FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK

China's announcement that it would stop imports from several countries including India, starting June this year, is disappointing. The Indian seafood industry follows the highest quality and hygiene standards at all levels. China is our very important trade partner, and we hope that they realise and recognise the efforts we make, to ensure that the importing countries get our best products. Our list of importers includes many countries in the EU as well as the USA, who insist on the most stringent levels of inspection and quality specifications. The fact that we have consistently been on these countries' list of top exporters is proof of our quality credentials.

Considering the fact that China was the largest market for Indian seafood exports last year, with 159,000 tonnes exported in 2011 (accounting for over 20 per cent of total seafood exports), this could be a severe setback. In value terms, exports to the Chinese market accounted for 15 per cent of the country's total export earnings. The Association is optimistic that the collective efforts of Indian exporters across various sectors, as well as the diplomatic initiatives at the government level would turn the situation around, bringing cheers to traders in both the countries.

Seafood exporters are reeling under the impact of changes in procedure and documentation outlined by the various regulatory bodies and agencies, from time to time. Consequently, we are unable to compete with our Asian competitors like China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, resulting in our products being marginalised in certain markets. The industry is optimistic of working out amicable and mutually beneficial solutions on various fronts.

We hope that the Government of India considers our long-standing demand of exemption from Service Tax, on services rendered in India and utilized by exporters. Service tax exemption has been granted for contract labour bills, sales commission and all export related activities. SEAI has the opinion that, since Excise and Customs duties on exported goods are set off by mechanisms such as DEPB and duty drawback, it is essential to bring about such redemption schemes with regard to service tax as well, to make Indian exports internationally competitive.

India's seafood exports are likely to reach US$ 4.7 billion by 2014. High value products like shrimp, squid, cuttlefish and crab mainly sustain the growth in exports. It is a fact that many of the species caught in Indian waters have absolutely no demand in the local market and are totally dependent on the international market. Hence, anything adversely affecting the industry will first hit the farmers and fishermen, who are at the lowest end in the chain.

3 International Seafood Industry News

WTO PREDICTS TRADE GROWTH TO SLOW IN 2012

World trade expanded in 2011 by 5 percent, a sharp of Independent States (CIS), South- deceleration from the 13.8 percent rise in 2010, and growth Central America, China and four newly will slow further to 3.7 percent in 2012, due to a number of industrialized economies (NIEs), namely shocks, including the European soverign debt crisis, according China's Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, to a report released on 12th April by the World Trade Singapore and Chinese Taipei. Organization (WTO). The present trade forecast assumes The WTO's projected 3.7 percent growth rate for world global output growth of 2.1 percent in merchandise trade in 2012 -- with 2 percent export growth 2012 at market exchange rates, and there anticipated for developed economies and 5.6 percent for are severe downside risks for growth that developing economies -- is below the long-term average of 6 could have even greater negative percent for 1990 to 2008, and down from the average of 5.5 consequences for trade if they came to percent over the last 20 years including the period of the pass, including a steeper than expected trade collapse. Economists figured out that downside risks downturn in Europe, financial contagion would include deeper recession in the Eurozone and rising related to the sovereign debt crisis, commodity prices. rapidly rising oil prices, and geopolitical risks. The world imports growth also The total dollar value of world merchandise exports dropped sharply in 2011 from the increased by 19 percent to 18.2 trillion U.S. dollars in 2011, previous year, down from 13.7 percent to which is a record, in spite of the fact that was driven in large 4.9 percent, according to the statistics. part by higher primary commodity prices, according to the Fastest growing imports include China report. Commercial services exports also grew 11 percent in and India. 2011 to 4.1 trillion U.S. dollars. "The WTO has so far deterred economic A significant braking of trade expansion had been forecast for nationalism, but the sluggish pace of 2011, but multiple economic setbacks during the year recovery raises concerns that a steady dampened growth beyond expectations and led to a stronger trickle of restrictive trade measures could than anticipated easing in the fourth quarter. gradually undermine the benefits of trade "More than three years have passed since the trade collapse of openness. WTO members should turn 2008-09, but the world economy and trade remain fragile. The their attention to revitalizing the trading further slowing of trade expected in 2012 shows that the system and to ensuring such a scenario downside risks remain high. We are not year out of the wood," does not materialize," Lamy said. WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy said. The report also forcasted the world trade Statistics showed that the rate of world output growth fell to volume for 2013 is expected to recover 2.4 percent in 2011 from 3.8 percent in the previous year, to 5.6 percent, based on assumptions weighed down by the ongoing sovereign debt crisis in Europe, about the longer term trajectory of gross supply chain disruptions from natural disasters in Japan and domestic product (GDP), with exports of Thailand, and turmoil in Arab countries. This pace of developed and developing economies expansion was well below the 3.2 percent average over the 20 increase by 4.1 percent and 7.2 percent, years leading up to the financial crisis in 2008. Fast growing and imports increase by 3.9 percent and economies in 2011 include the Middle East, Commonwealth 7.8 percent.

4 MACKEREL CERTIFICATES SUSPENDED BY CERTIFIERS

The certifiers for seven MSC certified mackerel fisheries in mackerel (NL) the North East Atlantic ocean on 2nd April suspended the - Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group fisheries’ certificates. North East Atlantic mackerel (UK) The suspension notice follows two years of catches above the - Swedish Pelagic Producers scientific advice as a result of a significant increase in the Organisation North East Atlantic amount of mackerel caught by countries outside the certified mackerel (SW) fleets and the breakdown of international agreements and negotiations aimed at managing the stock. In July 2010, the Nicolas Guichoux, Europe Director of the certified fisheries were notified that – in order to maintain Marine Stewardship Council said: “While their certification and ecolabel – total catches in the North the suspension of these MSC certificates East Atlantic mackerel fishery would need to be brought back is disappointing for both the fisheries and under an internationally agreed management regime. This the MSC, there is a risk that the stock included the catches from countries outside the certified would become depleted as a result of the fleets. The deadline for implementing that notification expired current TAC overshoot. I know that the on 31st December 2011. fisheries involved are making enormous efforts to ensure that this does not The suspension is not the same as a certificate withdrawal as happen and the MSC will continue to suspended certificates can be re-instated on completion of a support these mackerel fisheries condition with no need for a new Full Assessment... throughout this difficult process. I look While the MSC certified fisheries have worked hard to reach forward to the reinstatement of their an international agreement on mackerel management, it certificates once an agreement has been proved impossible to find a solution in time for the deadline. reached.” As a result, in January the fisheries were given 90 days’ notice that their certificates would be suspended at the end of March Suspension, not withdrawal 2012. Any mackerel caught after 30th March is not eligible to The suspension is not the same as a be labelled as ‘MSC certified’. certificate withdrawal as suspended Fisheries affected certificates can be re-instated on completion of a condition with no need - Danish Pelagic Producers Organisation North East for a new Full Assessment of the fishery. Atlantic mackerel (DK)

- Irish Pelagic Sustainability Association western mackerel (IE)

- Irish Pelagic Sustainability Group western mackerel pelagic trawl fishery (IE)

- North East Atlantic mackerel pelagic trawl, purse seine and handline fishery (NO)

- Pelagic Freezer Trawler Association North East Atlantic 5 'MARSUNO' PILOT PROJECT DELIVERS FINAL RESULTS

Nine northern EU Member States plus Norway and Russia total 24 public authorities were involved. have finalised a pilot project on Maritime Surveillance in the The project's objective was to support Northern Sea Basins (MARSUNO) initiated by the European the creation of the 'CISE' by identifying Commission. practical solutions to overcome legal, These partners make a number of recommendations for technical and administrative hurdles to overcoming the hurdles to creating a Common Information cross-sectorial and cross-border Sharing Environment ('CISE') for the surveillance of the EU information sharing between maritime maritime domain. authorities. MARSUNO is one of two dedicated pilot projects that feed the Commissioner Maria Damanaki welcomed the final report: Commission's six step Roadmap process "Our objective is to ensure safer seas while saving costs. I towards establishing CISE. welcome the results of the MARSUNO project which has demonstrated that data-sharing across borders and across MARSUNO concludes that establishing a sectors like maritime transport, environmental protection, functional and efficient CISE for all customs, border guarding, fishery inspection, law enforcement authorities acting in the European and defence is possible and improves reaction capacity." maritime domain is crucial for enhancing the efficiency and cost effectiveness of MARSUNO was a 24-month pilot project involving nine maritime surveillance. CISE will be a Member States: Sweden as lead partner, Belgium, Estonia, concrete and tangible outcome of the Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, in EU's Integrated Maritime Policy. partnership with Norway, inviting Russia as an observer. In

BEST AQUACULTURE PRACTICES GROWS AT BOSTON SEAFOOD SHOW

Enthusiastic activity at the Best Aquaculture Practices and being pursued. The commitments came Global Aquaculture Alliance booths during the International from five shrimp farms in India, as well as Boston Seafood Show reflected continued expansion of the salmon farms in Canada and Chile, and a BAP farmed seafood certification program, according to a tilapia farm in Brazil. Representing several report published in perishablenews.com. species, the plant applicants are located in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico and "The interest in the BAP program we received in Boston was Canada. very positive, and the BAP team lined up several facilities to be inspected over the next several months," BAP Director As of March 15, the 100 facilities -- 42 William More said. "This was probably our best Boston show plants and 58 farms -- pending BAP since we began promoting the BAP program in 2003." certification reflected more than double the number of applicants in February More said eight new plants and nine new farms committed to 2011. BAP certification during the show, and additional leads are 6 Meijer made an announcement on its support of BAP just aquaculture producers and suppliers to prior to the Boston show. Several other major retailers then distributors and retailers. used the show as a platform from which to announce their Before the show opened, the BAP associations with Best Aquaculture Practices certification. Standards Oversight Committee met to Supervalu, one of the United States' largest retailers, said it consider, among other issues, the crafting has adopted BAP certification for its aquaculture of a "core" set of standards that apply to procurement policy. The move means that fish and shrimp shrimp, tilapia, catfish and Pangasius farms. bearing the BAP mark will be available at thousands of Acme, Additional "add-on" standards specific to Albertsons, Cub Foods, Farm Fresh, Hornbacher's, Jewel- the culture of the individual species would Osco, Lucky, Save-A-Lot, Shaw's/Star Market, Shop 'n Save and also be considered in audits and Shoppers Food & Pharmacy locations across the U.S. certification.

BJ's Wholesale Club also announced its commitment to "With all this activity, we are clearly sustainable seafood through its alignment with BAP. From making a difference in the aquaculture fresh fish to frozen value-added seafood, BJ's seafood partners industry," GAA Executive Director Wally must take steps to responsibly source seafood for its 195 Stevens said. "As 2012 further unfolds, clubs and 107 gas stations in the eastern United States. GAA will continue to spread the benefits of responsible aquaculture through BAP The Global Aquaculture Alliance develops the Best and our other global programs." Aquaculture Practices standards upon which BAP certifications are based. In addition to sharing information The Best Aquaculture Practices team will about BAP, GAA staff promoted the international attend the April 24-26 European Seafood organization's upcoming GOAL 2012 seafood marketing Exposition in Brussels, Belgium, and the conference in Bangkok, Thailand, and distributed copies of the May 1-4 Australasian Aquaculture 2012 Global Aquaculture Advocate magazine. Conversations at the event in Melbourne, Australia. booth involved all levels of the farmed seafood industry, from

CHINA BECOMES NEW ZEALAND’S BIGGEST SEAFOOD EXPORT MARKET China has now become the leading importer of New States is the third-largest importer of Zealand seafood, according to the latest fisheries and New Zealand seafood and Hong Kong aquaculture production and trade figures released by the fourth. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of New Zealand. According to the general manager of New Zealand’s fisheries and aquaculture exports for the the Seafood Industry Council, Alastair calendar year up to 31 December 2011 were up 2.9 per Macfarlane, a factor in China's rise is its cent on the previous year, to NZ$1.53 billion. free trade agreement with this country. But he says it's also being driven by the China imported NZ$299.6 million worth of New Zealand high demand for rock lobster, the seafood in the 2011 year, becoming the leading importer imported value of which is up by $100 ahead of Australia for the first time. Their main imports are million compared to 2010. New Zealand live rock lobsters, hoki and squid. The United

7 FAO INVESTS $500,000 TO PREVENT SHRIMP DISEASE

The Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has agreed to symptoms are not similar to any shrimp support Viet Nam in implementing a one-year US$500,000 disease outbreak in the country prior to project to control the spread of an unidentified disease in 2010. Analysis of farm-level and pond-level shrimp, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural questionnaires provided preliminary Development (MARD). insight on a number of determinants (risk factors) associated with this ‘unknown’ FAO says that the funding will provide immediate assistance disease. to counteract the ongoing emergency situation in the field, through the provision of seedlings for 2,000 poor farmers for FAO describes the outbreak as an the next production cycle. emergency situation. 70 per cent of shrimp production in the Mekong Delta It will also provide technical support to confirm the diagnosis comes from affected areas. of the currently unknown disease, improve shrimp on-farm biosecurity; improve the aquatic animal emergency The impact on the livelihood of shrimp preparedness guidelines and develop an aquatic animal health farmers is huge considering that for most management strategy for follow-up actions. farmers, shrimp farming is the sole source of livelihood, having shifted from rice and The unidentified shrimp disease has become serious, field crop farming. especially in southern provinces. First recognised in May 2011, it is suspected that the first outbreaks were in 2010. It is While large-scale farmers have covered estimated that more than 30,000 households are suffering their immediate needs, several thousand losses as a result. Although MARD has taken some measures poor small-scale farmers who have lost to contain the disease, it does not show signs of waning. their production are facing difficulties for restocking as they have lost their financial The pattern of disease spread is consistent with an infectious capital (expected income from the agent which is currently unknown. The spread pattern and the harvest) thus disabling them from having the resources to purchase input for the next production cycle.

In addition, the competent authority on aquatic animal health and aquaculture needs to be supported to better understand the currently unknown disease and design interventions aimed at reducing its spread in a sustainable manner.

Currently, MARD is asking the Ministry of Planning and Investment to consider the project and submit it to the Prime Minister for approval.

8 EESC’S PRONOUNCEMENT ON THE FUTURE COMMON FISHERIES POLICY

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Regarding the allocation of fishing presented a pronouncement which states that the future opportunities among Member States, the Common Fisheries Policy and the Common Market Committee stresses the need to update Organisation for Fisheries Products must ensure the distribution criterion, which is environmental sustainability, but also social, economic and "outdated and does not reflect the food sustainability, according to a report in ‘Fish Info & current reality of the fishing fleets." Services’. As to the foreign policy, the agency shares In that sense, the advisory body of the European Union (EU) the Commission's proposals in general, made a statement in accordance with the general and specific but considers that the exclusivity clause aims of the current reform proposal of the Common should be made flexible so as to Fisheries Policy (CFP), but made some observations, the contribute in exceptional cases to report said. facilitate the access by the EU fleet to the waters of third countries. During its plenary session, the EESC approved the pronouncement on the Reform of the Common Fisheries In this regard, EESC believes that the fees Policy and on the Common Market Organisation for Fisheries should be reasonable so as not to damage Products, presented by the Spanish Gabriel Sarró. the competitiveness of enterprises because fishing conditions are not equal in The document warns that the current proposed Regulation all third countries. Regarding the does not specify concrete measures for the management of definition of the artisanal fleet, the body fisheries to be carried out so that fish stocks remain above the says that the different realities in each of levels capable of producing the maximum sustainable yield the Member States should be taken into (MSY). account and a single criterion leading to To this end, the procurement, in which Cepesca Secretary discriminatory situations should not be General, Javier Garat, participated as a qualified advisor, arbitrarily applied. supports the proposal to establish multi-year plans from now It is considered that what is appropriate onwards, until 2015. would be to develop a definition of this However, it is recognized that this goal is difficult to apply in concept locally, regionally or nationally. It mixed fisheries so the Commission is required to offer is also proposed to include trap-net sites "practical solutions to resolve issues that may develop in (almadrabas) within the artisanal fisheries. these fisheries." Finally, with respect to the Common With regard to scientific research, EESC believes that Market Organisation of Fishery Products, Member States should provide the scientific institutes with the Committee considers that products the necessary means to conduct investigations so as to cover should be required the same sanitary- all the commercially exploited fish species, associated and hygiene and control conditions as those dependent species as well as their environment. As for discard applied to Community products to avoid ban, the agency believes that although it is a desirable goal, it unfair competition. should be implemented gradually and proportionally, starting with a progressive reduction. 9 ARGENTINA’S FISH EXPORTS FALL IN VOLUME AND VALUE

In the first two months of 2012, Argentina exported a total of this year, that is to say, 31.7 per cent more 48,275 tonnes of fish and shellfish worth USD 152.6 million, in volume and 67.6 per cent more in value according to statistics from the National Health Service and than in the same two-month period of Food Quality (Senasa). 2011 (3.882 tonnes and USD 7.1 million).

These figures represent a 13.4 per cent decrease in volume Then, the shipments of white croaker and a 9.3 per cent fall in value compared with the same two- (Micropogonias furnieri) abroad were month period last year, when 55,697 tonnes were shipped located, with 2,858 tonnes worth USD 5.3 abroad for USD 168.1 million. million, and those of hoki (Macruronus magellanicus), with 1,687 tonnes and USD Between January and February, Senasa certified fish exports 4 million. for 35,015 tonnes, valued at USD 89.2 million and 13,260 tonnes of seafood worth USD 63.4 million. Senasa reported that during the first two The major export records were those of hake (Merluccius months of 2012 a volume of 1,003 tonnes hubbsi), with 15,831 tonnes worth USD 42.6 million. of Patagonian scallop (Zygochlamys patagonica) was exported for USD 12.2 These figures represent 18 per cent increases in volume and million; 970 tonnes of weakfish 20.6 per cent rise in value compared with the first two (Cynoscion striatus) were exported for months of 2011, when 13,413 tonnes of hake were exported USD 2 million; and 689 tonnes of pollack for USD 35.3 million. (Genypterus blacodes) were sent abroad In volume terms, it was followed by shrimp (Pleoticus for USD 2.7 million. muelleri), with 6,359 tonnes worth USD 33.4 million while Further back were located the exports of between January and February of last year 8,522 tonnes were fin rays (Potamotrygon brachyura), with exported for USD 48.7 million, and after it the Patagonian 669 tonnes worth USD 1.6 million, and anchovy (Engraulis anchovy) was located with 5,498 tonnes those of flounder (Paralichthys and USD 12.7 million. patagonicus), with 353 tonnes worth USD A volume of 5,113 tonnes of squid (Illex argentinus) was 1.9 million. exported worth USD 11.9 million in the first two months of Spain remained the main destination for Argentine fish and shellfish when purchasing approximately 8,795 tonnes worth USD 31.6 million in January and February, 2012.

In second place was Brazil, with 7,103 tonnes worth USD 20.8 million, then the US, with 2,867 tonnes valued at USD 14.1 million, and further back was Italy with 2,390 tonnes worth USD 9.4 million.

10 BAR CODING FOR FISH LOOMS IN THE PHILIPPINES

A bureau of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is now A. Maralit and five co-authors in their working on the dioxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fingerprinting of entry at the Bureau of Agricultural fish products to eventually establish a barcoding system to Research (BAR)National Research identify the exact species being bought by consumers. Symposium (NRS).

The barcoding system also seeks to protect consumers, who “DNA barcoding can differentiate should get the right price for the right fish products they are between closely related species that are buying, media reports said. hard to tell apart, especially large fishes that are difficult to bring back from the This system, the National Fisheries Research and field. It can identify products like fish fillets Development Institute (NFRDI) said, is critical in food safety so you know if the grouper you ordered in and in ensuring that global markets can trace origin of fishery a restaurant is really a grouper,“ said Dr products. Mudjekeewis D. Santos, senior author of With barcoding, the genetic material of fish species can easily the NFRDI Genetic Fingerprinting be known and properly revealed to consumers. Laboratory (GFL).

The Philippines is the world’s sixth biggest in fish producer, Their study won a silver award at the 2011 ninth in aquaculture, and third in aquatic plant production, BAR-NRS. primarily seaweeds. Research in fisheries is among the Without accurate identification of fish species through DNA priorities of BAR as the country’s barcoding, mislabeling of fishery species may occur, NFRDI archipelagic nature provides for a rich warned. food resource useful not only for generating livelihood but enabling Consumers may be misled into paying more than the actual valueadding in products that can be value of goods they are buying, according to NFRDI’s Benedict exportable.

FIRST ROBOTIC FISH TESTED Researchers found that fish were more The world's first robotic fish has successfully debuted attracted towards the robot when its tail was among real fish, paving the way for better beating rather than when it was statically understanding of animal behaviour, an expert said. immersed in the water.

The robot, capable of imitating real fish, has been The experiment may enable a better accepted into a school of fish and even became their understanding of fish' collective behaviour leader, Stefano Marras, a researcher with Italy's and open new horizons in the methodologies National Research Council (CNR) who carried out for their conservation, experts said. the test, said. For example, a robotic fish could be used for The robotic fish is jointly developed by CNR and the guiding fish away from areas contaminated by New York University, Xinhua reported on 11th April. oil spills.

11 VIETNAM: BANKS STOP DISBURSEMENT FOR SEAFOOD COMPANIES

After Bianfishco (the Vietnamese seafood company which has become the hottest topic of the discussions with its financial problems) reportedly defaulted on its bank debt payments, commercial banks in Vietnam have unanimously ceased the disbursement for seafood companies, putting a lot of companies at the point of the death.

In Ca Mau province, by mid March 2012, many seafood companies had shut down or just kept production at a moderate level. Enterprises have attributed the production stagnation to the lack of materials. However, in fact, the main reason behind this is the lack of capital. Commercial banks have tightened the lending to seafood companies after Bianfishco missed the due debt payments. Some companies even do not have money to pay their workers. settle labor disputes. The representatives Capital depleted, materials short of the companies said that the production goes downhill because they have run out A lot of seafood companies in Ca Mau province have been of working capital and have no materials maintaining their production at a moderate level. to process. These include Ngoc Sinh Seafood Trade and Processing Company in U Minh district, Dai Duong Food Copmany, Viet 40,000 seafood workers in Hai Processing and Import-Export Company, Minh Chau distress Seafood Processing Company, Dai Duong Xanh Toan Cau Seafood Processing Company in the Hoa Trung industrial Nguyen Huu Thanh, Deputy General zone in Cai Nuoc district. Director of Dai Duong Food Company, has admitted that the enterprises is facing Two thirds of the workers at Viet Hai and Minh Chau have to big financial difficulties, because it has to take other jobs temporarily. The payroll of Dai Duong pay overly high interest rates for bank Company shows that the workers’ income has decreased loans, while it is very difficult to collect dramatically. In January 2012, a worker of IQF division earned materials from farmers. 1.2-1.3 million dong only. Thanh also said that commercial banks Recently, hundreds of workers of Quoc Viet Company in Ca have become very cautious while Mau City went on a strike, because their pay was just equal to establishing credit relations with seafood 50 percent of the previous month. companies in the post-Bianfishco period. Chau Thanh Ton, Chair of the Ca Mau provincial Labor According to the Ca Mau provincial Federation, said that since the beginning of 2012, he has Association of Seafood Exporters and continuously sent officers to seafood companies to help 12 Producers (CASEP), there are 34 shrimp processing factories more cautious and discovered that only 7- in the province, of which only 40 percent of factories have 8 tons of shrimp in stocks Le Thi Hat, been profitable, while 30 percent on the verge of bankruptcy, Director of Minh Hieu, said that the bank while others are meeting big difficulties. About 40,000 loan interest rates are overly high, while workers of the factories have been in distress. the foreign importers, who apply strict standards, have refused some In Bac Lieu province, in early March, a banker distrained upon consignments of exports with high the Minh Hieu Company in Gia Rai town, which then caused a antibiotic residues. fight between the two parties and was only settled by the intervention of the police. As a result, the company has bogged down in debts. The company has stopped The banker, ACB Ca Mau branch, provided a loan worth 20 operation, while its 500 workers have left billion dong to Minh Hieu Company with the condition that for other enterprises. A source said that a there always must be the volume of goods worth 30 billion seafood processing company in Soc Trang dong in the company’s stocks. province still owes 2 trillion dong to However, after the Bianfishco case, the bank has become creditors. Meanwhile, the head of the company is now in the US.

NIFES TO HELP CUBA BEGIN MARINE AQUACULTURE

The National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research and identifying suitable seawater sites for (NIFES) is one of several institutions in Norway involved in farms. An extra challenge in Cuba comes the cooperation project, and will assist Cubans establishing a from the tropical storms that regularly marine aquaculture industry. assail the island.

Freshwater-based aquaculture already exists in Cuba, but this The project will also evaluate various is the first time that marine aquaculture will be tried out on a means of processing and marketing the large scale. The aim is to create an economically and farmed fish, as well as general competence ecologically sustainable marine aquaculture industry in Cuba. development, based on scientific meetings and Master and PhD training in fish health, “Some components will have to be built from the ground, so feed development and aquaculture this will be a long process, but the Cubans already possess technology. good expertise, and everyone involved are working hard to get good results,” says Bjørn Tore Lunestad, who has just NIFES will primarily be involved in returned to Norway from a series of meetings with the developing and optimising feeds for fry Cuban Institute of Marine Research (CIP) in Havana. and farmed fish.

Lunestad is a research scientist at NIFES and is coordinator of The project will run for four years, and it the development cooperation project. has been given NOK 17 million (EUR 2.23 million) in funding by the Norwegian The first stages of the project will involve finding the most Agency for Development Cooperation suitable species for aquaculture, obtaining fry and making the (NORAD). appropriate conditions for production, optimising fish feed

13 ESTONIAN MINISTER DISCUSSES FISH EXPORTS TO UKRAINE

Fish trade was the main topic of discussion during the foster growth in trading and increase the Estonian agriculture minister's visit to Ukraine, last month. competitiveness of Estonian fishers on the Ukrainian market,” Minister of Estonia is the third largest fish exporter to Ukraine after Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder said in a Norway and Iceland, reports ERRNews. One of the main press release. issues was customs duties, which the Ukrainian Parliament is in the midst of reforming, to the benefit of Estonia. Officials also discussed the distribution of fishing quota, data collection and analysis, Currently, customs duties for fish imports to Ukraine are and the use of resources from the based on a minimum product value. But the new system of European Fisheries Fund, including in the calculation will be specific to the country of origin. promotion of fisheries' joint activities. The “The bill, which will hopefully be approved this spring, will lead minister continues his trip abroad today in to more just and transparent customs duties for fish exported Moldova, where one of the topics of from Estonia - mainly Baltic sprat and Baltic herring. This will conversation will be agricultural aid.

PAKISTAN'S SEAFOOD EXPORTS SURGE 15%

Pakistan’s exports of fish and fish preparations surged by exports of February 2011, however 14.69 percent during the first eight months of current fiscal decreased by 2.62 percent when year (2011-12), compared to the corresponding period of last compared to the exports of January 2012. year. The exports of fish and fish preparations were recorded The overall food exports from the at $195.284 million during July-February (2011-12) as against country witnessed nominal increase of the exports of $170.274 million during July-February (2010- 0.59 percent during the first eight months 11), according to data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). by going up from $2.601 billion during July-February (2010-11) to $2.616 billion However, in terms of quantity, the fish exports witnessed in July-February (2011-12). nominal increase of 0.34 percent by going up from 74,265 metric tons to 74,518 metric tons. On month-on-month The major food products that witnessed basis, the seafood exports also witnessed positive growth of positive growth in exports included The 13.88 percent during February 2012 when compared to the food products that witnessed increase in same month of last year. exports during the period under review included rice (other than basmati), The fish exports during February 2012 were recorded at $21 exports of which increased by 2.91 million against the exports of $18.441 million during February percent, fruits (15.02%), leguminous 2011. However, as compared to the exports of $21.401 vegetables (1,315%), tobacco (37.85%), million recorded during January 2012, the exports during oil, seeds, nuts and kernels (59.84%), meat February witnessed negative growth of 1.35 percent, the data and meat preparation (16.46%) and other revealed.In terms of quantity, the fish exports increased by food products (45.80%). 5.57 percent in February 2012 when compared to the

14 BANGLADESHI FISHING COMPANIES EXPECT RISE IN TURNOVER

Leading Bangladeshi fishing firms are eyeing turnover worth Bangladesh’s scope to the main fishing millions of dollar in their business following the landmark zone in the pay, resulting in double the maritime boundary victory against Myanmar, according to present turnover, if not more. ‘The Financial Express’. Bangladesh won the ITLOS verdict on Terming the extended zone, awarded to Bangladesh in the March 13, which sustained its claim to International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) verdict, 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic as golden treasure, they said there are immense possibilities zone (EEZ). Apart from this, the EEZ will to catch high-valued fishes from the sea area, reports say. With comprise of additional 260 nautical miles, the execution of the verdict, Bangladesh could transform into popularly known as the 'continental shelf', one of the top fish exporters of the world. where most of the fish sanctuaries are located. However, local fishing firms do Various high-valued fishes, like Yellow fin Tunafish, Swordfish, not have the capacity and technology to Black Marlin, Toadfish, Mackerel, Sardine Fish (Pilchards), catch the high-priced sea-fishes, as they Rupchanda and Hilsa etc, might be caught from the Bay of cannot catch fish beyond 200 meter deep. Bengal. Tuna fish is one of the world's most expensive fishes. Export price of per tonne Tuna is about $6,750, and Yellowfin "If we want to catch the high-valued fishes, Tuna of the Bay of Bengal has high demand across the globe, we need to go down at least 500 meters according to Washington-based Global Agricultural Trade deep. It's not possible with our existing System (GATS). fishing technology," said vice-president of Bangladesh Marine Fisheries Association, The top executive leading fish company in Chittagong as Manowarul Haque. According to the having stating that the execution of the verdict would extend association, three new companies have recently become the members of the body, and several others are on the process to be its members.

Currently, Bangladeshi fishing trawlers catch fishes from six fishing grounds in the Bay. The points are Elephant Point, Kohinoor, West of Kohinoor, Middle Point, Swatch Point, and Swatch of No Ground.

Owners of some private sea- fishing firm said India and Myanmar confined Bangladesh within 130 nautical miles, not

15 allowing the country into its claimed 200 nautical miles of EEZ the government will purchase a survey before the verdict. "That's why we had no access into the sea- vessel within the next 12 months to fish sanctuaries, where the high-valued fishes are available," explore the untapped resources in the said Mohammad Shahjalal, managing director of North Bay sea. The minister also expressed his Fishing. "The recent verdict of course will offer us a significant optimism that sea-fishes can dominate the financial gain, and the government should take immediate country's export list in the coming days by measures to protect the exclusive fish sanctuaries," he added. earning a substantial amount of foreign According to him, nearly 20 per cent additional sea-fishes currency. could be caught from the areas. According to the Department of Sea The Bay of Bengal contributes 0.6 million tonnes of fish that Fisheries Bangladesh (DoSF), fishing accounted for 20 per cent of the country's total fish collection trawlers collected 49,000 tonnes of fishes of 3.0 million tonnes, according to the Department of from the deep sea in the 2010-11 fiscal Fisheries (DoF). Industrial marine fish contributes only 5.0 per year. In the sea, 140 trawlers are operating cent of the total marine fishing. legally, out of the total of 180, which caught 40,000 tonnes of fishes during the Managing director of Sea Fishers Limited Amanullah July-January period of the present fiscal Chowdhury told media that different varieties of high-priced (2011-12). Prof Dr Mostafa Ali Reza fishes can be caught from the deep sea. "It'll definitely put a Hossain of the Department of Fisheries positive impact on our economy in the coming days." He said Biology and Genetics at Bangladesh the government should not allow any licence for fishing in the Agricultural University (BAU) said the Bay before conducting an extensive survey on how much government has to remain alert for trawlers will be economically viable against the existing protecting its sea-fishing grounds. He also fishery resources there. pointed out that the country's The conglomerate of Sea Fishers Limited and Deep Sea universities should open oceanology in Fishers Limited is the country's leading fishing firm, which their curriculum to produce researchers, earned $3.5 million by exporting fish in 2011. The firm started who can take the challenge of properly its journey in 1982 with two trawlers. Now it has 15 trawlers, utilising the sea, heavily enriched with and on an average monthly collects 100 tonnes of fishes, like resources. "It's tough to establish our Cuttlefish, Tongue Sole, Kawa Fish and Aila Fish.Talking to the claim in the sea than wining the verdict, media, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas said the claim needs to be established over sea-territory to boost fish collection and other sea resources," he added.

The global fish export volume is nearly $100 billion, of which the Asian countries accounted for $34-35 billion. Of the volume, China fetched $12 billion, followed by Thailand $6.5 billion, Vietnam $4.0 billion, India $1.7 billion, Indonesia $2.0 billion, and Bangladesh fetched $0.6 billion in the fiscal 2010-2011

16 DUBAI MUNICIPALITY SEIZES 1 TONNE OF UNDERSIZED FISH

Nearly one tonne of undersized fish stocks, illicitly collected by traders, was seized recently from various markets of Dubai, a senior Dubai Municipality (DM) official revealed. Khalid Mohammed Sharif, director of Food Control Department at the DM, said this huge quantity of restricted fish stock was unearthed during the civic inspections at the fish markets.

A month after launching a campaign to protect fish stocks, Dubai Municipality announced on 8th April that inspectors had seized 14 species of undersized fish and had imposed penalties on traders and fishermen. Around 186 kg was seized in the first day of checking, but later after fifteen days it reduced to 9 kg showing the success of the campaign, aimed at The crackdown on catching and selling preventing the selling and marketing of 14 types of undersized small fish began after officials found fish. several premature, tiny fish in markets and restaurants. Existing federal laws prohibit Khalid said that the violators have been imposed penalties as their sale but the drive is expected to the first procedure of checking system. In the event of improve compliance. Officials said the repeated violations, huge fines will be imposed. drive would be implemented across the "The Monitoring Section on marine products has already UAE. completed the procedures prior to the launch of the An index developed for the commercial campaign including the issuance of circular banning 14 items fisheries sector showed a significant of small fishes with its pictures and allowed sizes, which was increase in the quantity of sustainably distributed to all fishermen and merchants in the emirate of exploited fish species in landings, from 10 Dubai. In addition, the posters of Ministerial Decision No. 16 per cent in 2005 to 23 per cent in 2010. of 2010 banning the fishing and marketing of undersized fishes However, the fish stocks are still over- were distributed in all fishing areas of the emirate aiming to exploited and more effort needs to be protect the fisheries as well as signboards were installed in done to conserve them, experts warned. different places of fish market," he added. "The quantity of They called for implementing a number of seized fishes 890kg is out of 300,000 kg of total fishes came to comprehensive fisheries management the market during the inspections period, which represents regulations and initiatives aimed at re- 0.03 per cent of total traded fish," he said. building the country’s fish stocks. The nine-month drive, Development and Sustainability of Live The fisheries are an important Aquatic Wealth, aims to prevent the decline of fish stock - component of the cultural heritage of notably young king fish, hammour, gish and pomfret. It also coastal communities in the UAE. They aims to curb illegal and harmful fishing practices. An awareness offer a source of employment and campaign targeting fishermen, supermarkets, malls and hotels recreation as well as contribute to the was launched after irresponsible fishing led to the death in food security of the country. February of thousands of tuna, 18 nautical miles west of Dubai in the area known as Boya Zahra. 17 OMAN STRIVES TO DEVELOP AQUACULTURE

Oman has initiated various steps to make aquaculture a Also, aquaculture might ultimately used to growing and vibrant growth area, a top official said last month. supplement declining populations of “We are aiming to produce 2,000 tonnes of shrimps valued at important species through enhancement around RO4 million and 500 tonnes of fish with an estimated programmes. market value at RO2 million by 2015,” Dr Fahad S. Ibrahim, Aquaculture production in Oman has director, Aquaculture Centre, Ministry of Agriculture & been dominated by sea cage farming of Fisheries Wealth, told the Times of Oman. gilt-head sea bream although a recently Elaborating on the new initiative Dr Fahad said, “We expect pond-based shrimp culture has been the overall sector to contribute $2 billion to the gross developed. At present, the largest domestic product and provide employment to 11,000 people aquaculture company in Oman is the by 2030-2040 depending upon the factors prevailing then.” Asmak which owns sea cages near Quriyat. Shrimp farming is undertaken by The total aquaculture output for Oman in 2010 stood at 127 a private company Bentoot Sea Food tonnes. As of now, only shrimps and small amount of fish is Products, which started production in farmed and production is minimal. The growth of aquaculture 2007. The farm, which is operated as a will help to enhance consumption of fish, which will play an pilot project, is located near Ras Bintawt. important role in food security, he added. Dr Fahad said: “Some of the best Absence of a regulatory framework for the aquaculture aquaculture practices that can be done sector all these years has also hindered the production. Dr are cultivating shrimp in semi-intensive Fahad said: “Regulatory framework is under implementation earth ponds, marine fish in onshore tanks, and should be effective in the coming weeks. Already a large marine fish in floating cages, abalone farms number of private investors are interested in developing in tanks, satellite projects of small farms aquaculture projects for shrimp, fish and abalone. Also a large associated to industrial farms for shrimp number of small farmers are interested in developing and fish production, integrated integrated aquaculture to produce freshwater species in freshwater farms (fish + crops), agricultural farm.” production of juveniles and restocking When asked about opportunities for investors in aquaculture programme for fisheries management and and what facilities and incentives the government is offering, ornamental fish production.” Dr Fahad said: “One Store Shop — supply of sites, soft loans, The extent of land available for no tax to import equipment and farm inputs and no income aquaculture in Oman currently is about tax during five years are some of the incentives we plan to 15,000 ha. In 2011 around 251 tonnes of offer.” Investors currently need not start from a scratch as the aquaculture produce, mainly the Indian basic ground work has already been done by the authorities. white shrimp and tilapia, was reported. Also, appropriate sites have been identified and an atlas has been printed so that it would be easy for the investors to base Disease control and health management their projects. Dr Fahad said that the development of a lively in aquaculture are the main constraints in aquaculture industry will not only increase seafood meeting the demand for food fish in the production but also decrease pressure on high value future. commercial species. 18 PORTUGAL INCREASINGLY DEPENDENT ON IMPORTED FISH

According to a joint report by News Economic Foundation Interestingly, the warning comes at a time (NEF) and OCEAN2012, Portugal is one of the countries of when the reform of the Common the European Union (EU) depending more on imported fish, Fisheries Policy (CFP) is under discussion. media reported last month. The report also reveals that much of the consumption in Portugal is focused on a Whereas last year Portugal was self-sufficient until 26th April, single species, cod, which is not captured this year the country stopped being self-sufficient on 30 by the Portuguese fleet. March; almost a month early. What makes the scenario worse is that the country depends more on fishing outside the EU to The report recommends that the fulfil the remaining three quarters of its annual consumption. Portuguese should choose other species that are caught in national waters even Aniol Esteban, from News Economic Foundation, co-author when they may not be as well known and of the report, notes that Portugal is the country showing the popular, such as mackerel, which currently highest per capita fish consumption across the EU, with an has a low commercial value. intake that is three times higher than the EU average. The report also warns that "fish stocks are a renewable resource, Gonzalo Carvalho, president of the but, according to statistics from the European Commission, Association of Marine Sciences and more fish are being caught from the sea than what ecosystems Cooperation, believes aquaculture can can replenish." solve part of the problem "but only if it is directed towards environmentally The report aims to "draw attention to a fundamental issue sustainable production methods" and because if both the EU and Portugal consume more fish than towards species that are not dependent their waters can produce, something has to change." on other wild fish for their production.

SRI LANKA CALLS FOR JOINT SEA PATROLLING WITH INDIA

Sri Lanka has called for joint patrolling between the navies of encroaching in Sri Lankan waters. Sri Lanka and India to prevent clashes between fishermen of "Sometimes these Indians damage the both countries, a Sri Lankan minister said last month. fishing nets of Sri Lankan fishermen. This Douglas Devananda, a minority Tamil minister, told Xinhua has become a serious issue. I have news agency that he has already discussed the issue with Sri suggested that the Sri Lankan and Indian Lankan fishermen on a disputed island in the north of the navy conduct joint patrolling near the country. maritime boundary of both countries to prevent these kind of incidents from Fishermen from India often stray into Sri Lankan waters to taking place," Devananda said. catch fish near the Kachchaitivu Island resulting in clashes between fishermen from both countries. Politicians in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu have been demanding the Devananda said that that the daily livelihood of Sri Lankan fishermen have been seriously affected with the Indians 19 AUSTRALIA SECURES FUTURE FISH STOCKS WITH NEW TREATIES

The Gillard Government continues to demonstrate its Foreign Minister Bob Carr said the international leadership on sustainable fisheries management ratification showed Australia’s by ratifying two international treaties to manage and conserve commitment to responsibly managing the fish stocks in vast high seas areas of the Pacific and Indian valuable resource of the oceans. Oceans. “Fishery resources are critical to many The government simultaneously ratified, last month, in Rome countries in our region, especially in the and Wellington, the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Pacific, as a source of income and food Agreement and the Convention on the Conservation and security. These treaties represent an Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South important step forward in their better Pacific Ocean respectively. management,” Senator Carr said.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe The treaties will manage and conserve Ludwig, said that the Australian ratification of these treaties deep sea and non-highly migratory fishery made sense, given the strong management of domestic resources in previously unregulated areas fisheries. of the south Pacific and southern Indian Oceans. Fishery resources covered by the “Here at home, we have some of the best managed fisheries in treaties include commercially valuable the world,” Minister Ludwig said. deep-water species such as orange “These treaties will close a governance gap in important high roughy and alfonsino, which the Australian seas fisheries that neighbour Australia’s domestic fisheries industry has been fishing for well over a and they will ensure that fishing for those stocks will be decade. subject to international regulation. In the Pacific Ocean, Australia, Chile and “By being a party to these treaties, Australia has the New Zealand co-sponsored the opportunity to shape the management of these resources and negotiations to establish the Convention secure participatory rights for the Australian fishing industry. on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South “If we’re using the resources, we should have a say in their Pacific Ocean. The treaty establishes the management.” South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation.

The ratification of the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement allows Australia to begin work with the Cook Islands, the European Union, Mauritius and the Seychelles to establish binding measures to manage the fishery resources in the high seas of the southern Indian Ocean

20 CARIBBEAN TO PROMOTE AQUACULTURE

The Caribbean is far behind the rest of the world in Mr Haughton added that poaching is a developing aquaculture, the executive director of the problem affecting many countries in the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) told media. Caribbean, citing minimal penalties imposed by many countries in the region Milton Haughton, who is spearheading a three-day Caribbean as not enough of a deterrent. He said: Fisheries Forum in Nassau, said the establishment of a "Poaching is a massive problem. It is a regional aquaculture working group to promote the massive problem in the Bahamas, and in expansion of both marine and fresh water aquaculture was the same way it is affecting just about all of among the list of issues on the forum's agenda. our counties." Mr Haughton said, "We will also be discussing the situation as "Most of our countries have relatively it relates to aquaculture development, marine fisheries large maritime spaces. We are very small globally and in the region. The capacity to produce more is states with very limited capacity for limited, and we have to face that reality." monitoring, control surveillance and "On the aquaculture side, however, and I mean mariculture as enforcement, and because of that our well, we are far behind the rest of the world in terms of the region is attractive to poachers." development of aquaculture. We have huge potential for "On top of that, the penalties that we increasing and expanding the production of aquaculture in the impose for infringement of our laws and Caribbean region." regulations for the most part tend to be "We are indeed behind if you look at what is happening in Asia minimal. The penalties we impose tend and Latin America; they have moved ahead on aquaculture not to be severe enough to be a deterrent. development. Aquaculture in the Caribbean region There are some countries in the region contributes to one to two per cent of the total fish where the poacher will not think about production, whereas in Asia and some other countries it's 50 entering because they know that the per cent." penalties are very severe."

"Now we have available new technologies and scientific Mr Haughton said the Caribbean needs to advances that we need to use in order to ensure that we boost its trade in fish. "We need to access develop aquaculture, and ensure we develop it in a sustainable markets in Europe, Asia and in the US for manner, because we have to pay attention to the ecological our products. because that is one way of sustainability of aquaculture." boosting profitability," he explained.

"One of the main challenges is to ensure that we have in place suitable systems to ensure that the products we export are of good quality and safe to eat. We need to put in place the legal, regulatory and administrative systems to have good quality assurances systems to meet international standards.”

21 SURVEY REVEALS PLENTY OF FISH IN THE ROSS SEA

A New Zealand-led survey of young toothfish in Antarctica (CCAMLR). CCAMLR sets the rules for has found high densities of the highly-prized fish in the fishing in the CCAMLR Convention Area, southern Ross Sea. which includes the Ross Sea, and all participating member countries have to Marine scientists Dr Stuart Hanchet, from NIWA, and Dr operate within these rules. Hyun-Su Jo, from Korea, recently completed the first survey of young Antarctic toothfish. CCAMLR takes a precautionary approach to fishing in the Ross Sea. This means Dr Hanchet says the successful survey is the first in a series making careful and cautious decisions that will monitor numbers of young Antarctic toothfish in the when there is uncertainty, so that the Ross Sea region. overall level of fish abundance remains He says, “To monitor fish abundance properly, it is necessary high. that the surveys be conducted in a controlled and rigorous Countries fishing in the Ross Sea must tag way. For example, this means using the same fishing gear and a certain number of toothfish for scientific the same bait, at the same time and location every year. It is research, and carry out biological also important that the survey is carefully designed so that it sampling of toothfish, as well as other fish samples the main area in which the target population is found. species caught as by-catch. “This survey will be an important monitoring tool to make “Tagging information has been critical to sure the level of fishing remains sustainable.” developing a comprehensive stock Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) are found at assessment model for the fishery to depths down to 2000 metres. Fish mature at a length of 120- estimate biomass and set catch limits,” 130 cm, and most adults live to an average age of 20 to 24 says Dr Hanchet. years. New Zealand vessels voluntarily “We’re looking at both the number and size of fish that are introduced tagging in 2001, and tagging for between five and 10 years old and less than 100 cm in length”, all CCAMLR vessels became mandatory says Dr Hanchet. “We currently collect good information to in 2004. New Zealand fishery scientists monitor the abundance of adult toothfish, but we don’t have began assessing toothfish stocks in 2005. the same quality of information for young fish. These fish are The survey was a New Zealand-led the adults of tomorrow, and by tracking this part of the scientific contribution to CCAMLR. It was population we can make sure that catch limits are set at the designed by marine scientists in NIWA correct level in the future”. and the Ministry of Agriculture and “Using the results of the survey, we will be able to model and Forestry (Fisheries science), and involved forecast the future fish population. We need to develop a a collaboration with the fishing industry, series of surveys over time because a single survey by itself which provided the platform for the tells us very little,” says Dr Hanchet. survey – the Sanford vessel San Aotea II.

Under the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty, the Antarctic The main objective of this first toothfish toothfish fishery is managed by the Commission for the survey was to establish the feasibility of Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources developing a time-series of surveys to 22 monitor young toothfish in the southern Ross Sea using fished. standardised commercial long-line fishing gear. • The total catch limit this season was Fifty-nine random locations were surveyed using long-lines, 3282 tonnes. each comprising 4600 hooks, set for up to 24 hours, within a • New Zealand’s participation in the Ross survey area of 30,000 square kilometres. They caught mainly Sea toothfish fishery is worth NZ$20-30 70–100 cm toothfish (at times over 100 individuals per line), in million per annum in export earnings. depths from 300-900 metres. The fish caught were then measured and sexed, with biological samples taken for further • The New Zealand delegation to analysis back in New Zealand. CCAMLR comprises officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, The survey also demonstrated the feasibility of collecting Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and samples for wider ecosystem monitoring. A large number of D e p a r t m e n t o f C o n s e r v a t i o n . samples of muscle tissue and stomachs were collected from Representatives from the fishing industry Antarctic toothfish and several other fish species, and will be and environmental NGOs have been analysed to understand feeding habits and relationships with included in the New Zealand delegation in other organisms in the food chain. past years. The results of this survey will be presented at the next • There are two toothfish species in CCAMLR meeting, together with a proposal to continue the Antarctica waters. The Antarctic toothfish survey in future years. is found around the Antarctic continent in Background facts Antarctic waters, and the Patagonian toothfish which is found further north in • Fishing for Antarctic toothfish in the Ross Sea region began sub-Antarctic waters. In the mid to late in 1997/8. 1990s the Patagonian fish was heavily over fished by illegal vessels. The stocks are • The number of licensed fishing vessels in the Ross Sea is believed to have stabilised, and in some carefully controlled by CCAMLR. In the current 2011/12 cases re-built. season, 18 vessels were permitted to fish, of which 15 actually

Indian government take back the Kachchaitivu Island which against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights was ceded to Sri Lankan years ago.Indian fishermen have been Council in Geneva. accusing the Sri Lankan fishermen and Sri Lankan navy of A majority of the UN Human Rights attacking them when they cross the boundary line to catch Council members voted in favor of a fish near Kachchaitivu. resolution on Sri Lanka calling for the Devananda said that the only way one can find out who is i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f a s e t o f attacking who is by conducting joint patrolling at the recommendations by a Sri Lankan war international maritime boundary line. commission amidst allegations of war crimes being committed during the final The Sri Lankan minister also called on Tamil Nadu politicians stages of a war between the Sri Lankan to look at the fishermen issue and try to solve that instead of army and Tamil Tiger rebels three years raising allegations of human rights violations against the Sri ago. Lankan government.Tamil Nadu political parties last week claimed they had convinced the Indian government to vote 23 MALTESE AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY SETS LOFTY TARGETS

Capture-based tuna farming will contribute about €73 million since then. Figures for 2011 are not yet to the Maltese economy and account for over 2,000 jobs in available, but the strategy report suggests 2025, according to a draft strategy on the aquaculture that the harvest was of less than 1,000 industry, published last month. tonnes.

The draft strategy was drawn up by the University of Stirling So far, hatching and raising tuna after a call for tenders, and the EU provided 75% of the throughout their lifecycle – what is known necessary funds. as closed cycle aquaculture – is not yet viable, although research efforts are The proposed strategy is part of a public consultation process underway in Malta and overseas. If this on a national strategy for aquaculture, an industry that research obtains the desired results, the originated 22 years ago. The public consultation will last six need to capture fish for fattening would weeks. be eliminated, thus helping ensure the Maltese Fisheries Minister George Pullicino noted that the species’ viability. Maltese aquaculture industry traces its origin to the late However, the desired breakthrough 1980s, and presently comprises six companies operating nine remains a long way away. None of the tuna sites. eggs hatched at the Malta Aquaculture But it has been transformed over the past few years, and has Research Centre (MARC) at the St Lucian become heavily geared towards capturing live bluefin tuna and Tower in Marsaxlokk last July survived, fattening them before harvest and sale, mainly to the Japanese although a small proportion did survive in market. In fact, five of the six companies are involved in tuna a similar experiment in Spain. fattening, four of them exclusively. Tuna are currently fed baitfish, and the The species is considered to be endangered due to strategy recommends research into the overfishing, and decreasing quotas have hit the industry over development of alternative feeds to the past few years. While 7,000 tonnes of tuna were harvested reduce reliance on other fish. in 2007 – making Malta the largest producer in the The industry, which had the potential to Mediterranean – the amount has decreased considerably provide 2,000 direct and indirect jobs and generated gross value added for the economy to the tune of €120 million, today consists of six operators, working from nine sites.

The sector now needed a strategy to determine exactly where it was going and how to get there, Mr Pullicino said. A plan for the sustainable development of aquaculture and a guide for investment in the field were needed, he said.The strategy is based on 10 points, including

24 establishing production volumes, identifying sites for Mr Pullicino noted that the strategy’s aquaculture, consultation with stakeholders, research and forecasts showed that aquaculture had finance needs, the streamlining of licensing procedures, the potential to be a major contributor to control on fish health and product diversification and the Maltese economy, as well as help in its commercialisation. The strategy also recommends research diversification. into other species which could potentially be farmed in Malta, He noted that developing the industry in such as groupers, sparids, octopus and sea urchins. Malta and across the EU would help The aquaculture industry would also require additional sites reduce the EU’s heavy dependence on to grow, and the strategy report recommends identifying imported fish, thus contributing greatly to suitable near-shore and offshore sites. The report notes that its food security. the 2025 goal can only be achieved if the government ensures The minister welcomed increased that increased site capacity is made available. investment from the EU in the sector, The government should support the industry through pointing out that Malta had long called for research efforts, improved regulation and assistance with it.He noted that it was important to marketing, according to the strategy. It should also engage in ensure the industry was sustainable, but efforts to improve the image of aquaculture: The report notes also to ensure that it received the that problems associated with the baitfish feeding of tuna have necessary support through research and helped bring about a poor public image. other efforts.

NAMIBIA STRIKES FISHING DEAL WITH MOZAMBIQUE

Mozambican fishing companies will be able to fish in Namibian this does not please us,” Namibian waters, and Namibian companies in Mozambican waters, as Foreign Minister, Utoni Nujoma, said. from this year. “Today we are happy with the news that Mozambique has decided to allocate Speaking to reporters last month during the State visit of quotas to Namibian fishing companies and President Hifikepunye Pohamba, Mozambique’s Deputy this measure is reciprocal”. Fisheries Minister Gabriel Muthisse said that the government has granted Namibia an annual quota of 35,930 tonnes of Mr Nujoma described the political fisheries produce. Around 25,000 tonnes of this quota is relations between the two countries as pelagic fish (including tuna, sardines and sawfish). The rest is “excellent”. He believed that progress in broken up into quotas for gamba (deep water prawns), crabs, economic development was being made squid and octopus, reports NewEra. thanks to the implementation of the SADC (Southern African Development Currently Mozambique imports from Namibia 35,000 tonnes Community) Free Trade Area, and the of carapau (horse mackerel), which is an important source of memorandum of understanding on protein for the urban population. If these imports are bilateral cooperation between substituted by the products of Mozambican fishing companies Mozambique and Namibia. trawling in Namibian waters, Muthisse expected the price to fall. “Currently trade between our countries is very low, and 25 AQUAVISION 2012: MORE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED

The AquaVision 2012 conference brings a wide range of cent of the world population, making speakers from all continents, to provide delegates with a wide more people dependent on fewer food combination of information and opinion. producers for their food.

The topic “Feeding nine billion people” is expected to be part At the same time, per capita incomes are of many conversations during the conference.“Food projected to be a multiple of today’s. production must increase substantially if the predicted Feeding more than nine billion wealthier population of 2050 is to be fed adequately. That alone is a and longer-living mouths in 2050 would challenge. Doing it sustainably and with minimal impact on require raising overall food production by biodiversity is another”, says Knut Nesse, head of Skretting at least 70 per cent, possibly doubling it. Group and member of Nutreco Executive Board. Aquaculture will play an ever more important role in the future seafood With world class speakers such as former Secretary-General supply to secure per capita consumption. of the United Nations Mr Kofi Annan, Assistant Director General at FAO Mr Arni M. Mathiesen, Professor Ruby AquaVision is established as a world-class Rabbinge, University of Wageningen, Dr Fraser Thomson of aquaculture conference that attracts 400 McKinsey and Dr Lisa Borges, Sustainable Fisheries top decision makers from the industry to Partnership, AquaVision 2012 actively sets the scene for this Stavanger every second year. important discussion. Scheduled for 11–13 June, 2012, in Scheduled on day one of AquaVision 2012, the topic “Feeding Stavanger, Norway, this ninth AquaVision nine billion people” is expected to be part of many conference brings a wide range of conversations during the conference. World population is speakers from all continents and to predicted to grow from the current seven billion to more than provide delegates with a wide nine billion in 2050. combination of information and opinion.

About 90 per cent of this growth will be in Asia and Africa. On More detailed information about average, those people will live longer. Life expectancy at birth AquaVision 2012, speakers, topics and is projected to rise from 68 years today to 76 years in networking opportunities, can be found at 2045–2050. In 2050, urbanisation will have increased to 70 per www.aquavision.org.

26 FOR CALIFORNIA FISHERMEN, SQUID MEANS BIG MONEY

As the sun sets over the ocean, the six crewmen on the Cape skiff that plunges into the water and Blanco are starting a long night's work off the far side of Santa rumbles away, its motor filling the night air Catalina Island, putting on orange slickers and hard hats to fish with exhaust. for the milky white mollusks that have become California's Each man takes his position on the Cape most valuable catch. Blanco's deck, working among strained Below the gentle waves off the side of the boat swims an cables and ropes as thick as fire hoses. A immense school of market squid. hydraulic winch whirs, engines roar and propellers gurgle as a tangle of black Capt. Nick Jurlin, pacing impatiently with a cigarette dangling netting, yellow floats and steel rings from his mouth, is eager to pull in as much of it as possible. tumble into the water off the back of the Five nights a week, the third-generation fisherman from San boat. The skiff tows it all in a wide circle Pedro steps into a pair of rubber boots and hunts for squid around the squid, trapping the school. along the Southern California coast. The 50-year-old with Most of the world's market squid is spiky blond hair and wraparound sunglasses looks the part of harvested from California's shallow a man who's wrestled with nets in the salty air since he was a waters, where they gather in enormous teenager — his arms are taut, his neck creased and weathered, schools each year to mate, deposit their his voice gravelly from going without sleep. eggs on the seafloor and die. On a night like this, the 90-foot steel vessel can bring in as Cold ocean conditions have drawn them much as $50,000 worth of the seafood so popular worldwide in such numbers lately that fishermen that all but a fraction is shipped overseas to be served as have handily caught their 118,000-ton calamari. limit — enough to fill 60 Olympic-size But for the Cape Blanco and dozens of squid fishing boats swimming pools — and the state has shut working out of ports like San Pedro and Monterey, the boom them down early two years running. is an uncertain one. Doubts are emerging about how long one Surging demand in China, Japan, Mexico of California's last remaining money fish will stay bountiful. and Europe has boosted prices and launched a fishing frenzy worth more than Though Jurlin and his crew are four hours from shore tonight, $70 million a year. they are not alone. The good times have drawn the attention Rocking in the waves around them are a dozen other purse of conservationists, who fear such seiners beginning the same ritual: encircling the darting mass abundant catches are threatening the of tentacled, hot dog-sized sea creatures with huge nets that foundation of a delicate marine food web. will be cinched up like the drawstring of a purse. Groups like Oceana and Audubon A flotilla of smaller boats assists by following the swarms and California are pushing for new coaxing them to the surface with 30,000-watt lanterns that protections for squid, sardines, anchovies, light up the ocean with an otherworldly green and white glow. herring and other small, schooling prey known as "forage fish." On Jurlin's signal, a deckhand swings a hefty metal bar above his head and slams it into a pelican hook, freeing a clunky metal A bill moving its way through the

27 California Legislature would require the state to leave more As luck would have it, the night's first net small fish in the water for seabirds, whales, dolphins and other bursts with an exceptional haul: 40 tons of natural predators to feed on. squid.

Those like Jurlin, whose families have fished these waters for “Everybody's going to do real well generations, say a smaller catch could be crippling. tonight," Jurlin tells the crew.

During the squid season, Jurlin pushes off each afternoon from They lower a heavy metal pump into the Terminal Island, where a few other purse seiners dock along a thick stew, and the catch goes sloshing waterfront of weedy and abandoned lots where street names into the ship's refrigerated wells below — Sardine, Cannery and Wharf — reflect a fish-packing deck. industry that is largely gone. Once their catch is stowed, the crewmen He follows the squid from the Channel Islands to San Diego, hose off and light up cigarettes as the fog setting out net after net and returning before dawn the next moves in. morning. A half century ago, the sardine was king of Tonight he motors along the backside of Catalina as his the sea. crewmen eat spaghetti and watch baseball in the galley. Many, In the 1930s and '40s, the largest fishing like Jurlin, are the sons or grandsons of fishermen. industry in the Western Hemisphere It isn't long before they bring in their first net. centered on California's harvest of the oily, silvery fish. Monterey was its capital, Frigid water falls in sheets from the net as it is pulled through a its crowded waterfront the backdrop for giant hydraulic pulley towering above the deck. The men pile it John Steinbeck novels such as "Cannery into a slippery mound, slowly corralling the squid closer to the Row." boat. But the boom went bust by mid-century Whether stacking rings or piloting the skiff, each crewman is as overfishing brought a devastating dedicated to a single task. There is no conversation. It is collapse. dangerous, straining work, and they focus with intense precision. Squid fishing exploded in the 1990s when worldwide demand jumped. Over the last By the time Jurlin and several deckhands reach over the side decade, the California Department of Fish of the boat to gather the last bunches of loose net, their bright and Game has kept the fishery in check slickers are drizzled with black ink from the squid. with catch limits, a ban on weekend fishing Fishing for squid can be good money, but it is unpredictable. and a cap on the number of squid boats.

The boat's owner, Tri Marine Fish Co., takes half the earnings, Squid come and go in cycles, streaming to and the crew divides the rest. For a good night's work, shore when waters are cold and vanishing deckhands can earn well over $1,000 and the captain and during warm El Niño periods. And they engineer even more. On a bad night, they might catch enough live just a year, making it difficult for to cover fuel. scientists to assess the health of their population. Conservation groups, in In the off-season, the fishermen sew up nets, make repairs and saying current limits are too permissive, paint the boats — without pay. A few months of the year, they point to research saying those huge make a little money fishing for sardines. But without squid, fluctuations make small fish like squid there are no big paychecks.

28 particularly vulnerable to collapse. During this boom he put his two sons-in- law aboard to learn the profession. The industry says California's regulations already guard against overfishing and don't need to be changed. "We've been hitting it pretty good, but it's sustainable," he says. "We get a bad rap Standing at the helm in the dark, Jurlin studies a glowing grid of from the environmentalists. They'll tell us navigation screens and electronic fish finders. there's no fish, and we'll come out here He sips coffee and watches for diving birds and sea lions — and see incredible amounts. They say we nature's squid detectors. He talks to himself to stay awake and want to rape and pillage the ocean. But keeps a running dialogue on the radio with friendly boats to this our livelihood." gather intelligence on fishing spots. As is so often the case lately, Jurlin and his Like many fishermen here, Jurlin is a descendant of crew are catching so much squid so immigrants, born into the profession. quickly that it strains buyers in San Pedro, who can only fit so much in their freezers. His grandfather was an illegal immigrant from Croatia who jumped ship in Canada and made his way to San Pedro to fish So tonight, each vessel can load up with almost a century ago. Jurlin's father fished, and his just 70 tons before returning to the docks, grandmothers and mother packed tuna back when the San where workers will pump the squid Pedro waterfront was alive with canneries. ashore and slop it into plastic-lined boxes. Forklifts will wheel it into warehouse- Jurlin started working on Alaskan salmon vessels as a teenager sized blast freezers, where it will be and bought his first boat when he was 21. prepared for shipment to Asia. Over the past 30 years, he and his wife have raised two From there, it will be processed and daughters, bought a condo in downtown Long Beach and shipped around the world, some back to second home in Arizona. Squid has paid for it all. restaurants in California. He has staked his future on being able to continue. When the It's just before midnight when the captain first squid upswing hit 16 years ago, he bought his own seiner. of a fellow squid boat, the Ferrigno Boy, radios to report he has caught too much. Could the Cape Blanco suck up the surplus?

"Okey-dokey," Jurlin responds, setting down the radio. "That's it. Another day in paradise."

Source: Los Angeles Times

29 Indian Seafood Industry News

CHINA TO RESTRICT IMPORTS FROM INDIA

China, one of India’s largest markets for seafood exports, has its major importers of fish and fish decided to stop imports from India starting 1st June this year. products. Particularly, the Gujarat region India, along with some other countries, have been excluded of the seafood export sector is likely to from the list of countries that have cleared China’s General take the major blow, on account of it being Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and the largest of exports contributor to Quarantine (AQSIQ) certification norms for export of China. The industry is already facing aquatic products. The new development is widely believed to problems as another major importer of seriously hit the Indian seafood exports sector, which is Indian seafood, Japan, has imposed a 100% already reeling under the effect of various impediments. antibiotic QC on shipments of Indian shrimps. According to a notice published, China will allow seafood imports only from 27 AQSIQ-approved countries. From Asia, During 2010-11, India’s seafood exports eight countries, namely, Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, Pakistan, to China stood at 159,000 tonnes, more Burma, Japan, Philippines and Turkey, have been notified as than 20% of the country’s total exports “permitted to pass CIQ”. Ten countries from the European for the year. In value terms, this translates Union, seven from the Americas and two from Oceania also to Rs.1,978 crore, or 15% of our total figure in the list of permitted countries. Consignments from earnings. China mainly imports low-value countries other than these 27 would be sent back to their bulk items from India, as opposed to other home countries, starting June. Industry experts feel that India major Indian markets such as the EU, US will be severely affected by new regulation, China being one of and Japan, which import only high-value items like frozen shrimp and squid.

CENTRE INITIATES ANTIBIOTICS BAR ON FOOD-PRODUCING ANIMALS

The Union health ministry has, for the first time, specified a offal, before they enter the human food timeframe for "food-producing animals" or marine products chain. For fish, it is 500 degree days (taken to be kept off antibiotics before they enter the human food into account both the temperature of chain, according to a report in The Times of India. The water and the number of days)". The European Union has been pressing India to specify the parameters shall be put down on the withdrawal time as its imports meats and fish from India. labels of the container, says the report.

The withdrawal period, according to the insertion to Rule 37 The news report quoted a ministry official of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1945, which came into force as saying that, earlier, the rules didn't even from January 17, "shall be less than seven days for egg and milk, quantify how much antibiotics could be 28 days for meat from poultry and mammals, including fat and used in animals and till when. He added

30 that now that it has been inserted into the Act, states would promote resistance.India has also start clamping down on food producers who fail to adhere to prohibited use of over 20 antibiotics in the withdrawal time. seafood and poultry products.

Non-therapeutic use of antibiotics has been prevalent, aiming A recent study published by the American to make chickens fatter and shrimps larger, which, in the long Society for Microbiology said that MRSA, run, has been making humans resistant to antibiotics. the deadly staph infection that presently plagues hospitals, may have become According to some experts, antibiotics are eight times more resistant to antibiotics because of likely to be used for non-therapeutic purposes than for unregulated antibiotics to farm animals. treatment. Long-term administration of antibiotics in animal feed causes antibiotic-resistant genes to multiply. Treated As much as 90% of antibiotics given to animals become "factories" for the production and livestock are excreted into the distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as salmonella environment. and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, an infection that is resistant to common antibiotics. Resistance spreads directly by contact and indirectly through the food chain, A ministry official opined that with the enforcement of the water, air and sludge-fertilized soils. The withdrawal period, it could be ensured the meat does not broad use of antibiotics in fish food in farm carry antibiotic residues in quantities in excess of the fishing, particularly overseas, leads to maximum residual limits laid down. Since bacteria can transfer leaching where it can be washed to other antibiotic resistance to other bacteria, even if farmers turn to sites, exposing wild fish to trace amounts antibiotics that are not commonly used to treat people, these of antibiotics. drugs administered over long periods of time can also

SEAFOOD COSTS TO INCREASE WITH START OF TRAWLING BAN

Mechanised boats across coastal Tamil Nadu will stay ashore, the price of seafood, particularly prawns, as the 45-day routine ban on fishing by deep sea trawlers in crab and fish varieties like vanjiram. A the Bay of Bengal waters came into effect on 15th April. The report in The Times of India said that ban has been enforced to facilitate breeding of fish, and will fisheries department official have warned remain in force until May 29. that the licence of fishermen would be cancelled if they are found fishing in According to traders, even though supply will be hit, the mechanised boats during the ban period. demand can be partially met with catch from the western coast (Arabian sea) along Kanyakumari and Kerala coasts. In Fishermen will compensated during the the Arabian sea, the ban period will begin ony from 29th May. ban period with a payment of Rs.2,000 per Moreover, shallow water fishing using catamarans that are family. Usually, fishermen use the ban excluded from the ban will ease the shortage. period to carry out maintenance and repair works on their boats. Industry experts feel that there would be a slight increase in

31 DEEP-SEA FISHING UNDER PRESSURE

Falling catch, exorbitant rise in operational costs and misuse of Letter of Permit (LoP) guidelines by foreign vessels are all are all mounting tremendous pressure on the deep-sea fishing industry, The Hindu reported.

More than half of around 600 boats are lying idle in the Visakhapatnam fishing harbour alone, in spite of it being an important fish-landing centre. Reports also suggest that around 50 boat-owners who had put up their vessels for sale correct value of their catch,” said the almost a year ago have failed to find any takers. president of Association Indian Fisheries Sometime ago, the representatives from various boat owners' Industry Y. G. K. Murthi. associations had contemplated fishing holiday on the lines of The indiscriminate dumping of effluents the crop holiday observed by some farmers of Konaseema. by industries along the coast, unscientific The president of Dolphin Boat Operators’ Association has fishing methods and the wanton demanded that the annual conservation to be observed from destruction of mangroves are some other 15 April to 31 May. They have also consented to observing the reasons responsible for the dwindling same for an extended duration. catch of various fish species. Back in 2009, an order issued by the Ministry of Agriculture The LoP vessels operated by Indian enforcing a two-month conservation period led to strong registered companies catch tuna. With protests. However, there is a widespread feeling that a longer conventional fishing turning unviable, conservation period may brighten prospects of a good catch several mechanised boats and trawlers next season. During the annual conservation when sea-fish are diversifying into tuna fishing. Trawlers are not available, the prices of shrimp and other fish caught were the first to opt for tuna long-liners a from rivers, reservoirs and tanks go up. decade ago after experts opined that tuna “As operation of foreign vessels is banned, some firms from – most sought after in Japan and South Taiwan and other countries indulge in benami registration of East Asia for its high nutritional and their vessels and loot our catch. They engage foreign labour medicinal value -- ensures better returns without visa and indulge in tax evasion by not disclosing the on investment.

Trawlers are given subsidized loans, but mechanised boat operators, who spend Rs.3 lakh per boat for diversifying into tuna-liners, are demanding easy finance.

Tuna is a highly migratory species and multiplies fast. In the local market, agents from Tamil Nadu buy it at Rs.25 to Rs.100 per kg depending on the quality and airlift it to Chennai for export.

32 PUNJAB TOPS FISH OUTPUT

The non-coastal state of Punjab has topped India’s fish output, varieties grow in natural river water, according to a media report. Recently published statistics on whereas, the exotic breeds such as grass the state-wise fish output suggests that Punjab topped the carp, silver carp, common carp and Indian charts in fish productivity at 6,560kg per hectare in the Rohu, Katla, Mrigal are grown in village financial year 2011-2012. ponds. Procured at Rs 80/kg, the pond varieties are sold in market at around Rs This is the sixth year in a row that Punjab has achieved this 100/kg. feat. This is no small accomplishment, considering that the state does not have an inch of marine coastline. This The fishing department has decided to disadvantage was made up for, by increasing fish farming in impart training to around 10,000 natural water (including rivers like Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Ghaggar) agriculturalists in the state to equip them and village ponds. However, as far as the total annual fish with the hi-tech techniques of fish farming. production is concerned, Punjab’s contribution is a mere For the 2012-2017 five year plan, Rs. 97,000 tonne per year and doesn’t figure even in the top ten 49,875 lakh has been earmarked to list of fish producing states. incorporate new techniques in the field of fish farming. To supplement the efforts of Due to soil salinity and waterlogging, agriculture in Punjab fish farmers, diversify pisciculture and often means a single crop in a year and that too where soil has ensure a handsome return, the state low salt deposits, leading to fishing as alternative farming. government even has plans to focus on Many farmers are developing infertile land (rendered unfit for fresh water prawns. agricultural use), artificial ponds as well as low-lying lands, for fish farming. Every year, the natural water areas are auctioned, However, the heavily contaminated and giving the State a revenue of nearly Rs 2.7 crore. untreated industrial waste and the highly toxic wastewater has been causing the Depending on the variety of fish chosen for farming, an death of huge quantities of fish in the average fish farm fetches the owner anything between Rs 1.5 rivers. lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh per hectare. The famous Singhara and Sole

CIFT, NAFM ORGANIZES FISHERIES TRAINING IN MANIPUR

The National Association of Fishermen Manipur (NAFM), in The second phase was from 26th to 28th collaboration with the Central Institute of Fishery Technology March, and was held at the Sekmaijin Tribal (CIFT), organized two phases of training on various aspects of village. There were 105 participants. fisheries, with a view to impart technical knowledge to Experts from CIFT held various sessions villagers. on food processing, value-addition, The first phase of the training programme was from 22nd to hygienic methods, preservation etc., as 24th March ,and was held at the Uchiwa Kabui village. Around part of the trainings. 100 people from the village and nearby places participated in the training.

33 MPEDA TO VENTURE INTO PREMIUM SEAFOOD SECTOR

Riding high on the success of a captive breeding programme move around in shoals, making it difficult for finfish, the Marine Products Export Development to be netted in large numbers. But, all over Authority (MPEDA) is gearing up to enter the booming the world, they are a favourite of anglers. export market for premium grade seafood products, The few cobia that are caught by local according to a report in The Hindu. fishing vessels are sold to upmarket restaurants and well-heeled customers The report says that the MPEDA is preparing to take up for a premium. commercial production of sashimi-grade chilled fish. The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA), the research and Cobia's domesticated natures, better development wing of the MPEDA, has developed a technology adaptation to farming environment, and for breeding and sea-cage farming of cobia ( Rachycentron rapid growth rate have contributed to its canadrum ), an edible, high-value species of finfish. Cobia is potential for offshore aquaculture. At known for its firm, white, and tasty flesh, making it a preferred present, cobia is cultured in nurseries and choice for the sashimi, a Japanese seafood delicacy served raw grow-out in offshore cages in China, and thinly sliced. Taiwan, Vietnam, the U.S., Mexico, and Panama. The report quotes P. Anilkumar, project manager of the marine finfish hatchery set up by the RGCA at Pozhiyoor in The technology for captive breeding, Thiruvananthapuram, as saying that efforts were on to tie-up production of cobia seed, and sea cage farming was developed by the RGCA to with seafood processors and exporters to manufacture overcome the high juvenile mortality of sashimi-grade chilled fish. The MPEDA has identified resource the species, which together with over- persons from Taiwan to impart the techniques for value exploitation, has resulted in dwindling addition. European Union standards prescribe stringent natural stocks. measures like chill killing and bleeding for production of sashimi-grade fish that fetches more than Rs.280 a kg in the Mr. Anilkumar said the development of international market. e x p o r t - o r i e n t e d a q u a c u l t u r e technologies would attract youngsters At the hatchery, huge tanks hold teeming stocks of juvenile from coastal communities to commercial cobia in different stages of maturity. Seawater is pumped fish farming and processing. The RGCA is through underground pipes to the tanks. A re-circulating preparing to take up a breeding system, an array of filters, bioreactors, protein skimmers, and programme for other commercially scavenging bacteria keep the tanks clean. important marine fishes.

The hatchery is equipped with facilities for conditioned Besides setting up hatcheries for mud spawning of broodstock and intensive larval rearing of cobia in crab and Seabass at Nagapattinam in Tamil tanks. It has a strict disease-monitoring and surveillance Nadu, the RGCA has programmes for system for the caged stock. domestication of tiger shrimp, Also known as Lemon fish or Ling, the cobia at full growth, broodstock development of scampi, an achieved in two years, weighs around 25 kg, though a rare few aquatic quarantine facility at Neelankarai, are known to have reached 65 kg. The commercial market size Chennai, and projects for Tilapia and is six to 10 kg in a year. Unlike most fish, the cobia does not grouper fish.

34 KARNATAKA BUDGET EARMARKS RS. 215 CRORE FOR FISHERIES

The state budget of Karnataka for 2012-13 has earmarked Rs. produced now. He further stated that 215 crore for the fisheries sector. there was an increase of 35 per cent in fishling production during the last financial According to media reports, the allocation includes funds for year. the construction of houses for fishermen, as well as for projects and programmes aimed at increasing fish production. Mr. Gowda also said that Rs. 26 crore would be provided for the second stage of Reports say that it also includes funds for the second stage the Hejmadi Kodi harbour in Udupi work on a fisheries harbour in Udupi district. district.

The state Chief Minister, Mr. D. V. Sadananda Gowda, The total investment of the harbour is presenting the budget said that Rs. 24 crore would be estimated at Rs. 60 crore. He added that provided for the construction of 4000 houses for homeless Rs. 4.5 crore would be spent on supplying fishermen. life jackets to 30,000 fishermen, and that He added that the quantity of tax-free diesesl would be insulated boxes costing Rs. 4,000 each increased to 1.25 lakh kilo litres (up from 1 lakh kilo litres in would be supplied to 6,000 fisherwomen the previous year’s budget, which was later hiked by 15,000 in the state. kilo litres), considering the huge demand for diesel by The Chief Minister also announced the mechanised fishing boats. plan to construct an oceanarium of Announcing that Rs. 10 crore will be provided for upgrading international standards at KRS Brindavana fish production centres, he remarked that, of the 80 crore and at Pilikula in Mangalore, under public- demand for fishlings in the state, only 40 crore was being private partnership.

AQUA FARMERS' MEET HELD IN WAYANAD

An “Aqua Farmers’ Meet” was held in Wayanad, Kerala, last month. The programme was organised by the Fish Farmers' Development Agency of the Fisheries Department, as a part of the valedictory ceremony of the ‘Matsyakeralam' project, a five-year fisheries project implemented by the Fisheries Department in association with local bodies to expand fish farming in the State.

The two-day Meet was inaugurated by the District Collector of Wayanad, Mr. K. Gopalakrishna Bhatt, at the Collectorate premises on 20th March. Around 400 aqua farmers from all over the district participated in the programme and shared their experiences. The Meet also included an expert session on ‘Feasibility of reservoir fisheries in Wayanad.', as well as an awareness class on ‘Ornamental fisheries’.

35 ‘STATE FISH’ FOR SEVENTEEN STATES

Seventeen states have adopted species peculiar to their organisations, adding that seventeen region, as state fish, according to a report in ‘Tehelka’ states had volunteered to name the magazine.The report says that, as a result of the efforts of the important fish of their regions as the state Lucknow-based National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources fish. (NBFGR), an institute that works for the development of fish Jena said that the scientists of the national genetics, seventeen states have adopted fish species peculiar fish bureau had taken up surveys in the to their region as their state fish. eastern and north-eastern regions of the The report quoted the director of the fish bureau, Mr. J. K. Jena country to discover new species. He as saying that the out of the 2500 species of fish found in India, remarked that the country was producing 2358 were indigenous varieties and 291 were exotic types, 8.13 metric tonne of fish a year, with the rest being marine types. He added that with the rise in freshwater production alone accounting river and environmental pollution, the extinction was looming for 4.1 metric tonne. According to him, large over many species of fish. marine, riverine, reservoir and dam fish production were on the decline because Mr. Jena further stated that to conserve fish, they had started of climate change. sensitising people, institutions and non-government

TAMIL NADU TO PROCURE MID-SEA PROCESSING SHIPS

Tamil Nadu plans to go high-tech in fishing to tap the large fishermen to exploit the huge fish resource in the mid-sea, says a report in The Hindu. Learning resources available in mid-sea. So far, the from the techniques used in Denmark, the State Government fishermen have concentrated only in the plans to procure two mid-sea processing ships — a first in the shallow waters where the yield is poor. country. The report says that while the ships will act as The units will act as a value-added export- mother vessels and process the fish caught in high seas, the oriented park to ensure quality standards baby ships, carrying the processed fish, will shuttle between for export and better price to fishermen the mother vessel and the shore. The biggest advantage is that for their catch. The project will be taken the fishermen will be able to sell their catch as soon as they up under public-private partnership, arrive at the shore. according to officials. The Fisheries The ships are being procured at a cost of around Rs 80 crore, Department will prepare a feasibility and are likely to be deployed in Bay of Bengal and the Indian report to procure the two ships. The Ocean. A set of baby vessels will also be engaged for Government will appoint a technically commercial fishing activity in the deep waters and to deposit competent agency to assisting in the the catches in the mid-sea processing units. project. The Department will appoint a consultant to prepare the feasibility Officials in the state Fisheries Department say that with this, report through international bidding. Tamil Nadu will become first State in India to possess mid-sea fish processing units. Also, the new ships would encourage the

36 HYBRID GUIDE LIGHTS FOR FISHERMEN AT NIGHT

The Fisheries Department has decided to install 10 hybrid fishing hamlets and floated a tender guide lights in fishing hamlets of coastal Tamil Nadu to enable during November 2011. There were two fishermen to reach their destinations at night with ease. bidders and the Viviann Electric bagged the contract. Fishermen set out for sail, keeping major lighthouses as an identification mark. Due to lack of proper lighting system and The hybrid lights would be installed in high winds, they often land a few km away from their Kadapakkam, Kancheepuram district; destinations. Hence, they sought the help of Fisheries Ekkiyarkuppam, Villupuram district; Department. Mudasalodai, Cuddalore district; Eripurakkarai, Thanjavur district; Hearing about a cost-effective hybrid system installed at Chinnangudi, Nagapattinam district; TTDC's Raindrop Boat House in Mudaliarkuppam some Arcottuthurai, Nagapattinam district; three years ago, the officials of Fisheries Department Vadakku Ammapattinam, Pudukottai approached Coimbatore-based Viviann Electric. The firm district; Kombuthurai, Thoothukudi developed three devices which have been functioning at d i s t r i c t ; M a n d a p a m S o u t h , Panaiyur Chinnakuppam in Kancheepuram district, R a m a n a t h a p u r a m d i s t r i c t a n d Tranquebar near Nagapattinam and Somanathan Pattinam in Enayanputhenthurai, Kanniyakumari Thanjavur district since January 2011. district. The device uses both solar and wind energy and enables Talking to The Hindu , the company's fishermen to reach their destination on time and without any managing director B.K. Shivakumar said, difficulty. These solar and wind hybrid guide lights comprising “During night times, this device will LEDs with 40 watts capacity and 500 watts wind generator, provide light and during the day times it are visible several kilometres from the shore. Coast Guard guides ships to nearest point as it is officials also started using them as a landmark, said the equipped with future-ready technology.” sources. “Unlike old lighthouses, we do not need Recently, the Fisheries Department decided to cover 10 more diesel or generator to keep this device operational. Traditional lighthouses need at least a handful of workers to man it. But, our system does not need manual intervention and the operating cost is low. We will complete the installation of new guide lights within two months. We feel that Tamil Nadu needs at least 100 more guide lights,” said Viviann chairman Vimal A. Vincent.

Source: The Hindu

37 SCIENTISTS’ EFFORTS DIRECT FISHERMEN TOWARDS CATCH

Scientists in Versova, Maharashtra, are testing the waters to phones have been distributed in 13 see if Mumbai can be turned into a Gold Coast of sorts, villages along the Maharashtra coast, according to a report in the Times of India. particularly in Raigad district.

The report says that, every morning, the scientists try to map The phones had been given to village out areas in the sea where fishermen might find more schools heads, who relay information to the of fish that day. Findings are then updated on the community c o m m u n i t y. C o m m u n i t y l e v e l notice board at the jetty, which fishermen check before coordinators, who have been trained to embarking on their fishing trips. This way, they get to know decode the diagrams and graphs, help which direction to head, for a bigger catch. them to update the notice board each morning. According to the scientists who are conducting these tests, fishermen who use this facility net double the volume of fish Dr. Singh added that each day, they than they did before. They also claim to be helping the gathered data and satellite images from fishermen save precious diesel that is subsidized by the INCOIS to prepare a forecast for early government. warning of storms and weather data. They would also map out locations where fish This World Bank funded project is headed by Dr. Veerendra may be available, by assessing water Veer Singh, principal scientist at the Central Marine Fisheries surface temperature, wind velocity and Research Institute (CMFRI) at Versova. The project is being chlorophyll, which indicates fish food. undertaken jointly by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian National Centre for Ocean The report says that around 1,900 Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, and a private fishermen in Maharashtra are said to service provider in Mumbai. utilize the benefits of this innovation, particularly in the eco-sensitive Raigad, Elaborating on the project, Dr. Singh said that daily updates where load-shedding hampers reception disseminated by the expert team were received by fishermen of weather advisories through television, through GPS technology adapted to mobile phones. Mobile facsimile or digital boards. The grant-in-aid project was started in April 2010 under the World Bank Global Environment Facility (GEF) Project.

Dr. Singh said that the effort had been designed to mitigate perceived future climatic risks. He also said that they had identified 75 fishing villages in Maharashtra, whose fish-drying platforms, auction zones or net-mending areas that are on the beach could be inundated by a 1m rise in the sea level in around 10 to 30 years if the glaciers continue to melt.

38 CAGE CULTURE FACES RARE SETBACK IN ANKOLA

The cage culture for breeding prawns introduced with much working round the clock in two boats to fanfare in Keni village of Ankola taluk in Karnataka in 2010 has provide food to the prawns.After the failed to yield desired results, the Times of India reported last death of prawns, one of the net cages was month. The report says that the experiment has led to heavy shifted to Karwar. To set up each net cage, loss to many fishermen in the area. the government had spent about Rs10 lakh, said an official of CMFRI. It was the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), which had introduced the technology for However, Fisheries Department officials sustainable use of fish resources to augment production said that Keni was an exceptional case, during lean period, especially monsoon. Two such cages were and that cage fishing was successful in the placed in Keni, which was the first place in Karnataka where other areas of Karnataka which had the CMFRI introduced cage culture fishing. The responsibility adopted the practice.Alleging that the of maintenance was vested with the local Fishermen efforts of those who had worked for the Developmental Forum. An official of the state fisheries project had gone futile, Chandrakant department revealed that, after the experimental method in Balegar, president of the fishermen Keni, net cages were introduced in three other places in the developmental forum demanded state. In the beginning, about Rs 1.50 lakh prawns died due to compensation from the government. excess feeding. A total of 32 fishermen of the village were

MID-SEA PROTEST FORCES BARGE TO RETREAT

A mid-sea protest was carried out by the Karavali Traditional escalate protests, in case their concerns Fishermen’s Association on 22nd March, against the plan to fix were not given due weightage. He affluent pipeline from MSEZ in the Mukka area of Karnataka. stressed that the fishermen were The protestors alleged that the proposed placing of MSEZ essentially demanding that they be given and MRPL pipelines to release effluents in the sea would cause proper information about the nature of widespread killing of fish, seriously affecting the livelihoods of the effluents that would be dumped into as many as 5000 fishermen. They also said that the pipelines the sea. He urged the companies to clarify would cause damages to the fishermen’s nets. the exact nature of the effluents they would be duping into the sea. The fishermen took out their traditional boats from Meenakaliya to the spot where the pipeline would be laid in In his speech, the vice president of the Mukka, and surrounded the barge and the boat accompanying Fishermen’s Association, Vamana Amin it. As many as 150 fishermen in 17 boats took part in the said that if the authorities concerned protest. continued to allow more pipelines, traditional fishermen wouldn’t be able to Addressing the gathering, Karavali Traditional Fishermen’s survive. Sangha President, Vasudeva B K said that the fishermen would not allow the authorities to fix the pipeline. He threatened to 39 Fishermen in Kerala, under the aegis of the Matsya Thozhilali Charles George also pointed out that the Aikyavedi has protested against what it called inadequate budget has identified only 50 marketing provisions in the State Budget 2012-13 for security, centers for modernisation, whereas, there strengthening of the cooperatives and debt relief, The Hindu are 185 wholesale centres and 2,518 retail reported. centres in the State, most of which need better facilities. The president of the Aikyavedi, Charles George is reported to have said that the budget is a big disappointment, pointing out According to the report, the budget also that security for the fishermen had seen only an allocation of mentions just 10 harbours that will be Rs.2 crore. He termed this as inadequate, citing that the basic modernised and it has allocated Rs.20 security kit for a fishing boat required about Rs.20,000 a unit. crore for the works. However, the He added that there were around 35,000 mechanised boats in Harbour Engineering Department had operation in the state.The budget has not accommodated the submitted a Rs.11.75-crore plan for the comprehensive plans for the security of the fishermen, Vypeen harbour alone. suggested by organizations such as the Aikyavedi. Suggestions included unified identity for all the fishing boats and use of Charles George told media persons that latest technology. the cooperative sector required strengthening, for the welfare of the Among the other points of discontent is that the budget had fisherfolk and for the revival of the set aside just Rs.3 crore for improving landings from inland fisheries sector, and that the Debt Relief fisheries, which is not enough for the sector, which needs a Commission's recommendations had to widespread effort to improve the marketing infrastructure. been taken seriously.

FISH MARKETS TO COME UP IN COASTAL KARNATAKA

Around 20 fish markets are to be constructed by the three per cent interest rate, and urged the Karnataka Coastal Area Development Authority (KCADA) in borrowers to be prompt in repayment. the next fiscal, according to media reports. He said that the bank had already been extending loans to fishermen for This was revealed by the Chairman of KCADA, Mr. B. Nagaraja improving fisheries activity, including loans Shetty, while speaking at a function to disburse loans to for mechanised fishing boats, fishing nets fisherwomen at three per cent interest rate. The Chairman and various other needs. revealed that steps had been taken to construct 10 fish markets in coastal Karnataka during the current financial year. He also remarked that the Karnataka Budget for 2012-13 has proposed to The financial assistance for the construction of fish markets is increase the supply of tax-free diesel to being provided by the National Fisheries Development Board. fishermen from 1.15 lakh kilo litres in Mr. Shetty said that an additional 20 fish markets were planned 2011-12 to 1.25 lakh kilo litres during to be constructed during the next financial year. He further 2012-13. said that KCADA had plans to improve all the 800 fish markets along coastal Karnataka. He thanked the Corporation Bank for extending loans to fisherwomen at 40 ODISHA: DRY FISH PROCESSING CENTRE TO BE SET UP IN PARADIP AT COST OF Rs. 10 CORES

As local dry fish traders are producing unhygienic dry fish by operating the local women to procure the preserving on chemical process so its consumption is hygienic dry fish in natural process and its dangerous to human health as a preservative used in dry fish is preservation. This training center will highly toxic. Realizing it, fishery department has planned to set work under this modern dry fish centre. up modern dry fish processing centre in Paradip to procure Dry fishes will be dried on natural process hygienic dry fish in this locality. so department has planned to set up solar driers to dry different types of fishes on Sources said that thousands of families including Telgu and natural process. Bengali have been operating dry fish trade in Paradip area since generations. They have been produced variety of dry This centre has aimed to procure 5 tones fishes by preserving chemical process causing serious threat of dry fish per day in which 400 people to human being. Instead of using salt as a natural preservative, including women will get employment on the produce is being chemically processed. In this manner, it. After procurement, different variety of those who relish the mouth-watering dry fish curry were dry fishes will be exported to other states exposing themselves to possible food poisoning, skin diseases and foreign countries. and other stomach trouble. The demand of dry fish is high in western Locals have alleged that use of toxic chemicals for dry fish Odisha like Rourkela, Anugul, Sambalpur, processing has brought panic among the dry fish eater so they Bargarh and other parts of western have feared to use intoxicated dry fish causing dangerous to Odisha so the product will be health. In last year, the marine fisheries received allegation the transported to these areas and other use of chemical in dry fish processing so department had states. Fishermen communities from clamped prohibitory orders on use of any form of chemical Paradip and other areas of Jagatsinghpur for processing dry fish. and Kendrapara district will be benefited.

The raid and consequent seizure of toxic dry fish has come in Assistant director of fisheries (marine), the wake of reports of indiscriminate use of toxic substances Kujanga Mr. Rabi Narayan Pattnaik said by dry fish manufacturers to preserve their produce. Health 'we seek the support of the experts of experts have also opined that intake of chemical-processed Marine Product Export Development dry fish would have adverse affect on human health. Authority for proper implementation of this project in Para dip. We have estimated Taking this matter seriously, marine fishery department has to spend Rs 10 cores for said center and planned to set up modern dry fish centre to procure hygienic its project proposal to be sent to the dry fish on natural process. This centre is not only procuring government for its approval shortly. The hygienic dry fish but to export quality dry fish other states and venue of this centre has not yet finalized'. foreign countries to meet the requirement of dry fish eater. He added. Department officials have decided to send the proposal of this centre to state and union government for its approval.Marine Source: Odisha Diary fishery officials' sources said 'a training centre will be 41 Recommended Reading

OVERFISHING: WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW Authors: Ray Hilborn & Ulrike Hilborn

Over the past twenty years considerable public attention has about the actual amount of overfishing been focused on the decline of marine fisheries, the and its ecological impact. sustainability of world fish production, and the impacts of fishing on marine ecosystems. Many have voiced their “Overfishing: What Everyone Needs to concerns about marine conservation, as well as the Know” will provide a balanced sustainable and ethical consumption of fish. But are fisheries in explanation of the broad issues associated danger of collapse? Will we soon need to find ways to replace with overfishing. Guiding readers through this food system? Should we be worried that we could be the scientific, political, economic, and fishing certain species to extinction? Can commercial fishing ethical issues associated with harvesting be carried out in a sustainable way? While overblown fish from the ocean, it will provide prognoses concerning the dire state of fisheries are plentiful, answers to questions about which clear scientific explanations of the basic issues surrounding fisheries are sustainably managed and overfishing are less so - and there remains great confusion which are not. Ray and Ulrike Hilborn address topics including historical overfishing, high seas fisheries, recreational fisheries, illegal fishing, climate and fisheries, trawling, economic and biological overfishing, and marine protected areas. In order to illustrate the effects of each of these issues, they will incorporate case studies of different species of fish.

Overall, the authors present a hopeful view of the future of fisheries. Most of the world's fisheries are not overfished, and many once overfished stocks are now rebuilding. In fact, we can learn from the management failures and successes to ensure that fisheries are sustainable and contribute to national wealth and food security. Concise and clear, this book presents a compelling "big picture" of the state of oceans and the solutions to ending overfishing.

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