Tuna seiner contract for Galician owner goes to Freire
Galician company Grupo Calvo, which was recently the first to launch canned tuna with an MSC label, has signed a contract with the Freire yard in Vigo for a new tuna purse seiner.
Coastal Fisheries Initiative underway in West Africa
Overfishing, competing uses for coastal areas, promoting sustainable fisheries management, building strong fisherfolk associations, supporting women in fisheries, and ensuring efficient fisheries value chains are common challenges facing coastal fisheries communities around the globe. The GEF-funded Global Fisheries Initiative is an ambitious programme with five projects – three of them regional and two global. The main objective of all projects is to strengthen coastal fisheries communities worldwide.
Fish via Russia’s northern sea route
Last year fishing companies Dobroflot and Norebo both shipped fish from the Far East to Euroean Russia via the northern sea route, and there is interest in using the route again this year.
Sitting out the storm in Donegal Bay
A group of pelagic vessels has been sheltering in Donegal Bay while a storm has been raging on the blue whiting grounds west of Ireland.
Landmark Arctic surf clam agreement reached
Fourteen First Nations communities in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have announced a landmark agreement reached with Clearwater Seafoods Incorporated on the Arctic surf clam fishery, stating that the Agreement forges a 50-year partnership that protects existing jobs while creating meaningful economic, employment and capacity building for the fourteen First Nations that are adjacent to the clam resource.
First fishery achieves MSC certification for bigeye tuna
Chinese owned longline yellowfin and bigeye tuna fishery in the Federated States of Micronesia has achieved Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for its bigeye tuna catch. This is the first time that bigeye has been certified to the MSC’s globally recognised standard for sustainable fishing.
Dutch industry prepares for No Deal
Both the Dutch authorities and Dutch fishermen’s federations are treating the possibility of a No Deal Brexit as a distinct likelihood.
Canada invests in BC fishing communities
Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Jonathan Wilkinson and Steveston-Richmond East Member of Parliament Joe Peschisolido have confirmed that the government has invested C$33 million in in 35 small craft harbours across British Columbia between 2016 and 2020 to ensure coastal communities can continue to create jobs, and local economies can thrive. This investment is in addition to the ongoing Small Craft Harbour Program operational budget.
South Africa’s fishing companies caution government over rights allocations
Fishing companies that catch hake for local and international markets, delivering R6.7 billion to the South African economy annually, have cautioned that sensible rights allocations are necessary to preserve international competitiveness and jobs in coastal areas.
EU fisheries fund to meet the industry’s needs
The Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament has voted on the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) that will cover the budgetary period 2021-2027. Europêche has voiced its appreciation of the strong stand the Parliament has taken in the light of the 5% budgetary cut proposed by the European Commission to compensate for the upcoming Brexit gap in the EU budget.