EUROFISH Magazine 6 2020

www.eurofishmagazine.com

ISSN 1868-5943

December 6/2020 C 44346

Poland Carp producers’ initiatives reshape the market

Our Baltic webinar: Ministers commit to improving the environment Romania: Carps and rainbow trout dominate fish farming Guest Pages: Women in the Seafood Industry strives for gender balance is a member of the FISH INFO network

EUROFISH

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GLOBEFISH Rome

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INFOPECHE Abidjan

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INFOYU Beijing

Casablanca

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SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD FROM ALASKA The cold and clean sea of Alaska is the perfect habitat for premium fish and seafood.

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In this issue

Rethinking carp production, sales, and marketing

EFCA

Fish farmers in Poland are adapting ancient traditions in the way fish are produced to reflect modern society and its needs. Common carp and rainbow trout are the most cultivated species in Poland. However, while trout is eaten throughout the year carp tends to be associated with the period around Christmas.

Carp is typically harvested in the fall to supply the market in December. This model has its advantages, but some producers see the potential of encouraging the consumption of carp 12 months of the year. Creating this market demands a long and dedicated effort first to establish and then to maintain it. Production must adapt to the new conditions, something that may not be possible for all farmers. But it reduces risks, smoothens out earnings, and increases consumption. In addition to creating this year-round market, producers are developing novel products that address consumer needs for convenience. As sales of live fish decline, it is being replaced with portions-sized fillets and with jars containing carp prepared in different ways among other novel products. And these items are being promoted in a series of marketing and promotion exercises being organised by producers’ associations. Read more from page 23 Fisheries inspection and control is a crucial element of fisheries management as it ensures that rules are followed, and fishers catch what they are entitled to. It is a vital tool in the fight against IUU fishing, in the prevention of fraud, and contributes to the sustainable exploitation of stocks. In the EU, the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) is the body at the apex of control and inspection, supporting and coordinating EU members’ responsibilities in this area. In addition to these functions, EFCA also helps train inspectors and instructors and organises joint activities in EU and international waters.

The agency’s electronic recording and reporting system collects data from fishing vessels as well as from authorities to create a fine-grained picture of vessel activities. Analysis of this information contributes to decisions as to which vessels should be inspected and how often. However more remains to be done, according to a Court of Auditors report from 2017, if the control system is to become more modern and effective. Read Dr Manfred Klinkhardt’s article from page 36.

Fisheries in Bulgaria refers to the Black Sea, where a fleet of close to 2,000 vessels, most of them small, is active catching rapa whelk and sprats. These two species account for three fourths of Bulgaria’s Black Sea catches. Another source of wild-caught fish is the Danube but catches today are insignificant. The aquaculture sector, on the other hand, has been growing steadily in the five years to 2018 and can boast a production of mussels produced in the Black Sea in addition to carps grown in pond farms and rainbow trout in raceways or recirculation systems. Bulgarians are not the greatest consumers of seafood, though there are pockets, such as urban centres, where residents eat a lot of fish. Their efforts alone are not enough—per capita consumption is amongst the lowest in the EU and all stakeholders need to collaborate to find a way to increase this. Read more from page 46 The most important equipment in a fishmonger’s or at a supermarket’s fish counter is the display unit. It has two primary functions, to store the fish hygienically, and to attract customers to the arrangement of fish and seafood it highlights. While performing these two tasks, a good display unit must also meet several other criteria. It should be easy to clean, convenient to load and remove products, offer a good view of the contents, and consume as little energy as possible. Displays are thus increasingly sophisticated pieces of equipment that reflect the evolution of insulation materials and of lighting and refrigerating technologies, and are designed to satisfy the demands of sales staff, customers, and the seafood itself.

Today a display unit comes in an infinite variety of shapes, sizes, specifications, and prices, and can be bought off the shelf or be customised to the shop or department where it will be installed, contributing to the image and ambience of the establishment. Read more from page 49.

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Table of News 6 International News

Events

13 ICES webinar on Covid-19’s socioeconomic effects on fishers Studying impacts to benefit policy-making 17 Healing decades of damage: Our Baltic conference Discussing the complexities of good ecosystem health in the Baltic Sea

Aquaculture

20 Is this the start of Turkey’s shrimp farming industry?

Pioneering cultivation of a new species

22 Aquaculture Advisory Council general assembly meeting, 8 September 2020 Ambitious programme of work for 2021

Poland

23 Pond fish farming in Poland, a century-old activity, is adapting to changes at many levels New product forms respond to market demands

28 Ponds farms provide a range of ecosystem services that are becoming ever more important Earthen carp ponds contribute to EU strategies 31 Pustelnia Fish Farm uses innovative methods in the production and sales of carp New customers for an ancient product

34 The carp farm Topornica uses its well-known name to sell fish in the Zamosc area Nudging farmers to trade around the year

Fisheries 36 Improving EU fisheries controls A Sisyphean task for fisheries management Cover Photo credits: Small picture next to “Our Baltic webinar�: Copernicus Sentinel data (2015)/ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

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Contents Romania 40 Science-based measures to support those affected by climate change Sustainable fishing and innovation can ameliorate impacts

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

by Hayden120 and NuclearVacuum

42 Trout behind most growth in Romanian fish farming, but now mussel production may take off Marine shellfish aquaculture receives official focus

Bulgaria 46 The fisheries and aquaculture sector in Bulgaria Ample opportunity to boost seafood consumption

Technology 49 Fish counters set the stage for seafood sales Maintaining freshness and quality stimulates purchases 53 FIAP sells a wide range of equipment for the aquaculture industry A one-stop shop for fish farmers

Worldwide Fish News

Guest Pages: Marie Christine Montfort

Baltic

page

Belgium

pages

9, 10

Denmark

pages

10, 11

France

page

8

Greece

page

12

Morocco

page

12

Norway

pages

7, 8

Spain

pages

6, 7

Turkey

pages

6, 12

USA

page

54 Women in the Seafood Industry fights for gender equality in fisheries and aquaculture Redressing a persistent imbalance

7

Service 56 Fish Infonetwork News 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.

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] Spanish ďŹ sherman develops app to help remove litter new technologies to involve people in waste collection activities.

Twinapp has been used successfully in the campaign, Mou-te Pel Mar, organised by FerrĂŠs to raise awareness about marine litter and is supported by the Costa Brava Fisheries Local Action Group. It included workshops on marine litter involving local residents and authorities, swimming, running or walking outings aimed at collecting litter on land and at sea, and beach clean-ups. Some 700 people took part in the initiatives, and thanks to the link between the project promoters and the fishing sector, 300 local fishers were also mobilised, collecting the litter while fishing during the week before each event. In total, 10 tonnes of waste were collected at these events. The development of the app was supported by the European Maritime and

Funk Dooby, Kent, UK

When Spanish fisherman and sportsman Miquel FerrÊs from Catalonia got introduced to the sports trend ’plogging’, he decided to make it smarter. Plogging is a combination of jogging and picking up litter in Sweden, where it was founded around 2016, and from where it has spread to other countries following increasing public concern about the environment and plastic pollution.

To make plogging more popular, Miquel FerrĂŠs and his two sisters decided to create a mobile phone application, Twinapp. The app enables runners, hikers, cyclists, and eco-swimmers to create communities of sports lovers who clean up the environment while they are exercising. So far, Twinapp, which is available in Catalan, Spanish, English, and French, has been downloaded more than 3,500 times, with usage stretching from Spain to Argentina. The app has received two prizes for the use of

Plogging combines exercising with picking up litter.

Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and is a successful example of how the

use of new technologies can address local challenges.

Webinar series on State of Fishery and Aquaculture Industry BrieďŹ ng in Central Asia and Caucasuss kicks off with Azerbaijan

of Agriculture and Forestry, and Mr Vugar Kerimov, Deputy Minister from the Azerbaijani Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.

The webinar was moderated by Haydar Fersoy, Senior Fishery and Aquaculture Officer of FAO. The webinar provided insights into some of the opportunities that Azerbaijan has to offer. There is huge scope for development of the aquaculture sector, but lack of legislation, statistics, and knowledge about the sector makes development difficult. Several suggestions and recommendations came forth in the online discussions including the Turkish ministry’s offer to share their legislation on the

FAO

FAO and the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry organised the first serial webinars as part of the Capacity Development for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Management in Central Asia (FISHCap) project. The web-based seminars will be organised on a monthly basis, and cover Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The series of webinars aims to provide a brief update of the state of fisheries and aquaculture in the countries and will offer a forum for discussions and networking by stakeholders. The first webinar featured Azerbaijan and was opened by Altug Atalay, Director of Fisheries in the Turkish Ministry

More than 60 participants and stakeholders joined the first in a webinar series on Central Asia.

sector with Azerbaijan. A Turkish company, Sahlanlar, suggested the Azerbaijani government should

introduce incentives to help foreign investors succeed. The next webinar will feature Kazakhstan.

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ]

Hauge Aqua has received approval for the first location of its floating Egg closed recirculation aquaculture system. The Egg will be launched in Langefjorden between Ålesund and Trondheim with a license for farming salmon, trout and rainbow trout of up to a maximum allowed biomass of 780 tonnes and covering an area of 200 x 500 meters. We are happy that the Egg has been so well received in the Rauma municipality and that the planning committee unanimously agreed to it, said

Arthur Lyngøy from Hauge Aqua.

The wild salmon in the area have been under strong pressure from many sides including salmon farming due to lice and the risk of escapes. The signal effect that the authorities send is important. It is a great encouragement that the Egg gets is allowed to establish itself in a locality where traditional open cage farming is excluded, he added. The first Egg is expected to be operational within four years and Hauge Aqua thinks that it will replace open cage aquaculture.

Hauge Aqua

Norwegian aquaculture Egg receives approval for trial location

It is envisaged that closed aquaculture pens providing full control of aquaculture parameters will replace open cage aquaculture in the future.

Spain: Turning abandoned fishing nets into sustainable clothing Abandoned fishing nets or socalled ghost nets and other marine litter are a serious threat to marine ecosystems. In the EU, an estimated 20 of fishing gear is lost at sea, accounting for nearly a third of marine litter in European seas, according to the European Commission. The award-winning Redcycle project, found a way of turning old and abandoned fishing nets into a resource by transforming them into high-quality fabrics to be used in technical clothing. Redcycle has brought the fisheries sector together with the

textile industry and has already obtained concrete results, both for the environment and for communities. The project, funded by the EU, ran an awareness campaign to encourage Basque fishers and local citizens to help collect lost fishing gear. A total of 12 tonnes of lost or abandoned nets and other fishing gear were gathered and recycled. The nets were cleaned and shredded before being turned back into raw material and then into yarn. The final fibre is the result of mixing the recycled fishing nets with other recycled

Fabric based on ghost nets is robust and strong and can be recycled once its life comes to an end.

materials such as carpets. Manufacturing the same quantity of raw material from scratch would have required 18 tonnes of oil and generated 40 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The final clothing items have won an Outdoor Industry Award in the sustainability category and can be recycled again once they reach the end of their useful life.

Baltic Sea: Agreement reached on 2021 fishing opportunities The Baltic Sea Member States and the European Commission have reached an agreement on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2021. The agreement comes as stakeholders struggle with the ongoing environmental threats to the ecosystem and the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In general, the agreement means that eight out of ten Baltic Sea total allowable catches (TACs) are set at sustainable levels.

Reducing fishing pressure

alone will however not solve the problems of the Baltic Sea. A comprehensive approach is needed in line with the newly signed ‘Our Baltic’ ministerial declaration. Welcoming the agreement Virginijus Sinkeviþius, Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries, expressed his satisfaction with a compromise that works for fishermen and women, while allowing fish stocks to replenish and reach healthy levels.

Quotas for eight out of ten species are set at MSY levels, reducing the pressure on these stocks in the Baltic Sea.

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ]

The world’s largest insect farm is being constructed an hour’s drive north of Paris. Ÿnsect, the company behind the new farm will produce mealworms thereby providing a low-carbon source of alternative protein. Although some companies want to introduce worms and insects to human consumption, Ÿnsect is focusing on ways to use insects to reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture and aquaculture. Replacing existing animal proteins with proteins based on insects is a way to make a more sustainable supply chain. Using insects in the production of fish feed, livestock feed, and in pet food will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of these products. As with waste from other animals, the waste produced by the hundreds of millions of insects can be used to fertilise crops. By cultivating mealworms in a vertical farm, the company claims to use 98 per cent less land and significantly reduce the

Ynsect.com

The world’s largest insect farm is being built in France

Antoine Hubert, Ÿnsect CEO, envisages replacing fishmeal in fish, livestock, and pet feeds with insect protein thereby reducing the environmental impact of these feeds.

carbon and biodiversity impacts of protein production.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) predicts that by 2050, food production will have to grow by 70 to meet the rising demands of growing global populations and increasing wealth. Most of the available land for farming is

already being used, which means more innovative, sustainable solutions will need to be used for everyone to be fed. The farm has some high-profile investors, including the actor Robert Downey Jr. who is focusing on cleaning up the planet using artificial intelligence and technology through the Footprint Coalition organisation, which has

invested in the farm. One of the uses for the company’s insect protein is for feeding fish. Farmed species, including salmon and prawns, are often given feed based on wild caught fish which puts more strain on the stocks left in our oceans. Soy is another option, but imports of the protein-rich bean have been linked to illegal deforestation.

A global player in systematising the world of fisheries and aquaculture, Kontali Analyse AS from Norway, has completed its acquisition of Dutch Seafood TIP B.V., which will be a fully owned subsidiary based in Utrecht. Commenting on the acquisition, Thomas Aas, managing director of Kontali, said that with Seafood TIP the combined analytical capacity and sector coverage has expanded to all major segments within both finfish and crustaceans.

By combining data with in-depth analysis and effective storytelling, the two companies’ close collaboration has increased the level of transparency within the sector and helped the seafood industry become more profitable and sustainable. The acquisition was a natural step that will lead to greater synergies for the benefit of clients.

Kontali

Leading Norwegian company expands through acquisition in the Netherlands

With Kontali’s acquisition of Seafood TIP the company will increase transparency in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and extend its geographical presence.

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] European Atlas of the Seas available in 24 languages Access to stunning marine maps and interactive oceanic information now in different EU languages make the Atlas of the Seas an even more accessible and useful educational tool. Visitors can navigate the atlas in the 24 official languages of the European Union and explore a wide range of popular marine topics, such as tourism, litter, environment, energy, aquaculture, and much more. It has been enriched with more than 285 interactive map layers and the possibility to create custom maps that can be printed, shared and embedded in articles or presentations. “Protecting the ocean, and using our marine resources

sustainably, starts with knowledge and understanding,� declared Virginijus SinkeviÞius, EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, adding that the European Atlas of the Seas improves ocean literacy helping the public across Europe to better understand the importance of oceans and the need to protect them. The atlas comes with a range of new features, including an improved print module and measurement tool, the integration of short stories highlighting interesting map layers and the use of a highly detailed background map provided by EMODnet. An interactive help tool now guides users

With more than 285 interactive map layers and customisable maps the European Atlas of the Seas can be used for numerous purposes by individuals and companies alike. Shown, marine finfish farm locations.

through these new features. The European Atlas of the Seas is an online catalogue of marine maps intended for the general public

and non-expert professionals, and can be found at https:// ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/ atlas_en.

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] Denmark introduces a governmaent-backed label for ďŹ sh caught with respect for the sea and the seabed Fishermen who fish in a way that protects the marine environment can now make use of a new state-backed label ‘NaturSkĂĽnsom’ (gentle on nature) that will promote sustainable fishing and support coastal fishers. With the new label, Denmark is at the forefront globally with a state label for fish caught with environmentally friendly methods.

Mogens Jensen, Danish Minister of Fisheries and Food (until his resignation mid-November 2020) finds it logical that if a label can promote sustainably produced

vegetables, cereals, or meat, then there should also be one for sustainably caught fish. The fishermen who are part of the scheme may only fish with gear such as gill nets, longlines, trammel nets, or float trawls, which do no damage to the seabed, a prerequisite for a healthy ecosystem in the sea. In addition, the fish caught must be from healthy stocks, and the fisher must pass a course that trains him to catch and handle the fish in a way that ensures it is of the highest quality. Consumers could eat less meat in the interests

of their health and of the environment, feels the minister, suggesting that freshly caught fish would be an excellent alternative. The labelling scheme will be reviewed by a follow-up group consisting of representatives from the fishing industry, relevant nature and environmental organizations, research institutions and the Danish Fisheries Agency, which will help ensure that the scheme lives up to expectations of better information for consumers, and respect for the marine environment and its development.

The new Danish state-backed label, NaturSkĂĽnsom, will inform consumers that the fish is from a sustainable stock, caught with gear that does no harm to the marine environment, and is of the highest quality.

Anti-dumping investigation on tuna imports from China EuropĂŞche has requested the European Commission to initiate of an anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of processed tuna loins, mainly skipjack, originating in China, which are causing serious economic damage to the European fishing industry.

The information provided to the European authorities discloses the existence of unlawful aid and tax breaks allegedly granted by the Chinese administration to Chinese exporters of both tuna loins and canned tuna. The European fishing sector urges the EU to eliminate any present and future tariff derogations granted to tuna loins, which mainly come from China, to mitigate further market and economic disruption. Subsidised tuna exports are a trade practice that not only breach World Trade Organization (WTO) rules but also threaten sustainable ocean governance.

The alleged interventions by the Chinese government undermine free competition and require urgent action from the EU to reestablish a level playing field in terms of tuna trade flows.

Imports of tuna loins are flooding the EU market at low prices. These low prices are made possible on the one by subsidies from the Chinese government to their producers and on the other hand by EU import tariff derogations granted for 30,000-tonnes of tuna loins per year. In addition, a recent study reveals that China has expanded its uncontrolled distant-water fishing fleet to the point that China is threatening food security and the economies of coastal communities around the globe.

The study claims this has been possible thanks to tax exemptions, fuel subsidies and ship construction subsidies which are hardly ever made public by the Chinese authorities. EuropĂŞche argues that Chinese seafood products therefore compete unfairly with seafood produced sustainably by the EU fishing fleet but also with seafood suppliers from developing countries that export to the EU market under preferential market access conditions. Javier Garat, president of EuropĂŞche, has urged the European Commission to initiate an anti-dumping and

According to EuropĂŞche, tuna from China is illegally subsidised creating an uneven playing field which the European Commission should counter.

anti-subsidy investigation with a view to impose as soon as possible

countervailing measures against tuna exports to the EU.

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] US court orders FDA to conduct environmental assessment of genetically modified salmon A federal court judge in San Francisco ordered the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct an environmental assessment of genetically modified salmon, required prior to the agency’s approval of the fish, the Associated Press reports. In 2015, salmon became the first genetically modified animal approved for human consumption in the US, and the company AquaBounty began growing the fish in indoor tanks at an Indiana plant last year.

The Atlantic salmon are injected with other species’ DNA which makes them grow faster. An AquaBounty statement stresses that the ruling covers the potential environmental impact of the fish, and not the health and safety of eating them. The company’s salmon are not yet being sold in the U.S. pending the FDA’s approval, but were planned to be on the market by the end of the year. The salmon has, however, been sold in limited

AquaBounty’s AquAdvantage Atlantic salmon can reach adult size in 16 to 28 months instead of 36 months consuming 25 percent less feed.

quantities in Canada, where it does not have to be labelled genetically modified, the company has said. To ensure the fish do not escape and breed with wild fish,

AquaBounty states its salmon are raised in tanks and bred to be female and sterile, although tests have shown that this is not 100 certain. The risk of fish escaping

into the wild is unlikely but will increase as operations expand, and the FDA is therefore still required to assess the potential consequences.

Danish fishermen will once again have access to German fishing waters A new agreement between Denmark and Germany allows Danish fishermen to apply for access to fish in the waters close to the German coast in the Baltic Sea following a number of years when this was not possible.

Previously Danish fishermen could only catch plaice in German waters,

now they can apply to catch other flatfish as well. The fishermen are satisfied that an agreement has been reached, having worked on this for a long time, says Kim Kær Hansen, vice chairman of the Danish Fisheries Association. The executive order has been sent out for a short consultation,

and it is expected that the actual application from the fishermen can start in November 2020. Since the agreement grants limited access, it is important that fishermen only apply if they need to use it. There is room

for 24 fishermen with vessels under 12 m and 35 with vessels over 12 m with engine power not exceeding 221 kw. Fishers with vessels whose motors exceed 221 kw, who have fished in the area in 2019 for plaice, can also apply.

Danish fishermen are pleased that an agreement has been reached allowing them to fish more than just plaice in the German part of the Baltic Sea.

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] New managing director at BioMar joint venture in Turkey BioMar-Sagun, a fish feed manufacturing joint venture in Turkey, has appointed Yasemin øúsever as managing director, the company said in a press release. Ms øúsever replaces Bora Aydemir, who joined the company when it was established in 2016. With experience from a senior management position at AbalÄąoŰœlu, Ms øúsever has a strong track record leading businesses within fish farming and feed manufacturing. Ole Christensen, VP EMEA Division, BioMar Group said he was very happy that Ms øúsever had accepted this challenge. We have an ambitious strategy for our joint venture together with Sagun Group, and we believe

Yasemin will be highly valuable for the company going forward.

Despite the challenges the Turkish market has experienced in the last years, our BioMar-Sagun joint venture has been showing promising results. We firmly believe that Yasemin together with our strong local team, will successfully continue the work on realising our ambitions in Turkey, he added. The joint venture factory in Turkey produces fish feeds for trout, seabass, and seabream that are optimised for survival and growth. The collaboration between the two firms brings BioMar’s innovative and extensive R&D efforts together with the Sagun Group’s local knowledge and experience.

Yasemin øúsever is the new head of the fish feed manufacturing joint venture between BioMar and the Sagun Group.

Morocco to launch 24 aquaculture projects

Ms Lara Barazi-Yeroulanos, CEO of Greek bass and bream producer, Kefalonia Fisheries, will be president of the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP) for the next three years, the FishSite reports. Ms Barazi-Yeroulanos has been vice president of FEAP since 2018. The federation members are convinced that the unique skills and leadership capabilities of Lara Barazi will contribute to further promote the development of aquaculture in Europe. She will also be the first woman to lead FEAP. In her acceptance speech Ms Barazi-Yeroulanos stated that she would strive to unfold the full potential of the sector and overcome the complex challenges that have kept European aquaculture stagnant for the last 20 years.

The region of Souss-Massa, in southern Morocco has announced that it will launch 24 aquaculture projects as part of its aquaculture development plan, twenty of which relate to shellfish and the rest to seaweed farming projects, according to the president of the region, Bahim Hafidi, Morocco World News reports. The plan has been developed by the National Agency for the Development of Aquaculture (ANDA) and has a budget of MAD248 million (~ EUR23 million). Production is projected to reach 13,000 tonnes and some 320 direct jobs will be created in the area. The focus on aquaculture development in the country has also attracted foreign investments as Dutch and Norwegian investors joining forces with

FEAP

Greek seabass and seabream CEO becomes new FEAP president

Lara Barazi-Yeroulanos will be the first woman to lead FEAP and will draw on her experience to develop European aquaculture that has remained stagnant for the last 20 years.

Twenty-four projects to farm shellfish and some seaweed will be launched in the Souss-Massa region in southern Morocco.

Here, oysters farmed in Oualidia, south of Casablanca, an activity that goes back over 60 years.

FAO contributed EUR2.1 million to another aquaculture project in May this year, 160 km from Agadir.

Moroccan aquaculture dates back to 1956, when a Frenchman cultivated oysters in the lagoon of Oualidia, south of Casablanca.

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[ EVENTS ] ICES webinar on Covid-19’s socioeconomic effects on ďŹ shers

Studying impacts to beneďŹ t policy-making A webinar organised by ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Seas) brought together four speakers from institutions in the US, the Netherlands, and Portugal to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on ďŹ shing communities and to examine ways to improve the collection and interpretation of data.

A

s the pandemic has spread across the world it has metamorphosed from a health crisis to an economic one. The fisheries and aquaculture sector too has been severely affected. An FAO brief from April this year details some of the impacts the sector faces as a consequence of the coronavirus. Production, for instance, may suffer from the imposition of sanitary measures on board that make fishing difficult, crews may not be able to join their vessels due to travel restrictions, and the necessary supplies of bait or ice may not be available. In addition, demand in some countries has fallen as a result of unfounded perceptions about links between Covid-19 and seafood. Aquaculture production is affected by the closure of markets, the shutdown of the Horeca (hotels, restaurants, and catering) sector, and restrictions on flights and cargo movements. In the processing sector, issues with cross border transport, uncertain supply of raw materials, and market restriction are among the challenges companies must face. Covid-19 is also likely to have an impact on fisheries management and policy as stock assessments, fisheries observer programmes, and science and management meetings may be postponed or cancelled.

The International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), an

intergovernmental body providing scientific advice on the status and sustainable use of fish stocks, recently held a webinar on the socioeconomic impacts of the coronavirus on the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Four speakers discussed how the pandemic has affected the seafood sector— including producers, consumers, markets, and fisheries managers—and explored the contribution from economists and social scientists towards understanding and managing the impact of the crisis.

90 experts, to incorporate the social scientific dimension into marine science. Several working groups were created and workshops, conferences, and conference sessions, helped spread the idea that good social science was an important part of good marine science. One interdisciplinary workshop brought together natural and social scientists to discuss how

Social scientific research is an increasingly important aspect of ICES’ work While ICES has mainly been associated with natural scientists providing the advice on which decisions regarding total allowable catches are based, over the last decade or so social science has become a central pillar of its vision. As Alan Haynie, an economist at NOAA Fisheries and Chair, ICES Strategic Initiative on the Human Dimension (SIHD), said in his presentation both natural science and social science are necessary for the sustainable management of the oceans. In 2015, therefore, ICES launched SIHD, a multidisciplinary group of over

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social science could be better integrated into the work of Integrated Ecosystem Assessment groups, an established part of the ICES structure, to benefit both the groups and the larger ICES community. SIHD members use other events such as the 2016 MSEAS conference in France and the 2021 MSEAS event in Japan to discuss across disciplines and expand marine

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[ EVENTS ]

The impact of Covid-19 on small-scale fishers has been severe as their main customers, hotels and restaurants, have had their activities restricted. Here, dredging by hand for bivalves in one of the Galician estuaries just before the pandemic struck Europe.

science from a biological science to an interdisciplinary one.

The long term relationships that social scientists have with fisheries communities and the data they have collected over the years can further the understanding of the impact of Covid-19 on these communities and contribute to better policies to redress it and to mitigate the impacts of similar events in the future.

Information about pandemic impacts is necessary to target support better Before these policies can be formulated however, the

short- and long-term impacts of the pandemic must be assessed.

Immediate information on, for example, the extent of the impact is needed to target assistance accurately. As more information becomes available over the months, assessments must be revised and projections about long term impacts created, while over the years the increased information available should help shape policies, said Doug Lipton, an economist at NOAA Fisheries. In the US, the passage at the end of March of the CARES act that included general and specific provisions providing relief to the fisheries sector, created the need for information

about the impacts of Covid-19.

This information was organised into different categories: Baselines showed normal levels of activity in different subsectors, capture fisheries, freshwater aquaculture, marine aquaculture, processing etc. Industry snapshots collected data on the impacts of the coronavirus based on surveys and interviews with stakeholders. The information was put into a model and guesses were made as to the severity of the impact and when the situation would revert to normal. Six months later, as more data, for example on catches and landings, became available it was possible to improve the model.

Mr Lipton concluded by saying that different information was needed by different stakeholders, politicians, say, or fisheries managers, and pointed to challenges of assessing the damage caused by a crisis even as it evolves. He also expressed some envy at the EU’s Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EUMOFA) and the regular reports it provides.

A framework to rapidly assess the impact of a shock Marloes Kraan, a marine social scientist at Wageningen University, and co-chair of the ICES

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[ EVENTS ] working group on social indicators spoke about the assessment framework that is being developed to quickly assess the impact of crises like the pandemic. The first reports on impacts from fishers, traders and the media prompted the members of the group, who came from several countries, to pool their insights. It led to the realisation that the impact of the pandemic differed both depending on the cultural context and because the impacts themselves were varied. Developing a comparative framework to study the impacts of the crisis would be useful for governments and industry. The crisis also revealed that having readily available baseline data was crucial to a better understanding of the impacts. The

group is developing social indicators for ecosystem assessments and impact studies. To develop the assessment framework the group agreed to first identify the kinds of shocks that can impact the fishing industry, their scale, and the sectors most affected. The goal of the framework was to be able to move quickly by structuring the work and identifying priorities, and for it to enable comparability, meaning the impact of a hurricane, for example, could be contrasted with that of Covid19. Shocks to the fisheries sector can vary by type—coups or wars, pandemics or epidemics, natural or human-induced calamities— by the way they progress, rapidly or slowly, and by their duration.

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different levels from the individual to the global, and at different points along the value chain or even at the value chain as a whole.

The group formulated five questions applicable to any kind of shock—what is the normal situation, what are the impacts across sectors (such as societal impacts), what factors compound (or mitigate) a shock, and finally, will it result in a social transformation or will the situation revert to what it was before the shock.

Some impacts of the pandemic on small-scale fishers vary with geography The small-scale fisheries (SSF) sector is of particular socioeconomic

importance in Europe as it includes almost half the total number of fishers, over four fifths of the vessels and about 14 of the landing value or close to EUR1bn. This segment is highly dependent on the Horeca (hotels, restaurants, and catering) sector, one of the worsthit by the virus. To study the impact of the pandemic on the these fishers, Cristina Pita and colleagues at the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Portugal, surveyed over 100 organisations representing small scale fishers in 12 countries across the EU from late March to early June 2020 after the introduction of lockdowns. In term of economics Covid-19 had caused losses of 20-100. Fishers in northern Europe and those targeting high

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[ EVENTS ]

Some fishers point to an increase in direct sales since restrictions to contain the spread of the pandemic were introduced. Here, a customer buys fish from a vessel just north of Copenhagen.

value species were especially hardhit. Job losses were less severe— some fishers were laid off, others went on vacation or worked for less pay. The fact that the sector comprises mainly family-owned companies may have reduced job losses so far, but respondents said that if conditions persist then more losses were inevitable. The respondents were also asked to identify the socioeconomic factors that affected them most. Ranking the factors in order of their importance revealed a north-south difference.

For example, fishers in the south were affected most by the loss of their Horeca market followed by the lack of tourists, while for those in the north it was the drop in prices, and the loss of international markets.

Interviews reveal that accessing support was cumbersome for small-scale fishers The researchers were also interested in Covid-19’s impact on the health and wellbeing of small-scale fishers. Here, there was no distinction between north and south. The need to take care of the family, avoid contracting the disease, and the shortage of personal protection equipment were cited as the most important factors by fishers everywhere. Looking deeper into the data the researchers found that more vulnerable or older fishers tended to stay at home, while some younger fishers were prevented from going

out to sea, because they had to care for small children as childcare institutions were closed.

Other concerns included the lack of social distancing on board vessels and at auctions.

The researchers also asked fishers about the measures adopted to deal with the crisis. Here too the responses displayed a slight north south distinction with northern fishers emphasising the importance of public aid and direct sales, while in southern Europe it was the change in fishing effort followed by public aid. Both agreed that the highly bureaucratic procedure made accessing the support difficult.

Many noted that direct sales, whether online, door to door, or by fishbox schemes, recorded an

increase. In addition, fishers in the south responded to changes in demand by targeting different species i.e. catching fewer high value species since the Horeca market was closed and more of the cheaper species as they were easier to sell. In general, they also fished less due to the reduced demand and the drop in prices.

The webinar was a useful reminder that the pandemic is not only a health issue but one that has a massive social and economic dimension to it as well.

Studying these effects will lead to the development of instruments and strategies that could help mitigate the impacts of the next shock to assail the sector.

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[ EVENTS ] Healing decades of damage: Our Baltic conference

Discussing the complexities of good ecosystem health in the Baltic Sea Ministers, decision-makers, scientists, and stakeholders from NGOs and industry in the Baltic region, and across the EU, gathered virtually for the Our Baltic conference to discuss the challenges faced by the Baltic Sea and the actions necessary to remedy the situation.

M

oderated by Chris Burns and Anya Sitaram who competently steered the discussions despite the repeated failure of the streaming technology, the conference underlined the gravity of the threats facing the Baltic Sea. The special hydrographical and climatic conditions make the sea particularly vulnerable to the realities of industrialisation. Saltwater from the Northeast Atlantic blends with freshwater from rivers and streams running through 14 countries in the catchment, creating a highly sensitive and interdependent marine environment. Local pressures, such as eutrophication, overfishing, high levels of traditional contaminants (as well as new contaminants such as pharmaceuticals), and litter (plastic waste in particular), have dramatically degraded the Baltic over the past 100 years. In addition, the sea is struggling with general threats, such as the loss of biodiversity and climate change.

The drive to save the sea Virginijus SinkeviĂžius, EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries, addressed these problems,

particularly the pressure from fisheries and the impact of pollutants, litter, and contaminants. As ecological balances are altered and renewable resources depleted beyond safe biological limits, it is necessary to increase commitment to existing EU legislative goals for the area, and identify new action that might mitigate the problems. Mr SinkeviĂžius emphasised the challenge to restore fish stocks to healthy levels by fishing at maximum sustainable yield. With the collapse of the eastern Baltic cod stock, it was necessary to take extreme measures that included dramatically reducing fishing effort, which forced many fishers out of business. He underlined that a biodiversity strategy is much wider than just marine biology.

Sometimes we forget, he said, that land-based practices have serious consequences for the sea. The webstreamed event included five stakeholder sessions and a closed-door ministerial session. It concluded with ministers for Environment, Maritime Economy, Agriculture, and Fisheries from eight EU Member States in the region (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and

Sweden) and Mr SinkeviĂžius signing a ministerial declaration reaffirming their commitment to a host of measures designed to improve the environment in the Baltic.

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What do we know about the state of the Baltic?

30/11/20 10:38 PM

[ EVENTS ]

Fish stocks and fishers are threatened by the deteriorating marine environment in the Baltic Sea. A ministerial commitment to implement measures to protect the environment may slow and ultimately reverse this trend. Here, fishing vessels in a Polish harbour.

ecosystem is undergoing fundamental changes and is not in a state of equilibrium. This has major consequences for fishery and ecosystem management.

First, the factors affecting the fish stocks include abiotic factors (e.g. temperature, salinity, oxygen), changes in spatial distribution of fish stocks in response to the abiotic factors, and biotic factors (e.g. species’ interactions, parasite infection, invasive species). The main consequences of these factors are changes in (a) increased mortality rate of eastern Baltic cod, (b) changing productivity of herring

and sprat owing to temperature change; (c) function of the food web caused by invasive species; (d) predator–prey spatial overlap. The relative contribution of these individual environmental impacts to overall mortality rates is not currently known.

Second, the fisheries affect the Baltic Sea ecosystem. The most important effects include abrasion of the seabed, disturbance of associated benthic communities, and bycatch of sensitive species. ICES is beginning to quantify these effects on both fishery and environmental management objectives.

Mr Dickey-Collas warned that, if you assume stability in a system like the Baltic, your management measures are going to fail, because the ecosystem is dynamic and fast changing.

Finding targets for fish stocks and fisheries, which indicate stability, will not succeed. It is necessary to find mechanisms that allow us to adapt to the changing environment.

The old status quo is long gone “If the ecosystem could scream, it would be doing so now�, said

Nils HĂśglund, Coalition Clean Baltic. According to him, the future will look different, and it is necessary to stop dreaming that the past will return. He pointed to fishing sectors that are now out of business and will not revive. He called for political will and leadership to understand that we must let go of some of the old structures. As the Baltic has changed, many people have lost their livelihoods and, in some cases, even part of their culture, said Virginijus SinkeviĂžius. In the face of lost jobs, it is time to think about creating a new sense of identity

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[ EVENTS ] for displaced fishers. New occupations should be found that exploit their knowledge of and skill on the high seas. As suggested by Angela Schultz-Zehden, SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth, they should be encouraged to lend their skills to creating the new Baltic, for example, fishing for litter or retrieving ghost nets that litter the sea. Recreational fishing, or pesca tourism, might provide viable occupations for fishers, as well creating demand for other services and products. According to Marie Storr-Paulsen, DTU AQUA, recreational fishing accounts for nearly 30 of the catches of western Baltic cod, though data for the eastern Baltic is sparse.

Mr Dickey-Collas believes that it is possible for anything to recover if the ecosystem is correctly balanced. Because the biomass of the eastern Baltic cod is out of balance, although it is actually quite large, the fish remain too small and die prematurely. In the 1990s, female length-at-maturity was 40–50 cm. Currently, that is down to 20–30 cm. If the ecosystem were in a good state, scientists feel that the eastern Baltic cod could recover. Marie StorrPaulsen said that the natural mortality in the cod stock—five to six times greater than fishing mortality—indicates that fishing mortality is not the main driver of fish-stock depletion. She identified three drivers of low growth and high natural mortality: low oxygen levels, lack of nutrition, and increased numbers of seals, which, in addition to acting as predators also spread a parasite that can affect the cod. This illustrates the futility of trying to regulate fishing mortality alone, ignoring other pressures on the stock.

What goes into the Baltic stays in the Baltic Many sources of pollution were discussed by participants including releases from wastewater treatment plants, ghost nets, oil spills, run-off from storm water that contains particles of automobile tyres, ship wastewater, and spillage of cargo in port-reception facilities, especially fertiliser or its components. Plastic pollution in the sea consists primarily of microplastics. Wastewater and sewage treatment plants are the primary sources of primary microplastics, most of which are residues of cosmetics, paint, household, and industrial detergents, and manufacturing waste. Some microplastics are the result of the breakdown of large chunks of plastics. Secondary sources include large plastics, clothing, manufactured goods, coastal tourism, and natural calamities such as flooding Anders Finnson, Svensk Vatten AB, introduced two Swedish projects that removed 99 of microplastics released from Baltic-facing wastewater treatment plants. The high microplastic removal rate was linked to the high Swedish rate of phosphorus removal, which amounts to between 96 and 97. In the Gothenburg region, it was seen that storm water delivered 100 times more microplastics than the wastewater treatment plant.

Ghost fishing: abandoned fishing gear that continues to fish Sylwia Migdał, WWF Poland, called ghost fishing the deadliest

form of plastic marine litter.

Derelict fishing gear, sometimes referred to as ghost gear, is discarded, lost, or abandoned gear.

It threatens marine species by trapping marine life, smothering habitat, and threatening navigation. According to Georg Hanke, Joint Research Centre, European Commission, locating ghost nets cannot be done comfortably through beach surveys. It requires specific methodology, delving into historical records, and most important, spending time at sea in costly vessels. Further, it must be determined if removing them will cause further damage. The solution calls for new fishing gear that cannot be lost or, if it is lost, cannot cause damage.

Ms Migdał suggested that locating and removing ghost nets might be a profitable livelihood for fishers.

Bottom trawling is most intensive in the southern part of the Baltic and the Kattegat, Ottilia Thoreson, WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme, explained.

These areas have been repeatedly trawled and dragged by trawling nets, a very effective gear capable of taking large quantities of fish. But the numerous impacts of bottom trawling go beyond target species and affect the whole marine ecosystem of the Baltic. Impacts include the serial depletion of target species and the long-term destruction of complex habitats, devastating the vital functions that these perform in the marine ecosystem. We see that sensitive species rarely return to chronically trawled areas.

The trophic cascade, caused by removing the cod, triggers a shift in pelagic species, which then prompts a rise in phytoplankton leading to algal blooms. The

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biogeochemical balance of nutrient cycles and oxygenation is disrupted. These are just a few of the affects that are the result of bottom trawling.

ICES estimates that approximately 15 of the entire Baltic Sea is affected but, according to Ottilia Thoreson, in some areas in the south, 80 to 100 of the seabed is disturbed.

Awareness and education are critical, believes Agnƥ LukoťeviÞienƥ, Lithuanian Ministry of Environment, because they can change habits. She points to the success of the deposit system for single-use beverage packaging, introduced in Lithuania in 2016. It was a major breakthrough in public awareness of sorting. In four years, the country reached an exchange rate of 92 for PET bottles and a 76 rate for plastic recycling. In 2019, a mandatory fee for lightweight shopping bags was introduced. Recently, parliament established different fee tariffs for recyclable and non-recyclable packaging and she is confident that this will encourage manufacturers to choose recyclable materials at the initial phase of packaging production.

The Our Baltic conference was a highly informative event that highlighted the desperate plight of the Baltic Sea. Ministers’ reiteration of their commitment to implementing the legislation designed to improve the environment is a step in the right direction and will hopefully lead to changes that benefit the marine environment and the communities that depend on it. –William Anthony

30/11/20 10:38 PM

[ AQUACULTURE ] Is this the start of Turkey’s shrimp farming industry?

Pioneering cultivation of a new species A company in Turkey is growing whiteleg shrimp from imported broodstock. The experience and knowledge gained will be used to catalyse the development of a shrimp industry in the country.

T

urkish catches of wild shrimp are dominated by deep-water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris). This species accounted for three quarters of the catch of shrimp, prawn and lobster in 2019 or 3,850 tonnes. In addition, the country imported 2,150 tonnes of shrimp in various forms. Shrimp are popular in Turkey which is why it is surprising, that despite an 8,000 km long coastline and a hugely successful aquaculture sector, shrimp farming has never established itself. Attempts to farm the native species foundered due to slow growth rates, cannibalism, and the inability to utilise the feed optimally, according to Metin Kumlu, a former professor of aquaculture at Çukurova University in Adana.

Today Prof. Kumlu is advising a company, Mem’s Karides, on how to farm whiteleg shrimp, a non-native species.

Whiteleg shrimp more promising than native species Established in 2017 Mem’s Karides is part of a group whose core activities are in construction, renewable energy and the medical industry. The company owners, suspecting there may be an opportunity in shrimp farming, decided to invest in a shrimp hatchery, nursery, and grow-out ponds at the site of a

Members of the Mem’s Shrimp board. From left, M. Emre Bingßl, Prof. Metin Kumlu (advisor to the board), Dr Asuman Beksari, Murat Demir

former seabass and seabream farm in Mugla in western Turkey.

The hatchery according to Emre BingĂźl, one of the company partners, is the first and only one in Turkey. So, what drove a company with interests in quite different fields to start up a shrimp farm?

The investment needed was relatively modest and the potential returns were very promising, but over and above that it was the expertise of Prof. Kumlu, that was a deciding factor. With his colleagues at university Prof. Kumlu had tried to farm shrimp commercially in Adana but lacked the financial backing until the owners of Mem’s Karides showed an interest in the project.

The professor had acquired some experience farming local species of shrimp from the Mediterranean Sea, but they showed little potential for being commercialised. In contrast, trials with whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) were much more promising as the shrimp utilised the feed better and grew rapidly. For commercial farming, says Prof. Kumlu, white shrimp is far superior to our local species.

However, the plan is also to initiate a pilot production with a strain of giant tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) to see if that too is suitable to be farmed under the available conditions. The farm currently comprises a hatchery, a nursery, and a grow-out unit created by adapting

a former seabass and seabream farm. It is located some 10 km from the coast and water for the production is therefore pumped from a well. The salinity of the water is low (5-7 ppt), but the white shrimp is a hardy species and can tolerate low salinities at the nursery and grow-out stage. For the hatchery, however, sea water is transported from the coast by truck. The production cycle starts with the import of specific pathogen free (SPF) broodstock. The company tried broodstock imported from Thailand before switching to a supplier in Saudi Arabia as the results from the former were not satisfactory— the handling and transport had apparently stressed the animals.

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[ AQUACULTURE ] So far, the broodstock has only been imported twice, about fifty pairs each time, as larvae are only required for the company’s own production.

Recirculation systems used for biosecurity reasons A female that spawns well can give between 200 and 400 thousand eggs and if the hatchery protocols are good, she can spawn more than once a month and has a working life of 6-8 months, before the quality of the eggs deteriorates. Larvae from the broodstock cannot be reared to become broodstock themselves, explains Prof. Kumlu, who has done some experimental work in this regard, when he was at university. Spawning and hatching rates tend to be worse than for broodstock imported for the purpose and the post-larvae are generally poor quality. As a result, he expects the company to continue importing broodstock for the next couple of years at least.

The farm uses recirculation technology to produce the shrimp. This is used not in the hatchery but in the nursery and the four grow out ponds. The latter are between 1,000 and 1,500 sq. m in size. The use of recirculation systems is made compulsory by the authorities who do not permit the growth of non-native species of shrimp in other than closed containment systems. The ponds are equipped with sedimentation tanks and biological filters and pumps are used to circulate the water. The system was tested a few years ago at Prof. Kumlu’s department at Çukurova University and the results from there suggested that the system could be scaled up for commercial purposes.

After the broodstock spawn and the eggs hatch, it takes a couple of days before the larvae start feeding.

They are nourished for 10 to 14 days

initially on algae and artemia, and later on artificial feed until the postlarvae stage. The post-larvae are moved to the nursery where they stay for 4-6 weeks until they reach between 0.75 g and 1.5 g. They are then moved to the grow-out ponds.

This year (2020), the first year of production, the shrimp were moved at the end of July from the nursery to the grow-out ponds, where they will stay for two and a half to three months. The hope is that they will reach a market size of around 20 g by then. However, as this will be the first production batch, sizes are expected to vary from 15 to 25 g. Although the absence of other shrimp farms in Turkey reduces the risk of disease, the company is fully aware of the need for hygiene and biosecurity measures. The imported broodstock is certified SPF and workers at the farm take the necessary precautions to reduce any risk of infection. Additional measures will be introduced over time as production grows.

Locally produced, fresh product has an edge over frozen imports

The shrimp will be grown to a size of about 20 g and sold fresh on the domestic market. European markets are also part of the company’s future plans.

sending seafood to Europe which will also benefit the company.

Initially, however, Mem’s Karides will target the domestic market, in particular the big metropolitan cities like Istanbul and Izmir, but also tourist centres such as Bodrum and Antalya. In the first instance, retailers interested in the product will be expected to take delivery at the farm and package the shrimp themselves. However, in a year

Whiteleg shrimp is popular among Turkish consumers and retailers have been visiting the farm to learn more about the production and the potential for securing regular deliveries. Currently, the market is supplied with frozen whiteleg imported from Asia and demand is good, says Emre Bingül. Where Mem’s Karides has an advantage is that it can supply very fresh product that is cultivated in Turkey. In fact, once production has taken off the company expects to be able make deliveries within 24 hours of harvest. The ultimate goal, however, is to export to the EU, most parts of which can be reached within 4 days by truck.

Thanks to the seabass and seabream farming industry, Turkish exporters have a lot of experience

Mem’s Karides/Shrimp Co. Headquarters Piri Reis Mah. İsmet İnönü Bul. Hanlıoğlu, Apt. No:182 K:1/2 Yenişehir Mersin, Turkey Tel: +90 324 327 04 44 Fax: +90 324 327 05 55 www.memskarides.com

Farm site Baharlı Mah. 1023 ada-parsel Milas, Muğla Türkiye Tel: +90 536 281 33 33 Tel: +90 532 356 56 47

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or two the company expects to establish a unit, where the shrimp will be processed and packaged.

Expansion plans not only include a processing facility, but also an investment in land for more ponds in Adana to increase the production of post-larvae. These will then be sold to other companies that have shown an interest in shrimp farming to support this nascent industry in Turkey.

Partner: Emre Bingül, emre@ memskarides.com Murat Demir, murat@memskarides.com Advisor: Prof. Metin Kumlu, mkumlu@gmail.com Activity: Production of farmed whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) Capacity: 120 tonnes total from two harvests/year Hatchery capacity: 50m postlarvae Feed production: 60 tonnes Markets: Turkey, EU (in future) Partners: 4 Employees: 15

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[ AQUACULTURE ] Aquaculture Advisory Council general assembly meeting, 8 September 2020

Ambitious programme of work for 2021 The annual general assembly of the Aquaculture Advisory Council (AAC) in September this year was held online due to the pandemic.

The virtual setting had, however, no impact on the level of debate which has characterised this organisation’s meetings. In his address, Virginius SinkevicĚŒius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries, welcomed the advice and recommendations made by AAC for the Commission and the Member States to guide the development of sustainable aquaculture in Europe. with sector representatives and follow AAC recommendations to raise awareness about aquaculture’s potential and thus contribute to its growth.

AAC

T

he Commissioner stressed that aquaculture as a low carbon source of highquality protein plays a key role in meeting the objectives of EU strategies, including the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork Strategy, and the Biodiversity Strategy. In this respect, one essential tool made available by the European Commission with the full support of AAC is the revised strategic guidelines for the development of sustainable aquaculture in Europe, which will be adopted by the end of this year. Clara Aguilera, member of the European Parliament and member of the PECHE and AGRI Committees, shared her perspective on the Green Deal and Biodiversity Strategy stressing the importance of the transition period, financial resources allocation and of the impact assessment needed for the proper implementation of these policies.

As for the Farm to Fork Strategy, Ms Aguilera pointed to the paucity of references to aquaculture in the document and emphasised the role of the European Parliament and of stakeholders in remedying this. In response to comments made by the AAC members requesting equal support opportunities for agriculture and aquaculture, Ms Aguilera renewed her wish to cooperate

Pandemic or not, next year promises to be busy for members of the AAC In addition to the four recommendations on the revision of the strategic guidelines for the sustainable development of aquaculture, the AAC published two recommendations on the proposal for a delegated act to amend Annex III to Regulation 853/2004 (Norovirus 2) and on the revaluation of the risk assessment of parasites in farmed fish products.

Priorities in the AAC working programme for next year include analysing the implementation of the Strategic Guidelines for the Sustainable development of European Aquaculture (national strategic plans, procedures simplification, competitiveness enhancing); discussing environmental issues and sustainability concerns (ecosystem services provided by aquaculture, EU Nature, WF and MSF Directives, defining sustainability in aquaculture); examining the role of the EMFF (analyse how the fund has been spent on aquaculture and the effectiveness of the spending); and highlight-

Discussions at the Aquaculture Advisory Council general assembly meeting were not hindered by the fact that it was held virtually.

ing aquatic animal health and welfare (availability of veterinary medicines, of vaccines and antimicrobial resistance, improving fish welfare) among others.

The discussion which followed focused on the role of AAC in achieving Green Deal objectives.

The conclusions of the several adhoc debating groups were almost unanimous in that despite the efforts made the EU aquaculture sector is not growing as expected mainly because of multiple layers of unrelenting regulations and

excessive administrative burden.

These constraints, mentioned also by Dr Ralph DÜring, Vicechair of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), discourage investments, deter young people from joining aquaculture development efforts, and increase the vulnerability of EU aquaculture to third countries’ imports. At the end of the day, aquaculture can certainly generate sustainable food with respect for animal welfare and biodiversity issues, but firstly it must produce more.

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POLAND

Pond ďŹ sh farming in Poland, a century-old activity, is adapting to changes at many levels

New product forms respond to market demands Anna PyĂź, Pustelnia Fish Farm

Alterations in climate patterns, developments in the market for carp products, and shifts in consumer proďŹ les are all having an impact on the way carp is produced and sold in Poland.

The area of carp ponds in Poland is some 60,000 ha, a figure that has stayed fairly stable for centuries.

P

ond fish farming in Poland dates back to at least the 12th century, when monks produced fish in earthen ponds.

Over the next 500 years ponds were built that varied in size from 100 ha to 1,000 ha. The biggest ponds were subsequently divided into smaller, more manageable units and today the area available for fish farming is some 60,000 ha. A variety of freshwater species are produced in polyculture in these ponds including common

carp, bighead carp, grass carp, silver carp, catfish, pike, tench, and pike-perch. Production has shown a gently increasing trend over recent years and stood at 26,500 tonnes in 2018, according to FAO. Common carp comprehensively dominates the production of pond-farmed freshwater fish, though its position has slipped a little over the last decade or so, from 91 of the production

in 2010 to 79 in 2018. Carp is typically farmed extensively, meaning the yields are less than 1,500 kg/ha and the fish relies on the naturally available phytoplankton in the pond which the farmer supplements with cereals, mainly wheat—extruded feeds are not used. Average productivity of pond farms in Poland has also increased over the last years and was about 441 kg/ha in 2018 from 283 kg/ha in 2010. However, productivity of

07_POLAND (PL).indd 23

individual farms may be higher or lower depending on a variety of factors, management practices, use of supplementary feeds, weather conditions, water availability etc. The sector is highly fragmented with some 850 farms 70 of which are small with pond areas less than 50 ha, according to Krzysztof Hryszko, Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics and Andrzej Lirski, Inland Fisheries Research Institute, in an article in Przegląd &VSPl TI

01/12/20 3:48 PM

POLAND

Rybacki 05/2020, while just over a quarter are between 50 and 500 ha.

New series of products to be launched by Polski Karp

Polish consumers like their fish large

Mr Wielgosz and others in the industry are concerned about this apparent lack of interest in carp and are launching several new initiatives to increase awareness about the fish, how it is produced, and the benefits it offers. Polski Karp will introduce two marketing campaigns, each worth PLN6m (EUR1.3m) and supported by the EMFF. One will be for the last two months of the year, while the other will extend to 2023. The campaigns will highlight a series of new products that the PO is selling, carp fillets and steaks packaged in modified atmosphere, a new series of carp-based products in glass jars, as well as the traditional fresh whole or fresh gutted carp. All the products will be available in retail stores from November 2020.

The advantage of MAP is that it is far easier to distribute than fresh whole or gutted to say nothing of live fish, says Mr Wielgosz, so it is possible to reach many more customers. Fishmongers and small retailers can allocate space on a refrigerated shelf without having to consider ice, water, tables, or other investments to display the fish. There is of course the disadvantage that MAP packages with carp are likely to be placed near other fish products in MAP enabling a rapid comparison of prices, which may not be in the carp’s favour. Another body, the Polish Fishery Association under Dr Andrzej Lirski from the Inland Fisheries Institute, will launch Karp 2020, a campaign to start in November 2020 to promote carp and pond aquaculture. A particular target will be young consumers, for, as Dr Lirski says, the future of the carp sector depends on them. There are good reasons to try and boost Polish awareness

Carp production typically follows a three-year cycle, where ponds are stocked in spring and harvested in autumn in the third year when the fish are 1.5 to 2 kg in size.

Broodstock are either allowed to spawn naturally or are manually stripped of their eggs and milt which are then mixed. When the fertilised eggs hatch the larvae are collected, grown in tanks till they reach about 3 cm, and then introduced into ponds. In the first two years the fish are usually moved in autumn to wintering ponds where they spend the winter and then back to grow out ponds in the spring. In the third year they are moved to storage ponds in the autumn and harvested from there for the market. This production cycle is not without risks, says Anna Pyc, a fish farm owner, mainly because from spring to autumn the fish are invisible. The ponds are large and the water turbid, so if there is an outbreak of disease, for example, there are few warning signs and the stock can suffer a lot of damage before control measures can be implemented.

The main period for carp consumption in Poland is over the Christmas season. Supermarkets often have hefty discounts on carp during this time, which they use to tempt consumers in the hope of getting them to do the rest of their shopping there too. Despite the offers, Poles consume only 0.5 kg of carp per capita per year, while eating 0.8 kg of salmon and 15 kg of seafood in total, according to data from Pawel Wielgosz, the CEO of the producer organisation, Polski Karp.

Carp producers are expanding the market by inventing new ways of eating carp, such as these products in glass jars.

and consumption of carp apart from the economic benefits that would accrue to farmers. In a paper in the British Food Journal published in June 2020, Katrin Zander and Yvonne Feucht suggest that carp could be make a healthful and environmentally beneficial contribution to the growing demand for protein.

Their study also showed that consumers between the ages of 18 and 34 were significantly more likely to describe carp as difficult to prepare confirming the necessity of targeting this group with simple recipes as envisaged in the Karp 2020 campaign.

Environmental benefits of carp cultivation need to be better known Other interesting results the paper reveals relate to the ignorance of many consumers regarding the environmental friendliness of carp production. This is confirmed by Dr Anna Wisniewska, director of the Inland Fisheries Institute, who says consumers need to be educated about the benefits of carp farming for the environments as this

will stimulate interest in the consumption of carp. Carp farming as it is practiced today is fundamentally not very different from the way it was done centuries ago— low density cultivation in polyculture with other species and without the use of extruded feeds.

This form of cultivation has been shown to place the least nutrient burden on the environment compared to other food production sectors in Europe, according to a recent paper in the Journal of Cleaner Production. The ponds and their surroundings are a magnet for wild flora and fauna making the area so biodiverse that it is often designated a Natura 2000 site. In addition, ponds play a role in water retention, groundwater regulation, flood control, and they process organic matter that enters the ponds from the surroundings.

Consumers are unaware of these ecosystem services that pond farms provide, something that could be highlighted in promotion campaigns. In the context of barriers to increasing carp consumption, consumers mentioned the presence of large numbers of bones as well as the occasionally muddy taste that the fish exhibits.

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They also mentioned low availability and the perception of carp as a fish from an old-fashioned cooking tradition. Encouragingly, many of these barriers can and are being addressed. Low availability is an aspect that some producers are already working on to remedy by selling their fish around the year instead of just during the Christmas season. The issue of bones is one that could be tackled by processors. If several incisions are made along the width of the fillet severing the bones that are present, the fragments that are left will dissolve when the fillet is cooked. Better farm management can reduce or eliminate the muddy taste, while new products from carp, such as fillets, sold in convenient sizes and attractive packaging that includes an easy recipe will help give carp’s image a complete makeover.

To identify ways of increasing demand for new products the researchers presented consumers with a selection, all of which were convenient to prepare and of portion size. The responses showed that three of the products (bone-cut carp fillet, carp crisps, and carp ham) elicited a high degree of interest with more than half the respondents willing to consider buying or tasting the product. However, the study showed that interest correlated positively with age, education levels, frequency of consuming fish, and the perception of carp as a healthful and tasty fish, suggesting that consumers who could already be considered carp lovers were the most receptive to novel carp products.

Innovations seen at different steps of the value chain Novel carp products is just one of a number of areas in the carp value chain that have shown innovative developments. Magdalena

Selling carp around the year calls for new sales channels such as fish trucks that visit local markets in a different town each day.

Raftowicz from Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, and Bertrand Le Gallic from the University of Western Brittany demonstrate the existence of technical, market, and institutional innovations in Lower Silesia in a paper in the journal Aquaculture. Among small producers, they found, direct sales offered a way to increase the unit value of the production. Such sales were typically conducted by the owner from a street market in the nearest city during the Christmas period and could result in an increase of EUR0.4 to 0.6 per kg compared with other sales channels. Street market sales were also used to promote the farm and any tourism services (e.g. accommodation, angling) it might offer in the summer. Another innovative feature concerned expanding the period of sales by selling to local restaurants and in particular to those that specialise in carp products. Initiatives to do this have been successful and restaurants now offer carp as the main dish on the menu at all times of the year.

Retail chains in Lower Silesia have also noted this demand for carp and are now supplying live, gutted, and smoked fish as well as fillets throughout the year.

Promotion of locally produced carp with the help of a Protected Geographic Indication (PGI) label or a local certification, such as “Barycz Valley recommends,� awarded by the local producers’ association, was also identified as innovative.

Producers said that their customers, retailers in particular, ask for this certification. Vertical integration of operations by producers so that they not only produce the fish but also the cereals that are given as supplementary feed, investments in ways of adding value to products (specialised fish transport systems, processing plants), of providing fish all the year around without going through intermediaries (restaurants), and of diversifying income streams (recreational fisheries) were among other innovations that characterised the sector. The availability of live carp in

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hypermarkets in Lower Silesia over the Christmas period where previously it could only be purchased at the farm or at other outlets is also considered innovative. In terms of market structure innovations, EU countries, such as the UK and Ireland, to which large numbers of Polish people have emigrated are relatively new markets for carp products outside the traditional carp-eating countries in Central and Eastern Europe. However, these innovations are not universally implemented across fish farms. Some are more suitable to small establishments and others to big ones, however they all tend to increase the value of carp production, say the authors, and most of them can be replicated in the carp sector in other parts of Poland or even in other countries.

Climate change is a serious threat to carp farmers The positive trends in production and innovation notwithstanding, &VSPl TI

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carp farmers are facing a number of challenges that need to be addressed if the sector is to continue to evolve. Among the biggest threats the sector faces are those related to climate change. Pond farmers usually draw water from rivers to produce fish. When the ponds are drained to harvest the fish, the water is returned to the river. However, winters and springs are getting dryer and summers hotter in Poland, which has an impact on fish farmers. Warmer winters with less precipitation as snow or rain prevent rivers from being replenished with water as they were in the past. Farmers cannot draw the water they need as the available water must be shared by the different users—fish farmers, crop farmers, anglers, municipalities etc. The lack of water can prevent pond farmers from topping up their ponds as they lose water to evaporation. This has a direct impact on the fish which have less water and less oxygen in which to grow. Moreover, the summer is the growth period for the fish when they are fed with supplementary cereals, metabolic rates are high, and they need a lot of oxygen. If there is a deficiency of oxygen because of the lack of water the fish cannot be fed which affects their growth. Pawel Wielgosz, the CEO of the producer organisation Polski Karp and the owner of a fish farm, says in two decades of experience producing fish he has never experienced drought conditions as he did this year. In general, from being a sporadic issue, drought has become regular. Anna Pyc, who produces on 400 ha of ponds, recalls each of the last five years as having a period of drought, and suggests that the issue is becoming increasingly widespread.

Janus Wrona, Director of the Department of Fisheries, agrees that drought is a real and pressing problem. In the first instance, he says, compensation is available

Janus Wrona, Director, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

within the de minimis rules (support that is deemed too little to distort competition) for issues arising from drought. However, there are many farms which cannot produce because of drought, nor will they be able to produce in the future because the problem of drought cannot be solved in a short time period, and so giving them compensation is not the answer. According to Mr Wrona there are two ways to address the challenge presented by drought.

One is a national programme of water retention which could benefit most farms though not all, while the other is support for companies investing in recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS).

Water retention could mitigate the impacts of drought

that allows them to use water from a river or stream. These permits are for a certain quantity of water and are valid for a long period (up to 10 years for trout and up to 30 years for carp farms), but there is no guarantee that they will be renewed at

Farmed ďŹ sh production in Poland (tonnes) Name

2015

2016

2017

Common carp

17,749

18,549

18,325

20,751

Rainbow trout

13,161

14,415

14,481

15,945

Freshwater ďŹ shes nei

3,017

2,657

3,271

2,950

Sturgeons nei

397

530

640

784

Grass carp (= white amur)

593

573

576

566

0

0

0

500

Silver carp

594

572

575

500

Cyprinids nei

300

300

335

500

Wels (= Som) catďŹ sh

220

114

76

365

Bighead carp

Others

Another issue that pond farmers are struggling with is the permit

the end of the period. This obviously creates enormous uncertainty, says Anna Pyc, as a famer may have invested hundreds of thousands of euro in the farm.

The risk that these permits may not be renewed will discourage investments in the sector which

Total

940

590

36,971

38,300

2018

521

500

38,800

43,361

FAO. 2020. Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics. Global aquaculture production 1950-2018 (FishstatJ).

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counters EU goals of increasing output from aquaculture, she feels. Mr Wrona states that the way these permits are issued is due to be changed so that farms that are part of the water retention programme will have priority when these permits are renewed. The Department of Fisheries is preparing a list of farms that are suitable to join the water retention programme.

Firstly, though, the data regarding quality and quantity of water in rivers, streams and other water bodies needs to be updated as this information is now obsolete due to changes in climate. This exercise will also provide information on other users of the water, such as agriculture, industry, tourism, etc., and on the extent they use water to ensure that access is divided equitably between the different sectors. Before the water retention programme can be implemented for pond farms, however, the department together with the Inland Fisheries Institute is conducting studies to find out how best pond farms can work with the retention programme. The research required is highly complex and it is likely to take some time before the results appear, cautions Mr Wrona.

Baltic fleet suffers from slump in cod quotas, fishing restrictions The Department of Fisheries is also responsible for marine fisheries, an area that has seen significant changes over the last years. Vessels from the Polish fleet fish in different parts of the Atlantic as well as in the Pacific but catches from the Baltic Sea amount to three fourths of the total. The most important commercial species in the Baltic are managed with quotas and these

Fishing vessels in the Baltic have been hit first by the restrictions on cod fishing and then by the pandemic.

have been decreasing over the last years. Sprat, herring, and cod are the most economically significant species for Poland.

While the country’s quotas for sprat and herring are 22 and 11 smaller in 2020 compared to last year leaving them at 62,000 tonnes and 77,000 tonnes respectively, the quota for cod is down almost 90 to under 1,000 tonnes. The department would like to close the Baltic for a period of three years to allow stocks to rebuild, but is aware that this is unrealistic due to the scale of the undertaking, as a compensation programme would have to address fishers across the entire Baltic Sea region. Mr Wrona is keen to invest more in research into the causes behind the depletion of the cod stock, where mortality from natural causes is now higher than from fishing, he says. Some problems such as warming water or the lack of

inflows from the North Sea cannot be solved as they are the result of natural phenomena, but comprehensive and decisive analysis of changes in the Baltic and the factors influencing them would make it easier to apply remedial measures, he says.

Pandemic hits some sectors harder than others The pandemic had a huge impact on the trout farming sector. Carp farms have been spared so far as the main sales season is yet to start, but for trout farmers the two-month lockdown from March prevented sales creating a large volume of unsold marketsized fish for which there was little storage space on the farms.

When the lockdown lifted in May there was a glut of fish on the market competing with the trout that was produced after the lockdown and reducing prices.

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For the processing sector too the impact of the virus combined with the closure of the Baltic cod fishery in the latter half of last year sent several smaller processing plants to the wall. Bigger factories could work with herring and sprat and so were spared the fate of the smaller plants. The virus did, however, have a positive impact on the canning sector, where turnover increased as consumers stockpiled on canned fish in anticipation of harder times, when movement might be restricted and supplies of food could become unreliable. Perhaps the greatest challenge presented by the pandemic is learning how to manage it to prevent the spikes in infections that lead to severe restrictions.

In most countries, until a vaccine is discovered, produced, distributed, and administered, the virus is going to be a part of life, the quicker we learn how to live with it the better. &VSPl TI

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Ponds farms provide a range of ecosystem services that are becoming ever more important

Earthen carp ponds contribute to EU strategies Carp farming in Poland has a tradition that goes back several centuries. And today the country produces more comon carp than any other kind of farmed ďŹ sh. Most of this is consumed on the domestic market, much of it around Christmas. Apart from its economic value, carp is a thus a culturally important ďŹ sh. To preserve and expand this role and to ensure the ďŹ sh’s relevance in the future, an advisory body has been established at the ministry to help shape policy governing the sector. Waclaw Szczoczarz, the head of the advisory unit, discusses here the carp farming sector in Poland and the challenges it faces.

You head the Carp Management Team, an official advisory body at the ministry. What is the role of this body? What is the background of the members? Are the recommendations of the management team binding on the ministry?

Carp farming is an integral part of the whole fishing industry, but it has its own specificities andchallenges, and therefore requires a special approach and distinct solutions in many places. Hence, on 20 January 2020, the Carp Management Team (CMT) was established as an advisory body to the Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation (the Department of Fisheries moved to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in November 2020). The CMT consists of representatives of carp farmers’ organisations supported by scientists who have been involved in carp farming for many years, headed by Professor Ryszard Wojda.

The tasks of the CMT include analysing the issues facing carp farming and providing a vision for its development especially in the following fields: 1.

2.

Improving the economic conditions for carp farming in Poland; Promotion of carp breeding and consumption;

3.

4.

5.

Strengthening the environmental, social, cultural credentials of carp farming; Monitoring the position of carp farming in strategic national and European Union documents concerning aquaculture; Updating the Code of Good Fishery Practice in Fish Farming and Breeding together with its implementation on fish farms.

What are the characteristics of the carp sector in Poland?

Carp farming has existed in Poland for centuries. The area of carp ponds in Poland has not changed much over the years and amounts to about 60 thousand hectares of usable area. The annual production of consumer carp, after a significant reduction a few years ago, has now returned to a stable volume of about 20 thousand tonnes.

Carp ponds are earthen ponds, with low-intensity production of up to 1500 kg/ha in consideration of fish welfare and the ecosystem services provided by this kind of cultivations. Polish consumption is about 0.5 kg of carp per person, so domestic production is sold almost entirely on the Polish market. Periodic surpluses result from importing several thousand tonnes of

Wacław Szczoczarz, head of the Carp Management Team, a body constituted to advise the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on policy governing the carp farming sector.

live carp from the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Hungary. In recent

years, due to the withdrawal of hypermarkets from the traditional

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sale of live carp (during the Christmas period), farmers have intensified this traditional sale through fishmongers and directly from their farms. Farmers have also built small fish processing plants near their farms (with co-financing from the European Fisheries Fund), which guarantees that the fish delivered directly to local markets is of the highest quality and freshness.

While carp production may have shown a slight increase, trout production has also gone up, at the same time Poland has become the largest processor of Norwegian salmon in the EU. Are salmonids a significant threat to carp? How can carp maintain its historic position as Poland’s favourite farmed fish?

Carp is still the undisputed leader on the Christmas table thanks to a long and venerable tradition.

Fish farmers know this, but they also know that without professional promotion carp can lose its favoured position. In 2004, therefore, they founded the „Mr. Karp�

Fish Promotion Association, which together with other organisations promotes carp and carp products.

A few years ago, salmon tried to dethrone carp from its position on the nation’s Christmas eve table, but the slogan „replace carp with salmon� was only very reluctantly received by Polish consumers.

Climate change is affecting carp production. One of the main impacts is the lack of water in the spring months. How can carp farmers cope with this? Are there any adaptation strategies they can adopt? What role can the administration play and what are the likely long-term consequences of a lack of water?

Poland has one of the smallest renewable water resources in the European Union. Statistically, Europeans have almost three times the

volume of water that is available to Poles. It is already certain, that as a result of climate change, the availability of water will reduce in the absence of immediate action. We lack small retention tanks, which, in contrast to large and expensive retention tanks, retain water more effectively. A drought prevention programme is the imperative of the moment, and traditional earth ponds with a combined area of several tens of thousands of hectares, scattered all over Poland, where water is stored in pond basins, but also in plants and the surrounding land, should absolutely become one of the strongest links of this programme. The idea of including breeding ponds in the national water retention program has the great advantage that it can be implemented almost immediately, which in the current situation is invaluable.

Fish farmers know how valuable water is because they deal with it every day. They also know that water retention costs a lot, particularly the infrastructure: weirs, valves, monks and culverts. There are also thousands of kilometers of drains, channels, and watercourses. Building and maintaining them costs money and farmers should receive financial compensation for this service. Water retention using fish ponds benefits the environment. Let us therefore use these ponds in the water retention programme to safeguard our limited water resources. The inclusion of land-based breeding ponds in the national water retention program will require the users of these ponds to be ready and committed to water retention up to maximum levels of accumulation, taking into account the specificity of breeding ponds, local hydrological conditions and water permits.

Water retention in breeding ponds and carp farms can complement each other perfectly. I urge other EU countries with traditional carp

Carp ponds provide a range of ecosystem services, such as contributing to biodiversity, flood control, and now also to water retention.

ponds to include these ponds in their retention systems.

pandemic will affect the level of carp sales in December.

What have been the impacts of the pandemic on carp production, marketing, and sales?

Carp farming is not just fish production. At many farms it is accompanied by catering services (based on fish), accommodation, tourism, fishing, etc., which greatly support the farmer’s budget. The corona crisis has strongly limited these services. Carp farming is in a very difficult situation. The last two seasons have been very bad for carp anglers, who fish in ponds dedicated by farmers to this purpose. Last year there was a price collapse in December (carp prices declined by about 30 percent) and today farmers are entering the corona crisis with almost no money or even with debts. They simply do not have the capital reserves to deal with this crisis.

The European Commission is assisting by introducing flexibility and simplifying the use of European structural funds. The Polish government is also contributing and aquaculture will receive aid amounting to 10 of the value of fish sold in 2018.

We all feel the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Some are already very much affected today, for others the effects will come later. Today, aquaculture in Poland is affected by restrictions on production, logistics, and demand which have had an impact on breeding, processing, and export.Local restrictions (supply of restaurants, cafes, canteens, direct sales) have also affected the sector.

Fish is not a priority product, which in crisis situations is reflected in the decrease in demand. We do not know whether after the pandemic, the aquaculture market, although strongly weakened, will quickly return to its pre-crisis level. However, we know that the losses suffered by fish farmers will have to be compensated.Polish aquaculture requires rapid and adequate support to prevent it from falling behind. Many carp farms have increased their sales outside the Christmas season to as much as 30 percent (today these sales are severely weakened), and in addition, no one today knows how the

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Pond farming is a source of multiple ecosystem services including the provision of wetlands for flora and fauna, flood management, etc. Farmers would like to &VSPl TI

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Where should Polish efforts be focused if carp farming is to thrive in the future as well?

The Polish aquaculture sector produces more common carp than any other species. Most of it is sold towards the end of the year, thanks to a long tradition of eating it on and around Christmas eve.

be compensated for these services which benefit the environment and the community around it. Is some form of compensation being considered by the government?

Water and environmental compensation is an important element in the strategy for carp aquaculture.

In the financial period 2014-2020, Polish carp breeders meeting environmental requirements, received compensation of about 200 euro/ ha/year for 5 years. The pond fisherman allocates funds to „maintain nature on the ponds as a general good� at the cost of investments necessary in the breeding process.

The compensation, to some extent, covers these expenses. They are also a kind of substitute for agricultural direct payments and agricultural environmental payments, which pond fishermen who farm on agricultural land (under ponds) do not receive. In the „KARP 2020 Strategy,� economic analysis by

Prof. Jadwiga Seremak-Bulge and Prof. Konrad Turkowski clearly indicates the legitimacy and necessity of water-environmental compensation for pond farms. The Carp Management Team is of the same opinion.

Carp needs to be available to consumers in more product forms than just live, or whole gutted fish. Is this starting to happen? How can the administration encourage the industry to add more value to carp?

About 80  of carp are sold in Poland during Christmas. Farmers, while acknowledging this tradition, also make efforts to make the carp available to consumers throughout the year. They adjust production cycles to the year-round demand.

They also introduce to the market and promote new forms of carp products (portion-sized fillets, ready-made steaks, pâtÊ, etc.).

Over the centuries carp-rearing technology and the approach to fish welfare and nature changed.

Today, traditional earth ponds are much more than sources of fish.

And this is an epochal change, in line with changes in the understanding of natural resources. The question is, therefore, what is more important in our ponds—productivity i.e. fish, or ecosystem services such as maintaining biodiversity?

If fish, what is more valuable? Carp as a source of protein, minerals and unsaturated fatty acids, or carp as a national dish, an element of intangible cultural heritage? If ecosystem services, what is more valuable? Biodiversity or infrastructure for water retention. It is a question of making prudent choices taking into account cultural and social changes and climate and hydrological changes, as well as new possibilities of using the production and biodiversity potential of carp ponds. Fortunately, these choices are not mutually exclusive.

Today carp farming is no longer just about productivity and continuous growth. We are discovering new benefits of breeding ponds.

In addition to fish production, they offer biodiversity, intangible cultural heritage, water retention, and other advantages. Traditional earthen fish ponds can therefore make an important contribution to several EU strategies—on aquaculture, the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork Strategy, and the Biodiversity Strategy. So what should be the priority in the new strategy for carp aquaculture and where should support be directed?

1.

Production of at least 20 thousand tonnes of tablesized carp and about 5

thousand tonnes of so-called additional fish at an intensity of up to 1500 kg/ha/year 2. Modernisation of existing aquaculture facilities (e.g. diversification of species and systems of fish farming, feeding, catching, sorting, and transportation), training programmes (including veterinary training), new markets for fish sales, and upgrading processing facilities 3. Organization of markets for aquaculture products (producer organisations, sales to stores, direct sales, export, processing plants) and product diversification 4. Promotion of carp breeding and consumption as healthy, tasty and safe food and of the ecosystem benefits of carp aquaculture 5. Inclusion of breeding ponds in the national water retention programme 6. The continuation of water and environmental compensations covering the farmers’ expenses for maintaining nature on ponds as a general good 7. Financial compensation for temporary or permanent interruption of production in water-deficient ponds 8. Updating and implementing the Code of Good Fishery Practices promoting fish welfare and a positive image of Polish aquaculture 9. Development of objective rules for compensation for drought and other pond disasters, and of insurance systems 10. Diversification of fish farmers’ income (accommodation at ponds, fishing inns, fishing grounds, solar panels, etc.)

11. Regional Fishery Associations as industry training and promotion centers (3 marine, 4 inland) 12. Transparency of imported and intra-EU carp trade

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Pustelnia Fish Farm uses innovative methods in the production and sales of carp

New customers for an ancient product Anna and Sebastian PyĂź are pioneering ways to encourage consumers to eat carp all year around rather than just at Christmas.

Anna and Sebastian PyĂź have built a market for carp which they supply around the year.

T

he production of carp in Poland goes back to the eleventh and twelfth centuries, when monks used to cultivate the fish. Over the following 500 years many of the large earthen ponds used for the production were established.

These ponds are still in use today although they were acquired in the mid-20th century by the state,

which renovated and upgraded the ponds. With the political and economic changes of the 90s the ponds reverted to private ownership often ending in the hands of the workers who had run them under the former regime.

Today the fish farms are typically owned by private companies that produce common carp along with small quantities of other

freshwater species for the domestic market.

A sector under steady change Carp farming has evolved significantly over the years as knowledge about the fish has improved and new production technologies have become available. Changes

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in the market, among consumer tastes, and in society at large have also shaped the development of the sector. Among the best exponents of this progress are Anna and Sebastian PyĂź, the owners of Pustelnia Fish Farm, a company with about 400 ha of ponds some 60 km from Lublin in the east of the country. The ponds are divided into seven &VSPl TI

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complexes—groups of ponds that lie adjacent to each other.

The PyĂź family is fortunate in that the complexes are only 5-10 km apart; at other farms the distance between complexes could be 10 times that, making it more expensive and time consuming to visit each complex. At Pustelnia Fish Farm pond numbers and sizes vary from complex to complex, the largest ponds are around 250 ha and are used for three-seasonold (K3) fish that are to be harvested for the market. Ponds have a bottom that slopes towards an outlet termed a monk, a term that derives from centuries ago when monasteries operated the ponds.

At the time of harvest the pond is drained into an underwater pipe that leads from the monk to the channel that bears the water to the river after allowing the sediment to settle. The pond is drained very slowly to avoid stressing the fish and to ensure that they move with the water and are not left stranded in the pond.

In the channel a system of grates enables manageable quantities of fish to be collected in a short section from where they are harvested by wader-wearing workers equipped with nets. The fish are carried to tanks with oxygenated water in which they will be transported to storage ponds.

The process for harvesting the two- (K2) and one-season-old (K1) fish is essentially the same.

According to Ms PyĂź, a farmer can elect to keep the younger fish in the same pond for another season, harvesting and restocking in larger ponds the following spring.

At her farm it is more common to harvest K2 and K1 fish in autumn and transfer them to wintering ponds to overwinter. During the cold season the fish’s metabolism slows down, they need no feeding, and can be stored at higher density than during the grow-out

Grass carp, pike, and catfish will be sorted and weighed prior to entering the processing facility.

season. The only requirement is a supply of fresh water to ensure that oxygen levels in the wintering pond are adequate. Harvesting the young fish is also a stock check as it tells the farmer how much fish there is for the following seasons. In addition, placing the fish in wintering ponds limits the impact from cormorants.

These birds are voracious predators and can cause losses of up to 80 of the K1 stock, so even the slight reduction in mortalities from transferring the fish to wintering ponds is welcome.

Three-season-old fish are generally harvested in autumn and placed in storage ponds from where they can be removed and sold on demand. With a depth of 2 m the storage ponds are deeper than the grow-out ponds and have a capacity of 20-30 tonnes each. At Pustelnia Fish Farm each storage pond is equipped with an underwater channel that leads to a tank housed in a building not far away. These channels allow

the fish to be taken out even if the pond surface is frozen. When the storage ponds are harvested the water is released through the channel and carries the fish to the tank. Here, a single person can move the fish from the tank to a weighing machine and thence to a chute which carries the fish to a tank loaded on a truck that transfers the fish to the company’s processing plant.

Warmer winters have their disadvantages After harvesting the ponds are left empty for 2-3 months to allow them to dry. Ponds harvested in autumn will remain empty over winter. Freezing temperatures disinfect the pond, but over the last few years temperatures have not fallen far enough or for long enough for thorough cleaning, says Ms PyĂź, one of the consequences of global warming. In summer, ponds that are empty are quicker to dry but the heat also promotes the growth of vegetation

in the pond which must be dealt with prior to filling. Water from the river is used to refill the pond, a process that is done slowly and can take over a month depending on the pond size. In spring the ponds are restocked. While some farms have hatcheries or acquire the carp larvae from other sources, at Pustelnia Fish Farm the carp are bred naturally. Broodstock are placed in small hatchery ponds in the ratio of one female to four males and allowed to spawn. The eggs are fertilised naturally and when they hatch the larvae are collected. Once they reach a certain size, they are introduced into the grow-out ponds in spring and the production cycle starts again.

Production of the fish is however only part of the company’s activities. Once harvested the fish must also be sold, as failure to do so can make the fish a liability. Unsold fish that is allowed to grow another season becomes too big to sell as the preference on the Polish market is for 1.5-2.2 kg.

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POLAND

Ms Pyß organises her market into three groups. Firstly, the company’s own shop, restaurant, and two mobile shops. Secondly, some 150 local (within a radius of 50 km) restaurants, and finally, a small part of the production goes to processing plants. Traditionally in Poland, carp is eaten in the Christmas season and not at other times of the year. Farmers typically harvest in autumn in time to meet the huge demand in December. Anna and Sebastian Pyß followed this model until a crisis about a decade ago caused by the spread of supermarkets and the disappearance of their traditional customers, wholesalers, nearly bankrupted them. It forced a rethink of their business strategy and led to the much greater use of their processing plant to produce fish all the year around for the local market. Today over half the annual production of 200 tonnes is sold all the year round, while for Polish producers as a whole that figure is 5-10. Ms Pyß has been a pioneer in this regard and like all path breakers she has had to struggle to build and maintain her market. The appeal to local restaurants started some two decades earlier with Ms Pyß’s mother who invited restaurant chefs to the farm to show them the production and to make the case for very fresh, healthful, and tasty carp that could be prepared in different ways. Today the company has dedicated personnel to call the restaurants each day to find out their requirements and make sure they are met.

Fulfilling and delivering each order calls for strong logistics The individual orders are often tiny, for example, three fillets of carp and four 250 g trout (the company also has a trout farm). But multiplied by 40 restaurants the

The shop sells a range of freshly smoked fish, products in jars made in the restaurant kitchen, locally sourced wine, and fresh fish.

volumes become significant. The fish is processed at the company plant into filets, steaks, gutted, or whole round and delivered to the customers twice a week. Supplying all the year around means that the company must also harvest in summer—hitherto rarely seen in the sector—and something that the company owners and the employees had to learn and adapt as they went along. Summer harvesting is difficult because the fish’s metabolic rate is higher, demanding more oxygen at a time when the water is warmer and its natural oxygen content lower. As a result, compared with harvesting in autumn, everything must be done faster which calls for more equipment and more manpower.

In addition, it is often done at night when temperatures are a bit lower, but which makes the operation even more complex. In contrast, most farmers harvest only in the autumn selling the production

to the retail chains in time for the Christmas season.

But, as Ms PyĂź points out, the strategy her company has chosen, while certainly more difficult and with higher costs, is less risky. The price that farmers who harvest in autumn get fluctuates a lot depending on the amount of fish on the market. Retail chains use carp as a loss leader to lure customers, and therefore keep their buying

Pustelnia Fish Farm Ltd. Wola Rudzka 34 24-300 Opole Lubelskie +48 668 815097 anna@pstragpustlnia.pl Owners: Anna PyĂź, Sebastian PyĂź Production: Carp, trout, sturgeon, other freshwater species grown

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price as low as possible. A farmer could be dependent on a single retailer and if that buyer changes his mind, the farmer may be stuck. One must therefore weigh the uncertainty of harvesting in autumn and supplying a few buyers with large quantities against the high costs of building and maintaining a market that must be supplied all the year around, she says. She and her husband took that call several years ago and have no regrets.

in polyculture with carp Volumes: Carp, 200 tonnes; trout, 100 tonnes; sturgeon, 10 tonnes Markets: Own shop, mobile shops (2), and restaurant; local restaurants; processing plants Ponds: 400 ha Facilities: Processing plant &VSPl TI

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The carp farm Topornica uses its well-known name to sell ďŹ sh in the Zamosc area

Nudging farmers to trade around the year The head of the producer organisation, Polski Karp, Pawel Wielgosz, wears another hat. He is also the owner of Topornica, a farm producing common carp in polyculture with several other species of freshwater ďŹ sh. This makes him well aware of the potential and pitfalls of carp farming.

T

he carp farming sector in Poland produced an estimated 21,000 tonnes of common carp in 2018 from some 850* farms. Of these the vast majority were under 50 ha while just over a quarter were between 50 and 500 ha. Carp ponds date back several centuries in Poland and provide a number of ecosystem services such as biodiversity.

As a result, pond areas often form the basis for a Natura 2000 designation. With warming weather and more drought, however, ponds and farmers are suffering.

A comprehensive background in the fish farming business Having started with his father back in 2002, Mr Wielgosz decided four years ago to take the plunge and invest in his own farming operation. Today, close to Zamosc, a town in eastern Poland, he has 215 ha split into four complexes (a group of ponds) from which he produces 140 tonnes of carp plus about 30 tonnes of other fish species. Three of the complexes are located fairly close to each other while the fourth is about 100 km away. Between visiting his ponds and running the affairs of Polski Karp, which is headquartered in Krakow 300 km from Zamosc, Mr Wielgosz clocks thousands of kilometres on the road each year.

I spend more time in my car than

at home, he grins. His operation includes a processing plant and a shop where he sells fish all the year around.

His company, Topornica, is an old one and well-known in the area.

The previous owner had bought it from the state, but it was put on the market a couple of years ago following an unfortunate accident. Ponds are often hundreds of years old as building new ponds is prohibitively expensive so farmers typically either inherit or buy existing ponds. Topornica, is a historical name derived from the name of the river and the settlement above it, and the ponds associated with it have been around for many years, so fish cultivated there needs no introduction to the local community.

Despite the ready recognition that the production from Topornica enjoys, Mr Wielgosz admits the market is difficult. The facts speak for themselves: Only 5 of his production is sold from January to November, the rest when Poles traditionally eat carp—around Christmas. Piotr Slowik, Head of Markets and Fish Processing, Department of Fisheries, agrees.

Building year-round sales is difficult even for Mr Wielgosz who has a high-quality product, brand recognition, is personally wellknown as the head of Polski Karp, and is closely involved in efforts to promote carp consumption.

Pawel Wielgosz, the owner of the fish farm Topornica and CEO of the producer organisation, Polski Carp.

Replacing the Christmas trade in carp with year-round sales is not easy But while the focus on Christmas sales is logistically easier for carp famers who can ship large

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quantities of product during a few weeks in the year, it is not without disadvantages. For one, farmers cannot anticipate the price they will get for their fish in December. This depends on demand and supply and until the fish is harvested it is difficult to &VSPl TI

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POLAND

Fish are typically harvested in the autumn in preparation for the Christmas season when most carp is consumed in Poland.

predict how much fish there will be on the market in December.

If the harvest is good volumes will be high and prices low. Even controlling for this, however, because everybody supplies the market simultaneously there is pressure on prices. Producers are under time pressure too; if they do not sell the fish in December, they will be counting the losses.

A further drawback to this sales model is that the fish becomes a product, consumers tend to associate with low prices, through the activities of retail chains that struggle with the price of carp in the pre-Christmas period. Carp is seen as a cheap fish, which makes it all the more difficult to promote it as a tasty, healthful, naturally-grown fish with a corresponding price. Furthermore, for the individual farmer restricting sales to one period of the year to a limited number of buyers is a risky strategy. Should a buyer back out, the farmer is left with unsold fish and potentially

limited prospects to find another customer.

Sales around the year could reduce some of these risks and perhaps make carp more popular among young people. This demographic group is the target of a new marketing campaign for carp due to be launched in November 2020. Polski Karp, the organisation Mr Wielgosz heads, is also planning a promotion campaign.

But while the campaigns are important efforts to lift awareness of carp and its virtues, Mr Wielgosz thinks that what is needed in addition is a different attitude among carp farmers themselves.

The market is changing, and many do not realise that they must adapt. They need to start thinking longer term. For example, of the two retail chains that still sell live fish one has announced that from next year it will no longer sell this product. Although the trend for live fish sales is falling this product form is still widely appreciated

by the traditional market. Instead of considering what they will do from next year when live fish sales fall, farmers focus on the more palatable fact that this year there will be no change. Selling carp all year around demands that some fish is harvested in summer. This is a complicated and potentially risky process though not impossible. But many farmers are unwilling to do this, he says.

Drought is a growing threat to carp ponds At his own farm Mr Wielgosz harvests in summer, carrying out the operation at night when the temperature is lower and it is less risky for the fish. Like most farms in Poland his production is extensive with a yield of under 1,500 kg/ ha. This means he does not need to use extruded feeds but can rely on carp’s naturally occurring prey (daphnia, chironomid larvae, cyclops) in the ponds and supplement it with cereals, mainly

locally-sourced wheat. But a cause of concern is water which, at two of the complexes, is drawn from the local river. A warm winter last year meant no snow and no supply to the river. In my 20 years of experience on fish farms, says Mr Wielgosz, I have not experienced drought like this. The lack of fresh water reduces oxygen levels in the ponds so the fish may not be fed which in turn impacts their growth. The problem with water is a challenge that the administration is well aware of and a strategy to deal with it is being developed.

It may mean the closure of complexes where drought is a perennial issue, so Mr Wielgosz is fortunate that two of his complexes are fed from an underground spring and are thus insulated from fickle surface water supplies. *Data courtesy Krzysztof Hryszko, Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics and Andrzej Lirski, Inland Fisheries Research Institute in PrzeglÄ…d Rybacki 05/2020.

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[ FISHERIES ] Improving EU ďŹ sheries controls

A Sisyphean task for ďŹ sheries management Compliance with fishing quotas and implementation of fisheries regulations requires constant monitoring and control and it was to this end that the Community Fisheries Control Agency was set up as the supreme authority in the EU. Although it is relatively small the agency has to carry out a wide range of tasks. Despite its numerous achievements there is still scope to improve the effectiveness of the controls.

T

he last reform of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in January 2014 might not have intended to change everything but it did hope to do a lot of things better. Europe wanted to make its fisheries more environmentally friendly and more economically and socially sustainable in the long term. Fish stocks were to be exploited sustainably and overfishing was to be prevented in order to offer all fishermen equal opportunities within fair competition and ensure lasting economic prospects. Because efficient controls at national and regional level are essential to achieve these goals EU member countries were given more responsibility for controls. It is a known fact that there are still a number of shortcomings in this area. Already in 2002 the EU member states had agreed to set up a Community Fisheries Control Agency with the aim of developing “a culture of compliance within the fisheries sector� throughout Europe. When the newly established agency began its work in Vigo, Spain, in April 2005 on the basis of Regulation (EC) No 768/2005, expectations were at least as high as the tasks it was given.

High priority was given to the task of organising coordination and

The European Fisheries Control Agency EFCA has been using a simpler, more modern logo since July 2020.

cooperation between national control and inspection activities so that all Common Fisheries Policy rules were respected and properly applied. This is of course essential if equal competition is to exist throughout the European fisheries sector. All fishermen and other operators in the sector, regardless of the EU Member State in which they operate, have to follow and be treated according to the same rules. This does not always seem to have been the case in EU waters. “Outsideâ€? fishermen often complained that they were subject to much stricter controls than their local counterparts, and some even felt that they were discriminated against‌ despite the fact that competition is only fair if everyone is subject to the same rules. And naturally that includes controls to ensure that fishermen comply with all the regulations and catch quotas

that are essential for the longterm conservation of fish stocks and sustainable fishing.

This is why control, inspection and enforcement of the rules is also an important part of the Common Fisheries Policy whose effectiveness is crucial to the success of many sustainability efforts. And because this is so, work has long been underway to improve and make this area more effective. But controls, whether on land or at sea, require qualified staff, vessels, complex technology, and a lot of time and so they are accordingly expensive.

That is why individual member states are scaling down their control measures with the result that they no longer carry out controls consistently, across the board and with a high frequency. This is probably also why the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA)

was founded. Although the actual control of fisheries activities will remain the national responsibility of the EU member states, the EFCA will support their activities and coordinate deployment plans, organise joint projects in European and international waters, help train instructors and inspectors, and much more besides. All, of course, with the highest possible level of expertise and transparency to build trust and motivate all parties to work together honestly and fairly, which is essential to fulfil the demanding tasks and carry out effective, efficient controls.

Insufficient digitisation makes work more difficult This wealth of tasks is certainly legion for an agency which, with only 72 staff members

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[ FISHERIES ]

Control of fisheries on the high seas requires a lot of work and is costly.

(as of June 2019) – three quarters of whom are on temporary contracts – can be described as “small”. As is often the case in the EU, under the pressure of unsatisfactory conditions, a solution was devised which met the requirements formally, but had neither the competences – from an institutional point of view, the EU Commission is not permitted to perform tasks on behalf of the member states – nor sufficient resources to fully meet all the technical, scientific and administrative tasks specific to fisheries. How can the few EFCA staff members “reconcile” the diverse and sometimes divergent conditions and requirements of more than two dozen member states that are necessary for “uniform conditions in fisheries throughout Europe”? The EU is well-known for its endless discussions, artfully balanced compromises and special national approaches. But how can a resolution hope to seriously prevent

a fisheries inspector from turning a blind eye to the fisherman who lives next door to him while imposing a heavy fine on foreign fishermen for similar infringements?

As if that were not enough work, the EFCA is also involved in projects related to new technologies such as remote electronic monitoring (REM) of fishing fleets and the fisheries information system “Fishnet” which is used to collect and share data between cooperating member states. This is a modular web-based tool which provides a virtual office-like environment and supports the transmission of information. The EFCA’s electronic recording and reporting system collects key data on fishing positions, catches and gear that are sent from the fishing vessels at sea via the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to their flag Member State and from there to Vigo via the European Commission’s “Data Exchange Highway”

(DEH). These data packets are complemented by other information sent by the fishing vessels to Regional Fisheries Organisations such as NAFO and NEAFC or the Atlantic Tuna Commission (ICCAT) which then transmit it to the EFCA. All these activities result in a highly complex, mosaic-like picture of the fleets’ fishing activities. It is virtually possible to find out in real time what fishermen are doing from the moment they leave port until they return: what fishing gear they use, how much and what they catch in which areas, the size of the fish and what species they have on board.

They must also report when and where they land and what they unload in any port. This information enables fisheries inspectors to make much more informed and targeted decisions on which vessels to inspect and how often.

Since 2014, the results of inspection reports can be fed into the

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EFCA’s Electronic Inspection Report system (EIR), which should further increase transparency between member states. In addition, the EFCA coordinates joint activities in the field of fisheries controls and supports international inspection programmes to ensure the monitoring of remote areas on the high seas. This has led to encouraging results in recent years, as the current situation in EU waters shows, where 62 out of 78 scientifically assessed stocks already meet the targets for sustainable exploitation. Their stock biomass has almost doubled since 2003.

This is a step in the right direction even if not all problems have been solved… as can be seen from the critical state of the Mediterranean and Black Sea where sustainability goals are still a long way off. However, this is not the sole responsibility of the EU member states since many other states are also involved in fisheries there.

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[ FISHERIES ] Primacy of national interests still prevails Although EFCA also supports the European Commission in its relations with third countries this is mainly in relation to the implementation and control of the IUU Regulation. The fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a key priority of EU fisheries policy and thus one of the most urgent obligations for the EFCA which organises specific training to help member states meet their obligations under the IUU Regulation, provides technical assistance, promotes the exchange of experience, and creates a network to improve cooperation in this field. In order to curb and combat IUU fishing it also aims to improve and make more reliable the collection of fisheries data and fill gaps within the system. A wide range of data that is collected along the fisheries and aquaculture products supply chain is stored here: electronic data from all fishing vessels, digitised reports of catches and fishery products, often already obtained using new weighing techniques. Also included are imported goods whose origin must be fully traceable. Even the catches of recreational fishermen are to be increasingly registered.

However, despite numerous efforts and improvements, there is still criticism. It has been claimed, for example, that some fisheries control projects are merely declarations of intent, and that their actual implementation is too slow, cumbersome, and inconsistent.

National narrow-mindedness and jealousy on the part of the member states often make it difficult to take quick decisions, and instead of clear, unambiguous resolutions, bureaucracy triumphs. Sometimes the people working in the fisheries sector hardly know what is

The EU control system is also planning stricter registration rules for catches by hobby and recreational fishermen who take significant quantities of fish locally.

currently valid or what has to be complied with in the maze of ever new requirements and demands. In addition to national and EU legislation, there are also calls from some nature conservation and industry associations for their interests to be safeguarded. Some of them are asking for greater protection of seabirds and marine mammals, others want to see protected marine zones established in large areas of the sea with fishing bans imposed there. High-yield fishing areas are shrinking more and more, especially near the coast, because wind power and power cables, gravel dredging and dumping are taking up more and more space. Protests from the fishing sector usually go unheard, with fishermen feeling particularly bitter that the principle of equal treatment in the enforcement of existing laws does not seem to apply to some of them. For example, as a German fishermen’s

representative explains, he has to pay a fine for a coffee filter thrown into the sea, while Greenpeace is allowed to sink large boulders off the coast without permission – allegedly to prevent fishing there – without legislators putting a stop to this illegal activity.

The very title of the report by the European Court of Auditors, which evaluated the amended fisheries control regulation in 2017, suggests there are deficits: “EU fisheries controls: more efforts needed�. While progress had been made since the 2007 reform of the Control Regulation the auditors found that there were still a number of weaknesses.

The control system was not sufficiently effective and not all member states had fully implemented the requirements of the EU Control Regulation. The Court of Auditors therefore made several suggestions for improvement, pointing in

particular to the insufficient access to data during land and sea inspections, control of landing obligations and inconsistent sanctions for infringements of CFP measures. In response, the European Commission proposed further improvements in 2018 to adapt and simplify the monitoring of fisheries rules to current conditions. In fact, the new objectives are still the same as the old ones: to make the control system more effective, modern, easier and efficient in order to promote sustainable management of fish stocks. The EFCA mandate would be revised and its control powers extended. The announcement that the EU Commission intends to tighten up its controls on member states’ compliance with CFP rules is particularly controversial. This is nothing new, but now anyone who fails to comply with the rules, exceeds fishing effort or quotas is threatened with the cancellation,

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[ FISHERIES ] reduction or suspension of financial aid, and possible cutting of future quota allocations. In the event of serious infringements this is also to be possible as an emergency measure.

Greater involvement of fishermen needed What is probably unlikely to happen in the EU, despite such declarations of intent, has long been reality in Iceland and Norway. Both Nordic countries are regarded as exemplary in terms of sustainable fisheries and rigorous control of fishing activities. This was not always the case there either, but in the meantime they have done their homework, so to speak, and have completely reorganised and streamlined the system, with the result that it is now more efficient. Of course, the starting conditions for implementing strict controls are much more favourable in a single country than in a large community of states like the EU where the needs and sensitivities of all members must be taken into account. But making and implementing the necessary changes in fisheries in Iceland and Norway was not easy either. Incapacity in the commercial fishing fleet had to be reduced. Subsidies for fisheries were abolished, fishing quotas were strictly based on scientific advice, and the control system was modified to make it virtually impossible to undermine it. It was a painful process that made fishing much more profitable, but cost many fishermen their jobs.

Comparison with the EU reveals two significant differences. In both Iceland and Norway fishing is of great economic importance and enjoys a much higher reputation than in most EU countries.

Small-scale fishermen who fish near the shore and who can be seen working from the dike are against cameras, “Big Brother”, on board.

Fishery resources are valued as national wealth in both Nordic countries and the political influence of their national fisheries ministries is considerable. A second striking difference is that controls in Iceland and Norway are much better digitised than in the EU, where there is a need to catch up. Since 2000, fishing vessels over 24 metres in length (15 metres for EU vessels) in Norwegian waters have been required to carry satellite transponders in order to monitor activities 24 hours a day, all the year round. Combined with electronic logbooks this provides unique possibilities for fisheries management to monitor fishing activities. If the proportion of undersized fish in the catch exceeds a certain level fishing grounds can be closed for days, weeks or months in almost real time. Digitised data also allows multiple inspections at sea, in port, at auctions held by sales organisations, and during

export, making fraud much more difficult. Heavy penalties for infringements, including withdrawal of licences and the introduction of blacklists of vessels infringing IUU rules, act as a deterrent.

Iceland’s fisheries management control system is similarly rigorous. The high level of digitisation allows synchronised, real-time weight checks in all registered landing ports. This data is transmitted live to a database, allowing cross-checks by the coast guard, food and veterinary authorities, certified port officials, processing plants and export companies. Modern, advanced, complex and quality-oriented: these words are a fairly accurate description of the Icelandic control system.

The decisive factor for improvements in fisheries and the effectiveness of control measures is and will remain the people

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involved. As long as fishermen in the EU are not treated equally and fairly and as long as they perceive discrimination and insufficient justification of the need for quota cuts or the requirement to bring the entire catch to shore it will be difficult to solve many of the problems. Fishermen must be motivated to cooperate, they have to be involved in the problem-solving process. Who can have more interest in sustainable fisheries than those whose economic future depends on long-term resource security? If fishermen acted on their own initiative to protect resources it would even be possible to do without some of the costly monitoring effort with cameras on board, satellite surveillance, electronic logbooks and accompanying inspectors. Or is the Icelandic fisherman right who resignedly remarked: “There’ll never be peace in the fisheries sector because there’s not enough for everybody”. mk

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ROMANIA

Science-based measures to support those affected by climate change

Sustainable ďŹ shing and innovation can ameliorate impacts The National Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture, ANPA, is the body responsible for the management of ďŹ sheries and aquaculture in Romania. It develops a national strategy for the sector and the regulations to implement it. The Agency is also responsible for deďŹ ning and implementing a policy on the conservation of living aquatic resources and for the organisation of the market for wild-caught and farmed products. Mr Marian Lixandru, President of ANPA, discusses here Romania’s plans for the sector regarding climate change, the pandemic, and marine aquaculture.

Very hot and dry weather caused by climate change heats the water and accelerates evaporation from fish ponds creating a threat to the fish— and the farmer.

What changes have been observed in the Romanian fishing fleet over the last years both in the offshore and the coastal segments? What are the objectives of the fisheries strategy in relation to the size of the fleet? Have they been successfully achieved?

In recent years, there has been a process of transferring fishing

effort from small (coastal) vessels to vessels over 12 m that use towed gear. One of Romania’s objectives in the last years is to balance the commercial fishing fleet with the level of quotas allocated to contribute to sustainable fishing. Rebalancing the level of fleets operating in the Black Sea (Romania has a small fleet in terms of GT and kW compared to

other riparian states) is one of the objectives for the following years.

The impact of the Romanian fishing fleet on the resource is minimal as Romania has less than 10 of the total annual catch of countries fishing in the Black Sea. What impact do you expect the revised control regulation will have on the Romanian fishing

fleet? Do you foresee greater use of closed-circuit TV and electronic monitoring and logging of catches? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this approach?

In the Romanian fishing fleet, there are only 4 vessels over 24 m, so the impact of these changes will be insignificant. However, we

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ROMANIA

support the position of the other Member States to reduce bureaucracy and administrative burdens for fishermen, at least for the segment under 12 m length which is specific to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea fishing activities.

The new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund is currently being negotiated between the European Commission, Parliament, and Member States. What are your expectations of the new EMFF? Are there particular areas, for which you would like to see funding continued?

Priority areas for Romania regarding marine fishing are: – Development of port infrastructure, including for the collection of general, biological, plastic waste data, fishing gear recovered from the sea, cold spaces, spaces to be used as offices for inspectors at landing points; – Financing the recovery of lost / abandoned gear from the sea and financing their storage / destruction, the fulfilment of the landing obligation and solutions for the exploitation of catches that are not intended for human consumption; – Further strengthening the control and inspection capacity—acquisition of inspection vessels boats, transport vehicles destined for control activities, protection equipment for inspectors, other technical and financial measures.

According to the FAO, the Black Sea (and Mediterranean) had the highest percentage (62.5) of stocks fished at unsustainable levels of any of the major fishing regions. What do you attribute this to and how can Romania contribute to reducing this proportion?

It is important for all riparian countries to comply with

GFCM recommendations and EU regulations on surveillance, inspection and control. Close collaboration with other control institutions in Romania as well as outside (IARA Bulgaria, EFCA, FRONTEX, etc) and the transmission of biological data, data from surveys at sea for demersal and pelagic species, and technical, socio-economic, and economic data from within the national data collection plans, to the European Commission, GFCM, Eurostat, and FAO. Active participation in GFCM WGBS (Working Group Black Sea) sessions, and the integration into national legislation of EU regulations and GFCM recommendations improve monitoring, control, and inspection actions to prevent and combat IUU fishing.

How has covid-19 affected the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Romania? What measures are being taken to support the sector and what has been the response?

Has the response been in line with the agency’s official expectations?

In the context of the world pandemic, marine fishing has been particularly affected by the drastic reduction in demand for fresh fish and other aquatic resources (especially the fall in demand for rapa whelk on Asian markets) as well as the months-long closure of restaurants. In addition, there is the uncertainty of how things will develop in the following months. The damage caused by these restrictions on the sector cannot yet be assessed as the data is still incomplete. Measures that can be taken in the short and medium term are being assessed in line with developments at European and national level.

Government measures have been taken regarding the pandemic, such as the issuing of an emergency ordinance to establish

measures for social protection.

The act regulates, among others, the conditions for entering into technical unemployment, the continuation of the payment of some social benefits, the automatic extension of the validity of certain documents, as well as the possibility to apply online for different administrative situations.

Another emergency ordinance issued was to help Romanian companies during the crisis by amending the SME support program. Changes to the EMFF enabled the relaxation of criteria under which support could be given to aquaculture producers affected by the pandemic.

The effects of climate change in the form of fluctuating and extreme weather events (excess rain, drought, etc.) are increasingly apparent. What has been the impact on the fish farming industry and how can it be made more resilient to these developments?

Climate change is already a reality and countries around the world are facing the challenge of adapting to its consequences. Concrete measures have to be taken in the coming decades and the results analysed to judge their effectiveness. Although adaptation measures complement mitigation measures, the effects on commercial fishing in the Black Sea basin will only be visible in a few decades. All that can be achieved at this time is prevention, sustainable fishing, innovation, harmonisation of common policies of riparian states and scientific studies based on clear data.

Without concrete action, once certain temperature thresholds are exceeded, the consequences of climate change will become irreversible. In recent years, there has been an improvement in the levels of specific indicators for

09_ROMANIA (RO).indd 41

assessing the marine ecosystem in the coastal area of Romania, which we believe will continue.

In fact, the measures taken at national level show, at least in the Romanian EEZ, a positive trend in the biomass of commercially exploited species.

Inland waters and their ecosystems are very vulnerable to climate change. Lakes can change shape or even dry out completely due to increases in temperature, lack of rainfall and the acceleration of evaporation. Climate change simulation studies have concluded that cold-water fish will be most affected by changing conditions in their natural habitat. This could lead to a reduction in natural trout growing areas and a decrease in the production of indigenous trout in favour of the cultivation of imported rainbow trout (e.g. genetically modified to withstand higher temperatures). Although a warming of the water can cause higher growth rates, the increased occurrence of extreme weather events can stress aquatic organisms. In addition, it can depreciate the infrastructure of the fish farm. Prolonged high temperatures and drought cause severe evaporation in lakes and ponds. Modified rainfall patterns may also aggravate conflicts between farmers and other users of the water.

Aquaculture has the potential to adapt to the effects of climate change and to compensate for the variability and decline of fish resources. Developing innovative aquaculture systems will help this sector to adapt to the effects of climate change, as well as to increase its competitiveness. It is also necessary to increase the capacity of fishermen and farmers to respond to the negative effects of climate change. The areas where &VSPl TI .BHB[JOF

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aquaculture and fishing are the most productive and contribute the most to poverty reduction and food security are also the most vulnerable to natural disasters caused by extreme weather events and rising water levels.

Institutions need to develop measures that enable the most vulnerable to adapt to the effects of climate change.

Romanian production from freshwater aquaculture has been gradually increasing since 2010.

However, there has been little progress in the development of

marine cultivation. What are the factors hampering the development of marine culture and how are they being addressed?

The development of marine aquaculture will ensue when legislation on waters is harmonised with legislation related to the fishing sector. At the same time, it is necessary to evaluate areas suitable for marine aquaculture in the Black Sea in the coastal area of Romania. The Demonstration Centre for Aquaculture in Constanta, within the FAO BlackSea4fish

project, seeks to identify techniques needed to make marine aquaculture farms for mussels profitable, and is also conducting pilot studies for the culture of sea trout and other species of fish suitable for the conditions of the Black Sea. Despite its healthfulness fish consumption in Romania is well below the EU average. Are fish promotion campaigns considered a way to help improve this? If so, what have been the results? What other methods being deployed boost per

capita fish consumption in the country?

Although in recent years there have been promotion events organized by the main players in the sector the level of consumption has still not increased significantly due to lack of visibility of such campaigns and events. The new operational program provides the means and leverage for awareness and marketing campaigns to boost fish consumption, including promotion through events, programmes, and other specific actions.

Trout behind most growth in Romanian ďŹ sh farming, but now mussel production may take off

Marine shellďŹ sh aquaculture receives ofďŹ cial focus In the last decades production from aquaculture has grown consistently all over the world. However, the political changes in Central and Eastern Europe at the end of ‘80s caused a strong regression in farmed ďŹ sh production and in ďŹ sh consumption which took almost twenty years to reverse.

R

omanian production reached its nadir in 200506 with 7,284 tonnes and, at EUR9.3m, its lowest sale value.

Pre-accession and the EFF and EMFF funds managed to stop the decline and help the sector adapt to the new market conditions.

In terms of production, growth between 2006 and 2018 was 135 while value, over the same period, increased 362 reaching EUR34m.

Impressive expansion in trout farming The sector, based exclusively on the cultivation of common carp and associated freshwater

species, has almost 135,000 ha of ponds, dam lakes and reservoirs, of which 90,000 ha are registered.

However, largely due to confusing legislation and administrative burden just a half of it is exploited, and overall productivity is low, in the range of 200 – 250 kg/ha. In the last five years the main source of growth in the sector has been trout farming.

More than 30 species are cultured in Romania, from crayfish to beluga though carps farmed in polyculture dominate the production. Pond farming is the main source of ecosystem services provided by semi-natural habitats. Fishponds and the

surrounding areas often earn a designation as Natura 2000 sites thanks to the rich biodiversity they support. Ponds constitute the foundation of eco-tourism, scientific tourism, or educational tourism, apart from providing other recreational activities such as angling, thereby adding value to the basic commercial operations of growing and selling fish.

For the trout farms, added value comes mainly from processing the fish in traditional ways and branding the products with designations of origin. Both types of fish farming are developing accommodation and angling facilities, diversifying the income streams.

A supportive legislative and administrative framework would boost production Diadem Atodiresei is an experienced farmer who manages, together with his extended family, a carp farming business which produces almost 15 of the Romanian common carp and associated species market. His two companies Pirania srl and Rompescaris srl are located in Romania’s most productive areas in terms of fish farming, Botoúani and Iaúi, respectively. A typical pond farm for carps has a very complex structure with reproduction ponds, rearing ponds,

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Successfully managing these ponds calls for constant investments in modernising and maintenance of the farm. Mr Atodiresei feels that European funds offer an instrument to increase the production and to add value to it, but to achieve this it is more important that there is a coherent and supportive legislative and administrative framework, a view that is echoed by most fish farmers. Direct support linked to an ecosystem-based approach and a voluntary code of good aquaculture practices would boost sustainable aquaculture production, he says.

Lack of recognition for wetland services prompt fish farmers to switch to agriculture Another fish farm, Piscicola Iaúi Srl, has 1,250 ha of which 810 ha is used for fish farming and the rest for producing the cereal needed to feed the fish. In the last twenty years the farm has become a biodiversity focal point for the whole region because of the natural wetlands it offers. As a result, more than 40,000 birds belonging to 225 species feed, reproduce, nest and rest in the area. This year the Natura 2000 site named Jijia and Miletin Fish Ponds has been recognised as Romania’s 20th RAMSAR Site. This achievement is thanks to the fish farmers in the area and despite the lack of financial or administrative support which was supposed to be granted by European or national legislation.

SC Image Quality Control Division srl

first and second summer growing ponds, final growing ponds and storage ponds. The latter are dedicated to market size fish harvested in the late autumn which will allow a constant delivery to the market during the winter and the spring.

Production of trout has grown significantly faster than any other species farmed in Romania.

The area is a source of most of the ecosystem services documented by scientists, from nutrient sequestration by the farmed fish species and plants, to recreational, scientific, educational and ecological tourism. The manager, Gheorghe Huian, 73, who has dedicated his life to fish farming, has elected to diversify his income by providing accommodation and a restaurant on site to promote these activities. But the lack of support for maintaining these man-made wetlands, the severe draught which affected Romania this year, and the constantly increasing administrative burden from the water, environment and aquaculture authorities all undermine his hopes for the future and he is seriously considering abandoning the farm. His is not an isolated case— faced with a lack of adequate assistance many carp farmers are contemplating switching from

fish to crops as agriculture is better supported.

Outside investors are piling in Trout farming is considered so promising that it is attracting investors whose main interests are completely removed from aquaculture. For example, the main business of Image Quality Control Division srl from Piteúti is solving quality issues for the automotive industry. However, some years ago Viorel Tucă, the manager of the company, established the Piatra Doamnei Trout Farm with support from the EFF after looking for more than 2 years at different trout farming models. The farm lies 70 km north of Piteúti in the foothills of the Făgăraú mountains and is vertically integrated with a hatchery, grow-out tanks, and a small processing facility for gutting and smoking the trout. The capacity

09_ROMANIA (RO).indd 43

of the farm is 65 tonnes/year and with 9 employees had in 2019 a turnover of EUR220,000. The marketing strategy was to make full use of all distribution channels from farm gate sales to small retailers.

In addition, online sales have been developed in response to the current pandemic.

A new European funded project with a value of EUR600,000 has recently been approved that will result in an upgraded production facility, a fish restaurant, and better information to consumers. All over Europe trout producers are besieged by third country imports, and according to Mr Tucă there are two key elements that should be addressed: first, the price driven buying decision and secondly, the poor information offered to the customers about product origin, method of production, environmental or social standards. &VSPl TI .BHB[JOF

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He is vocal about the challenges facing the sector referring specifically to the environmental and water resources legislation, deforestation and unsustainable forest management, the lack of guaranteed flows of sanitary water from dams, the fatiguing bureaucracy and, most of all, the lack of a coherent strategy, set of measures, and adequate legislation for aquaculture development. The trout farming sector has the potential to grow far more rapidly than it does currently, if these issues were addressed, feels Mr Tucă.

Local promotion efforts are no substitute for a national campaign Annual per capita consumption of fish and other aquatic

organisms has slowly increased in the last 10 years reaching 7.9 kg in 2018 which approaches the highest figure registered before 1989 of 9.7 kg. Most of this consumption is based on imports mainly of pelagic fish species or even freshwater species. This moderate increase can be attributed to individual efforts at local level by farmers or fish processors because there has been no national or regional campaign to promote or raise awareness of aquaculture, fishing activities, or the benefits of fish consumption.

The Covid-19 crisis in Romania started in March and April, traditionally important months for fish sales, and produced on average a decline in sales of 20 to 40 (mainly in March) compared with 2019. As most aquaculture

Aquaculture production in Romania (tonnes) SPECIES

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Common carp

4349

4841

4539

4357

4747

Prussian carp

873

883

862

730

1263

Grass carp

128

96

89

164

271

Silver carp

1843

2364

1854

1692

1861

Bighead carp

1840

2121

2771

2548

3199

42

18

20

17

32

Pike European catďŹ sh

86

48

46

28

68

Pike-perch

84

167

124

62

125

Sturgeons

13

33

252

51

296

Brown trout Rainbow trout Brook trout PaddleďŹ sh Bivalves Other species Total

27

22

8

11

15

1345

1109

1840

2251

2690

170

464

230

212

279

2

2

1

2

-

35

25

-

182

279

161

175

276

11018

12472

12796

12300

15124

-

ANPA (Romanian National Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture)

Annual fish consumption has climbed slowly in Romania reaching 7.9 kg/capita in 2018, however, most of the increase is based on imports-mainly of pelagic fish species.

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Romanian pond farmers would boost production if the legislative and administrative framework was more favourable.

companies are micro or small (with a few medium enterprises) with diversified distribution channels (producers’ fish shops, small retailers, international retailers. restaurants, processors, angling farms), most of them managed to survive. But the summer brought a severe draught which will affect production for the next two years.

The financial support scheme for mitigating the economic effects of the pandemic will provide compensation for drops in turnover during the lockdown period and access to state guaranteed loans for working capital and investments through SME-Invest government programme. Farmers, however, need the schemes to be more diverse, robust, and timely.

Three Black Sea sites are now designated appropriate for bivalve farming A survey among farmers about the reasons why aquaculture is not growing enough and why there are so many abandoned, unexploited or underexploited sites revealed the almost unanimous opinion that bureaucracy, the lack of appropriate aquaculture legislation, and the absence of the kind of direct support enjoyed by the agriculture sector, make fish farming much less attractive. Paradoxically, pond fish farming or bivalve farming are activities which contribute decisively to the removal of excessive nutrients from intensive agriculture

— which is subsidised. And if pond fish farming is still carried out despite the increasing efforts needed, bivalve farming is absent from the Romanian aquaculture landscape mainly for administrative reasons. But in the last two years special attention was given to marine aquaculture by the National Institute for Marine Research and Development (NIMRD) Grigore Antipa in Constanta which, with the support of General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean – GFCM (FAO), developed in ConstanĠa an Aquaculture Demonstration Centre in mussel farming and shellfish pathology. The centre has three major objectives: mussel aquaculture techniques and technologies, aquaculture research and development, best practices in shellfish aquaculture inventory, and training to understand the specificity and environmental benefits of shellfish farming. This September, the Romanian authorities (National Agency for Fishery and Aquaculture, Sanitary veterinarian Authorities, Romanian Waters Administration), managed, in a joint effort, to classify as “A” category three Black Sea areas for bivalve farming and harvesting, a step that should attract potential investors in marine aquaculture.

New EMFF must live up to high expectations Since 2007, European fisheries funds have supported investments in aquaculture both in existing farms and in new ones, in diversifying income sources, and in adding value to the production.

Expectations for the new maritime and fisheries fund (2021-27) which will support the implementation of the national strategic plans for sustainable aquaculture development for 2021 – 2030 are high. Aquaculture farmers expect a much more applied, coherent and consistent response from European and

09_ROMANIA (RO).indd 45

national authorities in terms of supportive regulations and administrative relief, mainly for the activities, such as pond fish farming, bivalves farming and algae farming. These are proven to be not only environmentally friendly but play a positive role in attaining Green Deal objectives and the UN Strategic Development Goals. It is also expected that the negotiating parties involved, namely the European Parliament, European Commission, and the European Council, to take into account that aquaculture is carried out overwhelmingly by micro, small, or medium enterprises and that the exclusive use of financial instruments (which offer loans rather than grants) for investment will have harmful economic effects and will not encourage an increase in production or greater self-reliance.

By the end of the year, the European Commission, after a broad consultation and several recommendations proposed by the Aquaculture Advisory Council, expects to revise the Strategic Guidelines for the Sustainable Development of EU Aquaculture. These are a very useful tool for the Member States to develop actions required by the sector and by other stakeholders to boost aquaculture production and reduce dependence on imports.

The sector is hopeful that the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Biodiversity Strategy will create greater awareness of the contribution made by pond fish farming to biodiversity, as well as to other environmental and social objectives, and encourage its growth and development.

Catalin Platon Executive Director RomFish, National Fish Farmers’ Association Mobile: +40 743 188 442 catalin.platon@romfish.ro www.romfish.ro &VSPl TI .BHB[JOF

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The ďŹ sheries and aquaculture sector in Bulgaria

Ample opportunity to boost seafood consumption Fish and seafood production in Bulgaria stem primarily from capture ďŹ sheries in the Black Sea, and freshwater and marine aquaculture. Freshwater catches, which come mainly from the Danube, are nugatory. Black Sea catches have remained stable over the last years, while production from ďŹ sh farms, of carps and trout in particular, has grown steadily.

T

he 1990s saw a major restructuring of the industry with the political changes that spread across Eastern Europe.

The management of fisheries and aquaculture in the period of transition to a market economy changed dramatically. The Black Sea fisheries were privatised as were enterprises for fish processing and fish farming, and ocean fishing was liquidated due to the inefficiencies of the state-owned monopoly that was responsible for this subsector.

Fleet characterised by larges numbers of small vessels The total production of fish comes from two main sources—commercial fishing and aquaculture.

Commercial fishing is divided into two segments—marine fishing in the Black Sea and freshwater fishing in the Danube and other inland waters (medium and large dams).

Commercial fishing in the Black Sea and the Danube is with fishing gear from land, and from vessels.

These vary in size, up to 6 m, 12 m, 18 m, 24 m, and above 24 m. Fishing vessels operating in the river Danube typically have a length of 6-7 m. At the end of 2018 the Bulgarian fishing fleet operating in the Black Sea comprised 1,857 fishing vessel with a total capacity of 6,000 tonnes and engine power of 55,000 kW. Of these, 95 are smaller than

Captures in the Black Sea and the Danube

gius merlangius). Migratory species include anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), Caspian shad (Alosa kessleri), picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias), bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), bonito (Sarda sarda).

Molluscs of commercial importance include Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and sea snails (Rapana venosa).

Catches of horse mackerel up to the 80s were 800-1000 t, but are now about 100 t per year. Atlantic bonito was an important commercial species until catches collaped from 700-1000 t at the start of the noughties to about 4 t in 2019.

Turbot is subject to annual quotas, which in recent years were about 50 t. Stocks of Black Sea sturgeon species have decreased dramatically over the past two decades.

Protection of these stocks, particularly of beluga (Huso huso), to allow them to recover calls for special measures including a moratorium on their catch in the whole Black Sea area for a period of 5 to 10 years.

Some Black Sea fish species of fish are caught only seasonally due to their migratory nature.

Other fish, so-called local species (non migratory), are subject to seasonal or year-round fishing.

The latter include sprat (Sprattus sprattus), turbot (Psetta maxima), goby (Gobiidae), horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus), sea mullet (Mugil cephalus), whiting (Merlan-

FAO statistics show that total annual catches in the Black Sea have been stable in the five years to 2018. The structure of catches in the period shows that sprat and rapana dominate. In 2019, catches of these two species were 4,585 t and 4,222 t respectively, according to the Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (IARA).

In 2018, the total catch amounted

12 m. Gill nets (both floating, and anchored) are the preferred fishing gear. In the period 2007-2018, the fleet decreased in both tonnage and power in all segments. Any registration of an increase in tonnage or power in the fleet register is compensated by the elimination of at least the same amount of tonnage or power. The economic condition of the fleet is influenced by a number of factors, including old fishing vessels (average age is about 23 years); imbalance between variable costs and current revenues; low purchasing power of the population; seasonality of fishing (annual migration of economically important species); fluctuations in the price of fuel; lack of a market regulator, ensuring the same level of purchase prices, which can determine the maximum and minimum values; lack of fish markets and centres for first sales close to ports.

to 8,599 t, of which 8,545 t originated in the Black Sea and 54 t in the Danube. In comparison with 2017, catches in the Black Sea rose by 0.4 and in the Danube by 4.

Catches in the Danube are small, because populations of commercially important species are fragile.

Catches of barbel, common carp, and bighead carp dominate the total. Minor quantities of freshwater bream, goldfish, silver carp and catfish are also part of the catch.

Production from freshwater fishing has suffered a steep decline Fishing on the Danube is entirely by private persons, equipped with permits for commercial fishing issued by IARA. On average, about 2,000 people are engaged in commercial fishing annually. For more than 60 of them fishing is the main occupation providing more than 70 of their income. A further 20 are part time fishers generating less than 50 of their income from this activity. Between 2000 and 2012 the total annual catch from the Danube averaged some 1,100 t. However, from 2013 to 2018 the average collapsed to 87 tonnes.

Adjustments to the river bed and the construction of protective dykes over a period of 50-60 years have changed the structure of commercial catches. In 2018, according to data from FAO, of the total catch of

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54 t, 22 was barbel, 12 was common carp, and each of the remaning species including bighead carp, freshwater bream, goldfish, silver carp, and European catfish among others, was less than 10.

Today, policy in the field of fisheries promotes the sustainable exploitation of living aquatic resources and the development of aquaculture; balances environmental, economic, and social priorities; and monitors and manages fish stocks to avoid overexploitation. In the Bulgarian economy fisheries and aquaculture are not critical sectors (their share of GDP is less than 1), but they are extremely important to livelihoods in some communities and for the development of parts of the Bulgarian seashore, and of the catchment areas of some Bulgarian rivers, particularly the Danube.

Common carp and rainbow trout dominate aquaculture Bulgaria is poor in lakes and large rivers. Water resources available for breeding fish and other organisms include territorial coastal waters of the Black Sea and artificial water bodies in the interior of the country. The latter are fed by rivers, underground water (springs or borewells), rain, and snow melt.

The average volume of water available per capita per year is 2,3002,500 cubic m. About 44 of the water used is for irrigation, 13 for drinking and domestic water supply and 43 for industrial needs.

The production of fish and other aquatic organisms in Bulgaria is traditionally from freshwater aquaculture. However, the production of Mediterranean mussels in the Black Sea has grown significantly since it started in the 80s. In 2018 it exceeded 2,500 t representing about 15 of the total production from aquaculture. Due to several

hydrological, climatic, and geographical features of the Black Sea, the development of other types of mariculture is either not feasible or not cost-effective. Production from freshwater aquaculture therefore dominates in terms both of output and the diversity of species farmed. The number of local species of fish and other aquatic organisms cultivated has grown in recent years. This can be attributed to demand from the market and the insufficient yields from fishing. Local species are popular thanks to their taste, quality, and because consumers are familiar with them. Fish breeding is most often in polyculture in dams or pond farms. According to IARA, in 2019 the total production of aquaculture (stocking material of fish and other aquatic organisms) amounted to 16,442 t. Production from aquaculture is dominated by two species, common carp and rainbow trout, each of which in 2018 accounted for 30 of the total farmed fish and shellfish output of 16,342 t. North African catfish showed an impressive increase in production from 2014 to 2017, but then fell back 70 to 281 t in 2018.

Bighead carp accounted for 13 of the total and significant volumes of grass carp, sturgeons, European catfish, and goldfish were also produced in 2018. Grass carp is an important regulator of phytoplankton in ponds and traditionally is used for biological control of the quality of water, especially in reservoirs used for domestic water supply. It is traditionally a component of polyculture and most often is used to utilise the natural food base of the reservoirs

Recirculation systems used to grow African catfish Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is produced at two types of farms—those with concrete

raceways supplied with water from a river or spring, and on cage farms in mountainous and semimountainous lakes. It is rarely produced in earthen ponds. Production in the period 2013-2019 was between 2,500 and 4,800 t.

Around 80 farms, 17 of all active farms, produce this species. Most of these farms raise fish for consumption (portion-sized trout, 250-350 g) with only some nine farms producing trout roe. In the last few years several farms have begun to produce larger fish, distinguished by the red flesh typical of wild salmonid species, and which are sold as salmon trout.

Production of the only indigenous species of trout, river trout (Salmo trutta), is intended primarily for restocking rivers with the aim of restoring and maintaining natural fish populations in them.

Two species of catfish are produced in Bulgaria, wels catfish (Silurus glanis) production of which has stayed fairly stable at about 210 t per annum in the period 2014-2019, and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). The latter is a relatively new species that has shown significant growth in production—reaching 909 t in 2017 but then declining to 281 t the following year. In contrast to the wels catfish, which is cultivated on 146 farms, African catfish is produced on two farms with recirculation systems.

Production of sturgeons from aquaculture has grown in recent years from 277 t in 2014 to 454 t in 2018 or 64. Cultivation started 20 years ago mainly in connection with reduced natural stocks of these species in the Danube. A ban on catching sturgeons in the Danube and the Black Sea contributed to the growth of sturgeon farming, which was a source of fish for restocking and of caviar for international markets. Sturgeon

10-BULGARIA.indd 47

meat comes mainly from the introduced non-native species of Siberian sturgeon (A. baerii) and paddlefish (P. spathula). Local species of interest include beluga (H. huso), sterlet (A. ruthenus) and Russian sturgeon (A. gueldenstaedtii). Sturgeons are cultivated mainly in raceways (66), as well as pond farms (18) and in dams (16). In Bulgaria, after determining the sex of the fish at about two years of age, the male fish are sent to the market, and the females are reared to sexual maturity.

Urban residents are keen on fish Fish and products derived from fish are popular among city-dwelling Bulgarians. In a survey, only 1 of adult urban residents do not consume fish.

In comparison with fish, other aquatic organisms and derived products registered considerably less consumer interest.

Fish roe, molluscs, and crustaceans are however more popular than algae products. Some 35 of urban residents (and 39 in small towns) consume fish once a week. In total, more than half the residents (54) consume fish at least once a week, 77 do so 2-3 times a month, and 89 at least once a month. These products are consumed more among more affluent, better educated people between 36 and 60. Residents of the capital consume fish more intensively (80 of adult residents do it several times a month or more, compared to 75 for other cities). People who feel that it is healthy, eat fish significantly more often (87 consume it at least a few times a month or more). The main place for consumption of fish and fish products remains the home.

In total, 71 of urban residents consume fish and fish products at home several times a month.

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Local fish is relatively popular as over half the residents declare that they consume it at least once a month. Specialized fish restaurants are the least popular (1/4 do not consume fish in them). Fish is bought fresh or frozen once a week or several times a month, and less often as a ready-to-eat product or as a canned item.

Mackerel, trout, and carp are Bulgarians’ favourite species

bream, fish tuna, shellfish and sea bass) were chosen by between 2.5 and 6.5 of residents. In terms of familiarity, sprat followed by mackerel topped the list. Carp, salmon, tuna were among the other species in the top 10 list of most familiar species. As the target group was urban residents, 66 identified hypermarkets, supermarkets, and fishmongers, as the

Among the types of fish consumed, mackerel is the leader eaten by a third of residents. Trout was mentioned by 15. Carp is in third place, chosen by one in ten residents, while a number of other species (sprat, hake, salmon, sea

places to obtain fish. Bulgaria is last but one in the consumption fish and aquaculture products in the EU with a per capita consumption of 7.3 kg per year, while the average level for the EU is 24.3 kg.

Increasing Bulgarian consumption is in the interests of consumer health and of a thriving fisheries sector and all stakeholders should consider ways to achieve this.

Bulgarian catches in the Black Sea (tonnes) 2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Veined rapa whelk

Name

Rapana venosa

Latin name

4,732

4,092

3,435

3,653

3,515

European sprat

Sprattus sprattus

2,279

3,301

2,296

3,189

3,188

Sand gaper

Mya arenaria

62

125

584

819

601

Red mullet

Mullus barbatus

314

631

880

375

595

BlueďŹ sh

Pomatomus saltatrix

305

139

712

71

261

Mediterranean horse mackerel

Trachurus mediterraneus

113

87

166

153

197

Turbot

Psetta maxima

40

43

43

42

56

Gobies nei

Gobiidae

64

48

64

40

25

Atlantic bonito

Sarda sarda

6

8

68

13

23

Silversides (=Sand smelts) nei

Atherinidae

0

0

0

0

16

Thornback ray

Raja clavata

70

43

36

49

13

Mediterranean mussel

Mytilus galloprovincialis

16

18

41

11

12

Pontic shad

Alosa pontica

21

18

16

10

11

Picked dogďŹ sh

Squalus acanthias

34

133

83

50

10

European anchovy

Engraulis encrasicolus

370

12

53

4

5

Flathead grey mullet

Mugil cephalus

16

10

9

3

4

Others Total

104

35

76

25

13

8,546

8,743

8,562

8,507

8,545

FAO. 2020. Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics. Global capture production 1950-2018 (FishstatJ)

Bulgarian catches in fresh water (tonnes) Name

Latin name

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Barbel

Barbus barbus

12

9

7

8

12

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

21

13

9

7

7

Bighead carp

Hypophthalmichthys nobilis

39

12

7

6

5

Freshwater bream

Abramis brama

9

6

3

5

5

GoldďŹ sh

Carassius auratus

10

10

6

4

4

Silver carp

Hypophthalmichthys molitrix

11

10

5

3

4

Others

40

26

15

19

17

Total

142

86

52

52

54

FAO. 2020. Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics. Global capture production 1950-2018 (FishstatJ)

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[ TECHNOLOGY ] Fish counters set the stage for seafood sales

Maintaining freshness and quality stimulates purchases Fish and seafood are perishable foods and their presentation in retail outlets requires special counter concepts that have to meet a variety of requirements. The design of the refrigerated counters, display cases and other display equipment at ďŹ shmongers and in supermarket ďŹ sh departments contributes strongly to maintaining product quality and also inuences customers’ buying behaviour.

Built around a corner, tiered or with rotund arrangements – there are no limits to today’s counter designers’ creativity.

F

ish counters and other display equipment are a decisive feature of the shops and departments where fish and seafood products are traded. Although the specific requirements for the furnishings can vary—a counter where fresh fish is sold will have different equipment from the display case in a sushi bar or a lobster tank in an upmarket restaurant—but there are still some similarities. The focus is almost always on an appealing and attractive presentation of the

products, to arouse customers’ curiosity, awaken interest, and encourage purchases. In addition, the goods have to be presented in a clean and hygienic environment so as not to endanger food safety.

Continuous refrigeration and well thought-out counter concepts help preserve the freshness and quality of the fish products in the display for as long as possible and prevent weight shrinkage due to moisture loss. For the sales staff who work there every day it is important that the fish counter

meets ergonomic requirements, enabling easy positioning and removal of the products on display.

Fish and seafood by their very nature have characteristics and properties that appeal to many customers emotionally and whet their appetites. While a bag of flour is unlikely to stimulate spontaneous impulse buying the sight of delicious fish and seafood in a display counter is much more likely to tempt customers to buy something due to the variety of shapes

11_TECHNOLOGY (TECH).indd 49

and sizes, colours, and textures that can appeal to all our senses.

The main function of fish counters and other seafood displays is therefore to present the products attractively, to impress the customers, to hone their appetites and to arouse their desire to taste the food. In order to fulfil these tasks, the goods have to be arranged both according to aesthetic criteria and in compliance with applicable hygiene rules so that when customers see the array of products in the fresh fish and

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[ TECHNOLOGY ] seafood counter they will immediately feel the desire to choose from the wealth of the offer.

The engineering and technology that go into the development of modern fish counters and seafood displays are designed to meet and balance the dualism of a high experience value for customers and the pragmatic requirements of the users, i.e. the sales staff.

The resulting display equipment and fittings enable an attractive presentation of the products while maintaining their quality and supporting a maximum shelf life. With regard to the sales staff’s needs the ideal counter should not make strenuous or tiring physical demands, thereby leaving time and energy for direct sales conversations with the customers.

In view of these numerous requirements it is hardly surprising that many companies have specialised in counter design and construction or even in the manufacture of complete shop fittings.

While the customers primarily focus on the salesroom and the fish counter, the sales staff are also interested in the design of the peripheral features such as the cooling and storage facilities, the snack area or the service rooms for processing the raw materials.

Good shop design should always be based on the intended work processes. It makes a big difference whether the fish is only to be handed over to the customers, or whether it is filleted in the shop, prepared ready for cooking or even more highly refined. Experienced shop fitters know what fishmongers actually need and can give them expert advice on all the details of selling fish. This can be very helpful and make decisions easier because the range of equipment and aids available, from light tables to ice machines and smoking systems, is just as

The visual link between the fish counter and other fresh sales areas for meat and dairy products makes it easier for customers to find their way around the supermarket.

extensive as the variety of available fish counters.

Suitable solutions for every application Whether industrially produced off-the-shelf counters that only have to be set up and can be taken into operation immediately, or tailor-made solutions designed to the exact requirements of the individual fish seller there are suitable counter solutions for all premises, requirements and budgets. They are often modular in design, which allows flexible combinations and arrangement to achieve different lengths. As a rule, counters are permanent installations, but mobile versions on castors are also available, offering users more freedom, for example for alternative usage at events, for catering or for seafood presentations at trade fairs. When developing counter concepts there are no limits to the designer’s creativity. Although counters

with clear linear contours are still the usual standard there are also differently shaped models with a curved or circular design. Sometimes designers take up motifs from the maritime world and design the counters in the shape of a boat or market cart to create a particularly fitting appeal for the customers.

The huge selection of sales counters in all shapes and sizes can fulfill any wish, no matter how much space is available for the display equipment. Suitable solutions can be found for almost every situation, be it a shop-in-shop system, the area before the checkout, a separate fish department within a supermarket, specialist fishmonger or seafood restaurant. Even in the case of industrially produced standard counters there is a variety of available materials and decorative elements offering countless possibilities for individual ideas. As is usual in the food sector, stainless

steel dominates the range of fittings but glass and aluminium, powdercoated sheet steel, plastics and natural materials such as granite and marble or decorative wooden panels are also used, for example for counter fronts. LEDs are becoming increasingly significant as design elements: here light is used specifically to put customers in a shopping mood, to create eye-catchers or to highlight counter contours.

The current convergent developments in counter design and increasing similarity of technical features mean that it is often the little details that make the difference between good and better.

For example, the glass fronts that ensure hygiene and prevent the displayed products from coming into direct contact with customers can be flat and smooth or differently shaped. Some can be lifted up or folded forward to make cleaning easier, while others are fixed upright. Whichever design the retailer prefers he should

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[ TECHNOLOGY ] always make sure that the glass is anti-reflective to prevent disturbing reflections that later make it difficult for customers to see the fish products. It is equally important that the glass does not fog up, which can occur due to the difference in temperature between the cold ice bed inside and the warmer countertop outside and can cause a film of water to form, obstructing the view. This is why many fish suppliers with enclosed counters do without fogging systems which keep the fish moist, give it a fresh appearance and prevent weight loss due to shrinkage.

Sufficient cooling is a must in the counter For appetizing presentation and durability of fish products an ice bed, if possible combined with an efficient cooling system, is indispensable. To prevent the ice from melting quickly the counter trays are usually well insulated today, for example with CFC-free polyurethane foam. Integrated refrigeration systems with powerful compressors and environmentally friendly refrigerants maintain the right temperature and their operation is usually user-friendly and self-explanatory. It is also important to have reliable customer service that can take care of regular maintenance and, in the event of any defects, doesn’t keep one waiting too long.

Modern counters are often already equipped with electronic monitoring systems that control the cooling capacity according to the ambient temperature. This protects the products, reduces energy consumption, saves costs and also ensures a more favourable CO2footprint. In addition to the temperature display at the counter the data can also be transmitted, stored and documented via an interface to the retailer’s central computer, ensuring maximum food safety and allowing full traceability of errors

The arrangement of the open counter in the rear area of the fish department gives customers a clear view of the products in the ice bed and facilitates sales conversations.

in the event of complaints. A visual or acoustic alarm warns staff if the temperature in the counter deviates from the specified standard value.

In order to save time for setting up the ice bed and arranging the products all the display areas of the counter should be easily and directly accessible. In some counters the tray can be divided into several zones using partitions for the presentation of different goods, which makes it easier to arrange loose fish and other unpackaged food products that should not have direct contact. What is necessary during the setting up of the ice bed also applies to its dismantling: it should be possible to remove the remains of the ice completely and without much effort. For reasons of hygiene, melt water that accumulates during the course of a working day must be removed continuously in order to prevent the development of germ sources and any unpleasant odours. This is why many manufacturers equip their counters with drain valves at the lowest point of the bottom tray.

On the service side of a fish counter the focus is therefore on hygiene, product care and product safety as well as time-saving and ergonomic working conditions for the staff. On the customer side it is primarily a question of the attractive presentation of the product range, with freshness and quality being easily recognisable throughout the counter. Any information about the products on the accompanying tags which provide interested customers with important facts about the respective fish species and its origin, the production or fishing method, and the price should also be easily recognisable. And counters must also be robust so that careless customers do not cause unsightly scratches and other damage with their shopping carts. Plastic bumper bars or shelf space for customers’ bags and baskets offer protection and can be replaced quickly and cheaply if necessary.

Little “tricks� can generate sales But even the best counter offers no guarantee of good sales if the

11_TECHNOLOGY (TECH).indd 51

displayed products don’t appeal to the customers. Every fish retailer develops his own style and follows his own ideas when it comes to the design and decoration of the fish counter. According to sales experts, paying attention to little tricks can generate attention and increase sales. Since people by nature tend to pay attention to contrasts, fillets should be arranged by colour, for example. Several white fillets next to each other look boring. This is why professionals recommend alternating white (e.g. cod), reddish (e.g. salmon) and deep red (e.g. tuna) fillets, which can create striking cascade effects with a strong visual impact. Darker fillets should be placed close to the customer at the front of the counter, lighter ones further back. It is also important to keep the counter filled. Nobody wants to feel they might be buying leftovers that others have overlooked or rejected. So if possible, it is good to always add more products if the stock is running low. It can also promote sales if special offers are sorted by price and always in the same place. This makes it easier for customers to

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[ TECHNOLOGY ] find their way around and can lead to impulse buying.

Successful fish retailers are often individualists who have a fairly precise idea of the furnishings or what could be called the “personality� of their shop. These people often prefer tailor-made sales counters that suit their needs exactly rather than industrially produced standard fittings. Such special constructions are designed by the suppliers according to the fish seller’s wishes which ensures great variety in the sales area. Some retailers like traditional counters that stand between the customers and the sales staff, others prefer more open counters that are arranged in the background. High-quality products are often displayed in small glass towers or showcases.

There are also combined counter solutions, with a counter at the top for full-service sales and a refrigerated display area for packaged products at the bottom for self-service for hurried shoppers.

Aquariums and tanks for keeping live fish and seafood species play a very important role in many Asian countries where they are to be found in local markets, restaurants and large supermarkets, i.e. wherever consumers have particularly strong preferences for live fresh seafood products.

The locations are as varied as the construction methods, materials and technical equipment used.

Whether glass or plastic tubs, the technical equipment of the basins rarely goes beyond simple fan pumps that continuously blow finely bubbled air into the water.

That is why only particularly resistant species such as catfish, tilapia, or snakehead as well as some species of crabs and mussels survive such live exposure.

The sale of live fish and seafood has never been widespread in

The curved shape of this counter enables optimal use of the sales area. The blue light below the front edge makes the counter seem to float.

European countries, however, and even the few suppliers there are now increasingly giving up this option. Keeping live fish and seafood for sale is technically complex, requires great care and maintenance, often involves animal losses and is therefore expensive. In addition, fish retailers and restaurateurs who still own lobster or trout tanks are today increasingly subject to protests and campaigns by animal welfare activists which is why this form of supply, which is actually particularly quality- and freshness oriented, is increasingly being abandoned.

Putting products in the right light To achieve optimum presentation, fish and seafood suppliers often invest in elaborate lighting systems that show off their products effectively with colourful contrasts. Traditional meat counters are often fitted with lamps whose light radiation has high infrared

and ultraviolet components that emphasise and highlight the bright red colour of the meat products. However, this principle doesn’t work with fish and seafood, or only works to a limited extent, because they are much more colourful and brighter. In theory, even simple incandescent lamps with normal white light are better suited to accentuate the variety of colour tones of these products appropriately. It can be a problem that such lamps radiate more heat than light, which has a negative impact on the freshness and integrity of fish and seafood.

Intense light radiation from “normal� filament lamps can even lead to moisture, weight and thus sales losses and cause visible damage.

Current advances in LED lighting technology offer alternatives here for using product-specific lighting concepts to emphasise the special features of individual product groups. Damage caused by invisible UV and IR light is ruled out

with LEDs. Modern LED luminaires can focus light and cast it exactly where it is needed, putting a shine in the eyes of fresh fish and making their moist skin glow. An advantage here is the enormous range of available colour temperatures which are now available with LEDs and which should be taken into account when aiming at optimum product presentation. Cold, neutral or warm – the colour temperature is specified in Kelvin. LEDs with low Kelvin values have a high red component, whereas higher Kelvin values stand for blue light. For red fish such as salmon or tuna it is best to choose light with a warm-white light colour (2,700 to 3,000 Kelvin). It emphasises the red colour and highlights the freshness of the products. White fillets, on the other hand, look more effective in cold white light with around 4,500 Kelvin. The colouring and brilliance of the light have high emotionalising potential and thus support the sale of fresh fish and seafood products. mk

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[ TECHNOLOGY ] FIAP sells a wide range of equipment for the aquaculture industry

A one-stop shop for ďŹ sh farmers FIAP, based in Ursensollen, Bavaria, has been supplying aquaculture equipment to the industry as well as to private customers since it was founded in 1978. Today it has expanded its range to include water gardens and all the accessories and services that go with them.

A

s the aquaculture industry grows and develops – in 2025 some 57 of the fish for human consumption will come from fish farming up from 50 in 2016 – it will, particularly in parts of Europe, get increasingly complex and sophisticated. Driving this development as well as responding to it will be companies like FIAP that has made a name for itself developing and supplying equipment to the industry. The family-owned company has existed for over 40 years and today is run by two partners representing the second generation of owner-managers.

User-friendly website with online shop The range of equipment that the company can supply is wide extending from simple nets to advanced sorting equipment.

Altogether FIAP can offer over 5,000 products most of which can be ordered directly on the company’s website, www.fiap.com, which is in German, English and partly in seven other European languages. From the website it is also possible to download forms to order by fax or email.

Among FIAP’s most popular pieces of equipment is the belt feeder, a device that is available in two sizes, 3 kg and 5 kg, and that can be used to feed fish at the larval stage or when they have become fry. The feeder continuously dispenses a pre-determined amount of feed at intervals that can vary from 1-99 hours. The feeder can also be used to dose the fish very

precisely with buffering agents or medicines. While the machine runs off an integrated battery, which is recharged by a power supply unit, an optional solar powered module is also available that makes the unit independent of the mains supply. The entire machine is robustly built, weather resistant, and durable with an aluminium drive shaft that is light, strong, and resistant to the corrosive impact of sea water. The feeder has been designed with hygiene in mind and can be very easily removed for cleaning purposes.

Ceramic diffusers are designed to produce tiny bubbles of oxygen 100-400 microns in size to facilitate the dissolution of the gas in water.

are made from stainless steel and

Among the most critical components in an aquaculture system is the equipment that ensures the level of oxygen in the water is suitable for the stocking density and species of fish. FIAP offers a number of oxygenating solutions as well as devices to monitor and control the delivery of the gas. Among the former is a series of ceramic diffusers.

These have frames made of aluminium to withstand sea water, and the ceramic plates are designed to produce very fine bubbles of between 100 and 400 microns. The finer the bubbles the better the oxygen dissolves in the water. These devices can be used to transport live fish or oxygenate the water in ponds. FIAP also offers a range of oxygen flow meters that measure and control the supply of oxygen from an oxygenation system. The flow meters can be precisely adjusted to ensure accurate dosing with oxygen and prevent under or over feeding and

The equipment FIAP sells also meets the basic needs of a fish farmer. Nets, for example, are a fundamental part of any aquaculture operation and FIAP sells a variety of these. Possibly the bestselling nets are those in the Profinet Aluminium series, which features a sturdy aluminium bracket system and easy replacement of the net. The depth of the net varies from 300 mm to 600 mm and a handle in two different lengths is available as an optional extra.

as the growth in the global aquaculture industry is likely to secure FIAP’s business for the next generation of owners too.

FIAP GmbH Jakob-Oswald-Strasse 16 D-92289 Ursensollen Germany Customer Service Phone: +49 96 28 92 13 0 info@ďŹ ap.de www.ďŹ ap.com

11_TECHNOLOGY (TECH).indd 53

The wide range of equipment on

Oxygen-related chrome-plated brass for reliable offer, ability to shop online, the equipment is a speciality long-term performance. friendly customer service as well

Managing Directors: RenĂŠ Eichenseer, Tobias RĂśsl Activity: Sale of aquaculture equipment Markets: Germany, other European countries, USA, Asia, Africa

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GUEST PAGES

Women in the Seafood Industry ďŹ ghts for gender equality in ďŹ sheries and aquaculture

Redressing a persistent imbalance Women in the Seafood Industry (WSI) is a non-proďŹ t organisation dedicated to eliminating the gender discrimination that is widespread in the seafood sector. Globally, one in two workers in the seafood industry is female, but they dominate the lower echelons of the sector and are woefully underrepresented at the top. Marie Christine Monfort, executive director of WSI together with Christelle Vigot, the president, and Benjamin Cavalli, the secretary, argue here for the importance of a gender equal industry.

The three form the executive committee of WSI and, with their different backgrounds, represent a broad vision and understanding of the ďŹ sheries and aquaculture industry from a gender equality perspective. Broadly, their organisation raises awareness of gender inequality issues, advocates to reduce discrimination, and seeks to inspire changes in the sector.

You have been involved in the seafood industry in different capacities for many years, yet it is fairly recently that you immersed yourself in the issue of gender in fisheries. What brought about this development? Was it a particular incident or is it something that built up over time?

Through the twenty years plus I operated as a seafood market analyst, I would interact mainly with men, but noticed that a great deal of the work was done by women. My first years were devoted to succeeding in this very male-dominated environment.

Awareness of gender inequality grew with time but exploded during the 2012 NASF conference, where men represented 96 of all speakers invited. That day I realised that I could contribute to making this industry more gender balanced.

The right to equality between women and men is already enshrined in several international documents such as the founding charter of the UN, the universal declaration of human rights, the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), as well as European Union Treaties, many of which are decades old, yet discrimination persists. What is the reason for

this and what more can be done to improve the situation?

The international texts describe an ideal but they are not binding. There is a huge gap between what these institutions strive to achieve and the reality in the field. The gap is closed when on the one side institutions provide the means to implement the changes (financial, human, and legal) and on the other side the industry itself realises that gender inequality is a handicap that needs to be addressed. WSI intends to act on both sides—by lobbying institutions to act and by raising awareness among industry stakeholders.

While women account for almost half the workforce in the seafood industry, they are under-represented in the higher paid positions and over-represented in the lower skilled and lower paid segment. The reasons for this must vary from country to country, but are there some common factors that affect women everywhere?

I think we should split these two aspects. Yes, women occupy the low segment of the work in the seafood industry, as in other labour-intensive industries. They dominate the seafood processing industry, with employment rates of up to 90 in some countries. The reasons have diverse sociological

Marie Christine Montfort, executive director, Women in the Seafood Industry

and economic origins: women are more constrained than men and accept lower wages; their earnings are considered complementary income to the main household income (the man’s); they are perceived as more flexible; and being in charge of the household and caring for the family they have less time to engage in trade-unions, etc.

At the top of the pyramid, women in boards are no more than 15 (WSI data 2020) as incentive and

advancement practices give priority to males. The informal setting (relationships, networks, information flow, mentoring‌), where a career is made, also favours men. Consequently, women are held back from climbing the corporate hierarchy, which makes it more difficult to promote women to the top. We see that the seafood industry originates from and maintains a patriarchal system, where rules are made by men for men.

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Christelle Vigot, president, Women in the Seafood Industry

Benjamin Cavalli, executive secretary, Women in the Seafood Industry

Do you see a connection between the disparities between male and female workers in the fisheries sector and the unsustainable exploitation of many stocks?

Could female empowerment also contribute to a more environmentally sustainable fisheries sector?

Could you mention an example to support this?

promoted in ways that also benefit their male counterparts?

What we see is that globally marine resource managed by men are in poor shape. Over exploitation and mismanagement are common traits. Enabling women to participate in marine exploitation and ecosystem preservation policies could hardly add to the catastrophe. So yes, if by empowering women you mean giving them the same position as men, we say yes. It is worth trying. Note that shellfish fisheries in Galicia which are co-managed by women and the local authorities are giving very good results. Similarly, Mexico offers good examples of inclusive management and sustainable outcomes.

One of the ways to reduce discrimination may be to create quotas for women to secure a more

gender-balanced representation.

For example, in Norwegian publicly listed companies a proportion of board members must be women. Do you see quotas as a way of advancing the cause of women in the fisheries sector?

Speaking only of discrimination in high level management, quotas have proven that they can be part of the solution. Norway is an excellent example. However, if a society were truly egalitarian, we would not need quotas. With no constraints, with only the will of men, nothing will change. Why should it? So in this imperfect environment we need an imperfect rule. But discrimination is embedded in the culture. Quotas will not solve everything.

The empowerment of women in the fisheries sector is likely to be most successful if it is supported by men as well. Does the potential to lose this support exist if efforts to create awareness of the conditions of women working in badly paid jobs ignore the conditions of men in the same jobs? Can women’s rights be

We will not lose the support of men, because we don’t have it yet!

It must be understood that all the good developed for women will also benefit men. This has been proven by piles of articles: when society takes care of women, the entire community benefits.

Equal access to education and healthcare, and freedom from discrimination, harassment, exploitation, and violence are already laid down by law at least in most European countries. Would not the equitable implementation of the law achieve a large part of what Women in the Seafood Industry is trying to realise?

Yes. The failure of the system is the “raison d’être” of WSI, as of any NGO. Reducing discrimination and empowering women implies a new social structure where men take on more of the roles that women have traditionally occupied such as household work

12_GUEST PAGES (GP).indd 55

and child rearing. What is the best way to encourage this and would it contribute to effecting the changes your organisation is seeking?

There is no need to make a revolution to further evolution. Reducing some discrimination does not necessarily imply a reshaping of social patterns. For instance addressing the pay gap, training, mentoring, access to finance, etc. can have a tremendous impact. A lot can be done now.

As a professional fighting for greater equality between the sexes in the fisheries industry, have you personally experienced discrimination based on your gender? Who are your role models in this struggle?

Every day WSI receives messages from women around the world who complain that sexual discrimination of all sorts blights their working lives.

There is a lack of role models in this industry. We take this opportunity to call women to act as role models, and we also call for male gender champions. Both would inspire women and men to act towards a more gender equal system.

.BHB[JOF

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Reminder on World Fisheries Day of the damage done by harmful subsidies World Fisheries Day, 21 November, was celebrated by FAO together with Stella Maris, a Catholic charity supporting seafarers, fishers, and their families, with an event “Voices from the Sea� that paid tribute to fishers and fish workers whose lives and occupations have been affected by the coronavirus.

The event also marked the 75th anniversary of Small-scale fishers and their communities suffer when their fishing the FAO and the 100th angrounds are plundered by industrial fleets fuelled by subsidies. niversary of Stella Maris.

World Fisheries Day was also an occasion to of this support goes to industrial fishing fleets recall some of the challenges facing stakehold- that deplete fishing grounds great distances ers in the fisheries sector. Peter Thomson, the from where the fleets originate jeopardising UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the the livelihoods of the local small-scale fishers Ocean, in an article for the World Economic and thereby threatening their communities.

Forum, pointed out the need for countries to The issue was considered so critical that world deliver on SDG14.6—prohibit certain forms of leaders agreed that 2020 was the date by which fisheries subsidies which contribute to overca- SDG14.6 should be achieved. Most other SDGs pacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that mature in 2030. The issue of subsidies is being contribute to illegal, unreported and unregu- negotiated by delegations to the WTO, where lated fishing, and refrain from introducing new the General Council is supposed to meet in such subsidies. Globally, each year USD22bn mid-December and Mr Thomson urged the in public funds goes towards subsidising over- negotiating parties to stay true to the Sustainafishing which overexploits the ocean’s resourc- ble Development Goals and agree to eliminate es and puts food and job security at risk. Much harmful fisheries subsidies.

FAO GlobeďŹ sh releases November edition of EPR Demand for seafood in various European countries has been negatively affected by the second wave of infections with the coronavirus that has triggered restrictions in many areas, states the November edition of the European Price Report (EPR), an FAO Globefish publication. Prices for products that normally go to the restaurant sector, including mussels, shrimp, and squid, have crashed. The good news is that traders are better prepared for this second wave and are exploiting alternative sales channels such as home delivery. The EPR is a monthly publication that monitors prices of key commercial species in major seafood markets around the world using a network of price correspondents. Each edition briefly analyses the latest developments in important markets for each species or species group. To view the latest edition of the EPR visit http:// www.fao.org/in-action/globefish/publications/en/.

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DIARY DATES The Covid-19 pandemic may cause changes.

Readers are advised to check the event web sites for the latest information.

12-15 April 2021 Aquaculture Europe 2020 Cork, Ireland mario@marevent.com www.marevent.com

13-15 April 2021 PolarFish Greenland Ilulissat, Greenland Tel.: +45 9935 5555 akkc@akkc.dk http://polar-fish.net/en/

19-21 May 2021 Aquaculture UK Aviemore, Scotland Tel.: +44 7823 374568 info@aquacultureuk.com www.aquacultureuk.com

6-8 July 2021 Seafood Expo Russia St. Petersburg, Russia Tel.: +7 499 922 44 17 info@rusfishexpo.com www.rusfishexpo.com

POSTPONED till mid-July 2021 Seafood Expo North America Boston, USA Tel.: +1 207 842 5590 sales-na@seafoodexpo.com www.seafoodexpo.com

5-7 October 2021 Conxemar Vigo, Spain Tel.: +34 986 433 351 conxemar@conxemar.com www.conxemar.com

5-8 October 2021 Aquaculture Europe 2021 Madeira, Portugal mario@marevent.com www.marevent.com

8-10 June 2021 Polfish Gdansk, Poland Tel.: +48 58 554 93 62 monika.pain@mtgsa.com.pl http://polfishfair.pl/

14-18 June 2021 World Aquaculture 2021 Singapore mario@marevent.com www.was.org

15-17 September 2021 Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition Reykjavik, Iceland Tel. +44 1329 825 335 jmiller@mercatormedia.com www.icefish.is

7-9 September 2021 Seafood Expo Global Barcelona, Spain Tel.: +1 207 842 5590 sales-global@seafoodexpo.com www.seafoodexpo.com

20-22 October 2021 REPROAQUA 2020 Trabzon, Turkey Tel.: +90 532 558 49 53 reproaqua2020@gmail.com www.ktu.edu.tr/reproaqua2020

A d d y o u r e v e n t t o w w w. E u r o f i s h M a g a z i n e . c o m

14_Dairy Dates.indd 57

26/11/20 9:56 AM

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01/12/20 10:16 AM

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Pick upy our copies at SEAFOOD EXPO GLOBAL Barcelona, Spain 7-9 September 2021

December 6 / 2020

Eurofish Magazine

EUROFISH International Organisation