Denmark’s busiest fishing port, Skagen, saw landings worth DKK992 million (€123.80 million) last year, the largest figure since it became an autonomous port back in 2001. The figures firmly cement Skagen’s place as top Danish port.
Scotland’s Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has written to the UK Government expressing his concerns over transitional arrangements for fisheries following Brexit and raising questions over the UK Government’s approach to fisheries in the upcoming negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with the EU.
Brian Young has been appointed as the new Chair of Seafish. The appointment is for three years and he brings a wealth of experience to this role. He was previously Deputy Chair of Seafish and has enjoyed a long and successful association with the organisation, having previously held the position of Chair of the Importers and Processors Sector Panels from its inception, to joining the Board in 2015.
The Dutch Fishermen's Association is lobbying to keep space in the North Sea for fisheries. With Brexit approaching and the mushrooming plans for wind farms, Natura 2000 areas, solar panels recent proposal for a runway at sea, more and more rich fishing grounds is being taken away.
Producers of BBC series Eastenders have been putting out feelers for locations in the south-east of England on either side of the Thames for a potential future storyline, and are seeking extras and suitable fishing vessels to be featured in a run of episodes to be aired later this year.
The Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad has launched the second of three pelagic vessels being built for a company in Russia’s Far East. The fleet of three Skipskompetanse-designed pelagic catchers is due to be delivered to the customer in 2019.
René Hagelskær’s story is almost a fairy tale; once upon a time there was a boy of fifteen who started as a junior at Danish fish processing equipment manufacturer Intech International a/s. Through snow, slush, rain and storms, René travelled to work on his moped, and he worked hard and long hours.
According to Seafish’s Economics of the UK Fishing Fleet estimates, British fishing saw the highest annual value of landings on record in 2017, in spite of increases in fuel costs. The Seafish report, now in its twelfth year, demonstrates that fishing revenues have risen by £14 million since 2016 to a total of £950 million and with landing volumes up by 10,000 tonnes.
With the aim of promoting sustainability in the fishing industry, the Albanian government has decided by decree to cover 50% of the cost seafood companies have to bear to undergo a Friend of the Sea sustainability certification audit.
Scottish fishermen’s leaders yesterday met Prime Minister Theresa May to urge her to ensure that the UK takes back complete control of its waters after Brexit.