World Fishing March/April 2024

NEW

NEWBUILDS

Shetland’s fleet investments net green benefits page 16

Sludge – the next fish feed ingredient? page

Pelagic trawler grows wings page

AUTOMATIC & SUSTAINABLE DISINFECTION SYSTEMS

ATTACKING LISTERIA EVEN IN HARBOURAGE SITES

STAND 3BB401

PAVILION OF ICELAND

VIEWPOINT

JASON HOLLAND | Editor | jholland@worldfishing.net

It’s evolution, not revolution

The international fishing & aquaculture industry magazine

EDITORIAL & CONTENT

Editor: Jason Holland jholland@worldfishing.net

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Tim Oliver, Bonnie Waycott, Vladislav Vorotnikov Quentin Bates, Terje Engø Eduardo Campos Lima, Eugene Gerden

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EXECUTIVE

a growing number of savvy fish processors are advancing their productivity, flexibility, speed to market, competitiveness and trust ‘‘

Through data, connectivity and increasingly sophisticated equipment,

The seafood value chain is a crucial part of a global food production landscape that’s evolving at breakneck speed. Paired with increases in raw material production, the upscaling of new technologies and innovations in processing plants have helped put global fish consumption on a growth trajectory that’s already spanned six decades. However, to continue being the world’s most traded food commodity, and to preserve its credibility as sustainable source of nutrition, there’s a pressing need for the blue food economy to kick-on further – for it to do more to meet the specific demands of very discerning markets for high-quality products, in formats they want, at competitive prices.

What’s apparent from the latest edition of the WF special report Smart, Connected Seafood Processing (starting on page 19) is that through data, connectivity and increasingly sophisticated equipment, a growing number of savvy fish processors have been successfully elevating their productivity, flexibility, speed to market, competitiveness and trust.

As these articles show, there are multiple benefits to having fish processing systems where robust data can be acted upon in realtime. On the processing line, for example, the delivery of analysis relating to quality enables teams to immediately address product or quality variances. At the same time, regulatory data can be automatically collected and stored so that it’s readily available for review by auditors. Then for decision makers, an early warning of a slowdown in delivery of a raw material enables an alternative source to be quickly arranged, while notification of an unexpected change in product demand allows appropriate adjustments in production to be implemented.

Compare these scenarios to traditional automated processing where data would be gathered and a review meeting might be arranged before deciding what to do next. As we were told in conversations putting the report together, real-time data drives faster, smarter decisions that can have positive impacts on quality, yield, traceability and sustainability – all prerequisites for food manufacturing sectors, not least seafood supply chains.

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About World Fishing & Aquaculture

Launched in 1952, World Fishing & Aquaculture is published by Mercator Media, a B2B media and events company specialising in international maritime industries, including marine business and technology, ports and terminals, and environmental strategies.

Through its publication and free access website (www.worldfishing. net), World Fishing & Aquaculture provides expert-written, in-depth coverage of the fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors, with a strong focus on the emerging solutions, technologies and innovations that are shaping the broader seafood economy’s landscape.

WOMEN IN FISHERIES – CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, BLACK SEA

Women work just under a third of all fishing-related jobs in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea but persisting biases mean their true contributions to the economies of coastal fishing communities continue to be underestimated, finds a new study from the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).

According to GFCM, the intention of its “Women in fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region: roles, challenges and opportunities” report is to bring the issue of gender equity in fisheries to the forefront of key discussions and to offer policymakers a framework from which to build.

The full integration of women’s knowledge and experience into key decisions promises to improve their lives, as well as those of their families and community members, it said.

GFCM notes that data on women’s contributions to fisheries are limited worldwide, as women often perform behind-the-scenes tasks to support family fishing enterprises – for example, fixing nets, cleaning fish or bookkeeping – which can be difficult to capture in official statistics. Furthermore, when statistics do cover activities along the full value chain, they are rarely reported separately by gender.

“If you don’t have evidence, you don’t know that the problem is there. If you are not counted, you are invisible,” said a Mediterranean gender expert interviewed anonymously for the study. GFCM insists women’s voices and experiences cannot be lost. Instead, it says they must be integrated into fisheries management to achieve the sustainability of marine ecosystems and improve the standard of living in coastal communities.

“To find solutions for the problems in the sector we need men and men need women,

because we have different knowledge and practices that complement each other,” stated a Black Sea fisheries policy expert.

The publication illuminates this data-poor subject through a mixed quantitative–qualitative approach.

First-ever comprehensive estimates of women’s contributions to fisheries across the whole Mediterranean and Black Sea region are complemented by qualitative analyses based on key informant interviews conducted with people from five different countries representing a diversity of fisheries contexts in the GFCM area of application.

Recommended actions

GFCM said these conversations with fishers, fisheries managers, researchers and gender experts – those individuals with the most experience and highest stake in this issue – brought forward various themes that became the basis for a set of actions recommended to the GFCM and other decisionmakers in the region.

The study’s recommended actions require varying

degrees of commitment from the countries and financial resources, and chief among them is the need for genderdisaggregated data collection all the way along the fisheries value chain.

They represent necessary steps towards improving the working conditions of women in fisheries, as well as the overall sustainability and social and economic prosperity of fishing communities.

Broken down by gender according to GFCM subregion and value chain stage, up-todate employment figures reveal women’s jobs in Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries are overwhelmingly concentrated in the post-harvest stage (which includes work to repair nets and clean boats, sort and clean the catch, and process and market fish).

Women account for 38% of regional employment in the post-harvest stage, compared to 16% and 10% in the preharvest and harvest sector stages, respectively. Women’s employment is greater in the industrial fishing segment than in small-scale fisheries, though this figure likely underestimates

n GFCM wants women’s voices and experiences to be integrated into fisheries management to achieve the sustainability of marine ecosystems and improve the standard of living in coastal communities

women’s employment in the small-scale sector, especially in non-vessel-based jobs, given the lack of systematized data collection on this type of employment.

“It is taking time for the people, our families, to understand the nature of our work and the risks and difficulties we face. Awareness needs to be raised. We are very passionate about our work, we are interested in continuing to progress and achieve stability, and in our right to exist in the sector,” commented a Mediterranean female fisher interviewed in the study.

GFCM said it is pursuing efforts to address biases against women in Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries, including by supporting the creation and recognition of women’s organisations and facilitating women’s access to equipment and social protection programmes.

SEAWEED WORMS – ALTERNATIVE FARMED FISH DIET SHOWS GREAT PROMISE

With the help of funding from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), researchers at Aarhus University, Denmark, have discovered a way to utilise decomposing seaweed to mass produce marine enchytraeids – small worms naturally found in decaying seaweed – as a live aquaculture feed.

Currently, fish fry production is based almost exclusively on rotifiers and Artemia, which need to be enriched with fish oils or algae before use. This process is not only costly and time-consuming but the nutritional quality of these types of feed is often not ideal. The researchers determined three good reasons to instead use enchytraeid worms:

n They have an ideal nutrient composition, containing high

protein and lipid content and abundant long chain omega-3 fatty acids

n They can grow sustainably in a terrestrial environment, on industrial organic residues, and replace marine food sources, thus reducing fishing pressure on the marine environment

n By using enchytraeid worms as live feed, fish farmers can postpone weaning onto dry feed until fish are large enough to optimally utilise dry feed

Through the project, the researchers explored optimal production conditions, developed efficient extraction procedures, and tested the utility of enchytraeids as juvenile feed for six species of cultured fish.

Enchytraeus experienced the highest growth rate at

temperatures of 15-22°C and a substrate salinity between 8 and 15 parts per trillion. In laboratory trials, using potting soil mixed with dried and rewetted seaweed as a substrate, approximately 90g of fresh biomass per litre substrate could be produced every three months.

Scaling up to a semi-industrial level, the team achieved around 200g of fresh biomass per 6 litres of substrate every two months with minimal manpower and low running costs.

The researchers also developed a highly efficient (>90% efficiency) extraction procedure based on heat extraction. Laboratory experiments indicated that enchytraeus can synthesise essential omega-3 fatty acids independently, making them a valuable protein source for fish

feed, with about 50% protein on a dry weight basis.

It was determined that turbot, flounder and whitefish grew significantly better on live worms than on a standard dry feed. Halibut and ballan wrasse grew just as well, although it was found that enchytraeus wasn’t a suitable live feed for kingfish.

n Enchytraeid worms can be used to feed farmed fish, with promising results

BRIEFS

EU pledges €20m for aquaculture

European Investment Fund is providing the funding to help drive innovation and sustainability in the industry. It will help the Blue Revolution Fund work together with The Nature Conservancy to support endeavours aimed at restoring marine ecosystems.

US seafood deficit exceeds $20.3bn

About 80% of the estimated US consumption of seafood comes from abroad –primarily from Canada, Chile, India, Indonesia and Vietnam, NOAA has calculated.

Icelandic catch value increases

The total volume of fish and shellfish landed by the Icelandic fishing fleet in 2023 fell by 3% to 1,374,823 tonnes, but the value of these catches increased 1% to more than ISK 197.3 billion.

Fishmeal, fish oil production falls

Overall cumulative fishmeal production for the countries analysed in reports compiled by IFFO, The Marine Ingredients Organisation, is estimated at around 1.738 million tonnes in 2023, around 23% less than in 2022.

Lobster prices boost Maine

Fishermen in Maine enjoyed a strong 2023 with earnings up 5% to US$611,277,692. Lobsters accounted for more than three-quarters of sales, with prices up to $4.95 per pound.

NAPA: HERRING COLLAPSE ON THE HORIZON WITHOUT URGENT ACTION

Atlanto-Scandian herring in the Northeast Atlantic could face a potential repeat of the 1960s herring collapse if governments do not take steps to stop overfishing, according to new research from the North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA).

NAPA – a collective of over 70 global retailers, foodservice companies and suppliers (all advocating for sustainable fisheries management in the Northeast Atlantic) –has commissioned its own research in order to strengthen its case. In collaboration with Ray Hilborn, Professor of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington, it has determined the timeframe for Atlanto-Scandian herring to reach a critically low threshold under current levels of overfishing.

Named the ‘Biomass limit reference point’ – or Blim – this threshold defines the danger zone for a stock, the point beyond which its reproduction is at risk, a state that should be avoided at all costs.

“Atlanto-Scandian herring could reach Blim as early as 2026, assuming the continuation of current levels of overfishing without any significant changes to recruitment. That would present politicians, the market and fishing communities with serious problems,” NAPA Project Lead Neil Auchterlonie said.

NAPA insists the outlook for Atlanto-Scandian herring is alarming. Fishing pressure exceeded scientific advice by 30%-37% between 2020-2022. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea describes the stock as “slowly decreasing”, and last year set the total allowable catch (TAC) for 2024 at 390,010 tonnes – a sharp decrease of 24% compared to 2023.

But despite a global coalition of market actors and the international fisheries

science community being aligned in their warnings about the severity of the situation for herring, coastal states governments are floundering.

“The buck stops with coastal state governments,” Auchterlonie said. “Their inability to agree on sustainable quota sharing arrangements in line with scientific advice is pushing more than one renowned fish stock into dangerous waters. AtlantoScandian herring, along with Northeast Atlantic mackerel and blue whiting, are being fished according to unilateral quotas that are set by individual nations. The result? Overfishing. The herring stock is heading for Blim in two years, and mackerel and blue whiting are likely not far behind.”

Action failure

In 2021, NAPA launched the three-year, policybased Mackerel and AtlantoScandian Herring Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) and the Blue Whiting MarinTrust FIP, in direct response to the inadequate management and governance of these stocks.

With a self-imposed deadline on the horizon, and many retailers saying they will no longer purchase these stocks from the region unless a sustainable sharing agreement can be reached, NAPA has contributed directly to the body of scientific evidence, adding additional urgency to its call for action.

Marks & Spencer Aquaculture & Fisheries Manager Linda Wood noted that coastal state governments “have failed to act”.

She said: “With the FIPs due to end in a matter of months, we are becoming restless in the absence of a resolution. We are urging coastal states to act in accordance with their commitment to ‘follow the science’ and reach a sharing agreement as early as possible in 2024.”

NAPA added that pivotal quota sharing negotiations for Atlanto-Scandian herring, mackerel, and blue whiting are now underway and its position is clear: “Three years wasted, one last chance to make a difference. The market will act if governments do not.”

n Atlanto-Scandian herring could take a significant hit to its rate of reproduction as soon as 2026, warns NAPA

More tuna fisheries meet MSC

BRIEFS REPORT: EUROPEAN FISHING CAN BE SAFEGUARDED BY UPSCALING EXISTING INITIATIVES

As of 16 January 2024, an estimated 42% (2,085,200 tonnes) of the global tuna catch is Marine Stewardship Council-certified, with a further 11% (539,179 tonnes) in assessment.

UK-Faroes reach fishing agreement

United Kingdom and Faroe Islands have reached an agreement on fishing opportunities for 2024 with the UK securing over 2,200 tonnes of fishing quota. At the end of 2023, the UK secured access to 420,000 tonnes of opportunities with Norway and the EU worth up to GBP 700 million.

Sustainable aqua in Uzbekistan

The European Union and United Nations Development Programme have provided equipment to support fish farming practices in Uzbekistan. The equipment will help reduce water consumption, improve water quality and energy efficiency in farms, and safeguard fish welfare.

American sushi council launched

The National Fisheries Institute has formed the NFI Sushi Council, a precompetitive stakeholder group made up of harvesters, processors, distributors and end-users at retail and foodservice. It will work to enhance sushi product integrity and to promote industry-led food safety.

The European Commission and EU member states can protect fish populations and also support the livelihoods of responsible fishers by embracing a more forwardthinking approach based on environmental and social considerations when allocating fishing quotas, according to a new study.

Published by Seas At Risk and its members Ecologistas en Acción, Sciaena and Bund, “Allocating fishing opportunities with environmental, social and economic criteria in mind” showcases 10 alternative practices pioneered by national governments in the allocation of fishing opportunities. Seas

At Risk said these schemes are based on a more sustainable and equitable distribution of fishing rights and quotas.

The environmental NGO believes that if upscaled, replicated and tailored to national realities, these examples can lead to sustainable fishing practices, the prevention of overfishing and the enhancement of fishers’ wellbeing.

Its report focuses on allocating fishing opportunities based on environmental or social considerations. Seas

At Risk said while these are in line with what’s encouraged

under current rules, including by Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), they are “rarely implemented” by member states.

The environmental criteria adopted by member states span reduced carbon emissions, use of low impact fishing equipment, and decreased incidental catches, it noted, while the social criteria include support to small-scale and artisanal fishers, fishers living on remote islands, and having children with disabilities. It also addresses the sector’s worker deficit by fostering the integration of new and young fishers.

Shifting the balance

Seas At Risk highlighted the examples given in the report remain rare cases across the EU. In fact, it said, the current allocation of fishing opportunities is almost solely based on historic criteria – those fisheries who have historically caught certain amounts of fish in the past, are often granted similar quotas also in subsequent years.

While these allocation

practices help maintain stability, allowing fishers to make long-term plans and reduce uncertainties, it also perpetuates social disparities, the organisation insisted.

This, it said, reinforces the influence of a selected group of powerful industrial fisheries using harmful fishing practices, at the expense of smallerscale and artisanal fishers and fragile marine ecosystems. This paradox stresses the urgent need for new measures that prioritise fairness, sustainability and the preservation of the ocean for future generations.

With the European Commission expected to soon release guidance to encourage member states to use the environmental and social options offered in existing rules when allocating fishing quotas at a national level, Seas At Risk explained that the NGO community is looking to show that promoting sustainable fishing practices and the wellbeing of fishers is possible.

“We stand at a critical juncture where the future of our ocean and fishing communities hangs in the balance. The European Commission must lead EU countries to shift towards a more sustainable and equitable distribution of fishing opportunities to contribute to a healthy ocean for us and future generations. It’s time to rethink fisheries,” Seas At Risk Senior Fisheries Policy Officer Bruno Nicostrate said.

The organisation’s Fisheries Policy Officer Remi Cossetti added: “To tackle the escalating ecological and social crises that afflict EU waters and the fishing sector, national governments can learn from alternative fair and ecofriendly fishing practices that are already happening across the EU. Replicating, upscaling and tailoring these practices to national realities is key to unlocking a sustainable future for fishers, while safeguarding marine ecosystems.”

n Ahead of European Commission guidance, the NGO community is looking to show that both sustainable fishing practices and the wellbeing of fishers is possible

INDIA READIES SHARK CONSERVATION PLAN

The country is poised to adopt a National Plan of Action for Conservation and Management of Sharks (NPOA) after a consultative meeting in Kochi gathered crucial feedback from stakeholders, including scientists, conservationists, government officials and environmentalists paved the way for its implementation.

The meeting was jointlyorganised by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India and the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO).

NPOA’s draft contains key priorities for effectively managing and conserving shark populations in Indian waters. Discussions at the meeting cantered on these critical areas, ensuring a comprehensive and actionable plan. These areas include legal framework, capacity building, data collection, scientific research, regulation of fishing, biodiversity and ecological considerations and regional cooperation.

The proposed plan also envisages enactment of law for waters between 12 and 200 nautical miles, implementation of logbook system, awareness building among fishermen, encouraging fishermen to follow gear regulations and by-catch reduction measures amongst many other schemes.

“Developing NPOA is vital for the sustainability of the shark fishery,” said Neetu Kumari Prasad, Joint Secretary to the Department of Fisheries,

n Through NPOA, India wants to understand its shark population and the communities dependent on it

Government of India. “We’ve engaged extensively with fisher associations, research bodies, and NGOs to create a comprehensive plan.”

The plan is expected to improve India’s understanding of its shark population and the communities dependent on it. This knowledge will equip the government with the tools to make informed decisions on shark fisheries and conservation in the country, she added.

BOBP Director Dr P Krishnan said the plan aims to promote sustainable fishing practices, ensuring the long-term health of shark populations and the

fisheries sector. Additionally, it seeks to support coastal communities by facilitating the development of alternative livelihoods, he said adding that more than two lakh people in India earn over 50% of their incomes on shark fisheries.

“The NPOA plays a crucial role in regulating India’s substantial involvement in the global shark trade. This includes guaranteeing compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and actively combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities,” he said.

Emphasising the rising number of vulnerable shark species, Dr Kim Friedman, Senior Fishery Officer at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), highlighted the critical importance of this proposed plan of action.

The meeting proposed that stakeholder awareness is crucial for taking conservation measures. Proper data collection, coordinated efforts of government mechanisms across the maritime states, habitat mapping, electronic logbook system and specific action plans among others were also proposed at the meeting.

EU CALL FOR FISHING VESSEL OF THE FUTURE

European Commission is inviting companies to build the fishing vessel of the future.

Funded to the tune of €2.2 million by the EU, the pilot project will develop and test a demonstrator vessel running on alternative fuels to help decarbonise the sector

and enhance its economic resilience.

The project should demonstrate the feasibility of the chosen technologies and highlight the benefits of reduced reliance on fossil fuels, lower fuel costs and lower emissions.

A resulting demonstrator will be showcased to stakeholders including fishers, investors, coastal communities and young people.

The pilot project is part of the Commission’s commitment to test and demonstrate innovations in

fishing vessels as detailed in its Communication on the Energy Transition of the EU fisheries and Aquaculture sector issued in February 2023.

The call is open until 11 June 2024 and the successful project(s) will be chosen by the end of the third-quarter of 2024.

LOST FISHING GEAR – WHAT DO FISHERS THINK?

Towards the end of last year, Norwegian newspapers reported the retrieval of one set of lost gill nets containing 20 dead porpoises. For those who enjoy the sight and sound of these animals in a quiet fjord, such news is very sad. Claire Armstrong, Huu-Luat Do and Roger Larsen from the Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, question fisher perceptions of ghost fishing and their willingness to turn to biodegradable gear

Towards the end of last year, Norwegian newspapers reported the retrieval of one set of lost gill nets containing 20 dead porpoises. For those who enjoy the sight and sound of these animals in a quiet fjord, such news is very sad. Claire Armstrong, Huu-Luat Do and Roger Larsen from the Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, question fisher perceptions of ghost fishing and their willingness to turn to biodegradable gear

Additionally, fish mortality from ghost fishing is infrequently accounted for in fisheries management. This can create inaccuracy in the development of population and stock assessment models. Since ghost fishing reduces the potential fish production, it can affect the whole fisheries sector negatively.

In the survey, only 65% of fishermen had heard of biodegradable fishing gear ‘‘

To address this problem, the fishers themselves, who are closest to the issue, could actively participate. In the Dsolve project, led by the Norwegian College of Fisheries at UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, we conducted surveys among more than 900 Norwegian fishers.

When asked about the causes of lost fishing gear, accidents topped the list, closely followed by the type of seabed, poor design and strength of the gear, type of fishing gear, human error and bad weather. This raises questions about possible ways to organise fishing activities to reduce the loss of fishing gear.

Furthermore, this should interest fishers, as around half of them believed that lost gear contributes to ghost fishing to a large or very large extent, affecting the longterm yields of fisheries.

Fisher’s perceptions

We examined fishers’ perspectives on possible solutions to problems associated with lost gear. One possible solution is so-called “biodegradable” fishing gear. This is fishing gear made of materials that break down more quickly if lost. Such gear is still under development but could reduce ghost fishing and plastic pollution from lost fishing gear.

In the survey, only 65% of fishermen had heard of biodegradable fishing gear. Of those who had heard of such gear, over 60% expected that biodegradable fishing gear would increase costs, which is correct given the current limited quantity of such materials.

n A bundle of abandoned, lost or discarded gillnets

Photo Credit: Erling Svendsen

n A complete bottom trawl, bundled and dumped at 700-metres depth along an important Greenland halibut ground

Photo Credit: Roger Larsen

Economic theory recommends taxes that influence our behaviour in a more socio-economically optimal direction. We therefore asked how fishers feel about the introduction of taxes on current plastic and harmful fishing gear, thus encouraging the use of biodegradable gear.

Nearly 80% of the fishers familiar with such gear either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the introduction of such taxes. Over 50% of these fishers were also negative to increased regulation of existing non-biodegradable gear.

Measures to mitigate harmful effects

Since 1983, the Norwegian Fisheries Directorate has conducted annual clean-up expeditions to retrieve lost gear, and significant amounts have been recovered, totalling more than 1,000 tonnes of lost fishing gear, including close to 24,000 gillnets (>700 km). Last year, there was a retrieval record for catches, including 1,339 gillnets (40 km). However, this is a resource-intensive approach to reducing the amount of lost fishing gear in the sea, further complicated when fishers do not report lost gear.

Fishers in the survey were therefore asked why they believed some colleagues choose not to report lost gear. At the top of the list was negligence, or that fishers do not care. This was closely followed by the fear of consequences or punishment for reporting. This is surprising, given that there are no negative consequences for reporting lost gear in Norway, but rather a requirement in Norwegian fisheries regulations for such reporting. The third most common reason given for avoiding reporting was cost, followed by the time and effort required to report.

These answers provide information to authorities regarding possible measures. One aspect is securing more knowledge about the requirement for reporting lost gear and the consequences of failure to report.

Furthermore, it is important for fishers to understand that there is no punishment associated with reporting lost gear and that in the Norwegian system they use the same portal where they report entangled gear.

It should be noted that if fishers are correct about their colleagues, a change in attitude among fishers regarding the loss of fishing gear is needed. A change in attitude can result from more knowledge about the damage and cost caused by one’s negligence. However, the free-rider problem is difficult to solve – “as long as my negligence costs me little, I have little incentive to do anything about it”.

Here, it may be wise to learn a lesson from earlier Norwegian and other countries’ policy implementation. If harmful behaviour does not decrease, strict laws often follow. The smoking ban is an example of this. Taxes and campaigns did not have sufficient effect, resulting in strong regulation of smoking in public places worldwide, with subsequent costs for, amongst others, the hospitality industry. Addressing a problem early can often be more effective and cost less than reacting to later regulations.

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n A lost gillnet with dead Greenland halibut hauled during a clean-up survey organised by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries

Photo Credit: Gjermund Langedal

NEWHORIZONS

Focusing on Fisheries Development

SLUDGE – THE NEXT FISH FEED INGREDIENT?

Aquaculture waste has become a sought-after resource, reports

Bonnie Waycott

In late 2023, the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) announced a new chemical-free approach to treating aquaculture waste. With funding support from the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), Scottish Sea Farms, water technology supplier Power and Water and waste services company Tradebe, the goal of the approach is to enable seafood producers to deal with waste in a more circular way by returning byproducts to the sector to fuel the growth of ocean life such as marine worms and seaweed.

Using an electrochemical process and ultrasound technology, the approach involves extracting excess water from waste matter and feeding the remaining nutrient-rich material to polychaetes to boost their growth.

With hopes high that waste matter could be repurposed within the farmed salmon sector as feed, the polychaetes’ nutritional profile would then be assessed to gauge their suitability as a feed ingredient. SAMS plans to bring the circular concept to the market under a spinout called N-ovatio-N early next year.

“Aquaculture waste is not typically considered as valuable as co-products from other sectors, but there are a range of opportunities to be explored that could change that attitude,” Dr Georgina Robinson, lead researcher and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at SAMS, said in a press release. “By taking a circular approach, we can use the coproducts to aid the growth of other organisms that will, in turn, benefit the sector as a sustainable feed ingredient. The results of this project could show huge potential for it to be adopted more widely.”

Filling knowledge gaps

Similar initiatives are drawing attention elsewhere. In Norway, researchers at SINTEF Ocean are studying the possibility of using sludge – fish faeces and uneaten feed –as a feed for animals such as black soldier fly, gammarids and polychaetes.

‘‘

Large amounts of sludge are generated from aquaculture in Norway, and it’s crucial to learn more about this to continue towards a more circular economy

Andreas Hagemann, SINTEF Ocean

The upcycling of nutrients in the sludge by detritivores to produce novel ingredients for aquafeeds can make huge impacts on how well we utilise today’s resources, if we can re-introduce these into the value chain, according to Andreas Hagemann, senior research scientist at SINTEF Ocean. However, this circular approach is not allowed according to current EU legislations by precautionary principles, because there isn’t enough knowledge about the risks involved in such a value chain.

The SecureFeed project, financed by FHF – Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (#901732) – aims to address

Photo Credit: SINTEF Ocea

n Andreas Hagemann (left) and his colleagues believe fish sludge could soon become a source of revenue

these knowledge gaps. Researchers from SINTEF Ocean, the Institute of Marine Research and the Veterinary Institute are mapping state-of-the-art knowledge on biosecurity risks related to the use of fish sludge as feed for invertebrates in the food chain. The focus is on the potential for transmission and/or accumulation of chemical (i.e. heavy metals, environmental pollutants) and biological (i.e. viruses, prions and bacteria) hazards from the sludge to the final raw material, and measures that can be taken to reduce any identified risks.

“Low-trophic organisms like polychaetes and black soldier fly larvae use sludge as a growth medium and convert it into animal protein and lipids, which can then be used for fish and animal feed,” Hagemann told WF. “There are still some gaps in our knowledge about these organisms’ ability to pass on risk factors like infectious agents and unwanted elements. However, large amounts of sludge are generated from aquaculture in Norway, and it’s crucial to learn more about this to continue towards a more circular economy.

“Uncovering risk factors is a key step towards the future, and we believe that this type of waste material may soon become a resource that future biomarine businesses will be pleased to purchase.”

From cost to revenue stream

The SecureFeed project’s main goal is to provide information on the degree of biosafety when producing feed raw materials for terrestrial and marine organisms using organic material from salmon farms.

The first step was to document what sludge comprises. Following a systematic collection of information through literature reviews, 47 samples from fresh and seawater aquaculture facilities in Norway were analysed for dry matter content, energy, fat, protein, ash, minerals, heavy metals and medicinal residues. Samples were then checked for any relevant viruses and bacteria before experiments were conducted using black soldier fly larvae and polychaetes. The animals were fed sludge containing two different viruses or bacteria, in either high or low doses, and scrapie prions. The work is currently being prepared for peer-reviewed publications.

Waste material like sludge is currently used as compost, agricultural fertilisers and for biogas production, but paying for it to be removed from hatcheries and fish farms is a major expenditure. Nevertheless, Hagemann and his colleagues believe it may soon be seen as a source of revenue, in light of the forecasted “feed squeeze” that is hindering Norway’s goal of increasing its future salmon production by four-to five-fold.

“Two-thirds of Norway’s salmon feed raw materials currently come from south of the equator, including soy from Brazil and fish oil and fishmeal from anchoveta fisheries outside Peru,” said Hagemann. “Norway imports 92% of its feed raw materials. However, because of global insecurity issues, any growth ambitions that the salmon sector may have cannot be based on access to feed that relies on such over-extended supply chains. Furthermore, the EU taxonomy requires that we use the most ecofriendly feed available and this is where waste material such as sludge comes in. It’s rich in nutrients and can be fed to organisms such as black soldier fly or polychaetes, representing a potential alternative to existing salmon feed ingredients.”

Circular credentials

“Right now, we cannot rear extractive species using sludge because we don’t know enough about whether they can transfer unwanted components from the sludge they eat into the food chain,” Hagemann continued. “However, if future research provides the knowledge that is needed for agencies like The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to re-evaluate or re-assess today’s regulatory framework,

and the outcome is that sludge can be used in such circular value chains, we believe that this may become a huge industry in Norway.”

Hagemann said there are other options in addition to sludge, such as water effluents from RAS facilities that can be used to produce microorganisms and plant species.

Nutrient salts from the wastewater can be used to cultivate microalgae, which also offers a possible source of proteins and lipids that are key to aquafeed ingredients. Microalgae can also provide minerals and phytochemicals such as antioxidants and pigments with significant commercial value. But the reuse of sludge will make a key contribution towards consolidating the circular bioeconomy in Norway, which will be entirely in line with the government’s social responsibility initiative that was launched in spring 2023.

“Also, in the case of polychaetes, if all the sludge from existing Norwegian salmon production was collected, we could rear enough polychaetes to reach 80,000 and 30,000 tonnes of proteins and lipids, respectively, on an annual basis,” said Hagemann. “This is equivalent to about 12 percent of the protein and four percent of the lipids that the Norwegian farmed salmon sector is currently consuming. We use approximately 2 million tonnes of feed to produce 1.4 to 1.5 million tonnes of salmon today.”

“The key to our ability to exploit sludge generated by the farmed salmon sector is more knowledge,” Hagemann continued. “If our research demonstrates that the sludge can safely be exploited for feed production, we will have taken an important first step along the road towards a circular bioeconomy in Norway.”

n Polychaetes and black soldier fly larvae use sludge as a growth medium and convert it into animal protein and lipids

n The SecureFeed project is looking to address fish sludge knowledge gaps

Photo Credit: Institute of Marine Research

INSIGHT

The future of fishing

SHETLAND INVESTMENTS NET GREEN BENEFITS

New vessels and state-of-the-art fish handling technology have ensured the islands’ pelagic fleet is at the forefront of catching premium mackerel, herring and blue whiting

The eight-vessel strong fleet in Shetland is on the cusp of having undergone a complete renewal cycle over the last eight years once the new Antarctic, currently being built in Spain, is delivered in the summer 2024.

Seven of the boats in the fleet are members of the Shetland Fish Producers’ Organisation, and according to Chief Executive Brian Isbister, this renewal is a remarkable achievement and testament to the dedication of Shetland fishing families in ensuring a sustainable future and protecting global food security through the provision of nutritious protein for markets around the world.

“With regards to the Shetland, and the wider Scottish pelagic fleet, there are many plus points when it comes to sustainable fishing and environmental responsibility,” Isbister said. “The investment by fishermen in new vessels ensures operational efficiency and catch quality that are second-to-none.”

Two recent studies revealed that Scottish-caught pelagic fish has among the lowest carbon footprints compared when it comes to protein production, including chicken, beef and pork. Other research indicates that pelagic and other wild capture fisheries have a lower carbon footprint than many plant protein sources.

Sheila Keith, Executive Officer at the Shetland Fishermen’s Association, said: “There is this continual narrative from environmental NGOs that big is bad, and they have this vision of an artisanal fishing industry comprising entirely of small vessels. However, the reality is, confirmed by research, that pelagic fish caught by large trawlers have the lowest fuel consumption per kilo of fish caught – in other words the smallest carbon footprint.

“Of course, there is nothing wrong with small boats, and the great strength of the Shetland fishing industry is that we have this wide mix of vessel sizes working a wide range of different fisheries, including shellfish and linecaught mackerel. But the key point is, big vessels are an environmentally sensible way of catching pelagic fish.”

Isbister agrees. “Other environmental factors that favour the pelagic trawl sector include it being a targeted, clean fishery with virtually no by-catch of other species and the nets don’t touch the seabed. Furthermore, large vessels are essential for working safely offshore in the stormy waters of the Northeast Atlantic,” he said.

“With the progressive development of discerning export markets for Shetland pelagic fish, including in Japan, it is vital the fleet has the most sophisticated fish handling and cooling technology to ensure the UK can

n Adenia on the quayside at Lerwick

compete effectively in the export market for mackerel, herring and blue whiting. Scotland has a global reputation for the quality of its seafood, including pelagic fish, which is a marketing advantage that needs to be maintained and enhanced through continued innovation and investment.”

He added: “This dedication by our crews in ensuring the high quality of the fish is essential as we move forward and it is great to see Japanese buyers showing strong interest in landings coming into Shetland.”

Industry-science collaborations

The enthusiasm in which the Shetland pelagic fleet has embraced scientific data collection initiatives has been another significant sea-change in the sector in recent years, heralding a new collaborative approach to fisheries management. Under the scheme, fishermen collect fish samples on-board directly from their individual hauls, which are supplied to scientists for analysis. This collaboration has been developed by the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA), UHI Shetland and the Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government.

In 2023, UHI Shetland in collaboration with the other

‘‘

The investment by fishermen in new vessels ensures operational efficiency and catch quality that are second-to-none

Brian Isbister, Shetland Fish Producers’ Organisation

partners processed a total of 5,850 fish and 1,918 otoliths from the mackerel, blue whiting, and herring fisheries. The information gathered through these sampling programmes is used by the Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government, together with similar information from other parts of the country, to contribute to the assessment and management of commercial fish stocks.

“This is a great example of an industry-led initiative and sound science is key to ensure an evidential based approach to fishery management that will help secure the future sustainability of pelagic stocks. Such work is supporting the next generation of fishers and the future of our industry,” Keith said.

Isbister pointed out fishermen and scientists have entirely different jobs, and said it’s extremely beneficial that this collaboration enhances the understanding between the two professions.

It bodes well for the future, he said. “It enables us to learn more about stocks, and to learn more about what is possible and what is not possible when it comes to further developing such initiatives.”

Opportunities and obstructions

The Shetland pelagic fleet landed GBP 90.55 million worth of fish (95,818 tonnes) in 2022 in Shetland and elsewhere. While mackerel formed by far the biggest component of these landings, MSCcertified North Sea herring is also extremely

n Sheila Keith, Executive Officer at the Shetland Fishermen’s Association

important, and according to Isbister, it’s a fish that has future potential to become a more popular food.

While still in good demand in Germany and eastern Europe, herring has gone out of fashion as a popular food item in the UK.

“Herring is a superb product that was formerly part of our staple diet, but which for a variety of reasons is not in nearly much demand in the home market in recent times. This is a pity, and it would be good to seeing funding made available to market herring to revive our past love for this great tasting fish. Similarly, there is scope to develop the human consumption market for blue whiting.”

While such potential gives hope for the future, a major hurdle lies ahead in resolving the quota shares dispute among coastal states for mackerel and blue whiting in the northeast Atlantic. The UK has meticulously abided to its traditional share while Iceland, Russia, Norway, Greenland and the Faroe Islands have unilaterally increased their catch allowances without international agreement, putting pressure on the stock. One undesirable impact is that through the unsustainable actions of others, the Scottish mackerel fishery lost its coveted MSC status.

“Resolving this impasse is essential and other coastal states must move on this issue to ensure fair and equitable quota shares,” Keith said. “We have abided by the rules and the ball is in their court for reaching an agreement. Zonal attachment – the principle that quota shares should be apportioned according to the presence of fish in each party’s waters –should be the key principle in any allocation, and past unilateral quota increases must be ruled out as a starting point in the negotiations.”

Despite such challenges, the Shetland pelagic sector can look to the future with optimism, sustainably harvesting a low carbon footprint, tasty and nutritious food resource.

“Shetland has a fishing tradition going back for many generations, and it is this empathy with the sea that I believe will ensure a bright future for the industry and communities it supports,” Keith said.

n Shetland Fish Producers’ Organisation Chief Executive Brian Isbister

SPECIALREPORT

SPONSORED BY

Smart, Connected Seafood Processing

BAADER’s B’Logic takes processing to the next level

Carsoe’s onboard species-flexible systems gain wide appeal

Connectivity brings Kroma even closer to the value chain

New Zealand creating technologies to maximise the value from its fisheries

How robotic gripping can create transform processing

SCARA robots support speed, reliability and efficiency

Fish factories focus on high-tech

Russian processing struggling to keep its head above water

B’Logic® Software Solutions for Seafood Processing

Intelligence on Demand

Recognising the unique challenges seafood processors are facing across species, markets, and different scales of operations, BAADER Solutions on Demand have been a beacon of innovation for more than 100 years. An essential part of our on-demand approach is our B’Logic® software and intelligence, enabling processors to:

/ Enhance operational efficiency by identifying optimisation opportunities through real-time monitoring of all relevant processing parameters.

/ Ensure top-notch quality control to deliver only high-quality products to your customers.

/ Strengthen compliance by enabling single-fish traceability throughout every processing step.

Visit us at Booth 3JJ601

23-25 April 2024

/ Maximise raw material utilisation and reduce costs by strategically planning and controlling material distribution with ‘BEST FIT production.’

/ Boost customer satisfaction by consistently delivering high-quality products.

/ Make informed strategic decisions by leveraging insights derived from integrated data analytics.

Scan and learn more about B’Logic®:

B’LOGIC TAKES PROCESSING TO THE NEXT LEVEL

BAADER’s “wall-to-wall” software solution is helping factories optimise and control production from fish source to packed fillet with full traceability, writes

Jason Holland

With increasing production demands relating to such areas as animal welfare, efficiency, environmental footprints and product safety, there’s mounting pressure placed on food processors and companies to establish operational excellence. According to leading global fish processing machinery and solutions provider BAADER, one of the best, most progressive ways to achieve this aim is through complete product and production cycle connectivity.

To this end, offering its users complete single fish traceability, smart raw material distribution, individual fish call-outs for quality control inspections and packing to-order – all accompanied with full data and supporting images – the B’Logic manufacturing execution system (MES) developed by BAADER provides the platform through which a growing number of seafood companies are transforming the production side of their businesses. B’Logic is a proven product and already at its second version, combining years of hands-on experience.

Utilising data integration, real-time processing line performance monitoring, quality control and controlled fish distribution in factories, not only is B’Logic enabling seafood firms to better optimise their raw materials, and to control production from fish to each final, packed fillet, it is also future-proofing production processes, explained Henning Pedersen, Managing Director/CEO at BAADER Logistix A/S.

As well as improving yield and end-product quality, the level of traceability that it incorporates can mitigate key risks, not least by allowing processors to take immediate action when intervention is required anywhere along the

value chain. Meanwhile, the order processing and planning elements enable accurate order fulfilment, quality control, labelling and better inventory management.

The B’Logic solution is the ideal accompaniment for BAADER’s fish processing equipment, and a strong indicator of the company’s steady transition from machine provider to integrator and solutions on demand supplier, Pedersen told WF

We’ve gone from a standalone solutions provider to a wall-to-wall solutions provider

Henning Pedersen, BAADER Logistix A/S

“We’ve gone from a standalone solutions provider to a wall-to-wall solutions provider,” he said. “Today, we’re supplying entire factories from the raw material intake to dispatch. They’ve been getting more and more advanced along the way, which has driven our expansion into the world of digitalisation. As part of this, the decision was taken some years ago for our machines to be like IoT [internet of things] devices – for them to be increasingly intelligent – so they can communicate upstream and downstream along the production chain and even be able to control themselves. This has been realised through BAADER´s active digitalisation strategy.

n B’Logic enables seafood processors to better optimise their raw materials and to control their entire production system

Photo Credit: BAADER

“Our B´Logic solutions allow next level processing,” Pedersen said. “It´s truly next level across all production steps – with next level traceability, next level quality control, next level production control and next level monitoring.”

‘Smart distribution’

Yield optimisation is another particularly important commercial benefit coming from the integration of B’Logic into fish processing lines. In seafood production, yield is traditionally evaluated by measuring how efficient a machine is at taking meat off the bones of a fish. But BAADER’s B´Logic software solution goes “beyond that point”, Pedersen continued.

“Our machinery is already industry-leading in efficiency. The significant difference with B’Logic is the measurements and data that can be taken out of the processing equipment that offers much more than traditional yield measurement. We call it ‘smart distribution’, where all the data points for each single fish – its composition, properties, and qualities – define its best or highest value utilisation, and ultimately

There are countless opportunities for value creation, all aiming towards ‘100% Fish’ usage

Henning Pedersen, BAADER Logistix A/S ‘‘

which lines it can best be sent to so our customers can get the highest value out of that product.”

It can even split partially damaged fish into separate lines, so that a prime fillet can maintain its highest value while the remainder is used for a lower-value purposes.

“There are countless opportunities for value creation, all aiming towards ‘100% Fish’ usage,” Pedersen said. To support this raw material “best-fit” strategy and to ensure what goes out the factory door is what it’s supposed to be, B’Logic attributes a small, unique QR code to each box of fish that’s processed and readied for dispatch. With this code, the supply chain instantly has a full description of its content, with full single fish traceability back to its origins, complete with data and images from each stage of production.

Essentially, this ensures the customers of these processing facilities are getting exactly what they expect to receive: For instance, that smokehouses receive the right raw materials for their operations and for which they often pay a premium.

“Again, it’s about maximising value, and enabling our customers to send the right high-quality, fully traceable products to their customers,” Pedersen said.

An additional major benefit of combining our wall-towall solutions with B´Logic software is a centralised factory control that can be fully managed remotely.

In this regard, Pedersen spoke of once being stuck in traffic with the CEO of a major salmon and whitefish producing company, when that executive “keenly demonstrated” how he was able to look at every detail of what’s happening in real-time on the production line at his factory in northern Norway through the B’Logic’s software on his mobile device.

Building trust

While there’s a number of different software options available on the market, the strength of B’Logic lies in BAADER’s unique DNA of being a fish processing equipment manufacturer for more than 100 years.

“Our deep and century-long knowledge of fish processing has given us a major competitive advantage in

developing our B´Logic software solution as part of a fullyintegrated solution.”

Having such a tight in-house link to the actual equipment and being able to capture everything that’s taking place in that equipment, brings huge benefits to B’Logic users, especially when it’s part of a fully integrated solution, said Pedersen.

“Besides significantly improving yield, throughput and efficiencies in factories and on the processing lines, valuable information from the processing side can be brought all the way back to the fishing vessel or fish farm to improve those operations as well. At the same time, it can travel forward to the end of the supply chain and give consumers full traceability – with a simple QR code scan substantiating all the claims made by food companies, retailers and supply chains.”

Furthermore, the system can also smooth the pathway towards sustainability certifications like GlobalGAP and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), by automatically pulling all of the required information needed by the standards into one centralised point.

“Trust has become a really prominent issue across all food. And being able to prove and document that immediately on request is a very valuable asset in the seafood industry – that puts customers ahead of the curve.

“At BAADER we strongly believe that the future lies in connected, fully traceable end-to-end fish and seafood supply chains that value trust above anything else,” Pedersen concluded.

n A control room operating with B’Logic software

n A fillet inspection station

SCARA ROBOTS SUPPORT QUICK, RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT PROCESSING

There’s a strong need for efficient handling devices that can streamline seafood production lines and increase efficiency while reducing costs, Nigel Smith, CEO at TM Robotics, tells WF

WF: What benefits do these robots offer seafood companies?

Smith: Shibaura Machine’s SCARA robots offer many benefits to seafood companies and processors. Firstly, they help in removing workers from potentially hazardous environments, such as damp and cold settings, thus protecting the workforce from injuries and repetitive strain. Additionally, these robots ensure high-speed handling, improving productivity and throughput. Moreover, their reliability and uptime contribute to overall operational efficiency, making them invaluable assets in seafood processing facilities.

While Shibaura Machine’s SCARA robots are not solely targeted at seafood value chains, they are versatile and suitable for use in various industries, including seafood processing. The ideal setting for Shibaura Machine’s SCARA robots involves high-throughput production lines, where efficient handling of parts or products is essential. Whether it’s packaging processed fish or placing parts into boxes, these robots excel in environments where speed and precision are paramount. Proper integration into the production line layout by system integrators ensures optimal performance and efficiency.

WF: When did Shibaura first look at optimising seafood processing?

Smith: This began over two decades ago when it started utilising its robots in various food processing applications across Europe. While our initial ventures included projects like prawn packaging lines, the technology’s adaptability allowed us to explore opportunities in seafood processing. The journey began as an extension of Shibaura Machine and TM Robotics’ commitment to providing efficient automation solutions to diverse industries, including food processing.

Our key breakthroughs lie in the utilisation of SCARA robots for high-speed end-of-line packing, conveyor tracking, and integration with vision systems for inspection tasks. The latest vision systems include Shibaura Machine’s TSVision3D system for industrial robots. The system doesn’t require complex CAD data to recognise objects and instead uses two integrated, high-speed stereo cameras to capture continuous and real-time 3D images. The software can recognise any object that’s positioned in its field of vision, even for non-uniform products, like bananas for instance.

WF: To what extent are you seeing smarter, more connected technologies entering the seafood processing space?

Smith: The integration of smarter, more connected technologies, such as HMI systems, warehouse management systems and vision systems, is becoming increasingly prevalent in seafood processing. These technologies enable real-time monitoring, inspection and data analysis, contributing to improved efficiency and product quality. While not exclusive to seafood processing, these advancements are shaping the future of automation across various industries, including food processing.

New opportunities for our machines lie in further enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing

reliability in food processing operations. With the ongoing trend towards automation and the need for increased efficiency, our SCARA robots are well-positioned to address the evolving demands of the industry. There is also demand for quality, innovation and flexibility of industrial robots made in Japan.

While we continue to innovate and improve our technologies, specific developments in the seafood industry are contingent upon project-specific applications. However, we are constantly refining our THE range, SCARA controllers and software for ease of use and integration. Our focus remains on providing quick, reliable and efficient automation solutions across various industries, including food processing.

n There is a strong demand in the fish processing and packaging sector for innovative robots that can operate at high speeds

n Shibaura  Machine’s versatile THE range of SCARA robots is designed for fastcycle automation, inspection and pick and place applications

About TM Robotics

TM Robotics has installed thousands of robots in factories throughout the world, including North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australia. In partnership with Shibaura Machine, TM Robotics offers a comprehensive range of all three categories of robots: 6-axis, SCARA, and Cartesian. These are designed and built in-house.

CARSOE’S SPECIES-FLEXIBLE SYSTEMS GAIN WIDE APPEAL

Company’s determination to be a ‘trusted seafood partner’ has been integral to the success of its onboard dual processing solutions, writes

Over the course of the past decade, Aalborg, Denmark, -headquartered Carsoe has become a prominent leader in the onboard fish and shellfish processing equipment space, with its innovations taking at-sea fish processing to new levels of quality and cost-efficiency.

When designing these factories, the importance of utilising every available square inch of the factory deck is universally accepted. In this regard, fully-automated, conveyor-led systems and palletising can be crucial. But of equal importance to this value-adding process and ensuring these vessels’ processing decks are smarter and running to the best of their capabilities – smoother, faster etc. – is the input of the crew, insists Carsoe Sales Manager Trond Bjørnøy.

“It’s these guys that see the need for something new or different first, because they are the ones working on the boats every day, and they can recognise ways to best utilise the catch and increase automisation,” he said.

Adding these on-the-ground interactions to the many exchanges between Carsoe’s experts and the boats’ owners and their factory managers, the company has successfully laid strong foundations for what’s become long-term “trusted seafood partnerships”, Bjørnøy told WF.

He added that in particular, and through its focus on meeting customers’ requirements and delivering the strongest technical solutions with short processing times, Carsoe is being increasingly chosen as the processing partner for the delivery combi-factories for the efficient and automated processing of a widening variety of species.

Båragutt newbuild

Its most recent contract is to supply a combi-factory for a new vessel being built for Tromsø fishing company Båragutt Havfiske AS. Its new vessel, which will be named Eilifson, is designed for both trawl and fly shooting.

Eilifson will be 45.5 metres long and 12.5 metres wide, with some 18 crew members working onboard.

Jason Holland

Carsoe’s onboard solution will have several processing options for the crew – all centred around automation, Bjørnøy said. With the capacity of 40 tonnes per day, an efficient headed and gutted (H&G) whitefish processing line will include four automated V16 plate freezers, custom processing lines to lead fresh fish directly to the cargo hold as well as a complete shrimp processing line with automatic grading, cooking, and individual quick freezing (IQF) freezing.

Eilifson’s shrimp processing line will be a continuous cooking line with a capacity of 15 tonnes a day. Frozen products will be packed in 5kg cartons before going to the cargo hold.

Arvid Hansen, Manager of Båragutt Havfiske said the family business is very happy to be able to cook three different sizes of shrimp at the same time, in the limited space available in its factory.

“Shrimp, both for consumption and industry, is important for the vessel. In addition to a good whitefish/redfish factory, we will have a Norwegian top-class shrimp factory.”

The onboard factory is designed to ensure maximum processing capacity for both fish and shrimp in the limited space onboard, and the intricate layout is designed in close collaboration between Carsoe and Båragutt to ensure, that the onboard workflow and processing requirements are included in the final factory.

To ensure the factory delivers from day-one, with little downtime and problem-free operations, extensive testing of equipment and solutions will be carried out before installation.

New Zealand first

Historically, Carsoe has been a trusted processing partner for fishing vessels sailing the colder waters of the northern hemisphere. However, the company’s extensive and growing experience has led to its entry into an important new territory – New Zealand, to be precise – winning a contract for a multispecies onboard factory for Talley’s new vessel.

n Carsoe’s overriding aim is to establish long-term trusted partnerships

Photo Credit: Carsoe

With a length of 79 metres and a beam of 15.5 metres, the newbuild, called Voyager, will become the largest in Talley’s fleet. It’s being built at the Nodosa shipyard in Spain and delivery is scheduled for late 2026.

Bjørnøy has welcomed the collaboration: “We are very excited to embark on a new partnership with Talley’s and to contribute to renewing their fleet of fishing vessels with a modern factory utilising the catch efficiently.”

The two companies confirmed the onboard factory has been designed with a high degree of automation, minimising the need for manual labour, and ensuring better working conditions for the crew with less heavy lifting. Its catch will be quickly processed and frozen onboard, ready for distribution as fillets and H&G.

“Automation makes the processing job easier for the crew,” said Warren Harris, Project Manager for Talley’s newbuild. “When we compared the Carsoe design with others, we saw that Carsoe’s design flowed a lot better. Also, their communication regarding the specifications and our requirements has been second to none.”

The factory is designed to ensure streamlined processing across different species. As a wide variety of species are caught, the factory is optimised to handle and process each product and species efficiently, focusing on the shortest possible processing time from deck to freezer, to maintain the freshness of the fish.

Voyager’s processed fresh catch will be frozen in a highcapacity automatic plate freezer with a short freezing time and a continuous flow of products. Frozen products will then be sent for automatic palletising with an integrated stretch wrapper.

Carsoe explained that this palletising system is ideal for factory trawlers because the stretch film is added during palletising, allowing for quick and efficient storage preparation. The layered wrapping provides additional stability and protection for the catch, ensuring safe storage during bad weather and heavy seas.

With various species and a high-quality catch, efficient freezing is essential in the onboard factory. The automatic horizontal plate freezer, with a capacity of up to 80 tonnes a day, ensures frozen-at-sea products of the highest quality.

Automation in plate freezing provides countless benefits for the production process. “This is a big help in achieving steady good production and reduces heavy lifting work for the crew,” Warren said.

With an automatic, continuous freezing process, manual handling is eliminated, resulting in increased production rates. The infeed and outfeed of the freezer are automated, maximising capacity and simplifying maintenance procedures.

Japan line

Alongside its newbuild contracts, Bjørnøy highlighted the development of an onboard production line for Japanese shrimp, with the prime objective of gaining more value from the catch.

Carsoe’s solution has been designed for the easy weighing, packing and automated freezing of 1kg quantities of Japan shrimp. Through this line, an end product of 1kg Japan shrimp packed into a box, sealed, and ready for retail is achieved.

Adding a separate line for Japan shrimp means substantially improving both the product quality and the production flow, Bjørnøy explained, adding that the solution has been designed to ensure minimum operator handling.

The Japan line is centred around a custombuilt automatic plate freezer section, where the readypacked fresh shrimp is quickly and gently frozen to preserve the highest possible product quality. The infeed and outfeed of the automatic plate freezer is fully automated and is designed with the highest possible capacity and easy maintenance in mind.

Once the products are frozen, they proceed to automatic block ejection and packaging in sealed cardboard boxes, ready for retail. The automated flow means less manual handling and eliminates heavy lifting in the factory deck.

n Carsoe and Talley’s have been working very closely to maximise the processing potential of newbuild Voyager

n Adding a separate Japan shrimp line can substantially improve product quality and production flows

Photo Credit: Carsoe

Photo Credit: Carsoe

Photo Credit: Carsoe

GETTING A GRIP

A look at how robotic gripping can transform seafood processing. Bonnie Waycott reports

Over the past several years, developers have been pursuing applications for various industries, including seafood processing, by striving to close the gap on robotic gripping. Being able to grip and transfer items onto conveyor belts in a secure manner holds vast promise for an industry like seafood processing, where goals include reduced production costs and increased product quality. At the same time, hopes are high within the industry that other new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), could contribute to improved processes and increased efficiency.

Developed by US firm Soft Robotics Inc, in Bedford, Massachusetts, the mGrip is a suite of configurable grippers and controllers that make it possible to pick, sort and package traditionally hard-to-grasp items in a quick and reliable way. Initially designed for consumer goods industries, the system is drawing attention in the food industry, where labour costs are increasing, turnover is high, and more rigorous food safety standards are required.

“Traditional automation solutions are often too costly, complex to implement and require custom development,” Julie Collura, Director of Marketing Communications at Soft Robotics Inc told WF. “Compared to these, new generations of robot-based automation offer a significant competitive edge, both technologically and economically, especially for the seafood processing industry. We are currently seeing high demand for advanced automation technologies.”

Seafood processing has a relatively small robotic involvement compared to other industry sectors, and needs to address this amidst the challenges regarding the handling of fresh food products and hygienic requirements. Soft Robotics agrees that unlike other industries that

have adopted robotics, the food market has been slow to incorporate robots that can handle variable items in unstructured environments.

Solving challenges

Seafood processing is challenging due to the quick spoilage rates and quality degradation of seafood products, while the lack of qualified labour combined with the harsh work environment compounds the difficulty in processing seafood, Collura said. Floors are wet and slushy from the ice and are often kept cold to keep fish fresh.

‘‘

New generations of robotbased automation offer a significant competitive edge

Julie Collura, Soft Robotics

Job duties include scraping, cutting, gutting, washing and cleaning to prepare for canning, freezing and packing. These tasks are dangerous and require both skilled and unskilled workers to complete them, making it difficult to fulfil jobs under these challenging conditions.

The sector is also not very digitised, with companies using decades-old software to run processing plants. It is also challenging to predict production outcomes such as yields due to the natural variability of fish, while the chances of human error are high, particularly in tasks such as manually recording data or assessing fish quality with the naked eye.

However, challenges such as handling amorphous and

n The mGrip’s soft gripper is adaptable enough to handle different shapes, sizes and weights of products

Photo Credit: Soft Robotics

delicate food objects can quickly be solved with a right end-of-arm tool such as mGrip, said Collura, which can make key contributions in increasing productivity and enabling products to reach markets faster as the labour shortage continues to grow. There are also other benefits, such as improved sanitation.

“Sanitation is a top priority for food producers, with machine cleanability being the greatest challenge to preventing contamination,” said Collura. “Soft Robotics’ solution is IP69-K rated. This is the highest rank on the Ingress Protection (IP) rating scale. Safety regulations demand tools that are easy to dissemble in order to minimise cross-contamination and recalls. We’ve solved this with ingress-protected grippers that run on a pneumatic system, which means internal places won’t get clogged. Our food-grade grippers are easy to build, can be modified and adapted quickly and are designed to keep up with the speed of any industrial robot. A pneumatic system also allows less downtime for cleaning and a more reliable way of handling different products.”

Automating bulk picking

The mGrip also makes it possible to automate repetitive tasks. In 2021, Soft Robotics introduced mGrip AI – an easyto-integrate automation package that combines ultrafast 3D vision and artificial intelligence technologies with patented and proven, IP69K-rated, soft grasping to give industrial robots the hand-eye coordination of humans.

Soft Robotics Perception Modules capture highresolution 3D images, acting as the eyes of the system, while the Intelligence Module is where the AI resides to process and analyse the 3D images. The Intelligence Module takes input from the Perception Modules and translates those images into action for the robotic arm and grippers. These work with the Intelligence Module to pick selected products.

Collura said that this unprecedented combination of robotic “hands”, “eyes” and “brains” enables, for the first time, the use of high-speed industrial robots to automate bulk picking processes, not only throughout seafood processing but also across other sectors such as baked goods. With mGrip AI, there is no need to singulate a

product – the entire solution singulates, inspects and tray packs for retail.

“The mGrip’s soft gripper allows for safe food handling and is adaptable enough to handle the variability of different shapes, sizes and weights,” said Collura. “It can also ensure the delicate, yet secure handling of products ranging from lobsters, even live ones, to frozen scallops and even breaded fish sticks, eliminating any concerns over handling variability. More and more companies are betting on the adoption of robotic automation for foodsafe processing, better safety and increased production in their facilities and our customers have reported these as a result of using the mGrip, which is great feedback. Soft Robotics is also a member of the NVIDIA Inception programme, which provides companies with GPU support and AI platform guidance.”

Information sharing

Owing to advancements in technologies such as machine vision and AI, as well as soft grippers that are specifically designed to handle various items, robots are helping to automate repetitive, labour-intensive tasks that previously could only be completed manually, said Collura.

Improving the uptake and use of robotic automation and in particular AI in seafood processing will require greater collaboration between the sector and those familiar with AI. Seafood processing can take steps to prepare for AI such as evaluating upfront costs, maintenance and energy costs, but at the same time will have to be open-minded and able to share information, collaborate with technology suppliers and spend time and money on new technology to improve efficiency, product quality and overall productivity.

Knowledge transfer, for example from academia to industry, will also be key to incorporating advanced technologies into future food production solutions.

Seafood processors are likely to face demand volatility and labour shortages into the future. Automation provides a valuable tool that can help them manage these challenges, and as technology improves, making robots and automation platforms even more flexible, it could provide even more value.

Photo Credit: Soft Robotics

n The mGrip soft gripper can handle delicate products such as lobster tails

CONNECTIVITY BRINGS KROMA EVEN CLOSER TO THE VALUE CHAIN

Danish processing solutions provider is expanding its services to include online troubleshooting,

writes Jason Holland

With a history dating back almost 110 years and close to 50 years in the fish processing industry, family-owned Kroma A/S has achieved great success by moving with the times. The Danish firm’s journey began with the development of equipment for gutting trout and then later, mackerel. Then, two years into the 21st century, and coinciding with a change in company name, there was a change in direction – towards product development.

Today, Kroma is known around the world for developing unique processing solutions, incorporating machines that deliver products of the highest quality and which are capable of working with a variety of species, as well as for working with its customer partners on achieving greater levels of efficiency, yield and sustainability.

There has been significant progress since the first trout gutting machine that it manufactured and sold to Ravnstrup Mølle in 1975, acknowledges Kroma CEO Ivan Kristensen, who also joined the company in 2002.

“Since 2002, we’ve only been focussed on primary processing solutions, and that focus is still going into all of our current machines. Filleting machines and gutting machines are our main business – indeed, we say that when

We’re all a lot more connected today; we don’t have to use expensive air travel to solve every problem – this is a greener solution, with much lower carbon emissions, and we can make those fixes a lot quicker

Ivan Kristensen, Kroma

a fish is full of water and blood, then it’s very good for us,” Kristensen told WF

New geographies

The evolution of Kroma’s processing machines has brought a number of gamechangers. Kristensen gave the example of measuring the size of fish going into the equipment, which is something the company has been enabling since 1975. But in the mid-noughties, it introduced its unique 16step system, which makes machines such as its industryleading GUTMASTERs incredibly flexible.

With the fish automatically measured in the machines and put into one of 16 different categories and sizes, the knives for removing the abdomen and gills are instantly adjusted. They also ensure the gutting of each fish is efficient, precise and achieved without any output loss.

“Processors can work with a large range of sizes – from small to very large fish – all in the same machine,” Kristensen said, adding that the principles behind Kroma’s solutions have largely remained the same, while the technologies applied have become increasingly sophisticated.

In more recent years, to minimise risks, factories have also been focusing much more on hygiene issues. As such, it’s crucial that all machines can be thoroughly cleaned and that cleaning crews can get easy access to all parts and areas of the equipment, he said.

“That’s something we really look at closely when we’re designing new machines. Everyone wants a clean fish when it comes out of a gutting machine in the same way that they want a straight fillet coming out of a filleting machine.”

With regards to markets, Kroma’s historical focus has been on the European fish processing market, but it has recently added an agency in the United States and is now eyeing the Middle East and Asian markets in line with the increased aquaculture operations in those regions.

“It makes sense for Kroma to be in those places too,” Kristensen said.

These endeavours will also enable the company to extend its equipment’s application to more warmwater species, he added.

n Kroma’s GUTMASTER X is designed for gutting salmon and trout but can also be used for other similar species

Remote services

Aligned with its geographical expansion plans, Kroma sees a lot of potential in scaling up its service offering. The company already has a number of technical engineers who install and service fish processing machinery for customers all over the world. It also has visiting field service technicians that conduct service or maintenance of any type of Kroma machinery upon request. Additionally, it offers Service Agreement contracts, which involve visits to facilities once or twice a year to inspect machinery and to make any necessary adjustments.

And it has developed a “Remote Access Supervision” solution, which enables faults to be quickly corrected before they result in extensive production interruptions.

Beyond these facilities, it is about to launch an online service tool to help customers make adjustments to their Kroma equipment and to get them back up and running as quickly as possible after maintenance has been done.

From a smart phone or other device, technicians can, for example, track how well a connected machine is running, who is operating that equipment and actually putting the fish into it.

“We see this as a very important service. It’s

something we have been developing for a while now,” Kristensen said. “Instead of our technicians travelling to these facilities, we can solve their issues remotely. We’re all a lot more connected today; we don’t have to use expensive air travel to solve every problem – this is a greener solution, with much lower carbon emissions, and we can make those fixes a lot quicker.”

The reaction from those processors that have trialled this new solution is very positive. “They’ve found it very helpful,” Kristensen remarked.

Similar connectivity is also being rolled out to users of Kroma’s Silagemaster waste handling system. Silagemaster was developed to utilise processing line by-products. It does this by processing any fish waste (trimmings etc) into easy storable silage that afterwards can be refined into additives for various purposes, including ingredients for the feed industry, as well as biogases, fertilisers and biofuels.

“Our connected service means that they can check the status of those tanks – how full they are etc., and also ascertain whether there’s an external buyer in place to collect those tanks.”

According to Kristensen, data-focused strategies such as these will consolidate Kroma’s position as an integral part of the value chain.

“That’s where we want to be,” he said.

n Kroma CEO Ivan Kristensen

RUSSIAN PROCESSING STRUGGLING TO KEEP ITS HEAD ABOVE WATER

Two years after being hit by Western sanctions, the industry is still coming to terms with its predicament

When representatives of the Russian fish industry gathered for a first meeting to discuss the impact of the Western sanctions in 2022, the mood was close to panic, recalled Herman Zverev, President of prominent Russian fishermen’s union Varpe.

“In the heat of the moment, fishermen claimed that there is no equipment for the fishing industry [manufactured] in Russia at all,” Zverev said, adding that this wasn’t entirely true. “Russian manufacturers and engineers, in turn, complained that they were being constantly neglected.”

At that time, the Russian fishing industry was already in the middle of an investment quotas programme. This was an ambitious plan embarked on by the government aimed at modernising the fishing fleet and processing infrastructure in the Far East and Northern basins. As part of the programme, Rosrybolovstvo, the Russian federal agency for fisheries, set a bold target of ramping up the share of the fish catch that’s domestically processed from 25% in 2021 to 80% in 2030.

Western sanctions, however, have since barred access to European technologies and massively delayed the commissioning of new capacities. The Russian Fishing Company, for example, will get the last of its ships ordered under the programme at the Admiraltey Shipyard after 2030-2031. The initial deadline was set for 2025. Several other big Russian fishing companies have found themselves in the same predicament.

Meanwhile, local news outlet East Russia reported the on-shore processing sector has not been hit too hard, but that it’s still suffering from the sanctions, mainly through construction delays.

In the wake of the sanctions, the investment quotas programme has turned into “a black hole” for the Russian economy, according to Zverev. He compared its scale to the post-Soviet unfinished programme of civil construction.

‘‘

A slump in profitability takes a toll on the industry’s investment attractiveness

Sergey Panin, Fish Union

Back then, managers ran into similar problems, having no resources to finish the big and already started undertakings. They also lacked the will to admit defeat and to abandon them altogether, he said.

Falling profitability

Business margins in the fish processing industry are trending downwards and have already reached a dangerous level, reported Fish Union, a business organisation that unites fishers, processors and wholesalers. It has estimated the sector’s average profitability stood at only 15% in 2022 – among the lowest figures seen in recent years. By comparison, in 2020, despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the average profitability sat at a comfortable 25%, according to Sergey Panin, the organisation’s chairman.

It’s widely expected that the decline continued in 2023. “Moreover, the real figures are even lower than what the official statistical data shows,” Panin suggested.

n New Russian ships and processing facilities are being built under the government’s investment quotas programme

Photo Credit: The Far East Development Ministry INTELLIGENCE ON

Panin pinpointed three main reasons for the drop in the sector’s profitability since the end of the Coronavirusrelated restrictions: the Western sanctions; Russian currency exchange turbulence; and a hike in the Central Bank key interest rate to 16%. The latter made bank loans barely affordable for fish processors.

“A slump in profitability takes a toll on the industry’s investment attractiveness, which is one of the reasons why fish processing has a relatively low level of consolidation,” Panin said.

Indeed, it’s been observed that big wallets are yet to jump into new projects in the fish processing segment, especially since they have more lucrative investment options.

Varpe, however, paints a slightly different picture. It reckons that in 2023, the Russian fish industry’s net revenue jumped by 15.5% compared to the previous year, crossing the 1 trillion roubles (US$11 billion) mark for the first time ever.

‘‘During the past three years, we’ve seen a stagnation in consumption rather than a continuous decline. Still, there is nothing good in that trend

Sergey Panin, Fish Union

According to its calculations, net profit is expected to have dropped by 5% to 150.1 billion roubles ($1.6 billion), while the profitability in fish processing will grow by 5% to 42.6 billion roubles ($469 million). In the fishing segment, Varpe expects an 8.7% slump in profit to 107.5 billion roubles ($1.2 billion).

This slump in profitability has already hit some operations. Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, recently filed a claim demanding that the Sokra fish processing plant in the Kamchatka region be declared bankrupt.

Although the amount of the accumulated debt is not specified, it is known that in 2021, Sokra got a 3.8 billion roubles ($42 million) loan from Sberbank to build three

fishing vessels and a new on-shore processing complex as a part of the investment quotas programme. This is the first known case when participation in that programme has driven a Russian fish processing company to a potential bankruptcy.

Weak sales

According to market players, several factors now weigh heavily on the Russian fish processing sector. According to Fish Union’s data, over the past decade, fish consumption in Russia per capita dropped by nearly 30% from 27kg to 18kg.

“During the past three years, we’ve seen a stagnation in consumption rather than a continuous decline. Still, there is nothing good in that trend,” Panin said.

Meeting domestic demand was one of the key reasons the government encouraged the development of fish processing. However, as consumption has plummeted, some businesses fear it might not make sense to try to build new capacities.

Additionally, for the Far Eastern fishermen, the idea of expanding supplies on the internal market is linked to logistics subsidies. Nearly 80% of fish in Russia is caught in the Far East – a part of the country that accounts for only 5% of the national population.

Delivering fish to the mostly populated European part of Russia is only economically feasible with government railway subsidies. In 2023, the money authorities allotted to fishermen to compensate for transport costs ran out in April, Zverev explained.

At the same time, export duties imposed by the Russian government in October 2023 on fish products, have hurt some development plans in the processing sector. These duties were imposed to fill the strained Russian federal budget, which is experiencing growing pressure amid rising expenditures and falling incomes.

In response, Russian fish company Sodryzhestvo decided to transfer some of the fish processing capacities from the Kaliningrad region to Belarus, confirmed Anton Alikhanov, governor of the Kaliningrad region. He noted that the 7% duty was killing the economy for processed fish product exports.

The largest Russian fish can manufacturer Za Rodinu also suspended exports due to the duty, confirmed Sergey

n Russia lacks certain sophisticated fish processing equipment

Photo Credit: ProdUpak

Lutarevich, Chairman of the board. He said the average marginality of fish could export was as low as 3%, while export duty stood at 7%, meaning the company would have to sell its goods to non-Russian customers at a loss.

According to the Russian Fishery Shipowners Association, Russian fish is sold at a 10% discount on global markets. The organisation, which involves prominent Russian fishing companies, attributed this to “sanctions and logistics difficulties”.

Soaring costs

But weak sales and profitability only partly account for the difficulties facing the Russian fish processing sector. Surging costs – including labour, construction and maintenance expenditures – are also taking their toll.

The labour shortage is a problem common for the entire Russian economy. Indeed, a study conducted by recruitment firm Superjob in early 2024 showed 86% of Russian firms have experienced difficulties filling vacancies. In the Russian industrial sector, this figure is estimated at 87%, Superjob reported.

Russia lacks around 5 million workers, the Economy Institute under the Russian Academy of Science advised in a study published in December 2023, with analysts suggesting the problem has put the breaks on Russian GDP growth.

Furthermore, while the sanctions have hindered official trade routes, Western fishing equipment has continued to land on the Russian market – primarily through thirdcountries like Turkey, Armenia, Kazakhstan and China. But soaring logistics costs have led some operations to pay double the price for these items.

Refrigeration plants for the fishing industry!

To counter the situation, Varpe has put a lot of effort into promoting Russian import-replacement technologies, launching a database called “Know Ours” that gathers all local manufacturers. As of early 2024, it has listed eight companies that produce fish processing equipment, and the feeling from some observers is that while the importreplacement efforts have yet to bring tangible results, they do seem to be gaining momentum.

n Russia’s fish processing industry has suffered from labour shortages

Photo Credit: Ostrov Isobiliya

SEAFOOD PROCESSING: MAKING THE MOST OF MARINE RESOURCES

A research programme in New Zealand is creating technologies to maximise the value from the country’s fisheries, reports Bonnie Waycott

Like many countries, New Zealand has a quota management system to ensure the continued sustainability of its wild fisheries. Strict control of capture volumes has meant an increasing need to get more value from landed fish. At the same time, finfish and shellfish aquaculture are expected to grow, with additional biomass from farmed species also becoming available for processing.

However, fully utilising seafood brings an array of challenges. With more than 100 commercial species and relatively low volumes of each, a marine products factory in New Zealand must be able to handle whatever arrives through the door, and be able to extract all the valuable molecules in fish or shellfish. In addition, not only is the molecular composition between these multiple species highly variable, it also varies within species depending on sex, maturity and season.

An added complexity is that by-product streams can change depending on whether some organs have been removed for other purposes, and there can be by-catch included in the mix. This diversity presents enormous opportunities for the recovery of a wide range of molecules from fish and shellfish but also creates huge challenges for the development of more universal ‘non-species-specific’ approaches to non-fillet processing.

In 2020, New Zealand launched a five-year, governmentfunded research project called Cyber Physical Seafood Systems (Cyber-Marine). Those involved include the Marine Products Group at Plant and Food Research, Research and Technical Services at Callaghan Innovation, The Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence & School of Engineering and Computer Science at Te Herenga Waka -- Victoria University of Wellington and The Chemistry Department at Otago University. The project also continues a longstanding relationship with The Biotechnology Group at Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.

“The project’s official name is Cyber-physical seafood systems: Intelligent and optimised green manufacturing for marine co-products,” Mengjie Zhang at Victoria University of Wellington told WF. “It pulls together chemistry, biochemistry, engineering and computer science to develop efficient new multi-purpose marine products factories that only use low environmental impact technologies and that are controlled by artificial intelligence, or AI. It seeks to answer two big questions: how do we know what molecules are in our raw material in real time as it enters a processing plant, and how do we get them all out using only low impact processing technologies?”

One of our biggest challenges is knowing what we have coming into a processing factory in real time

Mengjie Zhang, Victoria University of Wellington

Leveraging AI

Cyber-Marine conducts extensive wet chemistry analysis of model species such as hoki, mackerel and greenshell mussels, and uses rapid analysis methods like vibrational spectroscopy (firing different wavelength lasers at the tissue) to capture spectra for the same samples.

AI is used to fuse these vast datasets and develop the algorithms for instantaneous analysis. Once the contents of the raw material are clear, choices can be made about optimal processing paths. The goal is to come up with new responsive processing technologies to maximise value and understand how to protect all molecules of interest, such as marine lipids and proteins, at every stage of processing.

n Cyber-Marine is looking to develop efficient new multipurpose marine products factories that only use low environmental impact technologies

Photo Credit: Victoria University of Wellington

“One of our biggest challenges is knowing what we have coming into a processing factory in real time,” said Zhang. “Coupled with the second aspect of the project, where we are elucidating all potential paths to products and developing technology for multi-product cascades, AI will be able to choose the best processing path based on the composition. The algorithms will also incorporate weightings based on changing market requirements so that optimal value is achieved. Once this system is installed, there is a clear route to automation, potentially overcoming ongoing issues with worker shortages.

“Our current focus is on composition, but in the future, we will include additional in-line sampling, such as gas headspace analysis, that could give real-time measures of freshness. Cameras on the input stream with AI species recognition could also greatly improve harvest data, feeding back into stock assessment and improving sustainability practices.”

Zhang believes that automation and AI will become even more significant in seafood processing, with increased collection and access to complex data enabling more automation and greater processing efficiencies with less need for intervention by people.

Processors can also take strategic steps to prepare for and leverage AI and automation, he said.

“They can work with research teams such as ourselves to determine when there is an advantage to using AI and/ or more complex automation and where this should be applied,” he said. “Building partnerships with experts such as technology vendors or solution providers who specialise in seafood processing will also be important, along with investing in workforce training to enhance digital literacy and develop necessary skills to work alongside automated systems.”

Operational optimisation

By taking a thoughtful and strategic approach to integrating automation/AI, seafood processors can position themselves for improving efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability in a dynamically evolving processing environment. However, determining what specific equipment and AI requirements are needed and integrating the new technology into existing processing lines are big challenges, Zhang said.

These will require a thorough assessment of existing systems, careful planning, and replacing or updating components as needed to minimise disruption. It will also be necessary to work with researchers and preferably other industry partners to ensure cost effective and collaborative new technology development.

“A cost-benefit analysis will determine the longterm advantages, including reduced labour costs, increased efficiency and improved product quality,” said Zhang. “Handling seafood processing data, especially with AI applications, may also raise concerns about security and privacy, so adhering to data protection regulations will be essential alongside transparent communications with stakeholders about data handling practices. As the continued integration of automation, AI/ machine learning and other advanced technologies move the seafood processing sector forward, it is likely to experience significant growth and

transformation, with several trends and developments shaping its future.”

One such trend is data analytics for operational optimisation, Zhang said. Driven by AI algorithms, these will optimise areas such as demand forecasting and inventory management.

Real-time data analysis will enable processors to make informed decisions and enhance overall efficiency. Automated/AI systems will be able to analyse visual data to identify defects, ensure product consistency and meet stringent quality standards, while advanced robotics will handle tasks such as sorting, cutting and packaging with precision and speed.

IoT sensors will monitor and collect data on factors such as temperature, humidity and equipment status. This data will be used to ensure optimal conditions for seafood preservation, reduce waste and maintain product quality. However, while automation and AI will handle routine and repetitive tasks, Zhang believes that human workers will continue to play a crucial role in decision-making, problem solving and tasks requiring creativity and adaptability.

In its final two years, Cyber-Marine will demonstrate AI-monitored processing cascades in working factory prototypes. Having already demonstrated that portable and more economic spectrometers can capture suitable data, inspection windows are being developed for integration into the pipework of the project’s test rigs to allow data capture from the portable instruments. A suite of low energy extraction technologies has also been developed that uses the differences in properties of molecules to sequentially separate the components in raw materials while maintaining quality and structural integrity.

“We plan to demonstrate the concept to industry and provide full mass balance and energy calculations,” said Zhang. “The range of products will be produced with characterisation data. By 2025, the concept will be ready for opportunity assessment by our industry partners.”

n The project aims to develop new responsive processing technologies that maximise value and protect all molecules of interest

n Mengjie Zhang

Photo Credit: Victoria University of Wellington

Photo Credit: Victoria University of Wellington

INTELLIGENCE ON DEMAND SPONSORED BY

Longer ow route over the rope

Longer ow route over the rope

More speed = lower pressure

More speed = lower pressure

Shorter ow route under the rope

Less speed = more pressure

FISH FACTORIES FOCUS ON HIGH-TECH

There’s unprecedented demand for new, sophisticated equipment as seafood processors look to keep on top of rising global consumption trends, writes

With competition levels intensifying throughout the global seafood processing industry, selecting the most efficient equipment and technologies can provide serious competitive advantages.

Over the last decade, the greatest demand for the most modern industrial equipment has come from the largest emerging nations, particularly China and Russia, and to a lesser extent, Brazil. But while Russia and its leading fish processors have significantly reduced the purchasing of equipment and technologies due to the sanctions imposed in the wake of the country’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s procurements have continued at pace to fuel the unrelenting growth of its fish processing sector.

This purchasing behaviour is also part of the Chinese government’s plans for the development of its fish processing sector. In accordance with the existing Chinese 14th Five-Year National Fisheries Development Plan, which runs until 2025, the domestic production of fish products will increase. This is in contrast to previous years, when most of processed output was sent for exports.

Now, though, particular attention will be paid to redirecting supplies to the home market.

The supply chain is also receiving greater attention in order to avoid the deterioration of seafood products

Billy Sisk, Rockwell Automation ‘‘

Greener product focus

Like China, there are a number of countries in the South Asia region that are looking to grow their fish processing sectors, and which are also seeking to source modern equipment and technologies, including for onboard processing.

It’s a similar situation in Western markets. Demand for the latest equipment in these regions soared during the pandemic, with automation and digitalisation providing the means to overcome staffing issues whilst also meeting sharp rises in product demand.

According to analyst agency TechBullion, the current demand growth in Asian and Western markets is being driven by the rising demand for processed fish products – with innovation and sustainability at the forefront of this growth.

TechBullion’s experts told WF that currently the biggest demand is observed for precision cutting technologies along with advanced freezing machinery, which improve product quality and increase shelf-life. They also note the current major trends in the fish processing equipment market are sustainability and environmental friendliness.

These, they say, contribute to the more active development of energy-efficient machines and systems that reduce water consumption and waste.

There’s also the ever-growing global trend towards

Eugene Gerden

increasing environmental safety when using refrigeration units, they said.

In recent years many European storage warehouses for fish products have switched to carbon dioxide refrigeration systems. Despite the fact that such technology is somewhat more expensive in terms of capital costs, due to a higher energy efficiency and with comparable other operating costs, it’s become possible to recoup the difference in costs in less than in 2.5 years.

Increasing yields

These current market trends are confirmed by leading equipment providers.

Billy Sisk, Senior Industry Manager EMEA of Rockwell Automation, the US provider of industrial automation and fish processing equipment, said the fishing industry must look to modern, smart and connected solutions to keep pace with growing global demand.

According to Sisk, in order to be efficient amid the everrising seafood demand, more and more fish processing enterprises are turning to modern intelligent automation infrastructure both for existing and completely new factories.

The aim is increasing the yield of different stages and processing methodologies, he said.

He also added that in addition to increase production, “the supply chain is also receiving greater attention in order to avoid the deterioration of seafood products, not only through the development of distribution channels, but also through improvements of technology, processing techniques, packaging process and storage”.

Sisk also believes the further development and modernisation of processing techniques, including heat treatment, temperature reduction and moisture content control, should contribute to a stronger demand for such types of fish processing equipment in global market in years to come.

n One of Russia’s most modern fish processing complexes, Krabozavodsk (Gidrostroy Group of Companies) on the Kurile island of Shikotan

Photo Credit: Delov Kvartal

Overcoming staffing issues

As labour costs continue to go up, thanks to a deepening shortage of personnel, most equipment suppliers and processors believe the more active use of automation solutions will contribute to the growth of efficiency of fish processing enterprises both in the Asian and Western regions. As such, leading market players have significantly expanded their market presence in recent years.

Among these, Kuka – a German manufacturer of factory automation systems – has become a major supplier of industrial robots for the needs of fish processors within the EU and abroad. For example, it recently completed the delivery of fish palletising robots to Polish processor Pakfish for its factory at Rusko, near Darłowo. This equipment has allowed the Polish company to significantly increase its processing capacity to more than 80 tonnes of fresh fish per day.

According to the company, installation of the new technology enabled it to reduce staff workload by eliminating the need to manually place boxes on pallets.

Pakfish Production Manager Jacek Skotarski said: “We are simply short-staffed, and it is difficult work that required automation.”

Kuka’s plans include further expanding its geographical reach. In this regard, it’s expected the Chinese market will be a priority growth area for Kuka and other equipment

This is also due to huge state subsidies, which are annually allocated by Chinese government for these needs. Among the most demanded products are mincers, slicers and vacuum sealing machines.

In general, according to most processors and industry analysts, amid the ever-tightening competition in the sector, the demand for new high-tech fish processing equipment and machines will trend upwards, and that will contribute to the launch of new products. The fact the fish processing industry still loses a significant amount of meat due to inefficient processing machines will also drive up

n Whitefish processing

Photo Credit: Marel

Kroma A/S, Danish manufacturer of fish processing equipment, as well as waste utilization and by-product systems, is launching its new generation of fish gutting equipment. GUTMASTER 1000 is one-of-a-kind gutting machine, designed for flat fish species and now for turbot.

Their by-product handling system empowers individual fish processing plants with a comprehensive waste management strategy, promoting a zero-waste policy by turning waste into a profitable initiative. This solution not only provides full online visibility of the entire processing system but also ensures a seamless Service with user-friendly interface for monitoring and control.

Visit stand: 3PP501at Seafood Expo Global, Barcelona (23-25/4, 2024) for the launch of innovative machinery, pioneering Service, and take part in aqua industry-related activity.

For further information, WhatsApp (+45 5126 2595), or e-mail to sales@kroma.dk www.kroma.dk

Master of fish processing

PELAGIC TRAWLER GROWS WINGS

Norwegian fishing company Liegruppen is no stranger to innovation, and its new pelagic trawler Liafjord is outfitted with the first system of retractable foils to be delivered to a fishing vessel

Three years ago, Liegruppen took delivery of the ground-breaking LNG-powered Libas, and even before its delivery had placed the order for Liafjord – with the same designer and with the same shipbuilder. Unlike the purse seiner/trawler Libas, Liafjord is a dedicated pelagic trawler, and Liegruppen opted not to go for LNG propulsion a second time.

Instead, Liafjord has diesel propulsion, backed up by a heavyweight battery pack to optimise energy consumption and make full use of excess energy from a variety of systems on board.

The innovation lies in the retractable bow foil technology from Wavefoil. The bow foils are seamlessly integrated into the vessel’s design, significantly reducing vessel motion and improving energy consumption in in heavy seas. This results in lower fuel consumption and emissions, while also making the vessel a more comfortable and stable working platform – while also allowing higher speeds to be maintained under rough conditions.

Wavefoil estimates that the retractable bow foils typically save 5-15% of fuel.

The benefits of bow foils have long been known, but Wavefoil is the first to develop a commercial and patented solution for foils to be retracted into a vessel’s hull. The Wavefoil system installed on board Liafjord is a WF3970 module, with a wingspan of approximately 8 metres, and a control system for foil retraction. The control system enables remote monitoring, which increases the operational safety and ensures optimal performance.

Flexible propulsion

Designed by Salt Ship Design and built at the Cemre Shipyard in Turkey, the 71.45-metre by 16-metre breadth Liafjord has a 2,100 cubic metre capacity in its tanks, chilled by a double MMC-SX RSWplant. The 720 g03/h ozone

plant is from Normex and the vacuum pump system on board is a double installation with four 85kW compressors, supplied by Tendos.

The electric deck layout is from Evotec, with a pair of 120 tonne MultiSoft main trawl winches, plus a 120-tonne centre trawl winch. There are twin 170-tonne net drums, and the Evotec package includes tail-end, net sounder and auxiliary winches.

Rapp supplied Liafjord’s CP-3501E-20 electric fish pump, as well as the reels for the power cable and the fish hose, and additional accessories.

Seaquest Systems delivered Liafjord’s 4t/13m crane forward, and the 5t/13m knuckleboom crane aft is mounted on the stern gantry.

The propulsion package is a 4800kW Bergen Diesel B33:45L8P powering an integrated Brunvoll reduction gear and controllable pitch propeller with shaft and stern tube, tunnel thrusters and control system. This is a twospeed system with PTO/PTH function from a combined shaft generator/electric motor. This allows supply surplus energy to be routed to the main switchboard from the main engine in PTO mode, and in PTH mode the ship runs electrically in emergency mode.

Brunvoll’s two-speed system is designed for high flexibility with two propeller speeds for efficient operation adapted to the ship’s operating profile. This reduces 0-pitch loss to a minimum, resulting in significant fuel savings, reduced emissions, and reduced costs.

The auxiliary engines are a pair of 750eKw Yanmars, and the energy network on board included a 509kW Corvus battery pack.

Thrusters are controllable pitch Brunvoll units and steering is a Kongsberg SR722FCP system.

n Liafjord is powered by a Bergen Diesel main engine, with an integrated Brunvoll propulsion package and a Corvus battery pack

n Liafjord is a Salt design, and has been built for Liegruppen by the Cemre Shipyard

RESEARCH VESSEL FOR CHILE’S COASTAL WATERS

Dra. Barbieri has been built at the ASENAV shipyard, with its construction financed by the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture. It’s now being outfitted ready to begin operations

Dra. Barbieri will be operated by Chile’s Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP) and has been designed by IMC Naval Architects in Fremantle in conjunction with NavalPRO in Chile to have a shallow draft, enabling access to shallow and coastal waters to carry out surveys that have up to now been conducted from commercial fishing vessels.

Named in honour of pioneering fisheries scientist and Doctor of Oceanography María Ángela Barbieri Bellolio who headed acoustic sampling department during her 26 years at IFOPs, the 38-metre Dra. Barbieri is built to silent running class, has accommodation for eight scientists and eleven crew, including separated facilities for male and female crew.

Dra. Barbieri is outfitted with a suite of laboratory facilities. This includes an acoustic and data processing laboratory for operating scientific echo sounders, a dry laboratory for data processing with two workstations and systems to control the oceanographic winches, and a wet laboratory for processing water samples, a vacuum pump for chlorophyll extraction, and two scientific-level freezers for sample storage.

A measurement laboratory is for obtaining biological samples, fitted out with stainless steel counters, movementcompensated electronic scales and instrumentation for measuring fish samples.

“At IFOP, we are happy and proud of new research vessel Dra. Barbieri, which, together with scientific vessel Abate Molina, will allow us to expand research carried out in areas that Abate Molina cannot reach due to its size,” IFOP Director Gonzalo Pereira said.

“We are very happy that this ship has Dr. Barbieri’s name, in tribute to an outstanding professional who dedicated much of her career to our institution. María Ángela Barbieri has been a pioneer in developing the hydroacoustic assessment studies that are carried out. On the other hand, I have to highlight and thank IFOP’s officials who worked on the ship’s construction technical support.”

Informing decisions

Dra. Barbieri is expected to operate in waters between Arica and the Chacao Channel, also covering the coastal sector from the Chacao Channel to Golfo de Penas.

Its duties will include acoustic assessment of sardine and anchovy stocks in the Los Lagos Aysén and Magallanes coastal sectors, assessment of demersal crustacean (prawns and shrimp) biomass between Coquimbo and Biobío using sampling gear, and assessment of stock using pelagic trawl gear.

In addition, it will carry out seabed bathymetric surveys, physical, biological oceanographic and meteorological climatic change research, including factors related to the El Niño phenomenon, as well as plankton sampling, sampling of sea temperature, salinity, oxygen and fluorine levels and sea acidity, and studies relating to ocean currents.

For María Ángela Barbieri, having the coastal research vessel bear her name is a source of “great emotion and

pride, especially for my generation. It was difficult for us to move forward, because the doors were closed, little by little times have changed, the locks have opened up and every day more women are joining research. In some way it compensates for quite large efforts that were made at one time.”

“Research is important because this allows us to make informed decisions,” she said.

“With this scientific and oceanographic research vessel we would like to compare ourselves with countries that are capable of doing high-level research and quickly and efficiently delivering the results to society so that good decisions can be made and, as the Undersecretary of Fisheries has said, thus improving public policies.”

n Dra. Barbieri adds to the Fisheries Development Institute’s research capacity

n Pioneering fisheries scientist María Ángela Barbieri with IFOP director Gonzalo Pereira

MULTI-PURPOSE WAVE CREST JOINS SISTER VESSEL

The owners of Wave Crest went to Mooney Boats in Killybegs for their two multi-purpose fishing vessels capable of seine netting and working a variety of trawl gears

Ocean Crest was delivered a couple of years ago, and is now followed by sister vessel Wave Crest.

Built for the Sheehy and McHugh families, and skippered by Anthony Sheehy, the new vessel is a Vestværft design measuring 27.38 metres overall, a 9.2-metre beam and accommodation for a crew of up to eight.

Operating company Barrack Point Enterprises is the partnership between the Sheehy and McHugh families. These new vessels with capacity for demersal fishing with trawl and seine net gear, and pelagic trawling are highly versatile, capable of operating on tuna, small pelagics and whitefish, and are engineered to minimise emissions and operating costs with the use of the latest power management systems.

The design process made full use of collaborative 2D and 3D opportunities to maximise the available space onboard.

Wave Crest’s main engine is a 6DZC ABC, powering a stern package from Nogva Heimdal of a 3,170mm diameter propeller and a HG6 reduction gearbox. Electrical power on board is sourced from the Stamford shaft generator and the Volvo Penta D16 auxiliary engine. The harbour set is a Volvo Penta D7AT.

Deck equipment has been supplied by Killybegs company Seaquest, with a pair of 32-tonne trawl winches with grooved drums, managed by a Scantrol autotrawl. Fishing gear is from KT Nets and the 25-tonne self-hauling rope reels are spooled with combi ropes from VCU.

There are two 16-tonne net drums, a 4-tonne net

sounder winch, an outhaul winch and a 5-tonne gilson. The deck cranes are 1.5t/9m and 1.5t/8m units with common radio control systems, allowing remotes to be switched between them if required. Seaquest also supplied the 14-inch fish pump and associated hydraulic and fish hose reels, as well as the full hydraulic installation.

The catch management system for whitefish is supplied by VCU. Mooney Boats provided the chutes for tuna and the pelagic separator. The refrigeration system, RSW installation, vacuum system and ice machine are from KER Group.

Wave Crest’s wheelhouse electronics were supplied by Barry Electronics.

n Like its sister Ocean Crest, Wave Crest can alternate seine netting with a variety of trawling methods

n Wave Crest is the second Vestværft designed vessel in a pair for Barrack Point Enterprises

TESTING GENTLER GROUND GEAR

In a project backed by the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (FHF), researchers have demonstrated that semi-circular spreading gear (SCSG) can result in increased catches

The new gear has only a third of the weight of a comparable set of rockhopper gear and as it generates less seabed contact, this is seen as producing less bottom impact than rockhopper gear.

Trials at sea were carried out last year with the Directorate of Fisheries during November in connection with a couple of ongoing development projects involving the Institute of Marine Research, the University of Tromsø (UiT) and SINTEF Ocean, with the primary goals of developing new selection devices for the whitefish trawl fishery and reducing the bottom impact of trawl gears.

The idea of using these semi-circular profile sections in place of conventional footropes is not new and this was first tested a decade ago. Although it has been deployed on several research trips over the years, this is something that hasn’t previously been tried out on a commercial basis.

The gear tested this time was constructed in seven sections with a 31.2-metre overall length, and a weight of around 1,000 kg – roughly a third of the weight of rockhopper gear. Trials were carried out using a twin-rig setup, a direct comparison was possible.

Compared to the rockhopper gear, the SCSG caught approximately 50% more fish – although the researchers warn that these results should be interpreted with caution. Indications are that the SCSG gear loses around 20% less fish under the fishing line than conventional gear, while the increased spreading capacity and stability of the SCSG account for the higher catch rate.

Now the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund is allocating NOK 5 million towards further development of this type of ground gear to come up with a commercial product.

“The good results have generated great interest in the trawl sector, although the trial also showed that there are a number of technical details that should be resolved before the semi-circular gear becomes a commercial product,” a representative of the fund stated.

“As a reduction in CO₂ compensation and an increase in the CO₂ tax are on the agenda for the fishing fleet, it will be fundamentally important to find new technologies that can make fishing more efficient, reduce fuel consumption and reduce environmental impact.”

‘‘

The good results have generated great interest in the trawl sector

Norwegian Seafood Research Fund

The Norwegian Seafood Research Fund is seeking applications for a project to develop semi-circular gear into a commercial product, which includes scale model tests in a flume tank to fine-tune geometry and functionality, before full-scale trials under commercial conditions with results fully documented.

TorNet in new Las Palmas net loft

TorNet, the Spanish arm of Icelandic fishing gear group Hampiðjan, is moving after being in the same building since 2010. The company isn’t moving far, but is going to a more suitable 1,700-square-metre premises in Las Palmas

This provides the workforce with a single production hall instead of the previous two adjacent spaces, and enables significant economies to be made in terms of having stock and gear production in the same building. It is also better equipped, with improved staff facilities, while the location is also more convenient.

According to TorNet managing director Henning Henningsson, the building will be

ideal to meet the company’s anticipated requirements for fishing gear production and storage in Las Palmas in the coming years.

“Access for trucks and delivery of fishing gear from the net loft will be considerably improved and these new premises will in many ways improve the company’s image,” he said.

n Trials with semicircular spreading gear last year looked promising, and now FHF has a grant available to develop this into a commercial product

“Hampiðjan is a leader and growing rapidly, and there’s every possibility that this space could be used for newer and more varied activities than solely pelagic fishing gear production in the next few years.”

Hampiðjan TorNet’s core business remains unchanged, focused on producing pelagic trawl gear and supplying chandlery to fishing companies operating off West Africa, off Oman in the Middle East and on other distant waters fishing grounds. Hampiðjan TorNet also has facilities in Dakhla in the Western Sahara region of Morocco, with a warehouse trading under the TorNet Maroc brand name, and there are no changes being made to this branch of the business.

SECOND LIFE FOR RECYCLED SATELLITE BUOYS

The Pacific Community (SPC) has announced the first deployment of recycled buoys from the drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs) used in tropical tuna fisheries in its region, starting with the waters of New Caledonia

This marks a crucial stride towards sustainable ocean resource management. This initiative has been possible thanks to Project ReCon, a collaborative circular economy scheme created by tech company Satlink in 2022. Since 2019, SPC has been assisting national data collection programmes on stranded dFADs in the Pacific Ocean, collaborating with stakeholders such as fisheries departments, NGOs and local community groups.

Project ReCon was launched more than a year ago with NGO partner Tangaroa Blue Foundation, and has more than 100 participating vessels and 22 tuna fishing companies, including Albacora, Echebastar, Inpesca, OPAGAC/AGAC, Sapmer, Bolton Food Group, Cape Fisheries, Caroline Fisheries Corporation, Trimarine, Oakcity Tuna Fishing Corporation, Hartswater, and the entire US Pacific Tuna Group.

After taking its first steps in Australia with Tangaroa Blue Foundation through the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI), Project ReCon has also gained the support of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and The Pacific Community (SPC), as local partners. As of today, the project has extended its reach to a total of eight countries, allowing it to be present in the major oceans where tropical tuna fishing occurs.

This first deployment of recycled buoys on aFADs in the Pacific marks a significant milestone, with plans to extend the initiative to the Cook Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia in the coming months.

“This project allows the region to monitor the number of dFADs lost and abandoned by industrial fishers and their environmental impacts while raising awareness and involving local communities,” said Dr Lauriane Escalle, senior fisheries scientist in charge of the programme.

The regular discovery of buoys lost by purse seiners on the shores of New Caledonia and other Pacific islands countries and territories, as well as the recent deployment of satellite buoys on anchored fish aggregating devices (aFADs) to support coastal fishing, has created the perfect

scenario for re-purposing the found buoys for use on those nearshore aFADs, turning what would otherwise be waste into a resource.

“This initiative highlights our commitment to supporting sustainable ocean resource management within the region. Reconditioning and recycling buoys for local use contributes to a circular economy and mitigates the environmental impact of stranded FADs in the Pacific,” noted Dr Graham Pilling,  SPC’s Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems division Deputy Director and Head of the Oceanic Fisheries Programme.

With more than 30,000 buoys deployed on dFADs each year by industrial vessels and many ending up on the shores of Pacific nations, the need to reduce marine pollution is evident. This led to SPC joining Project ReCon to address the environmental impact of stranded buoys. “Satlink is proud to count on SPC as a local partner for Project ReCon,” commented Kathryn Gavira, Satlink’s Head of Science and Sustainability.

“We are committed to working together with the fleets to reduce the environmental impacts of their activities, in this case through the reconditioning or recycling of satellite buoys recovered on shore. Together, we are working towards a more sustainable future for the Pacific Ocean.”

To be able to recondition the buoys, Satlink has obtained the support of more than 20 companies that agree to transfer the buoys to a local partner for reuse. This is followed by an evaluation is by Satlink, SPC and other partners to determine the suitability of a recovered buoy for re-use.

“Project ReCon not only helps prevent these devices from becoming technological waste due to ocean currents or adverse weather conditions, but also reconditions them for scientific and environmental purposes, such as marking and monitoring marine debris, scientific research, or prevention of natural disasters. Since its inception, over four tonnes of ghost nets have been collected thanks to ReCon buoys,” Kathryn Gavira added.

n Project ReCon reconditions stranded satellite buoys and puts them to new uses

HAMPIDJAN CANADA BECOMES LATEST CATCHCAM DISTRIBUTOR

The growing list of distributors for the CatchCam gear-mounted cameras system developed by SafetyNet Technologies has been joined by Hampidjan Canada

“Hampidjan Canada has always been a strong advocate for using technology to fish smarter not harder. Partnering with CatchCam is an obvious choice for our company as it allows us to introduce a new technology to the local fishing industry that can produce immediate gains in terms of efficiency and sustainability,” said Hampidjan Canada’s Kelly Moret.

Based in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, Hampidjan Canada is an integral part of the local fishing industry, specialising in providing reliable equipment for commercial fishermen.

“Their position makes them ideal distributors for CatchCam on the Canadian market,” said SafetyNet Technologies head of precision Tom Rossiter.

“I was impressed with the innovation underway in the Canadian industry, from circular economy to precision fishing, it was clear that the industry in the region is aware of its place and responsibilities.”

CatchCam has become popular as a robust underwater video camera for commercial fishing, featuring a four-day battery life, wireless operation and fishing-specific settings. Its latest version can be deployed at depths of up to 800 metres and comes paired with a 500 lumens lamp.

“The CatchCam package makes it easy for commercial fishermen to film their fishing gear in action, ensuring that

any issues are identified and quickly corrected where needed,” Tom Rossiter said. “Hampidjan Canada is actively engaged with the local industry and champions sustainable and efficient fishing practices. Their close relationship with the fishing community is important to us. Our products have been designed with fishermen and for fishermen and working with Hampidjan will help us to build on this with new customers in Canada.”

n Tom Rossiter of SafetyNet Technologies, hands a CatchCam camera to Hampidjan Canada’s Kelly Moret

GENE-EDITING YET TO BECOME A GAME-CHANGER FOR AQUACULTURE

Fish genetically edited using CRISPR technology are beginning to hit store shelves. But on a broader scale, aquatic products with edited genomes still have a long way to go before reaching consumers’ plates and the road will be bumpy, writes

Vladislav Vorotnikov

Gene editing technologies have been around for several decades, with Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) first described in 1987 by Yoshizumi Ishino at Osaka University. Still, only in the past few years have the technologies enjoyed booming public attention, with new genetic editing tools starting to offer immense transformative potential in food, healthcare and environment.

Genome editing is one of the technologies with the potential to radically change the aquaculture industry, commented Milthon B Lujan Monja, an Aquaculture Biologist with a master’s degree in Science and Innovation Management.

“Research in genome editing of aquaculture species focuses on disease resistance, improved growth and productivity, adaptation to climate change, including tolerance to temperature increases or low oxygen levels, reproduction control and enhanced nutritional quality,” Monja said.

The main traits of interest for aquaculture fishes are fillet yield, colouration, disease resistance and sex determination, said Eric M Hallerman, Professor Fellow at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. According to Monja, the most-studied species in genetic editing research are Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). However, experiments have also been conducted on carp, marine shrimp, freshwater shrimp and molluscs, among other species.

There are several goals the scientists are chasing, trying to modulate the genome of aquatic organisms.

The San Diego-based Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) commercialises 100% sterility in farmed fish through genome editing, disclosed Dr John Buchanan, CEO of CAT.

“We see sterility as a necessary prerequisite to the commercialisation of other beneficial genome edits in aquaculture. Farmed fish that are 100% sterile also provide a solution to governmental regulation of gene editing technology, offer environmental benefits through preservation of biodiversity, and improve productivity and economics,” Buchanan said.

In general, scientists at CAT are working on two types of research. The first is gene editing that will create variation in genes leading to improvement in commercial performance, leading to advances in economics and sustainability of fish farming.

‘‘

I believe genome-editing tools will become a standard in the aquaculture industry because of their potential to enhance the activity

Lujan Monja, Aquaculture Biologist

The second is building the tools to conduct gene editing on a commercial scale in finfish and shellfish. Such tools are necessary to effectively deliver gene editing to the global industry. The potential of gene editing is to increase genetic progress by orders of magnitude greater than is achieved in conventional breeding for key traits. Increased disease resistance, rapid growth and better tolerance to a changing environment will lead to higher production, contributing to global food security, Monja said. Other objectives are associated with a reduction

Photo Credit: Cornell University

n Gene editing is a means to bolster fish health

of the environmental footprint of the aquaculture industry by decreasing dependence on antibiotics, improving feed efficiency, and better adaptation to a changing environment.

In general, the studies are aimed at securing improved economic benefits due to increased production, reduced production costs, and the production of higher-value products, Monja added.

The scientific work of the past few years has brought some tangible results. “Myostatin knockout fishes do indeed show increased fillet yield. I’m excited with the prospects of reproductively confined Atlantic salmon, as well as the technical possibility of restoring fertility in those individuals that would be used as broodstock,” Hallerman said.

“There are promising inroads for achievement of heightened disease resistance and heightened omega-3 fatty acid content, but those lines of research need further development.”

Stigma of the Frankenfood

The further progress of gene editing technologies in aquaculture is largely associated with whether these tools will manage to get rid of a notorious halo surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Opponents of food products with edited genomes call them “Frankenfood”, reflecting concerns about their safety.

A growing body of science suggests that gene-edited salmon may pose serious environmental and public health risks

Dana Perls, Friends of the Earth United States

“Gene editing in our food system is a very bad idea,” said Dana Perls, Senior Programme Manager for Food and Agriculture at Friends of the Earth United States. “Despite claims of precision, gene editing can cause off-target effects and interfere with gene functioning. This could cause ripple effects on how other genes function or impact traits not intended by scientists.”

Unlike earlier transgenic technology used to produce GMOs, organisms enhanced with CRISPR-Cas9 and other gene-editing methods generally do not contain DNA from other species. Instead, scientists use these tools to delete or modify the plants or animal’s existing genetic material.

For this reason, experts often describe gene editing as an acceleration of traditional breeding techniques or precision breeding. Moreover, according to scientists, there is no way to distinguish a mutation induced by gene editing from one induced by a traditional or conventional breeding technique.

However, there are certain risks to be reckoned with.

“A growing body of science suggests that gene-edited salmon may pose serious environmental and public health risks, including potentially irreversible damage to wild salmon populations that are critical to the livelihoods of Indigenous and fishing communities,” Perls insisted.

There are two approved genome-edited fish on the market – both in Japan, both edited to have increased muscle yield and grow more rapidly – a Red Sea Bream and a Tiger Puffer, respectively, commented Alison Van Eenennaam, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Cooperative Extension, Department of Animal Science at the University of California.

A genome-edited tilapia for improved yield from AquaBounty has been deregulated in Argentina and Brazil.

“Though it is not currently farmed, it could be,” Dr Buchanan said.

Van Eenennaam said that, in her opinion, gene editing technologies make a lot of sense for aquaculture, and fish are relatively easy to edit because they spawn their eggs – as compared to mammals where the edited embryo has to be transferred to a recipient female.

However, the fish with an edited genome getting a green light immediately for sale is rather an exception than a general rule.

“Depending where you are, government oversight policies range from permissive (Brazil, Argentina) to neutral (US) to restrictive (EU),” Hallerman said. The use of genetically-modified organisms is subject to various regulations, and only a few countries – in addition to Japan, these are the US and Canada – have progressed in allowing the commercialisation of products for human consumption, Monja stated.

“It largely depends on the regulatory approach being used to govern these products. Japan has an approach that if there are no unique DNA sequences introduced into the fish, then this is really just analogous to the genetic variation that is present in the genome of all animals – and is the basis of conventional breeding programmes,” Van Eenennaam said.

Japanese authorities treat such edited fish no differently than conventionally bred fish. Most of South America and Australia have the same approach. However, the EU, New Zealand and the United States FDA treat them very differently – effectively using the regulations they developed for GMOs and using them to regulate edited fish irrespective of the nature of the edit, Van Eenennaam admitted.

Big money is yet to come

The existing uncertainty around the future status of the fish with edited genomes hampers the inflow of investment in the industry.

The main impediments to the work are the technical difficulty of establishing, testing, and scaling up the development of a gene-altered line, said Hallerman.

“This is very hard to do with grant funding, so until companies become interested and devote money to these efforts over a period of years, the development of genealtered lines will proceed only slowly,” Hallerman admitted.

“It is a very expensive and lengthy process to get regulatory approval and will make it very difficult for small companies to use this technology. Interestingly, a lot of the work on editing salmon is being done in Norway, so it will be interesting to see if commercialisation is possible there,” Van Eenennaam added.

Besides, aside from convincing regulators to permit the sale of aquaculture products with edited genomes, the industry also faces a challenge to convince consumers such food is safe. In this direction, the outlook is a bit brighter.

n Gene editing could become part of aquaculture’s future

Photo Credit: Clean Fish

“Consumers in Japan can purchase these fish – so I would say that consumers are ready as there are commercialised varieties,” Van Eenennaam said, adding that in her observation, consumers have no issue with these technologies when the products are available for them to purchase.

Dr Buchanan said it’s clear to consumers that the fish industry needs to find ways to feed a growing population with quality protein and needs to find alternatives to commercial fishing and the environmental impact there on seafood supply.

“With leadership from governmental regulatory agencies, such as Japan, Brazil and Australia and others, clarifying the safety of the technology as simply a form of breeding, genome editing technology should be seen as a solution, not a controversy,” Dr Buchanan added.

Not everybody shares this opinion.

“Fish with edited genes are poised for rejection at the family table. The majority of people don’t want to eat geneedited fish, and responsible retailers, restaurants, and food service companies are refusing to sell it,” Perls said. Concerns about safety, ethical considerations, and potential environmental impacts have raised alarms among consumer organisations, Monja admitted.

“However, genome editing has an advantage over genetically modified organisms, as it doesn’t introduce a gene from another species; it only “silences” genes”, Monja added, citing a report indicating that Japanese consumers might accept products from genome-edited organisms with credible and perceived useful information.

Inevitable future?

In general, analysts believe gene editing technologies are an inevitable future for the global aquaculture industry.

“I believe genome-editing tools will become a standard

in the aquaculture industry because of their potential to enhance the activity. Countries and aquaculturists not utilising these tools may lose competitiveness in the international market. However, work on local and international regulations and consumer acceptance is still needed,” Monja said.

The environmentalists, however, are confident that humanity can meet its growing demand for protein without gene editing.

“We already have excellent resources to build a sustainable, healthy and resilient food system, including sustainable wild-caught salmon and proteins based on whole plant-based foods. Dangerous experiments like GMO salmon are risky for the environment and people and take us in the wrong direction,” Perls said.

Photo

Credit: Plant and Food Research

n Environmentalists are not in favour of gene-edited fish

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Purse Seine Nets

We are a professional fish net maker and provide assembly & design service for various nets.

We use Nylon, HDPE, PP, PE to make purse seine net, fish farming cage net for smolt, grower, growout, predator & anti-bird, trawl net, trap net, safety net, sports net, twine, float and steel wire. The making of fish nets can be twisted, braided, super-knot knotless or raschell knotless, mono or multi-mono filaments.

Website: www.king-net.com.tw

Email: sales@mail.king-net.com.tw

Main phone No. +886 7 535 2939

Fax No. +886 7 535 2938

23F-2, No.2 Chung Shang 2nd Road Kaohsiung City, Taiwan , Zip code: #806

1-2 Shing Nung Road, Tungkang, Pingtung,Taiwan

Tel: 886-8-8331100 9

Fax: 886-8-8327022

E-mail: export@chingfa.com.tw

Website: www.chingfa.com.tw

Specialized manufacturer & exporter of: Hi-tech 7 tuna purse seine nets, Super 20 aquaculture knotless nets (Raschel type), nylon longline & its spare parts, nylon fishing line, nylon mono & multi-mono nets, nylon twisted and braided nets, PE trawl nets, ropes, twines, floats and etc

safe, wireless remote controls for industrial use

Van Beelen

Van Beelen Group bv

D

OLIVEIRA SÁ

Rua do Outeiro, 906, 4470-150 Gemunde I Portugal

Tel: +351 22 943 49 00

Fax: +351 22 943 49 49

Email: salvadorcastro@wireco.com

Contact: Miguel Oliveira Sá / Salvador Castro

Oliveira SÁ manufactures a full range of products for fishing applications: Steel Wire Ropes: Green Strand®, Super Yellow Fin®, Super Atlantic®, Zincal® Compact and several other constructions also with possibility of a plastic core impregnation.

Combination Ropes: we produce combination ropes, both in 4 and 6 strands.

Synthetic Ropes: Braided/Twisted and Double Braided ropes with recognized brands such as Astra Line®, Libra Line® and X Trema Line®

REDES SALINAS S.A

Carretera de Catral, 30 03360 Callosa de Segura, Alicante, Spain

Tel: 0034 965 310 408

Tel: 0034 965 310 354

Email: redessalinas@redessalinas.com

www.redessalinas.com

Contact: Srta. Carmen Salinas

Manufacturer of special purse seining nets for tuna and horse mackerel, also trawl gear, ropes and twines

Catch all the fish all the time!

AS Fiskenett is the only company in Norway to design, manufacture, maintain and repair commercial fishing nets for both offshore and coastal fishing fleets.

Contact Hugo Ulvatn, MD, to learn how we can help you.

Call: +47 48009504

Email: sales@fiskenett.no

Info: www.fiskenett.no

Ship Yards

Thyborøn & Poly-Ice Trawldoors for all kinds of pelagic, semi-pelagic and demersal trawling with single, twin- and multipurpose rigging. All doors are “Made in Denmark” according to customer demands and wishes.

8, Sydhalevej, DK-7680 Thyborøn, Denmark mail@thyboron-trawldoor.dk www.trawldoor.dk

Steel Wire Ropes & Trawl Wire

Trawl Doors Safety

MARKUS LIFENET LTD

Breidvangur 30

IS-220 Hafnarfjordur, Iceland

Tel.Iceland: +354 5651375

Tel. UK: 01525 851234

Email: sales@markusnet.com

Contact: Petur Th. Petursson

We specialise in the development and manufacture of man overboard recovery systems suitable for all types of fishing vessels, such as the Markusnet and the Markus MOB Scramble-net/Cradle.

Ship Design

Estrada de Fortons 23

36812 Redondela (Pontevedra) Spain

Tel: +34 986 20 33 12

E-mail: info@grupoeurored.com

Website: www.grupoeurored.com

Hi tech design and production of pelagic and bottom fishing trawl systems. Nets and deck material for tuna purse seiners, inshore fishing and longliners. Everything necessary for fishing activities:

MORGERE trawl doors, COTESI nets, ropes, mooring, BRIDON cable, flotation, CROSBY GROUP naval hardware, longline material, etc. Aquaculture integral supplies and installation of fish farming and Long Line production systems, OFFSHORE facilities.

www.polardoors.com

Eurored Directory.indd 1 30/09/2020 14:32

-we make fishing more profitable VÓNIN LTD

P.O. Box 19

P.O. Box 19 FO-530 Fuglafjørõur Faroe Islands

FO-530 Fuglafjørður Faroe Islands

Tel: +298 474 200

Tel: +298 474 200

Fax: +298 474 201

Fax: +298 474 201

Email: info@vonin.com

E-mail: info@vonin.com

Web: www.vonin.com

Web: www.vonin.com

Contact: Bogi Non

Contact: Eystein Elttør

Manufacturer of pelagic trawls, semi-pelagic trawls, shrimp trawls, various bottom trawls, purse seine nets, fish farming nets and sorting grids. Vónin is a major supplier to the North Atlantic/Arctic fishing fleet. We have all accessories in stock.

Vónin is a major supplier to the fishing fleet and aquaculture industry with branches in the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Canada, Denmark and Norway. Vónin manufactures pelagic trawls, semi pelagic trawl, shrimp trawls, bottom trawls, sorting grids, crab pots, net cages, mooring systems and net washing systems.

DON ’T G ET CAUG HT WITH A FAILE D PU M P ON TH E JOB .

B ring confidence to your net cleaning job, wit h t he most reliable pum p on t he market . NLB’s high-pressure water jet pumps are proven reliable for offshore and onshore net cleaning. Engineered specifically for the aquaculture market, they withstand the harsh conditions of open seas, foul weather, and salt corrosion, all while delivering the same performance and durability NLB has been recognized for since 197 1 Our units also offer a compatible interface with the industry’s leading head cleaning systems.

NLB will go the extra mile to make the switch easy for you Let’s discuss your options at AquacultureUK!