Representatives of Iceland’s National Association of Small Boat Owners (NASBO) are watching the development of the spring lumpfish fishery as a disagreement has developed over the number of days available. NASBO had proposed that the fleet’s days should be set at 40 for this season, but found that the authorities had limited them to 32.
A deal for Danish company Carsoe, reported last year, has been confirmed. The contract is for seven complete factory decks for a series of trawlers being built for the Russian Fishery Company (RFC), one of the largest operators in the Russian Far East. The Skipsteknisk-designed vessels are expected to replace older tonnage as they are delivered over the next seven years.
With a bunch of different names behind it and with Togolese registration, according to the paintwork on its stern, another of the Southern Ocean’s rogue fishing vessels has finally been apprehended, and not for the first time.
Chinese fishing company Pingtan Marine Enterprise has been granted approval by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for 27 vessels to operate in international waters. Following refits and upgrades, the 27 vessels are expected to operate in the Indian Ocean.
The European Commission has issued a notice to stakeholders that sets out the situation regarding third countries, specifically noting that the UK will become a third country as of the 30th of March 2019. The Commission statement is a reminder of the four areas for which this will have particular consequences, notably for UK seafood exports to European markets.
Louisiana fishmeal producer Omega Protein has added to its fleet with a former oil industry support vessel converted to a operate as part of the company’s fleet of fishing vessels that target menhaden.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment (MAPAMA) has imposed fines of more than €8 million as a result of the Operation Sparrow 2 investigation, targeting both companies and individuals. As well as the fines, further penalties are prohibitions on involvement in fisheries and on receiving subsidies or state aid.
After two years with no capelin fishery in the Barents Sea, Russian vessels have this year declared catches of 66,000 tonnes of capelin, a 30% increase on the last season’s total in 2015.
Cefas and the University of Exeter are working to track bluefin tuna and confirm reports that these fish that were once a common sight in the North Sea and Celtic Sea are returning to British waters. In recent years they have been observed more frequently in or coastal waters, particularly during the late summer, autumn and winter as they move into coastal areas to feed on energy-rich fish, such as sprats and herring.
Owners of active, Welsh-registered commercial fishing vessels are urged to take advantage of an opportunity to access grant aid to purchase Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) with integrated Personal Location Beacons (PLBs) for their crew at a heavily discounted price of £15, saving over £350 per PFD.
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