecessor organisations, the Hungarian Association of Fish Producers and Fishing Water Users (MAHAL) and the Hungarian Aquaculture Association (MASZ) following a long series of negotiations. The Ministry of Agriculture recognized the Hungarian Aquaculture and Fisheries Inter-branch Organisation as the inter-branch organisation of the fisheries and aquaculture sector on 5 April 2018.

MA-HAL was the seventh recognised inter-branch organisation in Hungary and the first interbranch organisation in the fisheries and aquaculture sector of the European Union.

The electoral general assembly postponed last December because of the COVID-19

pandemic was convened by MAHAL in Rétimajor on 16 June 2021.

The general assembly was also attended by Mr Balázs Gy rffy, president of the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture (NAK), and Dr István Dérer, general director of the Service Center of National Angling Organizations, National Federation of Hungarian Anglers (MOHOSZ OHSZK).

Dr Németh presented a detailed report of the board’s activities in the last period and outlined the common tasks for the future.

• Probably the most important for fish producers and processors is that the Hungarian Fisheries Operational Programme Plus (MAHOP Plus 2021-2027) should provide easy and quick funding opportunities for Hungarian fish producers, with a higher budget if possible. In addition to investment support, greater recognition of the ecosystem services of fishponds should be an indispensable part of the operational programme.

• Further joint thinking and dialogue are required on

the issue of fish-eating animals, as climate change puts an increasing burden on fish producers.

• Strengthening sectoral marketing within the framework of the “HalPéntek” (“Fish Friday”) campaign is

a priority task. It is important to involve younger generations in the programme.

After the adoption of the report and the 2021 budget of the organisation, the officers were elected in a secret ballot.

Board members of MA-HAL and their areas of responsibility, from left to right, Mr Gábor Szilágyi (Gy ri El re Fishing Cooperative), fish processing; Mr Ferenc Lévai (Aranyponty Ltd.) market organisation and community marketing; Mr Ferenc Radics (Szarvas-Fish Ltd.), intensive aquaculture; Dr István Sz cs (Debrecen University), nature conservation, environmental protection and hydrology issues; Dr István Németh (Tógazda Ltd.), President; Mr Nándor Puskás (Biharugra Fish Farm Ltd.), General vice-president; Dr Béla HalasiKovács (MATE HAKI), external relations; Mr Ferenc Horváth (Bocskai Fisheries Ltd.) breeding, pond aquaculture and the carp breeders’ section; not present, Dr Béla Urbányi (MATE-AKI Department of Aquaculture), science, education, innovation and extension.

Italy: GFCM coordinates six countries’ cooperation with EFCA against IUU Mediterranean countries from Africa (Algeria, Libya, Tunisia) and the Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro) are working together with the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) to harmonise inspections at sea across the countries. The collaboration is underpinned by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and is a step in the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated

(IUU) fishing, an issue that undermines legitimate fishing activities, damages stocks that are already overexploited, and threatens the livelihoods and food security of thousands of members of coastal communities in countries across the region.

Three quarters of fish stocks in the Mediterranean and Black Sea are overexploited, but the GFCM estimates that they could recover over time if the organisation’s management plans are

followed and if IUU fishing is eliminated. The role of inspections in the Mediterranean is critical to ensure compliance with fisheries rules. The GFCM is developing an international joint surveillance and inspection scheme across the Mediterranean to train national inspectors and enhance the access and exchange of information and data in the region with the help of EFCA. New methods of control including remote electronic

monitoring, sensors on fishing gear, and electronic logbooks are being deployed with the result that the number of inspections reported to the GFCM secretariat has increased steadily. A virtual training academy for fisheries inspectors will be accessible to Mediterranean countries in 2022 to further ensure that inspections carried out all follow the same rule book irrespective of the country carrying out the inspection.

[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ]

Oysters are a valuable bivalve greatly appreciated in many European countries. Apart from their commercial value oysters offer a range of environmental services.

As filter feeders they filter the water in which they grow of algae and organic matter reducing turbidity, oyster beds accommodate many other marine organisms thus contributing to biodiversity, they also provide nursery areas for juvenile fish and protection from predators, and oysters play a role in reducing nitrogen levels in the water. Excess nitrogen can lead to algal blooms, depleted oxygen, and in extreme cases, to fish death.

Oysters are vulnerable to the

pathogen Bonamia ostreae which has caused a decline in their abundance in several countries. Testing for Bonamia is widely available but typically results in damage or death of the sample being tested.

Now, Xelect, a company in Scotland specialised in aquaculture genetics, has developed a test using eDNA (environmental DNA) that uses a sample of the water filtered by the oysters to check for the presence of Bonamia. As they filter water, oysters release tiny quantities of their DNA and the DNA of any pathogens they may be harbouring. A highly sensitive DNA test can detect the presence of the pathogen without any impact

Xelect

UK: Non-lethal test for Bonamia should assist native oyster farming and restocking efforts

Oyster hatcheries and producers stand to benefit from a new test for the pathogen, Bonamia, that samples the water filtered by the oyster without harming the creature in any way.

on the oyster. The test will enable the identification of disease-free broodstock for larval production

Turkey: Comprehensive campaign to remove algal blooms from Marmara Sea Algal blooms in the Sea of Marmara have prompted the launch of a massive clean up campaign organised by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation, reports Hurriyet Daily News. The campaign involves 15 districts in 7 provinces (Istanbul, Kocaeli, Bursa, Balıkesir, Yalova, Çanakkale and Tekirda ) along the coast.

Several ministries—environment, transportation, agriculture, health, and interior—together with related institutions, NGOs, and municipalities will participate in the effort, which will be coordinated by governors’ offices in the affected provinces. The algae bloom is caused by a combination of rising water temperatures, pollution, and stagnant water leading to explosive growth in the algae.

As part of the 22-point action plan announced by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation

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vacuum trucks will help transport the algae to treatment facilities.

The objective of the plan is to have a clean sea again in five years. The algal bloom could not have come at a more inopportune time. Just as the country relaxes its lockdown and looks forward to welcoming tourists, the microalgae appears to be driving them away. Not only is it unsightly, but tourists are also nervous about eating fish when the water appears unclean. Along parts of the coastline which have been badly hit the rate of swimming has dropped 40 compared to last year. Customers are calling to ask about the condition of the sea before they make reservations, reported one hotel owner. At the political level a proposal has been made in parliament to establish a commission to identify the causes behind the microalgae growth and to suggest remedies.

in oyster hatcheries. The larvae can then safely be used for aquaculture or restocking purposes.

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] UK: Plant-based and pescatarian diets may protect against severe covid-19 Healthcare workers (HCW) are among the group of people most vulnerable to contracting covid19 due to their work in hospitals, clinics, and emergency rooms treating people with the disease.

Because of this exposure, HCW in many countries were prioritised for vaccinations as vaccines started becoming available. However, the number of variants of the virus as well as hiccups in vaccination production and distribution have

made it more important to study risk factors in covid-19 susceptibility among health personnel with a view to developing strategies to protect them from falling ill. In a paper published in the UK journal, BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health, researchers looked at the self-reported diets of almost 3,000 HCW from six countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, USA), and at covid-19 infection, severity, and duration among them.

The researchers had learned that comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or hypertension were risk factors for severe covid-19 but were curious about the relationship between diet and covid-19 as it could further understanding of the role of nutrition in viral diseases. Subjecting the responses to the questionnaires sent out to statistical analysis, the researchers found that participants following a spectrum of

plant-based diets (plant-based diets or pescatarian diets) had 73 and 59 lower odds of developing respectively moderate to severe covid-19 compared with those who did not follow these diets. The scientists concluded that a healthy diet rich in nutrient-dense foods may be considered for protection against sever covid-19. The paper is available at https://nutrition.bmj. com/content/early/2021/05/18/ bmjnph-2021-000272.

Spain: EFCA report shows Baltic pelagic fisheries generally comply with the LO, demersal fleets need to improve The landing obligation (LO) was introduced with the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy in 2013 and was implemented in stages across European fisheries.

The idea was to penalise discards and thereby encourage fishers to switch to more selective gear.

Discarding refers to the practise of returning unwanted fish to the sea. Fishers would get rid of fish dead or alive, if it was too small, if they lacked quota, if required by catch composition rules, or if there was no market. The landing obligation seeks to change this behaviour. The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), in cooperation with the Member States Control Expert Group for the Baltic Sea Fisheries Forum (BALTFISH) has now evaluated compliance with the LO in the Baltic Sea in 2017 and 2018. The evaluation covered plaice cod, Atlantic salmon, herring and sprat. Fisheries for the latter two species showed a good level of compliance with the LO, however it was lower in the fixed and towed gear fisheries targeting plaice and the towed gear fleet segments catching cod. The evaluation report recommends the use of observers on board and remote

electronic monitoring to monitor compliance with the LO and to prevent illegal fishing. It also

advises the continuation of the last haul programme, whereby the catch in the last haul before

an inspection is checked. ECFA has already started a new evaluation for the period 2019-2020.

Pelagic fisheries in the Baltic in 2017 and 2018 showed a good level of compliance with the landing obligation, according to an evaluation by the European Fisheries Control Agency.

[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] Sweden: Prolonging the growing season for microalgae could benefit fish farms Researchers at Gothenburg University and the Swedish research institute, RISE, have collaborated on developing energy-efficient ways of producing microalgae in Sweden. Algae biomass is typically used as fertiliser, but also in industries such as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and bioplastics. The challenge is to produce algae efficiently in places where sunlight is at a premium. The researchers searched for microalgae that might grow suitably at different times of the year thus prolonging the usual growing season and increasing the production of the biomass.

Two candidates that live along the Swedish west coast presented themselves, the diatom Skeletonema marinoi and the green algae Nannochloropsis

granulata, says Cornelia Spetea Wiklund, project leader and professor of Plant Cell Physiology at the University of Gothenburg.

Her team divided the year into three growing seasons, winter, spring, and summer and conducted simulations with the two species at different temperatures and light intensities in bioreactors with marine water. They found that Skeletonema marinoi grows more in winter, while Nannochloropsis granulata prefers the summer. Both grow equally well during the spring. Both were very effective in converting nitrogen and phosphorus from seawater into valuable biomass. The findings can potentially be used by fish farms, as microalgae is used to feed fish larvae. In addition, the microalgae could clean

the water used to grow the fish by removing the nutrients and

allowing the cleaned water to be recycled.

Microalgae can be used both to feed fish larvae and to extract nutrients from the water in which the fish grow so that it can be recycled.

Albania: Invasive blue crabs are predators, but potentially also a resource The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, is a large and aggressive native of the Atlantic coast of the United States that is good at reproducing. An invasive species in Europe, the crab the crab was first observed in coastal waters off the Balkans in 1990 and has managed to change the ecosystem of marine wetlands since then, reports Balkan Insight quoting an environmental expert from Albania.

The crab damages fishing gear and preys on catches of Albanian fishers operating in the lagoons along their coast. Fishermen hoping to catch fish and eels in the lagoons now tend to catch blue crabs instead. They claim that the crustacean has driven the valuable fish away

from the lagoons. Fish catches from coastal lagoons have fallen from 600 tonnes in 2016 to 94 tonnes in 2019 according to Albanian statistics, and this can at least partly be attributed to the blue crab. Although a sought-after product in the United States, where a dozen crabs cost USD55-75, there is hardly any market for the species in Albania, so prices are low and do not compensate for the damage caused by the animals. Some fishers think there may be an opportunity to export the crabs to the US or other countries, where they are appreciated, if the Albanian government offers assistance to develop these potential markets.

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] USA: Farming bivalves and seaweed is good for the environment of dissolved nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) or by carbon sequestration. Farmed species and the animals that live around them act as feed for predators and the

structures on which the cultivated species are grown offer a spawning habitat for other species. The study should show policymakers the potential of seaweed and bivalve

aquaculture to mitigate some of the effects of agriculture and fish farming and at the same time to contribute to jobs and food security in coastal communities.

Seafish

Scientists at The Nature Conservancy, an environmental nonprofit, together with partners from the universities of Adelaide, Melbourne (both in Australia), and New England (Maine, USA) have conducted a study assessing the biodiversity benefits of mussel, oyster, clam, and seaweed farms.

The paper, which appeared in the journal Reviews in Aquaculture, shows that cultivating seaweeds and bivalves, restorative or regenerative aquaculture, attracts marine life to the farm sites, reports the Global Aquaculture Advocate, with mussel farms the greatest aggregators drawing 3.6 times as many fish and crustaceans compared with nearby locations. Oyster farms too were effective at increasing biodiversity with 30 more species inhabiting oyster farms than neighbouring areas. Restorative aquaculture offers other benefits as well, for example, by improving water quality through the removal

A new study by The Nature Conservancy shows the contribution the cultivation of mussels, clams, oysters, and seaweeds makes to biodiversity, among other positive impacts on the environment.

Ireland: Micro- and nanoplastic pollution of freshwater calls for rapid policy response

Norway: North Atlantic Seafood Forum offers an ever richer programme

Researchers at the Environmental Research Institute at University College Cork in Ireland studied the impact of microplastics on the freshwater plant, duckweed (Lemna minor), and discovered that particles of plastic adhere to the plant surface. Published by Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency, the study showed that when these plants were eaten by Gammarus duebeni, a species of freshwater crustacean, the plastic particles were ingested too. The crustaceans proceed to break down the microplastics into nanoplastics, particles tiny enough to enter living cells, which could lead to unpleasant side effects, such as metabolic

The North Atlantic Seafood Forum, the leading seafood business conference, attracted some 1,600 participants to hear 160 speakers address issues including consumer and market development, sustainability, finance, and seafood supply. With 15 sessions spread over 8 to 10 June, the conference offered something to everybody involved in the seafood sector, whether they were from a company, NGO, research body, institution, or government department. The event was held virtually using a sophisticated conference platform that enabled delegates to join the sessions, replay them,

disruption. Nanoplastic particles are too small to be removed from the environment so the only way to hinder plastic pollution is to remove larger pieces of plastic before they break down. The problem of plastic pollution in the marine environment is well known, but this research reveals that it is an issue in freshwater as well. The researchers, Dr Alicia Mateos-Cárdenas and Professor Marcel Jansen, recommend policies that prioritise the prevention of plastic pollution and the capture of plastic pollutants at source. As a society, Prof. Jansen said, we need to prevent plastic pollution of the environment by reducing, reusing, and recycling plastics.

and most importantly network with other participants including through one-on-one video meetings. Although not quite the same as meeting in person in Bergen, Norway where the conference usually takes place, the virtual format offered distinct advantages such as allowing participation from anywhere in the world and the ability to attend sessions held in parallel thanks to the ability to play them again. These conveniences may partly explain the doubling in participant numbers this year and should also be a factor to consider in future editions of the event.

[ EVENTS ] Market diversification despite the pandemic, Eurofish webinar, 18 May 2021

Exporting seafood in the covid-19 era

Seafish/Ewan Shears

Seafood exporters have had to contend with drastic changes in the market brought on by the pandemic. These took the form of new trends in consumer preferences, novel distribution channels, and new legislation in destination countries, among others. At the Eurofish webinar the discussion revolved around the changes seen in four key markets, China, Ukraine, the UK, and Germany.

The combination of the pandemic and Brexit has made life harder for exporters to the UK. Here, Billingsgate fish market in London.

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he covid-19 pandemic affected virtually every aspect of the global fisheries and aquaculture sector in ways that were largely negative although with the occasional silver lining. Fresh fish prices dropped, fishing operations were hampered, distribution was curtailed both within and between countries, and there

were changes in fish demand.

On the other hand, an FAO policy brief describes how local markets in some cases were strengthened and there was an increase in locally sourced fish and seafood as suppliers turned to online sales and direct delivery to consumers. Another segment that did well was the canned, frozen, and processed

seafood, non-perishable items that saw a spike in their popularity particularly in the initial stages of the pandemic. Fish and seafood are among the most highly traded products in the world and are therefore particularly dependent on consumer demand, effective distribution channels, migrant workers, and open markets.

2019 was a bumper year for seafood in China The impact of the pandemic on seafood markets was examined at a webinar on 18 May organised by Eurofish International Organisation. The event focused on four major markets for seafood, China, Germany, United Kingdom, and Ukraine, the changes the

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[ EVENTS ] pandemic has wrought, and what they mean for exporters to these countries. China is the world’s top producer of aquatic products, with capture production almost twice that of the second largest producer, and farmed output over four times as much. Yet China is also a major and growing importer of aquatic products sucking in over 6m tonnes in 2019 worth USD19bn/EUR16bn, of which edible products amounted to 2.7m tonnes (USD12bn), prof. Wei Yang from Shanghai Ocean University, reported. Compared with the previous year imports increased by 53% in value and 66% in volume.

This increase was spread across all the country’ main trading partners with the exception of USA. Imports from Ecuador and India (shrimp) in particular jumped in value by 260% and 210% respectively, while those from Vietnam (catfish), Indonesia, Australia, and Norway (salmon) increased significantly. In 2019 Russia was the source of the largest fraction of Chinese imports at over 12%.

Imports form, however, only a small proportion of China’s consumption which was estimated at 67m tonnes in 2019. Consumption patterns vary from region to region. In general, marine seafood is preferred in coastal areas, while further inland people eat more freshwater products. There is also a divide between urban and rural areas with annual consumption in the former at over 14 kg/capita compared with half of that in villages. The early stages of the pandemic when China also went through lockdowns disrupted the seafood trade provoking changes in consumer behaviour. The costs of inputs including feed, labour, and logistics, all increased, while consumption shifted from restaurants to the home. Some wholesale markets were closed, which further 16

affected sales and distribution. In a departure from developments seen in the seafood market in other parts of the world, where shelf stable products increased in popularity, Chinese consumers showed a preference for fresh over frozen products. This was probably the result of reports in the press about the coronavirus being transmitted through frozen seafood. The restrictions on travel and the closure of international borders were among the reasons seafood imports into China declined 12% in volume and 18% in value in 2020.

Exporters to China face new legal requirements The pandemic also contributed to the introduction of new regulations by the Chinese customs authorities. Among others these call for a greater role to be played by the competent authority in the country where the exporting company is located in recommending the company to the Chinese customs authorities. Another regulation (no. 249) will come into force in January 2022 to replace no. 243. According to the USDA, in comparison with the measures currently in effect, decree 249 presents the following major changes: –

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Emphasizes that producers and operators are accountable for the safety of the food products they produce and handle; Introduces the concept of a conformity assessment, which covers the evaluation of foreign food safety management systems, the registration of overseas food export facilities, and required record filing by importers and exporters; Requires food importers to establish a system for review

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of their suppliers, including overseas exporters and production facilities; Elaborates on the on-site inspection procedures conducted by customs authorities at ports of entry; Stipulates the potential control measures in response to food-related incidents overseas that may impact food safety in China.

Companies wishing to export aquatic products to China must go through a series of administrative steps before starting their activities. A formal application to the Chinese customs authorities must be sent from the competent authority (CA) in the exporting country. This can lead to a risk assessment being conducted by the customs authorities based on data provided by the CA. The results of the risk assessment can lead to Chinese experts visiting the exporting country to confirm the authenticity and consistency of the information provided and to negotiate the inspection and quarantine requirements for the products to be exported. The exporting company must then register with the Chinese customs authorities while the Chinese importer applies for the appropriate quarantine license.

Brexit generates several changes for exporters to and from the UK In contrast to China, where recent changes in import regulations were triggered by the pandemic, in Britain they stem from Brexit.

The UK has been a net importer of seafood since 1984, said Dr Francis Murray, starting his presentation with an overview of the UK market. Today, over two thirds of domestic consumption is met from imports, which amounted to 854,000 tonnes in 2019 worth

GBP3.6bn/EUR4.2bn. Seafood is imported from several countries of which the most important are China, Germany, and Iceland.

The UK’s top 5 species in terms of consumption are salmon, cod, haddock, tuna and warmwater prawns which account for 60%80% of consumption. In 2019 tuna, cod, and salmon accounted for the highest proportion of imports at 13%, 12%, and 11% respectively by weight. In terms of value, shrimps and prawns were the biggest import category (£633 million, 17.4% of all imports), followed by salmon and cod. The level of imports has been largely stable over the last 10 years hovering around 700,000 tonnes.

The UK fishing fleet lands some 400,000 tonnes of fish in the UK and about half that abroad. The fleet targets demersal (cod, haddock, plaice, turbot) and pelagic fish (mackerel, herring, sardines) as well as shellfish (scallops, whelks, clams, lobster, clams, prawns). Over the years, fleet reductions, declining fish stocks, and more restrictive fisheries management regimes have contributed to declining landings. In 2019 landings were 20% of what they were in 1970, thought since about 2005 they have hovered around 650,000 tonnes. The UK also has a significant aquaculture industry producing mainly salmon and bivalves. Salmon is farmed in marine cages of the west coast of Scotland and, with a production volume of 204,000 tonnes, accounts for over four fifths of UK aquaculture output.

The pandemic led to a series of national and regional lockdowns in the UK causing the collapse of the food service sector. Hotels, restaurants, catering, and pubs either closed or switched to take away and delivery services. Processing plants were reconfigured to conform to new requirements

[ EVENTS ] on maintaining distance. Overall, the impact on landings, fish auctions, and processing plants was more severe than that on aquaculture, imports, or transport services. And while the food service sector and exports were badly hit, direct sales and the retail trade, in particular frozen and canned products, experienced an upsurge. The impacts of the pandemic on the seafood sector are likely to be reversed as restrictions are removed and markets reopen. Brexit and the changes it has caused, on the other hand, are likely to be more long-lasting.

The EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement provides for tariff- and quota-free trade over a 5½ year transition period, but the devil lies in the details. Documents, such as catch certificates or processor statements, must be submitted to the port health authorities in Great Britain a certain number of hours in advance

of arrival. Containerised imports must go through a border control post as of January 2022. Other non-tariff barriers such as export health certificates and sanitary and phytosanitary certificates are causes for concern. The link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ importing-or-moving-fish-tothe-uk provides detailed advice to exporters to the UK. The trade in goods that are imported into the EU for re-export to the UK is also likely to be affected with a potential double duty on reexporting processors, warned Dr Murray.

Ukraine’s imports increase in 2020 despite the pandemic From an annual production of 400,000 tonnes of fish two decades ago Ukraine has caught and farmed some 80,000 tonnes of fish a year on average the last five years. Four fifths of the cur-

rent demand for seafood are met through imports, Dmytro Zagumenny, the head of the Ukrainian Fish and Seafood Importers’ Association (UIFSA), informed the audience. Fisheries organisations in the Ukraine tend to be small and local nor are there many of them. UIFSA is bigger than most and the only importers’ association in the country.

Ukrainian imports of fish and seafood have increased steadily since 2015 reaching 415,000 tonnes worth USD805m in 2020. Year on year, this was an 8% increase in value and a 5% increase volume in a year when most seafood markets collapsed due to the pandemic. Partly, this increase can be attributed to greater prosperity among Ukrainian consumers who can better afford a wider range of products including more expensive items. Restaurants too are offering diners more upscale seafood including products from

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new species that were not available some years ago due to the lack of purchasing power. As in other countries where the pandemic gave a boost to online sales, in Ukraine too companies experienced increased demand for products sold through this channel. Mr Zagumenny feels that this in turn increases the demand for greater value addition as some consumers ordering online are probably looking for something ready to eat or at least ready to cook rather than a product which requires lengthy preparation. The development of this new channel he hopes will also increase fish consumption.

Norway, Iceland, and the US are the main sources of imports accounting for just under half the total import value in 2020, with Norway alone accounting for just over a quarter. Both Norway and Iceland supply pelagic

[ EVENTS ] fish, mackerel, and herring, while Norway also offers salmon. The main species imported from the US are Alaska pollock, and hake.

Imports from seven other countries account for another quarter of the total and imports from the rest of the world constitute the last fourth. Pelagic fish (herring, mackerel, Baltic herring, sprat, capelin, sardines) account for over half the value of imported fish. Seafood exports too have increased, going from USD37m in 2018 to USD52m in 2020 with over half the value coming from four destinations, Germany, Denmark, Japan, and Moldova. Fish consumption in Ukraine at 15 kg/capita/year is below the world average (22.3 kg) signalling that there is scope to increase the rate perhaps by educating consumers on the benefits of eating fish among other measures. Mr Zagumennyy suggested that countries interested in exporting higher volumes of fish to Ukraine could participate in marketing campaigns in the country to increase awareness about fish consumption. Companies exporting fish and seafood to Ukraine usually partner with a Ukrainian importer who is familiar with all the regulations on the domestic market. They also typically have storage facilities and good logistic operations and would facilitate the import and distribution of products. First-time exporters to the Ukraine could contact UIFSA to identify suitable partners.

MA packaging and online sales of seafood took off in Germany in 2020 The German market for seafood is among the biggest in Europe although fish consumption per capita at 14.6 kg is well below the European average. But with over 83m people and a very high standard of living Germany is an 18

The pandemic has brought about market changes that companies need to take into account in their strategies to gain access to overseas customers.

attractive destination for seafood exporters. Like the UK, in Germany five species account for about 65% of consumption, said Sabine Wedell, Project Manager, fish international trade fair. These are salmon, Alaska pollock, tuna, herring, and shrimp of which salmon accounts for almost 19% of consumption. Alaska pollock is used in the manufacture of fish fingers and vies with salmon for the title of most popular product.

Last year salmon appears to have triumphed though, at 18%, Alaska pollock was not far behind. Frozen seafood is popular in Germany accounting for 32% of seafood purchases in volume by households followed by fresh, canned, marinated and smoked at 19, 17, 15 and 11% respectively. In value terms, expenditure on fresh fish accounts for the largest share at 29% which can partly be attributed to the popularity of salmon, as this is typically sold fresh, but also because discount retailers are supplying more modified atmosphere packaged (MAP) seafood, for example refreshed tuna. MAP is a relatively recent phenomenon in Germany and is now one of the

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drivers of fresh seafood sales, says Ms Wedell. Expenditure on frozen, and smoked products was 26% and 19%. Last year consumption of seafood at home increased 10% to 85% in contrast to the year before, due to restrictions imposed by the pandemic that both shuttered the restaurant trade and forced people to stay at home. Out of home consumption decreased correspondingly from 25% to 15%. The volume of seafood purchases by households climbed by over 14% during 2020, as consumers cooked more at home. Home cooking together with an increase in online sales and delivery direct to consumers, as well as more MAP packaged products were among the trends characterising the German market last year. E-commerce in food is again a new development in Germany that has been triggered by the pandemic. Some of the changes to work life introduced by the pandemic are expected to continue even after restrictions are lifted.

Working from home for example is likely to become the “new normal,” Ms Wedell told the audience. Carefully packaged ready products “to go,” which also expanded during

the pandemic as restaurants found alternatives to seated dining, are likely to retain their popularity.

Increasing demand for vegetarian and vegan fare must also be noted by the seafood industry and identified as a competitor, a complement, or a bit of both. Alternative protein sources are also a potential competitor to the seafood sector as surveys from the US, UK and Germany show that 11% of consumers are highly interested and 66% are mildly interested, indifferent or mildly uninterested, while only 23% are completely uninterested.

In terms of regulations there have been no new developments concerning the import of seafood products because of the pandemic, however first-time exporters must be aware that it takes a long time to develop relationships with German partners. Products must be of the highest quality and, if targeting the retail chains, then IFS certification of the producer’s facility is obligatory. Demonstrable animal welfare (for fish farmers), social welfare, and sustainable packaging are other important considerations when entering the German market.

[ EVENTS ] Baltic Sea Advisory Council virtual meeting with EFCA and ICES, 6 May 2021

Frank discussion with control, advice, and management representatives The Baltic Sea Advisory Council (BSAC) invited representatives from the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) to its virtual executive committee meeting on 6 May 2021 to discuss several issues that impact fishing in the Baltic Sea. The discussions were structured around two lists of questions, one for each organisation, submitted by members of the BSAC.

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EFCA

he questions addressed to EFCA covered a range of topics including the weighing and identification of species landed, landing control of pelagic species, technical measures, CCTV on board vessels, risk-based assessment and last haul controls as well as some specifically related to the control of eel, salmon, and recreational fisheries. Members of the BSAC are split between the commercial fishing sector and “other interest groups (OIG)”. The latter represent environmental NGOs, and recreational fishers.

EFCA works closely with Baltfish Control Experts Group In response to questions about cooperation between EFCA and regional coordination groups and between control authorities and individuals or organisations involved in the voluntary control of recreational fishing, the representative from EFCA explained that EFCA’s collaboration with the Baltfish Control Experts Group had been in place since 2015 and in 2019 was upgraded to extend technical assistance to the group,

Actual control remains the responsibility of the Member States but is coordinated by the European Fisheries Control Agency.

provide reports, perform analyses, organise workshops, and offer a repository for documents on its web platform, Fishnet. EFCA publishes annual reports on compliance with the landing obligation (LO) in the Baltic Sea. In addition, it maintains a dialogue with the industry and the BSAC. The representative added that the complete

report on compliance with the LO for 2019-20 would be made public unlike in the past when only a summary was made available.

EFCA has no formal cooperation with individuals or organisations that control recreational fishermen voluntarily, instead referring them to the competent authorities in their countries.

Fisheries representatives were interested in the status of the deployment of CCTV which EFCA is currently trialling in different regions to gather experience in its implementation. While the legal security of footage for use in court cases is not part of the EFCA mandate, the representative said in answer to a question, the

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[ EVENTS ] audience in response to another question. With regard to weighing he said that EFCA trains, promotes best practises, encourages a level playing field, and provides guidelines for sampling unsorted pelagic landings in the Baltic States, however the control itself is the responsibility of the Member State (MS). EFCA has organised specific actions on the mis-recording of unsorted landings and the consistent use of guidelines across MS and works on compliance indicators based on the inspection data obtained.

One indicator is an estimate of the percentage of trips where there is mis-recording and the other is an estimate of the percentage of volumes that are mis-recorded.

Higher estimates of illegal discards give a higher risk of noncompliance with the LO. When assessing the risk of non-compliance two factors are taken into account, the impact and the likelihood of a non-compliant event.

Estimates of illegal discards are based on the last hauls (the last haul before an inspection). The last hauls give inspectors the catch composition and the split between the legal and the undersized catch. Data from the last

hauls is used to obtain estimates of unwanted catches and is compared with data from the logbook.

The last haul data is also used to derive the illegal discards. The usefulness of last haul data should make the last haul a routine procedure conducted whenever possible in at-sea inspections. When last haul data is not available then estimates from ICES, and those from STECF are used. Assessments are done at the fleet level rather than the individual vessel level and are used as the basis for planning joint deployments. Last haul data is analysed by EFCA and the results of the analysis published in EFCA’s annual reports which are publicly available.

However, the raw last haul data is not publicly disclosed as this depends on the Member State, the EFCA representative said in response to a question. Weighing and species identification are the responsibility of the MS and the European Commission.

were fielded by the representative from the Commission, who said that there was currently a legal void as the implementing rules were being discussed internally and had not yet been adopted. He went on to state that any gears built in conformity with the technical specifications laid down in the Annex to the Technical Measures Regulation (https://eur-lex.europa. e u / l e ga l - c o nt e nt / E N / T X T / PDF/?uri=CELEX:32019R1241) are legal to use. At present, the Technical Measures Regulation allows the use of a 120 mm T90 codend or of 105 mm fitted with a 120 mm Bacoma exit window. As a principle, the gear stated in Annex VIII must be used. There are two types of derogations provided under Part B, points 1.2 (i) and (ii). Those under (ii) require a Joint Recommendation and a Delegated Act. Referring to the mesh size allowed when catching sandeel, only meshes less than 16 mm can be used.

Net types and mesh sizes discussed in minute detail

Eel fisheries and recreational fishing are new areas of operations for EFCA

A series of questions concerning net types and mesh sizes was posed by a fisheries organisation and

Moving to the eel fishery the EFCA representative said it was a new control fishery only introduced

Thuenen Institute

organisation has developed technical guidelines for the implementation of remote electronic monitoring (REM) (https://www. efca.europa.eu/sites/default/ files/Technical%20guidelines%20 and%20specifications%20for%20 the%20implementation%20 of%20Remote%20Electronic%20 Monitoring%20%28REM%29%20 in%20EU%20fisheries.pdf. The guidelines specify the number of cameras to be used on board which depends on the size and type of fishing vessel, its processing area, and its configuration.

The guidelines are available on the EFCA website but are a work in progress that will be modified as EFCA gains information and experience. An idea of the cost of installation and maintenance is also given in the annex. Individual vessels will also need to have a vessel monitoring plan (VMP) due to the variety of fishing vessel types and configurations, even within the same segment, to cover all monitoring needs and to optimise the quality of data and especially the video footage. The VMP should be made in cooperation between the vessel owner or master and the flag state competent authorities. After the installation and any agreed repositioning of equipment is completed following initial trials, the flag state competent authority shall approve the REM system before the vessel is authorised to start its fishing activities. A template of the VMP is available as an annex to the technical guidelines.

Member States are responsible for control, EFCA sets the standards Work on developing automated species identification systems is in progress in several projects but has not so far resulted in commercial production, the EFCA representative told the 20

Among the questions were some regarding the regulations governing net types and mesh sizes.

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[ EVENTS ] to EFCA in 2019. Following a workshop in 2020 with MS to understand the fishery better EFCA carried out a risk assessment to identify the challenges facing the eel fishery. The analysis revealed two main issues: presence of illegal gear and misreporting of catches, and compliance with the seasonal closure. One specific action will be dedicated to the eel fishery and will take these two threats into account.

The specific action will enable the collection of more data and information about this fishery. OIGs raised the issue of control of eel landings that take place within the closed period because they are caught earlier but stored live and landed later. EFCA pointed out that its operations were related to fisheries at sea and to market control in relation to marine fisheries and anything else was beyond its scope. However, when discussing the specific action with MS, the issue of storage may also be taken up by interested MS. How to control will depend on the legislation MS have for this kind of fishery.

Control of recreational fisheries is also a new area for EFCA but it has called on experts and the MS to find out how best the issue can be tackled. At a workshop last year on recreational fisheries particularly those targeting cod in SD22-24 bag limits and temporal restrictions were discussed.

A specific action was decided to get a better idea of the issues and further discussions will be held with the MS to establish how control operations can be improved, where to put the effort, and how much effort was needed. Control operations would be carried out at sea to monitor compliance with spatial and temporal restrictions and on land to check bag limits.

OIGs also raised questions about salmon, a fishery that has a long

history in EFCA that started with joint deployment programmes in the Baltic for salmon. Again, misreporting and compliance with closed seasons are issues and now EFCA has specific actions focused on each of these. A risk analysis workshop is held each year with the MS to identify the level and kind of risk related to this fishery.

Should ICES change its approach to scientific advice?

Following a lunchbreak, it was the turn of ICES representatives to answer questions from the BSAC members. Because so many questions were posed, they had been prioritised as high, medium, and low with the understanding that questions unanswered because of time constraints would be pursued in writing. The ICES representatives stated that their responses were not official ICES pronouncements but were purely to try and explain the science behind their advice. The first question related to the success (or otherwise) of science-based management and the potential need for a change in the ICES approach to scientific advice considering it had not delivered the results promised 15 or 20 years ago. Fisheries representatives also asked why the impact of selectivity was not taken into account as it is an important factor influencing the structure of the stock. It was also stated that fishing capacity scrapped over the last 20 years had led to nothing in the form of benefits for fishers. The ICES representative pointed out that reducing fishing pressure to MSY had resulted in increased biomass in different sea areas and that there was a recent scientific paper that showed that science-based

management improved stocks and fisheries. However, fish are also subject to environmental drivers that have an impact on stocks. He added that ICES’ role is to provide advice while DG Mare and the MS are responsible for management. Selectivity is taken into account in ICES models, he countered, and is used to set reference points such as FMSY. However, ICES does not try and forecast the impact changes in selectivity will have on fisheries such as improved yields or minimised bycatches.

He also said the delay in the release of advice for western Baltic cod to September was because of the discovery of a bias in the assessment model which had to be resolved before the advice was released.

Advice is linked to the management objective A fisheries representative felt that the more details that ICES receives, the worse the advice got from a fisher’s point of view.

The ICES representative did not agree but conceded that there were issues with some of the assessments, such as bias, which has limited progress towards MSY targets. Other assessments were precise enough and the quality good enough to deliver MSY management, he said.

Responding to questions about incidental mortality in fishing gear and the need for an MSY target corresponding to the average of the last 10 years, ICES representatives said that assessments take into account natural mortality which could be all kinds of unaccounted mortalities, e.g., escapees, etc. ICES looks at fish mortality and stock status in relation to limit and precautionary reference points and not just MSY reference points. Management plans have

long term objectives, but in a crisis short term objectives come in, for example, a fall in biomass outside a safe zone, triggers a reaction. It is essential to identify the management challenges, for example, optimisation of yields, greater understanding of ecosystem dynamics, more consistency in the advice, or better ability to manage fleets or fisheries, that the advice is intended to resolve. The ICES representative also said that calculating the age of fish using rings in the otoliths, chemical signatures in the otoliths, and tagging studies, was always associated with some uncertainty. Whether slow-growing, that is mature but small, cod should be caught to improve stock structure was a question for managers to answer, the ICES representative said.

A fisheries representative asked whether the way the salmon TAC was established was appropriate and whether there was enough data to move from mixed stock fisheries to management of individual rivers. According to the ICES representative, broadly speaking, there was enough information to provide advice on individual river’s stocks, but whether it was adequate depended also on the management goals. A wider review would be needed to accurately say whether the available data is sufficient.

The webinar was attended by about 70 people and although it had been demanding and not all the questions were addressed during the day it was an informative and useful discussion between representatives from all the stakeholders in the sector.

Events like this foster understanding if not agreement between the different interests and for this the BSAC is to be applauded.

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[ AQUACULTURE ] Slower growth in global aquaculture

Quantities produced reached a record level in 2019 According to surveys carried out by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the quantities produced by global aquaculture reached an all-time high of 120 million tonnes (live weight) in the year 2019, with a total sale value (ex farm gate) of 274.6 billion US dollars. Of this, 85.3 million tonnes were accounted for by animals (USD 259.5 billion), 34.7 million tonnes by algae and aquatic plants (USD 14.8 billion) and 26,841 tonnes by ornamental shellfish and pearls (USD 228.4 million).

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he quantities produced by global aquaculture have been increasing for decades and have become enormously important for feeding the world’s population. An example of this development is the proportion of the global fish supply made up by aquaculture, which was 47.9 percent in 2019. This means that almost half of all fish consumed globally that year came from a farm.

At the turn of the millennium, this proportion was only about a quarter (25.7 percent). The point at which more fish will come from aquaculture than from fisheries is not so far away. In some production areas, the ‘more farmed than caught’ milestone has actually already been reached (Fig. 1). In the year 1970, the quantity of algae and water plants produced by aquaculture exceeded the amount from natural harvesting for the first time. In 1986, this milestone was reached for freshwater fish, and in 1994 for molluscs. In 1997, it was the turn of diadromous fish species, which include sturgeon and some salmonid species that regularly migrate between salt and fresh waters during specific life cycles, and in 2014 more crustaceans were farmed than were caught in the wild for the first time.

However, it is problematic that the average rate of growth in global 22

Freshwater fish species, both living and freshly killed and pre-portioned, make up part of the standard range offered by many retailers.

aquaculture production has weakened since the turn of the millennium compared to previous years (Fig. 2). This has not occurred everywhere, and not to the same extent everywhere, but the trend is quite clear. In the 1980s and 1990s, the annual rate of growth in the production of aquatic animals, at 10.8 to 9.5 percent, was still unusually large. However, since the beginning of the 2000s, growth has slowed significantly. Purely in terms of numbers and given in average values, the total for 2001 to 2019, at 5.3%, is still positive, however it cannot be denied that global growth in aquaculture is slowing down. In

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2017 it was only 4 percent, and in 2019 it was even lower, at 3.7 percent. Growth rates have slowed in China in particular. China’s share of global aquaculture declined from 59.9 percent in 1995 to 56.9 percent in 2019. It will probably decline further in the coming years, since Chinese aquaculture only grew by 2.2 percent in 2017 though it increased to 3.4 percent in 2019. What would be welcome growth figures for most other countries in the world is an unusual situation for a global industry leader accustomed to breaking new records each year.

However, this shift is an intentional one that has been approved by the

state. The lower growth is a result of a change in government policy from 2016 towards more environmentally friendly aquaculture practices, higher product quality and more efficient use of resources.

China’s share of global aquaculture production will therefore probably continue to decline.

Freshwater species continue to dominate fish production Since 1991, China has produced more fish, molluscs and crustaceans from aquaculture than the rest of the world put together.

[ AQUACULTURE ] Other Asian countries such as Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Vietnam also have strong aquaculture sectors. In the last 20 years, all Asian countries combined accounted for 89 percent of global aquaculture production. The large production areas have remained nearly constant since the 2000s, although their percentage share of production has shifted slightly (Fig. 3). While the production of crustaceans, primarily shrimp, has greatly increased, fish production has declined somewhat relative to other areas. Nevertheless, fish production of both freshwater (‘freshwater aquaculture’) fish at 47 million tonnes, as well as in the marine sector (‘marine and coastal aquaculture’) at 7.3 million tonnes, has reached a new record level. According to FAO experts, the largest reserves of growth are currently in mariculture. Interest in marine fish production is growing

significantly, not least because marine fish have a much higher market value than most freshwater fish species. Marine fish made up only 13.4% of fish production in aquaculture, but they contributed a quarter of total value (Fig. 4) from fish cultivation. Crustaceans have an even greater value potential.

They made up 8.2% of the quantity, but 26.3% of the total value of global aquaculture production.

In the fish cultivation sector, freshwater aquaculture continues to play a major role, accounting for 84 percent of total farmed fish production. Crustacean aquaculture in Asia has grown strongly primarily due to shrimp farming. The excellent salt tolerance of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) makes it possible to produce this species of shrimp far from the coast in inland areas, even in arid regions with

salty alkaline groundwater such as Xinjiang in the Gobi Desert.

Coastal farms, which have frequently been located in coastal pools and lagoons, are very important for many developing countries, because they provide local employment and promote economic development in coastal communities. However, not many species are suitable for this type of aquaculture, because the conditions in shallow coastal waters are less stable than in inland water masses or on the open sea due to precipitation and evaporation.

Marine and coastal aquaculture produced a total of 30.8 million tonnes of aquatic animals with a total value of USD 106.5 billion.

The strongest sector was shellfish and other molluscs at 17.3 million tonnes (corresponding to 56.2% of relevant production), ahead of fish (7.3 million tonnes) and crustaceans (5.7%).

Production share of non-fed species decreasing In the animal aquaculture production sector, the share of fed species has increased compared to non-fed organisms. At the beginning of the 2000s, 43.9 percent of all aquatic animals produced by aquaculture were still produced without additional feed, but in 2018 this share was only 30.5 percent. This means specifically that 57 million tonnes of marine animals, primarily fish and crustaceans, were provided with various types of feed. This can be compared to 25 million tonnes of non-fed aquatic animals, which do not require additional feeding.

These are mostly filter-feeding or grazing species, which get their food naturally from the water, for example, plankton, detritus or algae areas. Almost a third of nonfed species were freshwater fish

[ AQUACULTURE ] species, mainly silver and bighead carp, the remaining two-thirds was made up of marine shellfish (Fig. 6). The shift from non-fed to fed aquaculture is also an index for the transformation of production methods. Traditional processes such as integrated rice and fish cultivation, which still have great importance in Asia, are increasingly being replaced by more productive processes that use resources more efficiently and allow for better protection of the environment.

The simultaneous cultivation of fed and non-fed species that has been practised in Asia for centuries is now increasingly being applied in multi-species polyculture systems in Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America. In pools such as these, even the smallest remnants of the feed for the main fish species can still be used by filter-feeding species. The supply of nutrients

fertilises the water and promotes the development of plankton, which are in turn eaten by filterfeeding fish and shellfish species (extractive species). For this reason, Mississippi paddle fish (Polyodon spathula) and freshwater shellfish for pearl production are currently increasingly being used in Chinese polycultures. Both species feed on plankton and do not require additional feeding.

FAO statistics are only as good as the reported underlying data In spite of great efforts, the FAO’s statistics cannot fully record and reflect the wide variety of fish, crustacean and mollusc species produced by aquaculture under different climatic and environmental conditions. In 2006, the total number of commercially productive species registered

by the FAO was 472. In 2018, this number had grown by 31.8 percent to 622. This can be attributed first to improvements in the recording and reporting of data in the producing countries, and second to more precise investigations on the part of the FAO. To be more exact, the 622 figure refers to ‘units’ that are recorded for statistical purposes, it does not refer in each case to a genuinely separate species, but often only to ‘species items’. According to FAO information, this covers 466 separate species, 7 inter-species fish hybrids and 92 species groups at a genus level, 32 species groups at a family level and 25 species groups at an order level or higher. Higherlevel groupings such as families and orders cannot adequately reflect the significance of individual species, but can nevertheless allow for certain conclusions to be made.

Salmon in 9th place in the production rankings Fish production, the most varied aquaculture sub-sector, includes over 364 species and species groups as well as five hybrids (e.g. Morone, Clarias and Oreochromis crosses), of which the ten most important make up almost two-thirds of total global production at 54.3 million tonnes (Fig. 7).

This does not include the Nile tilapia, which has risen to third place in the species rankings in the last few years (if cichlid species of the genera Sarotherodon and Tilapia are included as well as Oreochromis species, tilapias actually make second place). As ever, fish production is dominated by Chinese (grass carp, silver and bighead carp) and Indian carp species (catla, rohu, mrigal), which are however almost

Fig. 1 Timeline of milestones for global aquaculture production sectors, at which the farms produced more than fisheries for the first time (‘more farmed than caught’).

Fig. 2 Annual growth rates in global aquaculture production since 2000.

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Fig. 3 Production quantities (live weight) for global aquaculture in 2018, differentiated according to important species groups.

[ AQUACULTURE ] entirely locally consumed and do not play any role in supplying the global market. Atlantic salmon, which has enormous economic significance for Western markets, but increasingly also in Asia and South America, appears at 9th place in the global production statistics, followed by ‘pangasius’.

It is also noteworthy that nine of the ten most important fish species by quantity are produced in fresh water (salmon should be partially counted as one of them, since it breeds in fresh water until its offspring are smolts).

Vannamei shrimp are the most important crustacean species The production of crustaceans is currently exhibiting the

strongest growth dynamic in global aquaculture, particularly shrimp farming. The production of marine shrimp, which is typically done in coastal areas, has become an important source of income for numerous developing countries in Asia and Latin America. The farming of vannamei shrimp, which replaced monodon shrimp as the dominant species in aquaculture in 2003, is particularly strong. The five most important crustacean species by quantity account for more than 92 percent of relevant global aquaculture production (Fig. 8). The growth in production of red swamp crawfish which increased almost 2.5 times from 895,000 tonnes in 2016 to 2.16m tonnes in 2019, is also impressive. Chinese river crab,

Fig. 4 Production value (ex farm gate in US dollars) of global aquaculture in 2018, differentiated according to important species groups.

which is known as a nuisance in European waters, is popular in China and other Asian countries and fetches attractive prices.

Breeding in farms is particularly

profitable because the preferred sizes and qualities of the crabs can be achieved more easily in aquaculture under controlled conditions.

Regulatory Affairs Advisor (Customs and International Trade) EDINBURGH / GRIMSBY / HOME-BASED An exciting new opportunity has arisen for an international seafood trade professional to join the busy and dynamic Seafish Regulation team. If you have experience in international seafood trade and regulation and want to help business realise the opportunities of the UK as an independent trading nation, then we would love to hear from you.

This new role is ideally suited to a person currently working in seafood import and export role with extensive knowledge and experience of sourcing seafood from and exporting to a variety of international markets. You will understand the opportunities for the sector in emerging international markets and be passionate about streamlining trading procedures to maximise this opportunity for UK seafood.

You will be working as part of team of regulatory professionals tasked with monitoring changes to regulation and official guidance along the entire seafood chain. In this role you will be required to analyse and understand legislative text and develop guidance material to help industry comply with trade related legislation. You will understand the unique characteristics of the seafood industry such as small consignments, high perishability, and any seafood specific regulation.

Key responsibilities: Establish effective and constructive relationships with the

seafood sector, enforcement agencies and policy makers to facilitate a smooth trading environment and swift resolution of trade issues as they arise.

Develop and maintain contacts with UK and international trade organisations, to share information on wider trading issues, or on proposed changes to logistics and customs procedures.

Act as the point of contact for resolving customs issues through our partner international trade consultants.

At Seafish, our vision is a UK seafood industry that is truly thriving. It’s a huge industry that’s changing all the time and you have to be ready for every challenge that comes your way but it means no two days are the same. That’s why we’re an exciting organisation to work for because what drives us is showing everyone that seafood is the way forward.

This is a full-time role and can be based remotely, or in either of our Edinburgh or Grimsby offices. With an attractive benefits package and flexible working environment, this is a fantastic opportunity!

For more information and to apply, please follow the link below.

https://www.seafish.org/about-us/working-with-us/ We can’t wait to hear from you!

EUROFISH Magazine 4 / 2021

25

[ AQUACULTURE ]

Fig. 5 Aquaculture production (in tonnes) for the main species groups, broken down by water type (freshwater, brackish and marine water).

Fig. 8 Relative proportions of most important crustacean species (by live weight) of the total quantity produced globally in aquaculture.

Fig. 6 Ratio of quantities of fed versus non-fed species in global aquaculture.

Fig. 7 Relative proportions of most important fish species (by live weight) of the total quantity produced globally in aquaculture.

China produces three quarters of aquaculture shellfish China is also the world’s largest producer of molluscs, contributing more than three quarters (76.3%) of global shellfish production at 13.36 million tonnes. This is made up almost exclusively of marine 26

species, which are mainly cultivated in coastal areas. All other shellfish-producing countries are significantly behind this enormous quantity, although the percentage share of molluscs in total aquaculture cultivation is often even higher (Fig. 9). From a global perspective, shellfish production is concentrated primarily on five

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species or species groups, which taken together account for more than 77 percent of the total quantity produced. The largest proportion is contributed by rock oysters, followed by Japanese carpet shell and various species of scallops and other pectinidae.

Global algae production has declined slightly In contrast to the other large sectors in aquaculture, the production of algae and water plants has grown more slowly in recent years and actually declined by 0.7 percent in 2018. This was not due to the loss of cultivation areas, but somewhat slower algae growth for climate reasons. The decline in the production of tropical algae species in South-East Asia was the strongest indication of this, while the production of algae in temperate and cold waters increased. Algae and water plants were mostly produced in aquaculture by countries in East and South-East Asia. The production of marine microalgae (seaweed) has tripled since the turn of the millennium from 10.6 million tonnes to 32.4 million tonnes in 2018 (Fig. 11).

The expansion of cultivation of the Kappaphycus alvarezii and Euchema spp. species of algae in Indonesia is responsible for this. It is used as raw material for

carrageenan production. Indonesia has increased its algae production in the last decade from less than 4 million tonnes to over 11 million tonnes.

Although the value of algae production remains significantly behind the other sectors in aquaculture, it is currently gaining in importance.

On the one hand, it can provide a regular, albeit modest, income with a limited amount of investment for a large number of people, who are disproportionately women. On the other hand, algae farming is particularly environmentally friendly.

In addition, demand for algae products such as carrageenan and agar-agar as well as algae products for direct human consumption (e.g.

Undaria pinnatifida, Porphyra spp. and Caulerpa spp.) is increasing.

Algae are becoming increasingly important, including as a feed for abalone cultures.

The cultivation of microalgae such as Spirulina spp., Chlorella spp., Haematococcus pluvialis and Nannochloropsis spp. currently remains a black box in the FAO statistics, for which the quantities produced are not yet fully recorded and regularly reported. For 2018, the FAO cites a statistic of only 87,000 tonnes from 11 countries, of which China alone accounts for 86,000 tonnes. The actual quantity may be much higher as

[ AQUACULTURE ]

Fig. 9 Important aquaculture countries (selection) with high shares for shellfish production (in percent) of total aquaculture production (not including algae and water plants).

The range of shellfish and other molluscs produced by aquaculture is very species-diverse and mostly of selected higher quality.

the demand (e.g. for use as a food supplement) is steadily increasing and microalgae production is being expanded globally.

over the last two decades. Africa has slightly increased its share, but at only approximately 2.7 percent of global aquaculture production this is still limited. Europe’s share has actually slightly declined. Particularly large efforts have been made to develop aquaculture in countries such as Egypt, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Bangladesh, which need to feed rapidly growing populations. The political will and readiness to expand aquaculture through private and public investment is correspondingly great in these countries, where the focus is increasingly on more sustainable production. mk

Developing countries are exploiting the opportunities offered by aquaculture Fig. 10 Relative proportions of most important mollusc species (by live weight) of the total quantity produced globally in aquaculture.

Although aquaculture is growing and gaining in importance globally, it still remains the case that production is very unequally distributed across the globe. This has not changed in recent years. As ever, aquaculture production is dominated by Asian countries, which have produced 89 percent of the total volume almost continuously

All data from FAO statistics, FIGIS

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* #&! '$ #&! #&! * ,#&! '&#,'*#&! , "#&! * &+('*,#&! *' ++#&!

Fig. 11 Relative proportions of most important algae and water plant species (by live weight) of the total quantity produced globally in aquaculture.

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EUROFISH Magazine 4 / 2021

27

[ AQUACULTURE ] FIAP’s profinet ALU, the aluminium fish landing net for commercial and recreational use

Simple yet sturdy nets for fish famers and anglers Simplicity can be deceptive. Attempts to reproduce fish landing nets have failed to match the quality of the original.

F

IAP, a German supplier of equipment to the international fish farming industry, has developed a range of landing nets for farmers and recreational fishermen. The nets, called the Profinet series, are simple yet very sturdy and are available in a range of sizes. The depth of the net, mesh dimensions, and length of the handle can be varied so that the product can be adapted to all requirements.

The net comprises a wooden handle and a frame supporting the mesh. The frame is made of aluminium so that it is light but

strong, and is reinforced to make it even sturdier. The mesh is pulled into a guide rail in the frame and flexibly secured by plastic beads. The handle fits into the frame with a tough holding clamp. Over the years, the components, such as the frame, holding clamp, and handle retaining clips, have been improved to make the net even more robust.

In addition to strength the net is also flexible—mesh sizes of 5, 10, 15, or 20 mm can be attached to the frame.

Replacing one mesh with

The different sizes of Profinets allow them to cater to professional and recreational users.

28

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another is quickly and easily carried out, so farming operations are barely interrupted.

The right net for any task The depth of the mesh corresponds to the dimensions of the frame, so that a mesh with a depth of 300 mm is attached to a frame of 300 mm. Frame dimensions and mesh depths are from 300 to 600 mm in 100 mm intervals.

Spare parts for the nets are also available. These include meshes of different dimensions, the beads

used to attach the mesh to the frame, and the clamps to secure the frame to the handle. The handle itself is available in two lengths, 110 cm and 180 cm.

The system’s simplicity has led to attempts at counterfeiting, but the fake products have been unable to match the quality and durability of the original. The FIAP profinet aluminium fish landing net has been serving the fish farming and angling communities for decades and will not be easily replaced.

For more information, visit fiap.com

Robust components make the nets particularly suited to the demanding environment of commercial fish farms.

[ PROJECTS ] Roskilde University in Denmark investigates the commercial potential of breeding copepods as fish feed

Research that could benefit aquaculture globally With a grant of DKK1.5 million (EUR200,000), Innovation Fund Denmark is supporting a new project at Roskilde University to identify the economic potential of using a specific species of copepod as a feed source in fish farming.

M

arine fisheries have stagnated worldwide, and today about 50% of the total fish yield comes from farmed fish. At the same time, farmed fish provides the fastestgrowing source of protein in the food sector, and with the growing world population, industrial fish production has huge growth potential.

Lack of access to the world’s fish larvae. The reason point for a new project that Assocopepods constrains fish why only a small proportion of the ciate Professor Per Meyer Jepsen farming world’s fish species are currently and Professor Benni Winding Copepods (millimetre-sized crustaceans that live in open water) are part of all food chains in both fresh and salt water. Both copepods and their larvae, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, are the main food source for virtually all

farmed for human consumption is largely because most fish species cannot be farmed without access to copepods.

Fifteen years of joint research into the potential of copepods as live feed in fish farming is the starting

Hansen of Roskilde University are now launching, with support from Innovation Fund Denmark’s Innoexplorer grant. “More fish farming is needed to relieve the growing pressure on natural resources caused by the rising demand for food. Growth in

Copepods are an important source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for all species of fish larvae.

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29

[ PROJECTS ] basin represents an expense. The results show that copepods can be cultivated at 5,000-10,000 individuals per litre before they are affected by the stocking density.

Developing a sustainable business model

Growing copepods on a commercial scale could contribute to expanding the global aquaculture industry.

fish production has so far been limited by a lack of suitable feed for fish larvae. Our research represents a qualified bid for the missing link in the value chain— namely a copepod that is both easy to breed and suitable as feed, which has huge economic potential for the aquaculture industry,” says Per Meyer Jepsen.

The research team has previously identified a particularly hardy type of copepod which, unlike other species, can be produced and scaled up using cheap, readily available artificial feed. This is crucial news, because artificial feeding means that it will be possible to produce the copepods without simultaneously having to cultivate their natural food source, microalgae, which are fragile and time-consuming to produce industrially. On the basis of the scientific results, the new innovation project will identify how the large-scale production and use of copepods can be made a sustainable business for both a 30

Danish producer and fish farmers worldwide. With a stable supply of copepods, fish farmers will have access to cheap feed with the optimal biochemical profile to ensure the survival and growth of fish larvae.

Hardy copepods secure omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids Today, however, copepods play only a vanishingly small role in fish farming. As feed, the industry typically uses the two organisms, rotifers and brine shrimp, which are easy to use in fish production but poor in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. This has negative consequences for the survival and development of the fish, and ultimately also for production costs.

The new research results from Roskilde University’s laboratories show that this specific species of copepods has a unique ability to upgrade simple fatty acids into large amounts of long-chain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids,

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on a diet of cheap industrial feed alone. By spreading and using this species, completely new forms of production in fish farming may become possible. By focusing on this hardy tropical copepod as the basis for industrial production, the ambition is to develop a single live feed product that can be easily used by fish farmers from saltwater to brackish water.

The research team at Roskilde University has previously succeeded in pushing the limits for the density at which the copepods can be cultivated. This is a crucial issue in commercial production, where every cubic metre of water in the

In the Innoexplorer project, the research team at Roskilde University is working closely with an external business consultant to describe the best possible business model for the production and sale of copepods. In particular, the project will examine sales and exports to the Asian market, where more than 85% of the world’s fish farming takes place. Central to the study are various scenarios for how close to fish farms a production of copepods should be located—including research on how international transport affects the biochemical profile of copepods, and thus their value as fish food.

The Innoexplorer project will run from May 2021 to April 2022, in partnership with, amongst others, Roskilde University’s CIRCLES research centre and the Open Entrepreneurship network.

For further information, please contact: Associate Professor and Project Director Per Meyer Jepsen, Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, e-mail: pmjepsen@ruc.dk, tel.: +45 4674 2396.

Torben Jarl Jørgensen

Innoexplorer supports bringing ideas to market The Innoexplorer programme from Innovation Fund Denmark provides grants to, inter alia, staff at public research institutions who have research results with commercial

potential, but which are at a precommercial stage and therefore require maturation to clarify the potential applications and risks.

ITALY

Italy’s fishing sector and its response to the pandemic

Adverse impact is tempered by positive developments The most important EU fleet in the Mediterranean has been declining in size for some years. Effort in terms of days at sea has been reduced and catch volumes and values have declined since 2004 with a slight uptick in 2013. The corona pandemic showed the resilience and innovative spirit of the industry as fishers found alternate ways of doing business as the traditional supply chain broke down.

W

dredgers (6%), purse seiners (8%), long liners (2%), passive polyvalent gears (3%) and pelagic trawlers (1%). In terms of gross tonnage the trawling vessels account for almost 60% of the total making it the largest fleet segment by this measure. Purse seiners, vessels that also target bluefin tuna, account for 8% of national tonnage, while other segments contribute 2% to 5% of national tonnage. Italy also has a distant water fleet comprising 9 vessels—8 bottom trawlers and 1 purse seiner.

The Italian fleet has a wide area of operations A quarter of the fleet, some 3,000 vessels, operates in the northern Adriatic (GSA 17) in the area between Venice and Molise.

These are traditional fishing grounds and all the different gears used by the Italian fleet can be found deployed here. A further 2,500 vessels are active in the southern and central Tyrrhenian Sea (GSA 10) which includes the areas off Campania,

Tyrrhenian Calabria, and northern Sicily. Vessels fishing off the southern coast of Sicily (GSA 16) are relatively few in number (less than 10% of the total) but are significantly larger in terms of gross tonnage than the average. The fleet operating in GSA 18, northern Puglia, numbers some 1,000 vessels while a further 1,600 vessels are active in GSAs 9, 11, and 19 (Ligurian Sea and Northern Tyrrhenian Sea; Eastern and Western Sardinia; and the Western Ionian Sea) GFCM

ith almost 12,000 vessels (2019) the Italian fleet is still among the largest in the Mediterranean although the number of boats, gross tonnage, and power have declined by 19%, 27% and 23% respectively since 2004. Of the total number of vessels, the small-scale fishing fleet (SSCF), vessels less than 12 m, accounted for just over two thirds while vessels operating with towed gears, demersal trawlers and beam trawlers, constituted 17%. Other fleet segments include

The geographical subareas in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The Italian fleet is active in the GSAs 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, and 19.

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ITALY

Total days at sea declined by 10% in 2019 compared to a year ago due to management measures such as the Italian management plan for demersal fishing and the WestMed plan for Tyrrhenian vessels which include a mandatory reduction in days at sea. The actual number of days reduced depends on the GSA and the vessel length.

In 2019 the Italian fleet landed 177,000 tonnes with a value of almost EUR900m. Demersal and beam trawlers accounted for the lion’s share of both volume (37%) and value (54%), the latter thanks to catches of high value species such as red shrimps and prawns

Dredgers were responsible for 11% of the national catch and 6% of its value. They target striped venus clams, a commercially important bivalve, particularly in the Adriatic.

Average tonnage and power in the Italian fleet by geographical subarea GSA

Average GT

GSA 9 - Ligurian Sea and Northern Tyrrhenian Sea

9.2

73.3

GSA 10 - Southern and Central Tyrrhenian Sea

6.5

51.2

GSA 11 - Sardinia

7.4

59.1

GSA 16 – Southern Sicily

26.7

113.6

GSA 17 - Northern Adriatic Sea

14.9

96.6

GSA 18 – Southern Adriatic Sea

13.3

88.4

GSA 19 -Western Ionian Sea

Average kW

7.8

62.0

Mediterranean fleet

11.6

76.5

Distant water fleet

692.9

1,451.6

12.2

77.5

Italy

Source: Relazione annuale sugli sforzi compiuti dall’Italia nel 2019 per il raggiungimento di un equilibrio sostenibile tra la capacità e le possibilità di pesca, MIPAAF

Decline in days at sea by GSA GSA

2018

2019

Difference

Difference in %

9

177,873

150,467

-27,405

-15%

10

294,537

258,953

-35,584

-12%

11

138,105

122,054

-16,051

-12%

16

142,566

137,021

-5,545

-4%

19

211,815

189,021

-22,794

-11%

17/18

411,830

385,796

-26,035

-6%

Total

1,376,727

1,243,313

-133,414

-10%

Source: Relazione annuale sugli sforzi compiuti dall’Italia nel 2019 per il raggiungimento di un equilibrio sostenibile tra la capacità e le possibilità di pesca, MIPAAF

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that can fetch up to EUR20/kg.

Pelagic trawlers landed 20% of the catch but the low unit value of pelagic fish meant a total value of around EUR70m. In terms of geographic subareas, the northern Adriatic contributes nearly half the landings (46%) and a third (34%) of the value, while southern Sicily is responsible for 12% of the landings and 16% of the value. Landings in GSAs 10 and 18 at 19,000 tonnes are about the same as in southern Sicily but the high fraction of pelagic fish reduces the value of the catch.

The distant water fleet caught over 6,000 tonnes mostly from the Indian Ocean with a value of about EUR12m.

A range of finfish and shellfish is targeted by fishers The most important species in terms of landings are anchovies, sardines, clams, and white shrimp followed by hake, mullet, and cuttlefish. Almost all species recorded a drop in landings in 2019 compared with the year before. Differences varied from -4% for hake to -26% for mullet. In

euro terms the value of anchovies increased by 6% and that of white shrimp by 9% while cuttlefish and hake fell by 36% and 9% respectively. The average unit price increased slightly to EUR5.04/kg from EUR4.98/kg in 2018. This is in line with the trend since 2014 and compensates partially for lower landings. In terms of fleet segments, catches by demersal and bottom trawls dropped 15%.

As this segment is responsible for the biggest landings and over half the total value, the decline in landings in this segment has a significant impact on the performance of the entire fleet. In 2019, total value of catches was 7% lower than in 2018 primarily due to the 14% fall in value of catches by the demersal trawlers. Since 2004 catch volumes and values dropped steadily until 2013 before stabilising at a slightly higher level from 2015.

The decline in catches can at least partly be attributed to measures to reduce fishing activity by reducing the number of vessels, restricting the days at sea, or with spatial restrictions introduced to protect vulnerable stocks as well as

ITALY

Catch volumes and value by fleet segment Fishing gear

Catches % of total (t)

Value (EURm)

% of total

Demersal trawlers and/or demersal seiner; beam trawlers

66,244

37%

480.1

54%

Dredgers

19,810

11%

57.3

6%

Pelagic trawlers

35,814

20%

68.3

8%

Purse seiners

25,817

15%

81.3

9%

4,102

2%

24.1

3%

Vessels using polyvalent passive gears only (<12 m)

Longliners

20,870

12%

149.8

17%

Vessels using polyvalent passive gears only (>12 m)

4,081

2%

30.8

3%

176,738

100%

891.7

100%

Total

spawning and nursery areas. For example, in the Jabuka/Pomo pit in the Adriatic Sea and in the Strait of Sicily where three new Fishery Restricted Areas were introduced in 2019 to protect juvenile hake and pink shrimp. These measures have been implemented because over three fourths of Mediterranean and Black Sea stocks assessed are over exploited, according to STECF’s 2020 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet, though this is an improvement since 2014 when the proportion was 88%. The latest communication from the European Commission to the EU Parliament and Council on the status of sustainable fishing in the EU states that fishing mortality in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea is more than double sustainable levels. Some 42% of Mediterranean stocks show low biomass. There are, however, differences between GSAs. Exploitation rates for red mullet, for example, appear to be sustainable in GSAs 10 (Southern and Central Tyrrhenian Sea) and 18 (Southern Adriatic Sea), but highly unsustainable in GSA 11 (Sardinia).

Fishing sector reels under corona restrictions The impact of the pandemic last year was felt by all segments in

the fishing sector. Although the government excluded the sector from its lock down regulations as it was considered strategic to the national economy, measures introduced to contain the pandemic including the shutdown of economic activity, the restrictions on travel within the country, and the suspension of production, accommodation, and catering had an indirect impact on the sector.

The closure of export markets and the drop in tourism added to the economic misery. Fishing activity ceased within days of the national lock down being introduced in March 2020. Ruggero Urbani, a consultant in the sector, says that trawlers, for example, instead of sailing five days in the week, only went out three times. The decline in the numbers of wholesalers operating in major markets and harbours, the shutdown of food service (hotels, restaurants, catering), and the subsequent fall in prices made fishing economically unviable. In some cases the risks to the health of fishers and the need to comply with new health regulations prompted the interruption of activities. After a couple of weeks in port, fishing vessels started going out again from almost all Italian harbours though activity varied with fleet segment and GSA.

A report by CREA (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics) and NISEA (Fisheries and Aquaculture Economic Research) details the impacts of the pandemic on the Italian fishing sector and the responses to them. In GSA 9 (Ligurian Sea and Northern Tyrrhenian Sea), the trawl fleet of some 280 vessels that target shrimp, scampi, and red shrimp, stopped fishing in March. Only three fifths of the vessels resumed their activities towards the end of March as the number of buyers and wholesalers had sharply reduced leading to a drop in demand. Transport too stopped almost completely making distribution difficult. Half the small fishing vessels in Liguria and Tuscany stopped fishing for transparent goby (Aphia minuta) which generates a large proportion of their income. Demand for this species

which is concentrated in Liguria had fallen significantly. The purse seine fishery also stopped as safety standards could not be maintained with the number of crew members on board. And while fish markets remained open the number of auctions was severely reduced.

The story in GSA 10 (Southern and Central Tyrrhenian Sea) was similar with a complete cessation of fishing in the first week of the lockdown in March. However, in Campania, demand in coastal cities like Naples and Salerno sustained the sector although prices fell and the catch structure changed with less high value species (deep water rose shrimp, and skates) as the restaurants were not operating, and more hake, octopus, and cuttlefish. In northern Sicily trawlers and 10-12 m vessels stopped their activity while smaller vessels continued catching

Consultancy Services

Ruggero Urbani FAO Fishery International Consultant; Officer, Italian Ministry of Health Food Safety Advisor; Quality Assurance and Export Standard Expert; HACCP and GMP; ISO 22000 Auditor, Aquaculture Biosecurity Italian, English, Spanish

+39 348 3338071 ruggero.urbani@fao.org; urbaniruggero@tiscali.it EUROFISH Magazine 4 / 2021

33

ITALY

Sales of the giant red shrimp (Aristaeomorpha foliacea) a high value species suffered severely from the shutdown of the food service sector.

Restaurants are among the main buyers of this product.

in response to demand from fishmongers and local consumers.

Closure of food service sector hits sales of high value species In southern Sicily (GSA 16) the lack of demand and the shutdown of fish markets in Catania and Palermo affected not only the large vessels but also, in contrast to other areas, the small-scale fleet. The larger trawlers such as those operating in the Strait of Sicily which target high value species like red shrimp could not sell their catch as the restaurants

and hotels which typically purchase this product, remained closed. As a result, large quantities of frozen product remained unsold leading to liquidity issues for many operators. Large vessels were also unable to maintain the safety standards required on board which prevented them from sailing. In the western Ionian Sea (GSA 19) the tradition of selling fish to a few buyers who monopolise the trade was partly responsible for the drop in demand. The lack of wholesalers who sell fish in the markets of Milan and Turin was an issue for most of the larger trawlers. Some,

where the catch could be frozen on board, maintained their activity. In Ionian Calabria the cuttlefish fishery, usually in March, did not take place though the gillnet fishery in Ionian Apulia continued normally. In the southern Adriatic (GSA 18) some trawlers continued fishing in spite of the drop in demand. Fish traders where present were only interested in a few species, such as hake, so fishers were unable to sell high value fish species and crustaceans. Small-scale fishers caught smaller quantities which were sold to local consumers or small fishmongers.

On the Adriatic side, some fishers agreed to rotate their activities or set quotas. In GSA 17 (Northern Adriatic) fishers stopped their activities in March and slowly started up again in April. Fish markets remained open but activity was subdued.

Small fishing vessels in Abruzzo were affected by the lack of consumers who did not come to the port because of the restrictions imposed. All along the coast fishers were affected, the seasonal fishing for cuttlefish was interrupted, trawling has only been sporadic, small-scale fishing was limited in days per week,

Development in catch volumes and values Fishing gear

Volume (t) 2018

2019

Demersal trawlers and/or demersal seiner; beam trawlers

77,694

66,244

Dredgers

19,682

19,810

Pelagic trawlers

39,848

Purse seiners

24,751

Longliners

3,758

Difference

Value (EURm)

Difference

2018

2019

-15%

555.8

480.1

-14%

1%

57.9

57.3

-1%

35,814

-10%

56.4

68.3

21%

25,817

4%

75.1

81.3

8%

4,102

9%

24

24.1

0%

Vessels using polyvalent passive gears only

26,523

24,951

-6%

188.9

180.6

-4%

Total

192,256

176,738

-8%

958.1

891.7

-6.9%

34

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ITALY

With restaurants closed local fishmongers became an important sales channel for fishers.

market activity was lower due to the lack of traders, and fishing on larger vessels has been constrained by the inability to comply with health regulations on board. Fishers targeting small pelagics in the northern Adriatic were affected by the initial closure of borders as they could not export their catch to Spain.

However, the situation improved a few weeks later and demand increased due to low prices. Fuel prices too declined by some 40% which helped to reduce costs.

Longliners targeting bluefin tuna faced a drop in first-sale prices and to adapt to reduced demand the Sicilian producer organisation limited the daily landings. In general, the impact of the pandemic was milder on the small-scale vessels which land some 15-20 kg per sea day.

Their fish is sold to smaller

retailers, local fish shops, or to end consumers. In several ports this sector increased sales to end consumers, but where restaurants depended on the presence of tourists, fishers’ turnover collapsed as there were no tourists and restaurants were closed.

Fishers devise creative ways to mitigate effects of lockdowns The situation brought about by the pandemic forced the fishing sector to respond with measures of its own to contain the damage. To counter the drop in demand and the subsequent fall in prices fishers limited the supply of fish on the market by reducing the number of fishing days, especially for the demersal trawlers. In many ports, vessels

were rotated to reduce the number that went out fishing each day, and catch ceilings were introduced—particularly in harbours on the Adriatic coast.

These efforts prevented the accumulation of unsold product and by the second half of April first-sale prices were once again in line with the seasonal average. In addition to reducing supply, fishers also started targeting species for which demand was high by switching to fish and seafood of lower commercial value that was popular among domestic consumers rather than the food service sector. The absence of first buyers prompted fishers to directly contact commercial intermediaries and the large retail chains and also to start direct sales to consumers with the help of the internet.

Consumer behaviour changes in response to corona-induced situation Consumption patterns among the population changed as people adapted to the restrictions imposed to contain the pandemic.

The rapid spread of the virus and the lockdowns that followed confined people to their homes and shut down eating places. Consumers switched from buying fresh products to shelf stable items, such as canned, smoked, frozen, or preserved products. In the month from mid-February to midMarch canned product (tuna) sales increased 36%, while frozen and smoked products increased 26% and 25% respectively, compared with the same period a year ago, according to data from ISMEA (Istituto di Servizi per il

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35

ITALY

The owner of this vessel was delivering directly to consumers well before covid-19. The pandemic boosted this kind of service which is based on the internet, telephone, social media, and close customer contact.

Mercato Agricolo Alimentare).

Consumption of seafood products increased 4.3% despite a 6.1% decrease in demand for fresh seafood because of the closure of the food service sector. The use of local stores (to avoid travel), supermarkets, and discount retail increased, while online purchases grew explosively. Prices of seafood tended to fluctuate in April and May with prices of frozen seafood increasing while that of fresh declining. The distribution of seafood products also changed due to the disappearance of wholesalers and other commercial intermediaries operating in the large fish markets. Retail chains increased in importance as sources of seafood offering a range of 36

shelf-stable products, many of them imported, in response to the lack of fresh products. Channels such as online and telephone sales, collection from fishermen, and home deliveries which existed before the pandemic experienced a surge in interest during the lockdowns. In some towns fishmongers got together to experiment with the sale of pre-packaged products, while in others fishers organised the donation of unsold catch to charitable organisations for distribution to needy families. Some processing units bought products that could be frozen (such as shrimp) directly from fishers with view to freezing and selling it to restaurants when they opened.

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Some silver linings can be discerned The pandemic’s impact on the seafood sector was undoubtedly severe, but there were also positive effects, such as the increase in consumption of certain product types (frozen, shelf-stable) and the boost it gave to innovative distribution channels. These have proved to be beneficial for fishers and consumers, have contributed to the resilience of the sector, and promoted the sales of locally sourced fish and seafood. This could potentially encourage consumers to eat more of these products, and also have collateral benefits in the form of a lower carbon

footprint (less transport), lower hygiene management costs, and improved traceability. Whether these unconventional sales forms will thrive once the restrictions occasioned by covid-19 are lifted and life returns to normal, remains to be seen.

Sources: – The 2020 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet (STECF 20-06) – L’emergenza covid-19 e il settore ittico italiano: impatto e risposte, Nisea, CREA, 2020 – Relazione annuale sugli sforzi compiuti dall’Italia nel 2019 per il raggiungimento di un equilibrio sostenibile tra la capacità e le possibilità di pesca, MIPAAF

CROATIA

New study confirms that Croatians are fairly avid eaters of fish and seafood

Fish and seafood consumption in Croatia The Directorate of Fisheries in the Ministry of Agriculture conducted an analysis of the consumption of fishery and aquaculture products in the Croatia for the years 2018 and 2019. The aim of the study was to determine the net supply (availability) and per capita (apparent) consumption of fishery and aquaculture products.

Per capita fish consumption in Croatia is increased between 2018 and 2019 thanks in part to initiatives like Fish from Croatia (Riba Hrvatske – Jedi što vrijedi), a branding exercise that certifies that the fish is produced to high environmental and social standards.

T

he analysis showed that net supply of fishery and aquaculture products available to the domestic population in Croatia in 2018 amounted to 73,838 tonnes, while in 2019 it amounted to 81,387 tonnes of live weight equivalent.

The utilisation by commodity

groups indicates that fresh or chilled fish, cephalopods, fish fillets and prepared or canned fish were consumed in the highest quantities, whilst dried, salted or smoked fish, crustaceans and molluscs (excluding cephalopods), and frozen fish were consumed in lower quantities.

Unsurprisingly, given Croatia’s coastline, marine seafood is more popular than freshwater In terms of apparent consumption of species or groups of organisms (according to their biological Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2021

37

characteristics), the largest quantities are represented by marine organisms, primarily small pelagic fish (sardine, anchovy), cephalopods (squid, cuttlefish, octopus), demersal species such as hake, whiting, other codfishes, flatfish and other groundfish, and other marine fish (sea bass, sea bream, etc.), while freshwater fish (including diadromous species) occupy the lowest place in overall availability and consumption.

This confirmed that the figures published by EUMOFA (European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products) correspond to the results on apparent consumption of fishery and aquaculture products in this study, with small differences. Apparent consumption of fishery and aquaculture products per capita in Croatia in 2018 amounted to 18.06 kg, while in 2019 apparent consumption was 20.02 kg an increase of almost 11%.

This increase is a clear indicator of changes in the aquaculture production and fish processing industry outputs, resulting from investments. However, the average per capita consumption in the EU-28 is estimated at 24,36 kg according to the latest figures from EUMOFA. Therefore, strategic activities are being taken aimed at increasing the production and processing of fishery and aquaculture products, but also at adapting producer activities to market needs to increase national consumption of quality and healthy products from local fisheries and farms.

Results from the analysis correspond to figures published by EUMOFA Apparent consumption reflects the availability of a certain food product at the retail level in a country during a specific period (i.e., quantities reaching the final consumer).

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The purpose of the survey was to substantiate the data and results on per capita consumption of fishery and aquaculture products in Croatia, published

by EUMOFA and FAOSTAT, which are based on supply balance sheets and food balance sheets, respectively.

According to the EUMOFA survey conducted for all EU member states, apparent consumption of fishery and aquaculture products in Croatia in 2017 was 18.7 kg per capita, and in 2018 was 19.19 kg. The availability of fishery and aquaculture products for human consumption is generally calculated from domestic production and foreign trade, and the formula is expressed as follows: capture fisheries + aquaculture + imports – exports.

Apparent human consumption per capita is derived from net supply divided by the population. The same approach was used in this research, but with different presentation of the data (commodities instead of production from capture fisheries and aquaculture).

This model of data presentation was first published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Data were collected from publicly available sources (Croatian Bureau of Statistics) as well as from the internal database of the Directorate of Fisheries. As for the standardisation and harmonisation of the data and presentation of the results, the production was sorted according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nomenclature for products (commodity groups), i.e., fresh or chilled (fish) and processed (frozen, fillets, dried, salted and smoked and prepared or canned) products

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Zoran Radan

CROATIA

Events at regular intervals that promote fish and seafood should increase per capita consumption.

(fish and other aquatic organisms), instead of production given by species or groups of species with similar biological characteristics. This provides for a more precise insight into the availability of a particular commodity group or product category on the market. Foreign trade was also harmonised according to the same commodity groups. As various statistics differ in the way they are presented (capture fisheries and aquaculture are expressed in live weight), conversion factors from EUMOFA were used to calculate the net weight of import, export, and seafood processing production data into live weight equivalent.

Data excludes fish for industrial use and includes non-commercial fish production It is important to emphasise that data on products not intended for human consumption (industrial and other uses), have been excluded from the calculation. These include imported herring and other small pelagic fish (sardine from domestic marine capture

fisheries production) used as feed in the farming of bluefin tuna and as raw material to produce fishmeal. These data were obtained from official statistics and interviews with members of the fish processing industry.

On the other hand, other sets of data were included in the calculation, such as those on non-commercial fisheries production, namely marine subsistence fishery, and inland and marine sport and recreational fishing, which were based on internal estimations. Additionally, since Croatia is visited by a large number of foreign tourists each year, the availability and apparent consumption of fishery and aquaculture products by foreign tourists was also calculated and then deducted from the consumption of domestic population.

The method was based on earlier work by Croatian authors, which estimated the consumption of agricultural products of foreign tourists by multiplying data on the total number of overnight stays with daily consumption of tourists, expressed in grams. The authors gathered data on normative consumption for individual food staples per guest per day with questionnaires to hotel chains.

CROATIA

In the present study, the authors followed the assumption of FAO that, in the country visited, tourists consume the same total amount of food available to them in their home countries. Therefore, the data on daily availability of products of fisheries and aquaculture, expressed as grams per capita per day was obtained from FAOSTAT. Data on food supply were taken for the categories: freshwater fish, demersal fish, pelagic fish, marine fish other, crustaceans, cephalopods, other molluscs, and aquatic animals (others). The data was used only for those countries for which more than one million overnight stays were recorded. The average value of the available grams per capita per day (0.051g) was then multiplied with the number of total tourist overnight stays (Croatian Bureau of Statistics) for reference years.

Different projects that promote fish and seafood should help increase consumption The Directorate of Fisheries, has launched a traceability system for bluefin tuna and swordfish from the Adriatic Sea (https:// ribarstvo.hr/hriba/), enabling product branding and providing the final consumer with full information on the fisher who caught the fish, the area where it was caught, and the fishing gear used. A project by the Croatian Chamber of Economy is called Fish from Croatia (Riba Hrvatske – Jedi što vrijedi). The logo, Fish from Croatia, on local products validates to the consumers that the products come from a strictly controlled food safety system, that the production process meets environmental safety standards and requirements, that production is conducted sustainably, and that workers’ rights and

Table 1. Production, imports, exports and calculation of net supply according to OECD commodity groups (tonnes live weight) Commodity groups - 2019

Production

Imports

Exports

Pr+Im-Ex

Fish, fresh/chilled

44,502.32

3,031.04

21,710.30

25,823.06

Fish, frozen

12,090.75

15,044.73

26,850.29

285.20

Fish, fillets

4,568.01

15,749.03

2,926.19

17,390.84

Fish, cured

8,177.58

2,861.96

5,682.65

5,356.89

12,553.47

14,668.96

14,954.82

12,267.61

Crustaceans

1,075.76

2,934.05

478.69

3,531.13

Molluscs

1,850.57

2,265.01

693.08

3,422.50

Cephalopods

3,147.48

15,304.67

3,075.72

15,376.43

668.41

1,872.07

315.49

2,224.99

88,634.36

73,731.52

76,687.24

85,678.64

Fish, prepared/ preserved

Crus., mol. & other aquatic inv., prepared Total:

Table 2. Consumption by foreign tourists (kg live weight) Consumption by foreign tourists

2019

Tourist nights

84,147,631.00

Daily availability per capita (kg)

0.051

Total consumption (kg)

4,291,529.18

Table 3. Total net supply less apparent tourist consumption (kg live weight) Net supply and tourist consumption

2019

Total production (kg)

85,678,635.50

Total consumption by tourists (kg)

4,291,529.18

Net supply (kg):

81,387,106.32

Table 4. Apparent consumption per capita of fishery and aquaculture products (kg live weight) Net supply and apparent consumption Net supply (kg) Population Apparent consumption (kg per capita)

2018

2019

73,837,780.04

81,387,106.32

4,087,843.00

4,065,253.00

18.06

20.02 Source: Croatian Directorate of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture

other relevant national and EU regulations are respected. These, and other, initiatives promote locally caught or farmed fishery and aquaculture products by emphasising comparative

advantages, setting high standards, and thereby achieving better positioning in markets in Croatia and the EU. This in turn should boost availability and overall consumption of fisheries

and aquaculture products is expected to grow in the forthcoming period.

Croatian Directorate of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2021

39

[ CERTIFICATION ] Audits and certificates done remotely via computer

Remote audits reduce risks and costs Due to the rapid pace of change, companies across the globe are facing new challenges every day, which require non-standard solutions. Because in-person audits for certificates are risky due to COVID-19 and can therefore only very rarely be carried out, they are now frequently undertaken as remote audits via computer. This process is reliable and secure, has proven itself and could become permanent

G

lobal events such as the coronavirus pandemic can cause enormous economic damage, but can also accelerate positive developments that were already long anticipated. These include, among others, global digital technologies such as the Internet, which opens up fascinating possibilities for communication and information that were hitherto inconceivable.

The exchange of data via the World Wide Web not only makes qualified working from home possible, but also online conferences from almost any corner of the Earth. Thus, the solution for a problem arising with the outbreak of COVID-19 and its development into a global pandemic was actually obvious. If travel and overnight stays for auditors for the usual in-person audits on site are risky and may be subject to long compulsory quarantine periods, but the audits cannot be indefinitely postponed despite the crisis, because important certificates would otherwise become invalid, then the necessary discussions must simply be carried out remotely via the Internet. This is where the idea for remote audits came from, which was adopted by almost all audit offices and organisations

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and was ready for practical use within a very short time. Remote audits are absolutely equivalent to standard in-person audits, meet the requirements of the relevant accreditation bodies and are recognised internationally.

Audits on site remain the best choice to assess compliance with all standards and to measure performance, but under the current conditions they are unfortunately often not possible, because the risks for consultants and customers is much too high.

The pandemic is also putting commercial enterprises under pressure in this respect. They must quickly change trusted and tried-and-tested business practices. However, it is already clear that almost everyone is managing with the remote audits just as well if not better than with in-person audits. After thorough preparation, both are equally efficient. Remote audits should not be too much of a technical problem with the arsenal of communication technologies that are available almost everywhere nowadays. Investments in software and hardware are therefore manageable, and often even unnecessary. Particularly because remote audits come in different variants. They can

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either be carried out as a digital complete solution solely on the computer or as a combination of digital computer assessment with a physical audit by a consultant who checks specific areas of practice on site. Remote audits are new and unfamiliar. For this reason, initially they feel different to the standard physical audits, but they are done basically in the same way. Both have the same goal and aim to make the interactions as useful as possible.

They save time and costs and increase the reach, because even production sites that are physically remote can be audited. They also reduce the risks associated with in-person visits to the company. Remote audits, of course, have stricter requirements than a simple video-conference, but the participants usually quickly become familiar with the procedures.

Live streams make remote audits a real experience Remote audits are flexible and are usually done based on complex software packages that can be tailored to individual needs and requirements of the customer and also guarantee the required level of data security.

Whether it is a supplier audit, risk assessment, conformity check, crisis report, certification or inspection service – the modern technology platforms are suitable for almost any application. This flexibility makes it possible to carry out interviews and inspections remotely on the computer and to view important documents and files. For required inspections, drones can even be used for live stream.

With Avatour virtual software, for example, facilities can be viewed from far away locations without any requirement to be present on site. Observers get a virtual 360° experience with a VR headset that comes very close to reality and is accessible from anywhere. The usual standards for on-site audits are also possible with remote audits. For audited companies, remote audits also have the advantage that operational experts can interact with the auditors in real time. Distance has no effect on the level and the depth of the inspections carried out with remote audits, they feel just like a ‘normal’ inspection. The word ‘inspection’ is probably not correct in this context. Many auditors emphasise that audits are not inspections in the conventional sense, in which companies are

[ CERTIFICATION ]

Remote audits are usually based on complex software packages that can be tailored to the individual needs and requirements of the customer and also guarantee the required level of data security.

‘examined’ and receive a certificate at the end. Even the term ‘audit’ – which derives from the Latin verb ‘audire’ for ‘listen’ – is a reminder that the auditor should listen above all, in order to be able to place themselves in their customers’ shoes and thus draw helpful conclusions.

The digital tools used for remote audits are only an aid however. The expert knowledge and understanding of the sector possessed by the auditors remain decisive for the success and benefit of these audits. The experts must possess a deep technical

and industrial knowledge in order to detect existing problems and precisely analyse them.

If these requirements are met, accredited remote audits can do just as much and be just as trustworthy as in-person audits. They also help the company to reach its desired level. For this reason, ‘remote assessments’ are possible in the same areas as in-person audits. The spectrum ranges from food producers, warehouses and transport companies, to aquaculture operations and feed mills, to retail. Remote audits have particularly proven themselves for compliance and

conformity checks, such as ISO standards, FSSC, BRCGS, IFS, SQF as well as COVID-19 control plans and WHS management systems.

be discussed in advance in the appropriate context so that the auditors know what the company is aiming for and wishes to achieve.

High-performance digital networks are indispensable

Then the form of the process is discussed, whether the audit should take place completely remotely via computer and live stream, which naturally keeps travel costs down, or whether experts would like to be on site during the audit to carry out necessary inspections or provide technical support. The companies can also send important documents and data to the

Careful preparation speeds up the remote audit process. At the beginning, the participating partners agree on the desired scope, content and type of the remote assessment – usually by telephone. Particularly for remote audits, the goal should

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41

[ CERTIFICATION ] auditors in advance in order to have them reviewed and analysed. Details like this can be discussed and agreed upon. This saves unnecessary costs later and reduces the time required for the audit. During the preparatory discussions, both sides must also agree on what technologies should be used for the remote audit. Auditors are usually familiar with all commonly used platforms, so companies can often use their own technology. What is decisive in this context is that the chosen technology must be suitable for visual documentation of the assessment, trans-

parent and verifiable, and that it allows for confidentiality and comprehensive data security.

In the basic version, which is suitable for simple, less complex processes, the usual applications used are standard commercial communications tools such as Microsoft Teams, FaceTime, Duo, Zoom or WeChat Skype for Business, which can be used on almost all tablets, laptops or smartphones. More demanding audits of larger companies, however, frequently require premium software versions with a higher level of complexity, which are

offered in the form of apps by nearly all notable audit providers, often in combination with VR headsets. The apps supplied by audit providers have been specifically developed for this special purpose, provide a variety of options for specific problems, and usually also facilitate the secure streaming of audio, video and document images, which is indispensable for communication during remote audits. If required, technical experts from the audit team can be hired at the same time to provide help and support with installation and operation. It should be clarified

in discussions in advance which technology is actually necessary, sufficient or best suited for the remote audit. Well advised, comprehensively informed and thoroughly prepared remote audits are almost always experienced as reliable and completely ‘normal’ after a short adjustment period, despite their unusual form.

Security and confidentiality are ensured for remote audits Once the modalities of the audit have been agreed, the meeting

The speed, flexibility, and efficiency of remote audits make them particularly attractive at times when travel is difficult and face to face meetings not recommended.

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[ CERTIFICATION ] dates scheduled and any open questions on information security have been clarified, the concrete preparation phase begins, during which the documents, devices and processes are ‘physically’ reviewed and the electronic documents are gathered. The more thorough the preparation, the less time is required to carry out the remote audit. To be completely safe, the auditors usually test the technical platforms before the scheduled meeting to ensure that the audit runs smoothly on the day.

If all of the tools, from videoconferencing to file transfers to screen sharing, are working and required documents are available in electronic form, the remote audit can begin at the agreed time. The auditors gradually acquire the data they need to verify conformity or determine efficiency of operational management systems via the encrypted and secure platform.

What data is stored and for how long depends of the requirements of the relevant accreditation body. The auditors always follow the principle of only storing the information they need to comply with statutory requirements and the specifications of their own accreditation office.

Such data is stored in a secure cloud environment.

Following a reasonable processing period, the company receives the results and findings of its remote audit, usually in digital form as an e-report. If conformity with standards or approval certificates are required, these are usually supplied by means of the standard process. As usual, the companies are also informed of any deficiencies or ‘non-conformities’ that have been detected during the assessment after a remote audit. In this case the auditors often, if

Remote audits have proven themselves and will probably stick around

assessments are much more than just a temporary solution adopted out of necessity. A tool that makes it possible to react quickly and flexibly to new challenges has special advantages under the volatile conditions on the global market. Particularly since remote audits are recognised globally as having the same level as in-person inspections on site and just as high quality and safety standards.

Once the technical requirements are available, they offer companies a series of attractive additional options, such as audits in remote and difficultto-reach regions or in the case of widely distributed companies with complex infrastructures.

Remote technologies provide a unique opportunity to have inspections and assessments carried out by recognised specialists with the required technical expertise from anywhere in the world in real time. With the help of this modern technology they can dive deep into operational processes, identify problems and risks and present suggestions for tackling them.

Remote audits thus create a winwin situation for all participants.

Remote technologies that can be used for digital remote audits and assurance services, for example, have developed under the pressure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote audits are characterised by speed, flexibility and efficiency.

This makes them an acceptable solution to fully meet the requirements of nationally and internationally operating companies in this difficult situation where travel is complicated and associated with health risks and personal contact is only possible with great difficulty.

In the meantime, however, it has become clear that remote

Although the first countries are currently relaxing certain pandemic control restrictions on economic life, and tried-andtested in-person audits will probably return soon, remote services will probably not completely disappear. For one thing, the coronavirus crisis, as is well known, has not receded everywhere in the world to the extent that would be desirable, which makes inspection trips to regions that pose a risk to health or are difficult to access still risky and hard to calculate. For another, remote audits have thoroughly proved themselves, since they require less

possible and reasonable, offer expert support with operational corrective and preventive measures remotely via the previously used data network.

The question as to what amount of time a remote audit requires compared to physical in-person audits cannot be answered in a general way. It actually differs from case to case, because the length of the process is influenced by many different factors.

These include not just the scope of the audit, the specific sectoral and operational situation and the relationship between office and physical work, it also depends on the time required for installation and commissioning of the digital data technology. Experience has shown that for tech-savvy customers who are used to dealing with modern communication tools, the process is often quicker than with more practically-oriented customers who only occasionally sit at a desk.

time and staff than an in-person audit. Moreover, they offer cost advantages, although this aspect requires a differentiated perspective. Carrying out the audit requires almost the same costs, because both in-person and remote audits require identical expertise on the part of the auditors. The savings from digital ‘remote diagnostics’ therefore mostly results from dispensing with travel to and from the audit location and hotel stays for the auditors, who can often even advise other companies during this saved ‘unproductive’ travel time.

Less travel, whether by plane, road or rail, also reduces one’s carbon footprint, because it results in less CO2 in the atmosphere. This is reflected positively in the company’s climate balance sheet and is an additional reason why many experts predict increasing demand for remote audits even after the pandemic. Their prognoses are based on convincing arguments, since digital audits are as quick, efficient and flexible as they are secure and sustainable. Digital data networks make it possible to audit a greater number of companies in more locations, in different regions that are often very distant from each other, with the same reliability. Audit dates can often be simply and quickly agreed upon, which minimises the necessary interruption times at the production site. In addition, remote audits simplify contact with technical experts across the globe in a cost-efficient way. Internationally networked auditors can be consulted on special issues, which also increases the competencies of the audit teams. Thus, there is a range of convincing reasons for remote audits to continue. mk

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SERBIA

Carp production in semi-intensive conditions can very significantly

Extruded feeds offer advantages to carp farmers Z. Markovic

Cereal grains, pelleted, and extruded feed in semi-intensive common carp production have different impacts on production, meat quality, the pond ecosystem, and profitability.

Common carp is one of the most widely farmed species of fish in the world.

C

ommon carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) is one of the most important species of farmed fish. It is farmed in more than a hundred countries of the world, mainly in earthen ponds. Most of the production is in semi-intensive culture systems. Such production is based on boosted natural food produced in the pond with supplemental feed. Although simple at first

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appearance, this farming method has a whole range of options: from traditional farming methods based on feeding with cereal grains and other locally available plants to production based on the use of highquality compound feeds. In Europe semi-intensive production based on feeding with cereal grains is still dominant. Although in some countries, such as Serbia, cereals have

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been largely replaced by compound (extruded) feeds.

Until recently compound feed was mainly used to rear common carp fry, but in the past two decades cereals in the diet of common carp grown to market size have also been substituted with compound feed. In contrast to feeding fish with

cereals in the form of grains, when preparing compound feed cereal grains are ground up and enriched with proteins of plant and animal origin, by-products of the food industry, as well as with vitamins and minerals. The composition varies, depending on the region where the crops are grown. To prevent decomposition in the water, preliminarily

SERBIA

Z. Markovic

ground up components of the mixture are bonded into pellets of various shapes and sizes, depending on the age category of the fish. The process of preparing industrial feed for aquaculture is based on pelleting and extrusion technologies.

Effect of using different feeds on common carp production

Naturally occurring zooplankton in the fishpond are an important source of nutrition for the fish.

Under temperate conditions at the beginning of summer, the biomass of zooplankton and the bottom fauna decreases due to their natural variability. At that point, growing fry cannot meet their increased demand for proteins. The attempt to compensate for the deficiency of protein from natural food by feeding with cereal grains results in a daily weight gain that is significantly smaller than during the spring, when natural food is well developed. This poses the question of how to ensure enough protein during the summer, when the water temperature is most favourable for common carp growth, to maintain the

daily percentage increase of growth on a level similar to that achieved in spring. One way is by providing the common carp with supplemental (compound) feed with a greater percentage of protein than that contained in cereal grains.

The type and amount of feed and the time and frequency of feeding improve the growth rate of farmed common carp. Quantity of common carp that can be obtained in semi-intensive production based on cereal grains vary from 500 kg/ha to more than 1,500 kg/ha. Under conditions of good development of natural food in combination

with cereal grains and frequent feeding throughout the day, the indicated level of production can be even higher (more than 2,000 kg/ha). The yields under conditions of using compound feed in a semi-intensive system vary from 1,200 to 3,000 kg/ha, depending on the aforementioned factors. Owing to the better physical and chemical properties of extruded feed, its use results in higher production than that obtained in common carp farming based on pelleted feed. Thus, use of extruded feed can give a yield that is on the upper limit of the range indicated for compound feed under conditions of optimal water

Z. Markovic

The production of common carp in a semi-intensive system depends on: characteristics of the pond biotope (depth, turbidity, area); quality and quantity of the water used to fill and refresh ponds; fish quality and stocking density; agrotechnical and preventive measures used in the process of preparing ponds for stocking and during the production cycle; climatic conditions; the quantity and development of natural food; and a type of supplemental feed. When feeding with cereal grains, structural components are mainly obtained from natural food (primarily zooplankton and the bottom fauna), while energy needs are satisfied for the most part by supplemental carbohydrates. In such production, the increase in the weight of the fish depends primarily on natural food, especially during periods of higher abundance.

Cereal grains (left), pelleted feed (centre), and extruded feed (right) are three type of supplementary feeds that can be given to the fish. The latter two offer benefits that cereal grains do not.

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Z. Markovic

SERBIA

Different feeds show no significant variation in their impact on the water quality of fishponds.

temperatures during farming of common carp. In addition to the direct influence of a protein content higher than in cereal grains, use of compound feed also indirectly influences common carp growth in pond systems.

Compound feed contains rapidly degrading substances that partially decompose as uneaten food but are also eliminated undigested from the fish or are excreted in the form of metabolic products, which contributes to the continual presence of small amounts of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and carbon dioxide in the water. Their presence stimulates primary and secondary production in the pond. As a result, the presence of natural food is greater when the fish are fed supplemental 46

protein feed (compound feed) than when fed with cereal grains. Since nutrients are dissolved in small amounts and in continuity from supplemental protein feeds, the negative consequences on the oxygen balance are also reduced, as well as the possibility of development of algal blooms.

Effect of using different feeds on the quality of common carp flesh The increasing demand and consumption of fish from aquaculture pose certain requirements regarding its quality and nutritive properties. In the past decades, studies of fish feed and improvement of feed quality have contributed to the development

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of aquaculture and led to an increase in the nutritive value of farmed fish. The chemical composition of fish flesh is affected by numerous factors: genetic parameters, fish size, sexual maturity and life cycle phase, microclimate, water quality, quality and amount of food and the time and frequency of feeding. Nutrition, but primarily feed quality, is one of the most important factors affecting the chemical composition of fish. The percentage of protein is higher, while percentage of lipids is smaller in flesh of common carp fed compound feed compared to common carp fed cereal grains. Fatty acid composition is of special significance for the quality of fish flesh. Producing fish with a better ratio of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids is very

important for aquaculture. This is especially important considering that the resources of marine fish are limited. Comparative analysis of the influence exerted by three types of feed (cereal grains, pelleted feed and extruded feed) on the fatty acid composition of common carp flesh showed that use of extruded feed provided the best results.

Effect of using different feeds on the water quality in the pond The use of protein supplemental feed in semi-intensive fish farming opens the question of sustainability, especially the problem of protection of water quality. Regardless of whether cereal grains or compound feeds

Z. Markovic

Z. Markovic

SERBIA

The factors affecting the profitability of carp farming vary between countries.

Comparing the fatty acid profiles of meat from common carp raised on three kinds of feeds (cereal grains, pelleted feed and extruded feed) showed that those raised on extruded feeds gave the best results.

are used, part of the feed almost always remains uneaten. The bulk of uneaten food falls to the bottom and undergoes processes of decomposition to inorganic matter. Uneaten food, undigested remains and metabolic products of digested food are retained in the water and influence the fishpond ecosystem. Additionally, these substances also enter the food chain and, in this way, exert indirect influence on the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the water. Comparison of water quality in carp ponds under conditions of using various types of feed indicates that there are no significant differences.

Although it was expected that feed with a higher percentage of proteins would cause disturbances

in the aquatic ecosystem, their continual incorporation into the cycling of matter in the water contributes to maintenance of ecological equilibrium and even indirectly promotes growth of the common carp.

Effect of using different feeds on the economy in carp semi-intensive carp production Economy in aquaculture, as in all other animal production areas, is determined by production inputs and prices of the final product. Feed is one of the most important inputs in semi-intensive production, and the choice of the supplemental feed influences profitability. However, the price of the added feed

cannot be considered as the main factor for the decision. Apparently, the choice of the feed is not the universal decisive factor in attaining profitable production. Some of the factors that could be decisive are: stocking density; quantity of fish produced per hectare of the pond; duration of the production process from fertilised eggs to market size; as well as the size of the ma carp.

Not to be neglected are inputs that vary from country to country such as: fees for the water used for fish farm supply, prices for fuel or electric energy, costs for manpower, the level of protection from predatory birds and mammals; and the existence or absence of compensation for such losses. In view of the above it is clear that a general conclusion which is the most profitable way between cereal grains and compound feed to culture common carp cannot be derived. Such a recommendation could be given only for a single farm, for a country or a group of countries with similar aquaculture technologies, input prices and consumable carp prices.

Conclusion Comparative analysis of using cereal grains and compound

feeds in semi-intensive carp pond aquaculture indicates that priority should be given to common carp farming based on the use of compound feed as opposed to feeding with cereal grains. When it comes to different processing technologies for compound feeds, due to improved physical and chemical properties, use of supplemental extruded feed results in higher production per unit area compared to the use of supplemental pelleted feed.

Acknowledgments: This text is part of the published scientific paper entitled “Comparative analysis of using cereal grains and compound feed in semi-intensive common carp pond production” in Aquaculture International (2016) 24:1699–1723. Thanks to my colleagues Marko Stankovic, Božidar Raškovi , Božidar Raškovi , Zorka Duli , Ivana Živi and Vesna Poleksi , who were coauthors.

Prof. Dr. Zoran Markovi Faculty of Agriculture University of Belgrade Serbia Eurofish Magazine 4 / 2021

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[ SPECIES ] Seafood speciality with nearly 1,000 suckers

Musky octopus is a Mediterranean classic Toni Bartulin, Eurofish

Mediterranean cuisine includes countless culinary classics that today are just as popular across the rest of Europe and the world.

These include octopus dishes, which are prized by consumers far beyond the borders of Italy, Croatia or Greece. One of the most sought-after species is the musky octopus (Eledone moschata), which is mainly found in Mediterranean coastal waters.

The musky octopus is found mainly in coastal waters in the Mediterranean Sea from Israeli the east through the Aegean and the Adriatic to Spain and Morocco in the west.

T

he Cephalopoda class (from the Greek ‚kephal ‘ for head and ‚pod‘ for foot) includes approximately 1,000 species of calamari, cuttlefish and octopuses, which are characterised by an

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enormous diversity of shapes, sizes and colours, as well as highly complex social behaviour. With almost 170 species, the Octopoda order is the smallest, but nevertheless by far the most important group from

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an economic and culinary perspective. One of the typical Mediterranean species is the musky octopus (Eledone moschata), which was first described and named scientifically in 1798 by the French zoologist

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. The first bibliographic evidence for the use of this seafood species in Mediterranean cuisine also dates from this time, as this was when the first recipes for preparing musky octopus

Split Fish Market, Croatia

[ SPECIES ] making them quite independent of control from the brain. The octopus likes to move its tentacles freely in all directions. The sensitive gripping and tasting organs are as dexterous as an elephant’s trunk and as versatile as a Swiss army knife.

Musky octopus and horned octopus are related species

The lack of any rigid body structure apart from its beak enables the musky octopus to change shape and slide into narrow cracks and crannies.

appeared in cookbooks. However, they have probably been eaten for much longer, possibly even for many centuries. The musky octopus is mainly distributed in coastal zones in the Mediterranean from Israel in the east, to the Adriatic and Aegean, to Morocco and Spain in the west. The musky octopus is a species that is known for keeping relatively close to its normal range, however occasionally specimens have been found in the Atlantic transition regions and in the Red Sea, but the animals there are mostly from somewhat smaller fringe populations.

With a maximum length of 74 cm (mantle length 188 mm) and

weight of up to 1.4 kg, the musky octopus is a medium-sized octopus species (on average, they are 40 cm long). It has a narrow head with protruding eyes and relatively short arms, which only extend to two-and-a-half to three times the length of the mantle. It has approximately 120 suckers that stand in a single row on each of its arms, unlike most octopus species. Its arms (tentacles) are connected to one another by a stretchable umbrella-like, thin and transparent membrane (web) along the first third of their length at the base of the head. The movements of the arms and suckers are ‘autonomously’ controlled by countless nerves and ganglia,

The musky octopus resembles the better-known common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) in its appearance and important anatomical features, however it can clearly be distinguished from the common octopus by its single row of suckers on its tentacles. This is somewhat more difficult with the horned octopus (Eledone cirrhosa), which is closely related to Eledone moschata, as both related species have a grey-brown body colouration with dark brown or black flecks on their back. However, while musky octopuses have very smooth skin, the skin of the horned octopus is noticeably rough and warty. The surest way to distinguish between these animals while fresh, however, is to rely on one’s nose. The musky octopus emits an intense musky odour as it is taken out of the water immediately after it is caught, which is produced by glands in its skin. This is referred to in its scientific name by ‘moschata’, which derives from the Latin word ‘moschatus’ meaning ‘musky fragrance’. In Italy this small octopus species is also known as moscardino, polpo moscato or mughetto due to its distinct aroma. However, it has still not been precisely explained what the smell is for and what biological function it has.

Another difference between the two Eledone species is their lifestyles. While the horned octopus

(E. Cirrhosa) is more likely to be found in areas of deeper waters between 180 and 450 m, the musky octopus (E. Moschata) prefers shallower coastal zones with a depth of between 8 and 200 m, with the greatest individual densities found between 50 and 80 metres. The musky octopus is active at dusk and at night and likes to dig into sandy or muddy ground during the day to escape its predators, which include larger squid in addition to conger eels and grouper. This offers little protection against dolphins and sharks, however, who can locate the octopuses hiding in sediment using echolocation or electrical sense organs (‘ampullae of Lorenzini’). On the other hand, these little octopuses are voracious hunters themselves.

Thanks to their highly sensitive eyes (‘camera eyes’), their photosensitive skin and their ability to quickly and deceptively change their shape and colour to match their surroundings, they make very successful predators. They cleverly vary their hunting techniques: they can ambush their prey, pursue it or overpower it with a sudden pounce. They are helped in this by their ‘jet engine’, a siphon that can be adjusted to point in any direction, from which they can suddenly eject water in order to attack or to flee. The octopus will eat anything it can catch: crabs and other crustaceans, molluscs, snails and occasionally also small fish such as sardines, anchovies or red mullet. Even animals that are larger than the musky octopus can become its prey. The octopus holds its prey skilfully with its catching arms and then breaks off bite-sized pieces with its hard, beak-like mouth organs or grinds it up with its toothed tongue (‘radula’). Even hard-shelled molluscs and heavily armoured crustaceans are not safe from its sharp beak.

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Split Fish Market, Croatia

[ SPECIES ]

Musky octopus is typically consumed fresh in restaurants and at home in the area close to where it is caught.

The life of an octopus ends after its first reproduction Musky octopuses are loners with opportunistic behaviours, who can adapt to extreme living conditions and cope with almost any ecological and climatic conditions without problems. If its preferred prey is scarce, it can also eat eels or cannibalise smaller members of its own species.

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Because octopuses do not have any rigid body structures except for their hard ‘parrot beak’, they can change their shape in a very supple and elastic way, which makes it possible for them to pass through very narrow fissures and openings. Like all cephalopods, the musky octopus secretes an inky black liquid when in danger, which is produced and stored in a sac in its body. The animal is more easily able to flee thanks

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to the cover provided by the ink, because it irritates its attacker and obstructs its vision. The ink is also used in confrontations with rivals during breeding periods.

Musky octopuses grow very rapidly and can put on one to two percent of their body weight per day when they are young. This is a necessity, because octopuses seldom live longer than two years, and usually no more than a few weeks after reproducing.

Eledone moschata mostly reproduces during the winter and spring months. The proportion of sexually mature animals in many regions of the Mediterranean is especially high in January and February. In the Southern Adriatic, sexually mature males can be found all year round, mostly from October to May, but the main maturity period of the females is shorter and restricted to the spring. At this time the mantles of the females measure at least nine centimetres, and their oocytes should have reached a length of 15 mm. Like almost all octopuses, musky octopus males use their third right tentacle to fertilise, which is known as the ‘hectocotylus’.

This arm is only 85 to 90% as long as the other tentacles and ends in a spoon-shaped flattened tip (ligula) that has a depression on the inside in which a semen capsule (spermatophore) is stored.

This structure is also referred to as the hectocotylus, which derives from the Ancient Greek words hekatón (hundred) and kótulos, meaning bowl or saucer.

During mating, the male wraps its tentacles around its selected partner, pushes its hectocotylus into the mantle hole and leaves a spermatophore in the female’s fallopian tube. It is often stored there for a time until the oocytes are fully mature, Only when it

splits open are the sperm free to fertilise the egg.

Depending on their size, females will produce approximately 400 to 500 eggs, which are some 5 mm thick and 15 mm long. They are attached in clusters of 3 to 10 eggs each to a solid substrate, often in rock crevices, under stones or in large mollusc shells. There they hang on short stalks that are connected to each other at the base.

Separate attachment in small groups guarantees a sufficient oxygen supply for the embryos growing in the eggs. Also, the eggs have more space and are not too constricted if they swell up shortly after being laid before the gelatin capsules of the eggshells finally harden. The octopus offspring develop in the eggs in the clutch, which the female watches over, cares for and guards devotedly.

They do not go through a typical larval stage and they already look like miniature versions of their parents as soon as they hatch.

They are fully independent from day one and can survive by themselves. Because the older animals die soon after their reproducing period, octopuses do not form any close parent-child relationships and cannot transfer any of their learned skills to the next generation. Their offspring must therefore always learn everything again for themselves from scratch.

Wide range of fishing methods Because octopuses are known as the ‘smartest’ of all the molluscs, with an intelligence level said to be comparable to that of rats, special catching methods are required in order to outwit them. Musky octopuses prefer to live in shallower waters and come closer to the shore during their nightly hunts. However, due

[ SPECIES ] to increasing noise, heavy shipping traffic and other disruptive factors, they tend to be driven into deeper waters. In addition, the animals have become relatively rare in areas where they are regularly intensively fished. All of these factors make traditional methods of catching individual octopuses with spears and harpoons significantly more difficult.

Nevertheless there continue to be large numbers of hobby divers who hunt these molluscs in this ‘archaic’ way. Harpoon catching requires relatively little technical equipment, but all the more skill and experience, because the octopuses are difficult to find and they also clamp onto the substrate after being hit, meaning additional tools such as a hook are sometimes required in order to prise them off. However, the punctures in the body negatively affect the quality of the octopus.

This is not a problem for private consumption of the catch, but it reduces the commercial retail value.

It is simpler, but requires greater technical expenditure, to catch them with traps, which come in many different sizes and designs.

A classic method that has probably been in existence for centuries is to use simple clay pots in the shape of a jug, which the octopuses love to hide in. Bait is not required for this method, as the octopuses hide in the pots for protection rather than food.

If they like the accommodation offered to them, the traps are occupied soon after they are set.

The net or basket traps, that are designed similarly to lobster pots, are based on this principle. They are provided with attractive bait – mostly fresh raw fish – which entices the octopus into the trap.

It usually enters from above through a small opening and can then no longer find its way out.

The traps can be pulled up to the surface on a daily basis by means of a headline to collect the catch and restock the trap with bait. In some regions, fish traps are also used for octopuses. The traps have the advantage that the animals are not injured or damaged and are therefore more marketable. Because the octopuses are still alive, animals that are too small can also be released back into the sea unharmed.

However, a particularly productive method is bottom trawling, although it is subject to certain regional and seasonal fluctuations. Because octopuses are solitary animals and do not live in large groups, there is no targeted fishing, the animals usually only end up in nets as a welcome bycatch. This is the reason why catching them requires a good knowledge of the location and sufficient experience, as the habitats of the octopus vary according to region, water depth and the time of year. If the conditions are right however, the towing haul can very frequently include individual animals. A few decades ago, for example, octopus catches of 50 kg per hour were possible in the Northern Adriatic.

The proportion of musky octopus was usually between 10 and 50 percent at that time. In the Southern Adriatic off the coast of Montenegro, this octopus species made up a third of the cephalopod biomass. From the 1970s to the beginning of this century, the annual catch quantity in the Adriatic region fluctuated without any clearly discernible trend, but since then fishers, at least on a regional basis, have been complaining of a slow but steady decline in catches. Due to the patchy data available, however, there are many locations where clear evidence of overfishing is lacking, but is likely.

Octopus is a must-have on the Mediterranean menu The relationship of humans to the musky octopus is of a mainly commercial nature and is shaped by the culinary use of these molluscs. They are not considered quite as tasty as the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and their commercial value is also only half as high, but they have great importance for local fisheries almost everywhere in the Mediterranean. Particularly in the Adriatic, as well as on the North African, Spanish, and Portuguese coasts. In Italian gastronomy, it is frequently offered as moscardino muschiato or moscardin rosso, and in other countries is often sold as muscardin, qarnit tal-misk, bou msik or muzgavac. Like all coleoids, musky octopus is a high-quality and protein-rich food that contains plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids and iodine and has a taste reminiscent of veal. Usually only the eight tentacles are consumed, because the head is edible but frequently remains somewhat hard. Preparation of octopus requires a certain level of experience and above all patience, as the dish should not be leathery or tough and rubbery. Octopuses have fine muscle fibres that are embedded in their connective tissues and are positioned on top of each other in several layers.

Raw connective tissue collagen is initially quite hard and requires the application of gentle heat for a long period to become soft and tender. If the heat is too strong, the muscle tissue contracts irreversibly and the octopus meat becomes unpleasantly tough.

For this reason, octopus should not be cooked in boiling water, but instead simmered over a low heat. A simple rule of thumb for a perfect culinary result is to gently

cook the octopus at 90-95°C, with one hour of cooking time per kilogram. Alternatively, it can be slowly stewed on a medium heat in the oven.

Most musky octopus are consumed fresh immediately after they are caught in the restaurants and home kitchens in the regions around where they are caught.

This is not just true for the many tourist areas along the coast of the Mediterranean. The number of dishes, preparation variants and recipes that octopus is used for is just as large. It is consumed as spaghetti alla chitarra, polpo alla Luciana or ‘Greek style’, baked in olive oil, marinated or stewed as ragout, sliced into carpaccio or used as an ingredient in paella and seafood salad. The shelf life of fresh musky octopus is comparable to many fish. For whole musky octopuses that are constantly stored in melting ice after being caught, they will be good for 10 days. After that, their culinary qualities will have decreased so much that consumption would no longer be advisable. The decline in quality results mainly from autolytic reactions that destroy the protein of the animals and thus alter numerous biological and physical features. The microbial decay flora that arises is dominated by Pseudomonas species.

However, industrially produced or handcrafted octopus products have recently been developed that offer a high level of finishing and convenience, combined with a longer shelf life. These mostly include deep-frozen products or preserved products, for which there are many variants.

Preserves made from tentacles cut into pieces in sunflower or, even better, olive oil, are particularly popular. These often include various additions such as paprika, garlic, chilli, or onion. mk

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FISH INFONETWORK

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News

Eurofish webinar on the impact of Brexit on EU and UK seafood traders To clarify some of the issues related to the trade in fish and seafood between the EU and the UK following Brexit and the signing of the EUUK Trade & Cooperation Agreement (TCA), Eurofish International Organisation hosted a webinar with specialists from the seafood industry and markets, and experts on Brexit. The speakers analysed Brexit’s impacts on seafood production, consumption, and trade, highlighting the changes in rules and regulations that have a bearing on seafood, and examining what companies need now to do business in the UK and the EU. The event featured four speakers, two from private companies dependent on imports, one from Seafish, a body that supports the UK industry, and a consultant. In addition, a panel of three experts responded to questions.

Ivan Bartolo from Seafish informed the audience that exporters to Great Britain (the rules for Northern Ireland are different) would be affected by the TCA which removed tariffs but not non-tariff barriers. As a result, seafood from the EU would face a series of checks staggered over

The Eurofish-organised webinar on Brexit provided a wealth of information on the changes faced by exporters in Great Britain and the EU.

the next months. British exporters to the EU, on the other hand, must meet all EU requirements from 1 January 2021—several of them new. The new arrangements between the EU and the UK will require time for companies on both sides of the channel to adapt to. Eurofish will completely review the webinar in the next edition of the Eurofish Magazine, due out in October. The recording of the webinar will be available from eurofish.dk.

GLOBEFISH offers guidance on aquatic product price trends in Europe and China Demand for seafood products popular in the restaurant and catering sector, such as bivalves, crustaceans, and cephalopods, is on the increase in Europe as restrictions put in place to contain the spread of covid-19 are relaxed, says the European Price Report (EPR). Restaurants are reopening across the continent and consumers are raring to go out and eat after a long period of confinement. Tourist numbers in southern Europe are expected to be high with reservations exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, supply is tight for many popular species as companies that vanished during the lockdown may not have started operating again or in some cases may have closed permanently. Production constraints for many products are affecting prices.

In India, for example, covid-19 infection rates are still high, and lockdowns are common. Shrimp production levels there are below normal resulting in higher prices. The EPR provides guidance on broad price trends based on information

[ supplied by a network of industry price correspondents. The report is produced by GLOBEFISH, a unit within the Fisheries Division of the FAO. While the EPR is a long-established publication, GLOBEFISH more recently introduced the Chinese Fish Price Report in collaboration with the China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Alliance. The CFPR offers policy updates and industry news in addition to market trends and prices for a range of species traded on the main Chinese wholesale markets. According to the latest edition (Issue 2/2021), fisheries and aquaculture production in China increased 1% in 2020 to 65.45m tonnes of which farmed aquatic products contributed 52.15m tonnes, a 3% increase from 2020 while output from capture fisheries declined 5% to 13.3m tonnes.

Improving the value chain in small scale fisheries in Chile The Chilean Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca) organised with Infopesca a virtual workshop aimed at women working in artisanal fisheries and small-scale aquaculture that focused on improving the value chain in the sector. The event was held on 19 and 20 May and allowed the exchange of experience and knowledge between international experts and fisherwomen and local processors. The panellists talked about good practices in food handling and processing; methods of control of fishery products; issues related to marketing chains; voluntary guidelines for achieving sustainability of small-scale fisheries; gender equality in artisanal fisheries; the importance of added value in products; direct sales; and the importance of quality control and health. Alicia Gallardo, Chilean Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture, pointed to some of the most important objectives of the government, including increasing the consumption of fishery products in the country and improving food security. She also stressed the importance of women, not only in the fisheries activity itself but also in all related activities, mentioning the law that is about to be approved, which seeks to recognise women from the artisanal fishing sector who work in these related activities, and the importance of incorporating gender parity for all levels of governance of fisheries in Chile.

FISH INFONETWORK

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EUROFISH Magazine 4 / 2021

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A well-managed fisheries and aquaculture sector contributes to a more sustainable EU economy

Environmental, economic, and social sustainability are interrelated The European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries is responsible for a raft of European policies that are critical to the greater sustainability of the European economy, one of the main goals of the European Commission. Conserving biodiversity, fishing at maximum sustainable yield, using effective control and enforcement to prevent IUU fishing, and banning harmful subsidies, are some of the policy objectives with a direct bearing on the fisheries sector. Achieving these falls to Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius who describes here how policy initiatives combined with the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund contribute to greater sustainability.

The Baltic Sea is threatened by a variety of natural and anthropogenic phenomena. Following the Our Baltic conference at the end of September last year, what new actions are being considered to mitigate these issues and reinvigorate the Baltic Sea environment? Are new funds being committed to implement these actions?

Several pressures are contributing to the degradation of the Baltic Sea’s biodiversity, including pollution from high nutrient inputs, high level of contaminants including run-offs and litter, and unsustainable fishing patterns. In this regard, Our Baltic Conference in September 2020 was a historical moment for the Baltic Sea: for the first time, ministers of agriculture, fisheries and environment of the Baltic Sea Member States have committed together in a common political declaration to boost efforts to bring the Baltic Sea to a good environmental status. In order to achieve a clean and healthy Baltic Sea, the enforcement of existing EU laws in the region 54

should be a priority, such as of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Common Agriculture Policy, the Common Fisheries Policy and the Nitrates Directive, but also of the Urban Waste Water Directive. These directives are powerful legislative tools to reduce pollution, notably pollution leading to eutrophication, and full implementation is urgently needed.

The European Green Deal also sets a political momentum in motion. In particular, the Biodiversity Strategy, the Zero Pollution ambition, Farm to Fork, the Chemicals Strategy are all relevant for the wellbeing of our Baltic.

And we need to use those initiatives to accelerate action towards achieving good environmental status of the Baltic Sea. The work at regional and national levels will play a key role in delivering on our Baltic declaration’s commitments; for example, through the regional organizations that protect the marine environment such as HELCOM, or those that manage fisheries issues such as BALTFISH. A coordinated and

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Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries

comprehensive response is what the Baltic needs and what Our Baltic declaration has aimed for.

In particular, an updated Baltic Sea Action Plan should be adopted by HELCOM contracting parties in October 2021 at the Ministerial Meeting at Lübeck in Germany. This plan will, with clear inspiration from the commitments of the Our Baltic

Declaration, will entail more than 200 measures (new and improved existing ones) aiming at moving towards good environmental status in the Baltic Sea for the following topics: biodiversity, eutrophication, hazardous substances and litter, sea-based activities. BALTFISH also continues working on measures to protect the Baltic proper harbour porpoise and on more selective gears in flatfish

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fisheries. EU funds are supporting projects on the ground involved in this work, most notably the European Maritime, Fisheries & Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and the LIFE programme.

The Commission has launched a series of environment-related initiatives across the EU including the Green Deal and Farm to Fork; Biodiversity Strategy 2030; EU Climate Adaptation Strategy; Zero-Pollution-Action Plan; the review of the MSFD; and the proposed Commission Action Plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems.

What impact do you foresee these policies having on the Baltic Sea and its fishers? How do you envisage the future of Baltic Sea fisheries?

The Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies adopted in the framework of the European Green Deal announce several actions that will contribute to delivering on our commitments of making the European economy more sustainable. These strategies will be followed-up with the further implementation of the existing environmental and fisheries legislative framework, aiming at both reducing environmental impacts and safeguarding the livelihoods of European fishers.

Furthermore, a new action plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems is under preparation. This action plan, through a number of measures aimed at protecting sensitive species and habitats, will facilitate better implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Birds and Habitats Directives and faster application of conservation measures under the Common Fisheries Policy. This will contribute to the European Green Deal by making fisheries more sustainable, and

by protecting marine ecosystems and their biodiversity, in the Baltic Sea as in the other sea basins.

Application of the Common Fisheries Policy in the Mediterranean and Black Sea faces several challenges due to large environmental, economic, political, and institutional differences across the basin. Limited data availability, inadequate monitoring, and the lack of quotas hamper sustainable management contributing to the poor state of fish stocks. Widespread small-scale fisheries that are difficult to control and manage, and unquantified recreational fisheries present additional challenges. What is the European Commission’s response to these challenges, if fisheries in this important region are to be sustainable? What opportunities are available to the stakeholders from the fisheries sector in the Mediterranean and Black Sea? The Commission, in close cooperation with the Member States, acts both at EU and regional level to make proposals with a view to ensure the sustainable management of fisheries resources. Given that Mediterranean and Black Sea stocks are predominantly shared with third countries, we have prioritised actions at the multilateral level, notably through the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), where Mediterranean and Black Sea States together decide on fisheries management measures.

Upon the EU’s initiative, the MedFish4Ever and Sofia ministerial Declarations launched a new political momentum to redress the governance of fisheries in these basins. Over the last four years, the EU has acted forcefully, including with the adoption

by the GFCM of 40 conservation measures (15 in 2019 alone), at the initiative of the EU. We are now working to develop the objectives and actions foreseen in these Declarations into further concrete actions through the future GFCM Strategy 2021-2030.

Furthermore, within the EU, we achieved good progress under the Common Fisheries Policy in the past two years, notably with the adoption and implementation of the first ever Multi-Annual Plan (MAP) in the Mediterranean, the EU MAP for demersal species in the Western Mediterranean, and the adoption of the stand-alone fishing opportunities regulation for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The latest GFCM report (SoMFI 2020) indicates the first positive results of our efforts to reverse the prevailing trend of overexploitation in the region.

However, stocks remain overexploited, and we need to reduce the fishing mortality to ensure the sustainability of the stocks. Experience has shown in other sea basins that ambitious management measures pay off with better stock health and increased sector profitability.

The current EU fisheries control system is one of the most advanced in the world and has undoubtedly contributed to step up compliance with the Common Fisheries Policy and to the sustainable management of fish stocks. The revised fisheries control system being negotiated in parliament proposes installing CCTV on fishing vessels. Will fishers fund this themselves?

How can fishers be persuaded of the benefits of this technology?

Effective control and enforcement are necessary to prevent the overexploitation of marine biological resources, which is essential to the

objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy. While the current EU fisheries control system is one of the most advanced in the world, it still needs to be updated to keep up with the latest developments.

First, it does not fully address all needs stemming from the Common Fisheries Policy – such as the control of illegal discards. Second, it reflects the tools and technological know-how available at the time of its adoption in 2009.

Control measures must evolve to keep pace with new policies and advancements in fleet catching efficiency, brought about by technological progress. Remote electronic monitoring (REM) tools, incorporating CCTV systems, have been shown to be highly effective in controlling various fisheries control challenges and offer a ‘scalable’, viable and costeffective means to control the landing obligation during fishing activities at sea.

The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) plays a very important role in this respect, as it provides fishing operators with financial support, inter alia, to implement the control framework, including the set of rules governing control of the landing obligation and the installation of REM tools. The mandatory use of REM will benefit the fishing industry by promoting a culture of compliance with the rules of the CFP, and by sanctioning those that infringe the rules and operate at an unfair competitive advantage. The harmonised introduction of modern control technologies, such as REM, will ensure a level playing field between fishermen and women across Member States, and is the next step in safeguarding future fishing opportunities in a similar manner as the introduction of electronic catch reporting and

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vessel monitoring systems did more than ten years ago. Responsible fishers know that their future fishing opportunities and business prospects depend, among others, on the success of the fisheries controls, which recognises the merits of fair fishing activities.

How do you reconcile the fact that SDG14.6 calls for the prohibition of harmful fisheries subsidies yet the EU’s new EMFAF will most certainly reintroduce some subsidies (vessel construction)?

How does the EMFF support a transition to low impact fishing and aquaculture activities?

The purpose of European Maritime, Aquaculture and Fisheries Fund (EMFAF) support is to ensure that marine resources are managed and used sustainably.

Let me be very clear: The EMFAF does not contain harmful fisheries subsidies, which are defined

by SDG 14.6. To avoid them, the EMFAF includes a list of ineligible operations. Building new fishing vessels and increasing the power of fishing vessels are among these ineligible operations, which will not receive financial support. It also includes conditions to prevent harmful effects, meaning that certain investments can be supported only in segments of the fishing fleet without structural overcapacity.

In fact, it is important to note that EU funding supports achievement of sustainability objectives. The EMFAF is a contributor to the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which aims to better protect nature and reverse the ecosystem degradation. For example, it supports: investment in sustainable, low-impact and low-carbon fishing activities, the creation of marine protected areas to achieve good environmental status of marine waters, the circular economy (e.g. by increasing 56

the value of waste from fisheries and aquaculture), investment in sustainable and energy-efficient aquaculture production.

The European blue economy plays an important socioeconomic role in coastal and inland communities employing millions and generating some EUR650bn in turnover. However, many of the sectors (for example, fishing, aquaculture, tourism, energy) compete for the same space. How can the Commission contribute to reconciling these conflicting interests?

The importance of co-existence of different sectors is acknowledged in the European Commission’s Communication on the Sustainable Blue Economy. Co-existence at sea is not only possible, but it can be beneficial for users from all sectors, as infrastructure, monitoring and maintenance costs can be reduced. Multi-use of maritime space can also bring down the climatic and environmental footprint of each sector’s activities.

Maritime Spatial Planning has a central role to play in steering this practice of multi-use, by delineating areas where it is encouraged to happen. Through the Maritime Spatial Planning process, different ministries and stakeholders must sit together and discuss future developments at sea in order to find solutions that are acceptable for all. The Commission provides guidance to Member States and several fora to exchange best practices on multi-use, notably via the EU Maritime Spatial Planning platform.

Pond fish farming in Central and Eastern Europe is threatened by the conversion of fish farms into arable land due to support received for agriculture through Pillar 1 of the CAP. In a revised Common Fisheries and

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Aquaculture Policy will pond, shellfish, or algae culture receive similar support as agriculture considering they have a lower carbon footprint than other forms of animal husbandry, are net ecosystem services providers delivering public goods not normally paid for by the markets, and are currently the only food producing system not supported through a European scheme?

Sustainable development of EU aquaculture is an objective of the Common Fisheries Policy. The strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture for the period 20212030 adopted by the Commission on 12 May 2021 provide a common vision for further sustainable development of EU aquaculture while preserving and restoring our aquatic ecosystems.

EU environmental strategies target 25 organic production and 30 protected areas, of which 10 should be strictly protected.

For EU aquaculture farmers these targets mean higher production costs and bigger losses due to Natura 2000 protection for predators and will prevent producers from competing with third-country imports. Sustainability in aquaculture must therefore include economic and social sustainability as, in a price-driven market, focusing purely on environmental criteria is likely to jeopardise economic performance and discount the social importance of the activity in rural communities. Can sustainability be officially defined to include all three indicators?

They underline that pond aquaculture, among other forms of aquaculture, should be promoted because it can help preserve ecosystems when managed appropriately. The guidelines also promote the diversification to lower-trophic species like molluscs and other invertebrates and algae. The Commission is also working on a specific initiative to support the production, safe consumption and use of algae, which should be adopted in 2022.

The Common Fisheries Policy Regulation already calls for a coordinated EU strategic approach to support the growth of the EU’s aquaculture sector while ensuring its economic, environmental, and social sustainability. The strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture for the period 2021-2030 also take into consideration the three facets of sustainability. These guidelines will help to build resilience and competitiveness of the aquaculture sector, and ensure social acceptance and consumer information, together with the participation of the sector in the green transition.

The strategic guidelines will help to guide the use of the many instruments and funds available to support EU aquaculture (including but not exclusively the EMFF). The European Maritime & Fisheries Fund (EMFF) allows EU Member States to fund measures to support aquaculture providing environmental services. Under the new European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) those measures will remain eligible for support.

The guidelines provide recommendations on different areas relevant to achieving these objectives. All three dimensions of sustainability—environmental, social, and economic—are interrelated. Environmental sustainability, when sufficiently communicated and valued in the market, can become a clear competitive advantage for EU aquaculture production. This is among the objectives of the recommendations and actions proposed in the strategic guidelines.

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