Spanish vessel hijacking - Urgent!

According to Minister Mercedes Araoz, the Justice Dept. must first reolve an ongoing dispute if the tender is to be resumed. (Photo: Produce/IATTC)

Justice Dept weighs tuna quota tender

PERU
Thursday, November 12, 2009, 03:00 (GMT + 9)

The Ministry of Production (Produce) hopes that the Justice Department defines as rapidly as possible the viability of the tender process of tuna fishing quotas, pending for several months now.

“The quotas are defined at this time, but the main hindrance we have in resuming the tender is that a dispute exists in the Justice Department, which must be resolved beforehand,” explained the head of Produce, Mercedes Araoz.

The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) assigned Peru a tuna fishing quota of 3,195 cubic metres, but 1,000 cubic metres were already given to third parties.

The 2,000 remaining cubic metres were also given to a group of shipowners, but Produce declared this allocation null and summoned a tender of tuna fishing quotas for a total of 2,195 cubic metres.

The cancellation of that quota led victimized shipowners to launch legal action that suspended the tender process initiated by Produce, which was set for late 2008, Andina reports.

In October of last year, the National Fisheries Society (SNP) asked Produce to resume the aforementioned process, since the quota system is looking for a better availing of the resource in the internal market as its primary objective.

That is, these quotas would be assigned to Peruvian vessels in a bid to extend fishing access within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

It is hoped that the Justice Department will define this matter as soon as possible to continue with the process, Araoz said.

In terms of the national government order to increase its tuna fishing quota before the IATTC, the minister maintained that it is necessary to improve the fishing effort level.

In June 2008, Peru issued a request to have its tuna fishing quota increased from 3,195 to 14,046 cubic metres, but it was rejected at the 78th IATTC meeting.

“In order to advance in this subject together with the Ministry of Economy and Finances (MEF), we are carrying out a technical study, an evaluation tool that allows us to measure the impact of the proposal in fiscal terms, which we hope to have ready by late this year,” Araoz added.

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

Marine Produce Australia Appoints New Chairman

  (AUSTRALIA, 6/18/2008)

The directors of Marine Produce Australia Limited (ASX: MPA) (MPA) recently announced the appointment of experienced businessman, Mr Miles Kennedy, as Non-Executive Chairman, effective immediately.

Mr Kennedy is a businessman and lawyer who has over 25 years experience in both executive and board positions in the resources industry.

Mr Kennedy is currently the Non-Executive Chairman of Sandfire Resources NL and Resource & Investment NL, and was one of the founding directors and the Chairman of Kimberley Diamond Company NL for 14 years from 1993 until 2007. Mr Kennedy was also a Director and Chairman of Blina Diamonds NL from 2004 until 2007, and Executive Chairman of Macraes Mining Company which developed the largest gold mine in New Zealand (now Oceana Gold).

MPA’s Managing Director, Mr Nicholas Miller, said he was delighted to welcome Mr Kennedy to the Board. “Miles’ vast Board and project management experience will make him an invaluable asset to the Company as we expand our Cone Bay Saltwater Barramundi farming business,” he said.

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MPA Company Background

MPA produces saltwater Barramundi from its aquaculture facility at Cone Bay in the Kimberley region of WA and distributes its quality seafood product to commercial buyers across the country through refrigerated transport distribution.

MPA has a unique ranching programme, which has the potential to produce up to 1,800 tonnes of product per annum, guaranteeing buyers an annual, on demand, supply of branded Cone Bay Saltwater Barramundi from 1kg to 7kg. Production at Cone Bay has ramped up significantly during 2008 and sales are expected to experience further growth, strengthening MPA’s position in the premium seafood market.

MPA recently signed a two-year distribution agreement with Westmore Seafoods to pack, transport and sell its quality product to customers around Australia. MPA produce now sells in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth and the Company is assessing the potential of exporting to the lucrative international market.

More about:

Phone: +61 8 9321 9200
Fax: +61 8 9321 9300
E-Mail: admin@marineproduce.com

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The geographical location of the South Orkney Islands. (Map: Stock File)

South Orkney Islands, the newest marine protected area

UNITED KINGDOM
Thursday, November 12, 2009, 00:40 (GMT + 9)

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) declared its first Marine Protected Area (MPA) below the South Orkney Islands near Antarctica at its 28th annual meeting recently.

The MPA will span just less than 94,000 sqkm of the Southern Ocean in the British Antarctic Territory south of the islands, making it one of the biggest marine reserves in the world, starting in May 2010. Neither fishing nor discharge or refuse disposal from vessels will be permitted in the zone, Mercopress reports.

The Australian delegation at CCAMLR was led by Australian Antarctic Division Director Lyn Maddock. She said the MPA declaration is an important moment for the Commission.

Australian Antarctic Division Director Lyn Maddock. (Photo: Mat Oakes,  aad.gov.au)

"The South Orkney Islands MPA was designed to conserve important foraging areas used by albatrosses, petrels and penguins, and unique oceanographic features," Maddock informed. "It was disappointing that some areas where fishing occurs were excised from the MPA, however only a small area of less than 6 per cent was excluded."

The British Antarctic Survey's Phil Trathan and Susie Grant conducted the research that led to the proposal.

“The South Orkneys MPA […] will help conserve important ecosystem processes, vulnerable areas, and create reference sites that can be used to make scientific comparisons between fished areas and no-take areas,” Trathan stated.

Two measures were also adopted at the meeting to ensure better management of krill stocks in the Southern Ocean. Fishers must now distribute their catches more broadly across the area instead of concentrating on one spot. CCAMLR will also augment its scientific observation of the fishery.

"This is an important step in managing these fisheries and ensuring fishing activities do not have adverse effects on krill populations or their predators in the long term," Maddock said. "Observer coverage in all krill fisheries will hopefully deliver adequate data for assessment of the impacts of krill fisheries on the fragile Antarctic ecosystem."

To ensure that all British activities in Antarctica are environmentally responsible, the British Government has also published a draft of an Antarctic bill that includes additional protective measures. It would constitute an international framework for the recovery of costs of cleaning up any environmental damage in the area and enhance safety and search and rescue for expeditions.

“This draft bill implements our international commitments and provides for the continued protection of the continent into the future. It ensures that British activities in Antarctica will be carried out safely and that environmental risks are minimised” said Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister Chris Bryant, leader of the Antarctic consultation.

By Natalia Real
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

Peru | 23:20|The El Niño phenomenon, which is set to appear on the Peruvian coast in early 2010, will have a minimal impact on the fishing sector, contends the Ministry of Production.

Spain | 22:30|The Ministry of Defence will transfer 71 private security personnel to the Seychelles Islands, along with the corresponding military armament, which will be carried onboard Spanish tuna fishing vessels working off Somalia.

India | 21:40|The Free Trade Agreement struck between India and the ASEAN will adversely impact the livelihood of a million fishermen in the Indian state of Kerala, a local fisher organisation has claimed.

Canada | 17:20|Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership's year-to-date and Q3 results point to significant growth, according to a company report released on Tuesday.

United Kingdom | 16:20|A government agency has published a report that rates nine British supermarkets on their environmental standards. Marks & Spencer andSainsbury's got an A, Waitrose got a B, Tesco a C and Asda a D.

Panama | 15:20|The Authority on Aquatic Resources of Panama expressed worry over the fishing of small-sized sharks - newborn and juvenile – in the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Australia | 03:30|The federal government is threatening to apply the blowtorch to the supermarket duopoly of Coles and Woolworths over damning figures that suggest Australians are forking out more and more for groceries.

Viet Nam | 02:50|The Ben Tre clam fishery in Vietnam has officially become the first fishery in Southeast Asia to meet the MSC's sustainability and management standards.

Chile | 02:10|Pesquera Itata generated profits of USD 10 million through 30 September, a result that reflects a noticeable improvement in terms of the same period of 2008, when it reported only USD 2.8 million.

Viet Nam | 01:30|Seafood exporters continue to struggle during the time of the year when they should be busiest because importing countries are no longer placing hefty orders, a sector company director stated.

AquaChile's Victor Hugo Puchi criticised the small-mindedness of politicians in garnering votes instead of focusing on the LGPA. (Photo: Stock File)

Top salmon exec slams farming bill delay

CHILE
Thursday, November 12, 2009, 01:30 (GMT + 9)

The president of the firm AquaChile, Victor Hugo Puchi, maintains that the delay in the proceedings of the General Fisheries and Aquaculture Law (LGPA) in the National Congress is due to “Populism” by the parliamentarians during a pre-election period.

“It has been particularly disappointing to see how the world of politics is so small-minded – while facing a social crisis of this magnitude, with 50,000 unemployed, the motivation of the discussion is populism and getting votes,” the executive lashed out.

The law bill looks to establish a new regulation for the salmon farming industry, following the sanitary and productive crisis derived from the propagation of infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus among farming centres of the country.

For Puchi, legislators focused their discussions on matters unrelated to technical points that aim to improve the sanitary production and conditions of the salmon farming industry.

Despite the fact that the norm is not yet in effect, salmon farming companies together implemented – through the Salmon Industry Association of Chile AG  (SalmonChile) – their own measures to lift the standards of the industry, he indicated.

Like other members of the salmon farming industry, Puchi anticipates that 2010 will be the “worst year for harvests,” following a 2009 with lower farming centre output and biomass.

In the case of AquaChile, production will fall from close to 150,000 tonnes to around 40,000 tonnes in 2010, Diario Financiero reports.

In addition, if the Areas Apt for Aquaculture (AAA) do not increase in the country, salmon farming will be unable to produce the levels of production of 700,000 tonnes previous to the ISA virus outbreaks, Puchi says.

“If we want to produce sustainably we will have to conform ourselves with 500,000 tonnes,” Puchi added.

Meanwhile, Senator Carlos Kuschel expressed his rejection of the delay that is taking place in the Congress to approve the new norm.

The salmon farming companies have already "lost nearly the full season,” which implies a loss of 17,000 jobs just in the Region of Los Lagos.

For the senator, the delay lies in the fact that the initiative “is totally poisoned by labour, environmental and touristic aspects.”

Related article:

- Fisheries law adoption pushed back

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

The senators blame the delay on work overload and other factors, said Minister Hugo Lavados. (Photo: Min. of Economy)

Fisheries law adoption pushed back

CHILE
Tuesday, November 03, 2009, 15:20 (GMT + 9)

The new General Fisheries and Aquaculture Law (LGPA) will be passed by the Chilean Congress next year. Voting on the project modifying the present norm has been postponed until after the presidential election.

According to Minister of Economy Hugo Lavados, the senators argue that the delay in discussing the new norm is due to work overload, the fixing of new priorities by the Executive branch, and to discrepancies that still persist in labour matters and with respect to the duration of aquaculture concessions.

The majority of legislators of the Treasury Commission of the Senate wants to define the project that modifies the LGPA – considered key for the salmon farming industry – after the elections.

According to local reports, it is anticipated that there will be a second runoff, which would be carried out 10 January.

Therefore, it is possible that the norm moves on to the Senate by the end of the first month of the new year, and then returns to the House of Representatives for a third legislative proceeding, as it has already undergone many modifications.

On the issue, Senator Hosain Sabag maintained: “We are at the end of an election, with just a very short time to legislate and, therefore, the most advisable is to legislate in a period of calm, once the electoral uncertainty is concluded, because many decisions are made politically and these things that are for many years must be made fresh.”

Carlos Ominami, another Senator, indicated: “I have noted that it concerns a project that does not make anybody happy; not all the problems were well resolved. The executives themselves are about to have a calmer discussion, and they also think along the lines of the fishermen and ecologists.”

The president of the Treasury Commission, Evelyn Matthei, explained that they hope to put this project to a vote by all its members immediately after the elections.

In turn, Senator Camilo Escalona considered it “disadvantageous to paralyse it.” In his opinion, they could continue discussing it next week, Diario Financiero reports.

It is a very complex project “that intersects many things of a sanitary nature and organisational aspects of the industry, which is why once activated, it is going to require three or four sessions at least,” Matthei added.

Lavados recognised that “there are complex subjects that need time to breath [in the text]” and that “often the will of the parliament representatives is the first to be lobbied.”

“It is necessary to see how all the opinions and all the points of view fit together. We have to get things to work” so that the project leaves the Congress, the minister of Economy confirmed.

Meanwhile, authorities of the Bank of Chile, one of the main creditors of Chile's salmon farming industry, indicated their concern over the delay in LGPA modifications.

The general manager of the organisation, Fernando Canas, urged swiftness in the treatment of the legal initiative.

 “We would like there to be a resolution as soon as possible because this is a sector of very important economic activity for the country, which is having delays in its normalisation, the product of which is that the regulatory framework is not clear,” he said.

 Related article:

- Delay in fisheries law worries bankers

 By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

The Bank of Chile is looking for the LGPA to be passed as soon as possible. (Photo: Stock File)

Delay in fisheries law worries bankers

CHILE
Friday, October 30, 2009, 00:40 (GMT + 9)

Authorities of the Bank of Chile, one of the main creditors of Chile's salmon farming industry, indicated their concern over the delay in the modifications to the General Fisheries and Aquaculture Law (LGPA). The new legislation is still being debated in Congress.

The general manager of the organisation, Fernando Canas, urged greater agility in the treatment of the legal initiative.

“We would like there to be a resolution as soon as possible because this is a sector of very important economic activity for the country, which is having delays in its normalisation, the product of which is that the regulatory framework is not clear,” he said.

He further added: “For our sakes, hopefully the Law is clarified as rapidly as possible. The clarification of the regulatory environment could definitively generate the bases necessary to rebuild the industry.”

On the fact that aquaculture concessions lose their value by having a validity of 25 years, Canas told Diario Financiero: “Clearly it affects their value, but it is not significant. Until now, the guarantees that we have are those that were obtained in that negotiation, and we hope that we could make a re-evaluation of the situation with the new Law.”

Similarly, he stressed that the risk of bank clients has stabilised over the last five months.

The banks recognise “this is improvement in the expectations of models of risk, therefore, the rates of approval that we have today are very similar to what we had previous to the crisis,” he added.

He also mentioned the possibility that banks increase their investment by 10 per cent in 2010.

“We are sharpening strategies within our focus, thinking about a vegetative growth, although one cannot discard a [buying] opportunity,” maintained the general manager of Bank of Chile.

The main points in the agreement about the restructuring of the salmon farming debt - of around USD 133 million - are resolved, however, a definitive agreement has not yet been signed, he explained.

That delay stems from the fact that a consensus does not exist on how Invertec will pay the nearly USD 25 million it owes to its subsidiary food supplier Salmofood SA.

Leading domestic salmon farming firms registered a strong decline in their shipments overseas this year. The loss stems mainly from early harvests, intended to prevent a greater impact by the infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus.

Against this background, the Chilean branch of the Norwegian giant Marine Harvest practically reduced its shipments in July by a third: its exports descended from USD 29.4 million to USD 9.5 million FOB.

The downturn between January and July of this year was 49 per cent, which constitutes a decline from USD 182.6 million to USD 93 million.

Related articles:

- Leading salmon firms report tanking exports
- Two banks to grant credits to salmon firms

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

Atlantic salmon exports generated around USD 150 million in July 2009. (Photo: Stock File)

Leading salmon firms report tanking exports

CHILE
Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 02:10 (GMT + 9)

Leading domestic salmon farming firms registered a strong decline in their shipments overseas this year. The loss stems mainly from early harvests, intended to prevent a greater impact by the infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus.

Against this background, the Chilean branch of the Norwegian giant Marine Harvest practically reduced its shipments in July by a third: its exports descended from USD 29.4 million to USD 9.5 million FOB.

Considering the January-July period of this year, the downturn was 49 per cent, declining from USD 182.6 million to USD 93 million.

"If we harvested more in July, it was because the state of the ISA virus was more complicated," said the general manager of Marine Harvest, Alvaro Jimenez, in declarations to El Mercurio. "As such, we had a lot of emergency harvest, but the sanitary situation of the last three months has been extremely favourable for the industry.”

He further added: “As the fish increases in weight, our costs reduce and, at the same time, sales increase. It is madness to harvest small and healthy fish; if we did it, it was simply because they were ill and dying, and we were obliged per the sanitary regulations of the National Fisheries Service (SERNAPESCA).”

In addition, the executive recalled that the company closed the Tepual plant, which involved the dismissal of 525 workers, prompted by the freefall in production volumes.

Meanwhile, AquaChile exports were also reduced to less than half in the seventh month of the year, in falling from USD 30.2 million in 2008 to USD 14.2 million in 2009.

Other companies that registered strong declines in July were Multiexport and Camanchaca, which fell 50 per cent and 76 per cent, respectively.

In terms of domestic salmon farming, salmon shipments decreased 26 per cent last July, from USD 202.2 million in the seventh month of 2008 to USD 149.7 million in 2009.

Between January and July of this year, Chilean salmon exports descended 6.7 per cent, to USD 1.29 billion FOB.

Carlos Odebret, general manager of the Salmon Industry Association of Chile AG (SalmonChile), said, for the time being, salmon farmers will wager on other species not affected by ISA like, for example, salmon coho and trout.

Related article:

- Marine Harvest shuts down plant

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com  

Itau bank is set to dole out USD 400 million in credit to salmon farming firms. (Photo: Stock File)

Two banks to grant credits to salmon firms

CHILE
Tuesday, October 06, 2009, 03:20 (GMT + 9)

Last week, top officials of Banco Santander signed a contract that will allow them to offer credits to salmon farming firms backed by financial guarantees from the Production Development Corporation (CORFO).

Through these credits, producer companies and suppliers will be able to develop investment projects that improve the sanitary state of the industry affected by the outbreak of the infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus.

According to sector sources, the signing of the contract on part of Santander will spur Banco Chile and BCI to utilise the financing mechanism, Diario Financiero reports.

Meanwhile, Banco Itau will also join those granting CORFO financial guarantees. A total of USD 400 million in credits is expected to be granted by the bank.

CORFO explained that it will grant one guarantee per salmon firm, to either a producer or supplier, with a ceiling of USD 8 million.

For now, 20 salmon farming projects – mainly applied for by companies suppliers – have been submitted for CORFO guarantees.

The initiatives are being evaluated environmentally by experts, since one of the conditions of the mechanism is that they must support the sustainability and sanitary improvement of the sector.

Related article:

- CORFO, banks assess credits for 16 salmon firms

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

The system of investment guarantees was designed to support the industry. (Photo: Stock File/FIS)

CORFO, banks assess credits for 16 salmon firms

CHILE
Friday, August 14, 2009, 00:40 (GMT + 9)

Sixteen salmon firms have stepped up to present projects so far to the Production Development Corporation (CORFO) in a bid to gain access to financial guarantees for investment.

CORFO disclosed that it would hand out one guarantee per salmon firm, be they producer or supplier, with a cap of USD 8 million, Estrategia reports.

The system of guarantees was devised by the government in order to support the Chilean salmon farming industry. The sector has seen itself pummeled by outbreaks of the infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus, which surfaced in the country in mid-2007.

The associated credits will be evaluated by banks, as was done between recirculation pool firm Novo Fish Ltd and Banco Bice days before.

Meanwhile, the banks Security, Corpbanca and BCI will join the project to promote the recovery of the domestic salmon farming activity.

CORFO also selected five professionals, all related to the industry, who will be in charge of assessing projects, along with the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP).

Veterinarian Ricardo Lopez, responsible for reviewing three of those initiatives, explained that they would take technical criteria into account when handing out guarantees.

"Each project will have components that are in line with technological or process improvements, which is why the experience of professionals accredited by CORFO will be key," Lopez affirmed.

Similarly, he recalled that the deadline for approving or rejecting projects "is that which the bank gives on the terms for granting the credit."

Firm Salmones Ventisqueros is on the verge of successfully closing debt restructuring talks with its bank.

According to the firm's general manager, Andres Fletcher, they have a union credit with a group of banks, and they believe they are "very close" to closing an agreement.

"They have understood that they have to offer conditions more in tune with what the industry is going through," the executive told Diario Financiero.

The firm expects to earn some USD 70 million this year, thanks to a major proportion of salmon coho and trout in its production, and a lower exposure of Atlantic salmon, the variety affected by the ISA virus.

Currently, Salmones Ventisqueros owns two processing plants located in the Region of Los Lagos.

The firm implemented new methods for disinfecting the water, is using mesh that does not need to be replaced and is employing biomass estimators, Fletcher pointed out.

Related article:

- Novo Fish first to receive CORFO guarantees

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

Novo Fish invested some USD 6 million in a smolts production plant in Huelmo. (Photo: Stock File/FIS

Novo Fish first to receive CORFO guarantees

CHILE
Thursday, August 06, 2009, 03:00 (GMT + 9)

Recirculation pool firm Novo Fish Ltd will be the first of the salmon farming sector to accede to the guarantees mechanism of Production Development Corporation (CORFO), which backs credit operations with banks.

The operation goes into effect this week, as part of a ceremony attended by governmental authorities and salmon farming representatives, Diario Financiero reports.

The system of guarantees was devised by the government in order to support the Chilean salmon farming industry. The sector has seen itself pummeled by outbreaks of the infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus, which surfaced in the country in mid-2007.

This year Novo Fish invested nearly USD 6 million to inaugurate a fish farming plant with 10 recirculated water pools for the production of between five to seven million smolts in Huelmo, a distant municipality located 30 km from Port Montt, in the Region of Los Lagos.

The project is set within a salmon farming industry reinvestment plan that installs fish-farming pools on land, water recirculation, as well as bio-security measures necessary for production, which do not affect their surroundings, in an attempt to develop a cleaner and more sustainable industry.

The salmon farming companies will have a total of USD 120 million to improve their sanitary and environmental management.

Several salmon producers saw their payment capabilities reduced by the fall in revenue resulting from the abrupt productive demise prompted by the spread of the ISA virus in farming centres of Atlantic salmon, the Chilean industry’s main species for export.

The industry estimates a minimum investment of USD 400 million to assure a sustainable production scheme and a checking of the spread of diseases like ISA.

Creditor bank officials have already defined the short list of technical inspectors who will supervise the production and financial development of the Chilean salmon farming sector.

The role of Financial Technical Inspector (ITF) will be represented by executives with experience in the financial and fish farming sectors, some of which have already been working on land, to regulate the new sanitary system of the industry on site.

Related articles:

- The banks appoint technical inspectors to salmon firms
- Salmon companies amassed USD 1.6 bln debt

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

South Korea will look to developing domestic tuna farming. (Photo: C. Reports/Stock File)

Tuna plan foments aquaculture

SOUTH KOREA
Thursday, November 12, 2009, 02:10 (GMT + 9)

The government will introduce a plan to both promote the farming of tuna -- the country's main seafood export item -- and combat increasing international restrictions on tuna fishing, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MIFAFF) announced on Tuesday. 

South Korea will also support fellow coastal nations to protect their tuna resources and develop aquaculture projects.

Tuna exports yielded USD 332 million in 2008, when Korean fishing vessels landed 290,000 tonnes of the fish. This amount constituted 42 per cent of the country's overall deep-sea harvests.

Because of increasingly depleted tuna stocks worldwide many organisations and countries are endorsing a fishing ban for species like bluefin tuna. The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), which handles fishing in the southern Pacific, consequently wants to cut the bigeye tuna fishing quota by an annual 10 per cent over the next three years, Korea Times reports.

Korea currently fishes 95 per cent of its tuna supply; it has since been advancing its aquaculture efforts.

The tuna farming project located off Jeju Island is proving successful. The farm’s three net cages host a total of 400 juvenile bluefin tunas.

Back in September, scientists at the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) said that commercial tuna sales would begin around 2015. Korea hopes to export the fish to Japan, China and other Asian nations.

“Complete tuna farming will be possible when the fish start to produce fertile roe, and Korea will also be a resource-developing country of tuna by releasing artificially produced roe into the ocean,'' stated Park Jong-gook, the minister's manager of marine policies.

International tuna conservation efforts will continue to grow and gather speed as additional tuna stocks face depletion. Because almost 80 per cent of the country's tuna is fished in the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of small island countries, it will be in Korea’s best interest to cooperate with them, noted ministry officials.

Last September, an economic cooperation summit with an association of Polynesian countries was hosted by the ministry. They agreed to create a consultative body to strengthen economic collaboration between Korea and the eight member countries: Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Micronesia, Nauru and Palau.

The ministry said that official development assistance will be expanded for the aforementioned nations.

Related article:

- Project to yield commercial bluefin tuna in 2015

By Natalia Real
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

NFRDI bluefin tuna scientists are confident they will be able to catch up with their counterparts in Japan. (Photo: Stock File)

Project to yield commercial bluefin tuna in 2015

SOUTH KOREA
Wednesday, September 16, 2009, 02:20 (GMT + 9)

Scientists at the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) on Tuesday confirmed the country is now raising 300 bluefin tuna in three net cages off Yokji Island. With commercial sales slated to begin around 2015, they hope to sell the fish overseas to countries such as Japan and China.

Originally caught at sea, the tuna now weigh between 10kg to 40kg. The ones that survived the transfer from net to cage are being kept for research, Yonhap reports.

"At present, researchers can only catch juvenile fish weighing less than 3kg and raise them in specially-built net cages, but efforts are under way to breed the fish directly from tuna held in captivity," said Kim Eung-oh, director at the NFRDI's South Sea Fisheries Research Institute.

Researchers may begin gathering fertilised tuna eggs next year. Although Japan began their tuna breeding efforts long before South Korea, researchers are confident they will soon catch up.

Australian Clean Seas Tuna has been the first to successfully farm bluefin tuna. The company will begin commercialising the fish later this year.

"Out of the 10-30 million eggs that a single fish can produce, just 0.3-0.5 per cent reach 0.5-1kg in size, and countermeasures must be developed to prevent fish from killing themselves by ramming the cages and to deal with red tides that can devastate fish farms," Kim said.

President of the Insung Marine Product Co Hong Seok-nam said that of the 4.35 million tonnes of tuna fished annually all over the globe, just 1 per cent, or 50,000 tonnes, are bluefin.

Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Park Chong-guk said that next year, KRW 1.6 billion (USD 1.3 million) will go to aid the tuna farming project. The central and regional governments will provide KRW 1.2 billion (USD 981,120) and the rest will be invested by the private sector.

"We have bought several artificially grown tuna from Japan for KRW 100,000 (USD 81.76) per fish, but want to be fully independent in the breeding process," Chong-guk said.

There is no word on when South Korea will achieve a full tuna farming system. The minister suggested, however, that it could happen within the next few years if scientists manage to retrieve fertilised eggs and raise them in laboratories.

Meanwhile, Spain’s Futuna Blue España is working on an agreement to begin the construction of the largest bluefin tuna production centre in the world. It is expected to become operational before the next trap season.

Related articles:

- Bluefin tuna successfully bred in captivity
- Accord on the horizon for bluefin tuna farming centre

By Natalia Real
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

This week, the fishing vessel Alakrana, sailing under the Spanish Flag and with a base in Basque Country, managed to elude a pirate boat attack 495 miles off the coast of Somalia.

According to the owner of the tuna vessel, Ricardo Blach, “luck” played a role, as bad weather and the fact that their nets had been collected conspired in their being able to escape the pirates.

Another incident happened Tuesday, the third attempted assault on the Spanish fleet fishing near Somalia in six days. This time another Basque tuna fishing vessel, Intertuna II, was involved. It managed to elude pirates in Indian Ocean waters, some 400 miles off the coast of the African country.

Piratas nigerianos parecen estar recrudeciendo sus ataques contra barcos pesqueros extranjeros. (Mapa: C. Reports/Stock File)

Piratas secuestran barcos con 96 tripulantes

NIGERIA
Friday, October 17, 2008, 23:20 (GMT + 9)

Piratas secuestraron ocho barcos pesqueros con un total de 96 tripulantes en el estado sureño nigeriano de Baylesa, según las declaraciones de una directiva de alto rango publicadas el viernes en un periódico local.

El periódico ThisDay citó declaraciones de Margaret Orakwusi, presidenta de la Asociación de Propietarios de Arrastreros Nigerianos (Nitoa), en las que asegura que los barcos fueron secuestrados el jueves en las proximidades de la región de Sambrayo.

Barco pesquero chino secuestrado en la costa este de África

CHINA
Friday, November 14, 2008, 22:20 (GMT + 9)

Un barco pesquero chino con 24 tripulantes fue secuestrado por piratas en las costas del este de África y permanece cautivo en Somalia, informaron el viernes medios de prensa estatales. 

Los miembros de la tripulación están “bien”, dijo la agencia oficial de noticias Xinhua, citando a uno de los líderes de los piratas que se comunicó telefónicamente con una radio local de Mogadishu, capital de Somalia.

Sin embargo, el pirata advirtió que el pesquero y sus tripulantes “serán llevados ante la ley y castigados en consecuencia”, luego de indicar que el barco estaba operando en las aguas territoriales de la costa somalí.

Mientras tanto, una fuente del Ministerio de Transporte de China asegura que el pesquero fue secuestrado en las costas vecinas de Kenia en las últimas horas del jueves y que los piratas lo obligaron a navegar hasta Somalia.

El barco permanece cautivo frente a las costas de Kismayu, una ciudad portuaria de alrededor de 500 kilómetros (300 millas) al sudeste de Mogadishu.

El pesquero pertenece a la compañía Tianjin Ocean Fishing Company. Llevaba 24 personas a bordo: quince ciudadanos chinos, cuatro vietnamitas, tres filipinos y un taiwanés.

La piratería está muy extendida y bien organizada en las costas de Somalia.

Según la Dirección Marítima Internacional, 83 barcos fueron atacados en las costas de Somalia desde enero. Treinta y tres fueron secuestrados y todavía hay 12 embarcaciones y más de 200 tripulantes en manos de los piratas.

AFP

Noticias relacionadas:

- Piratas secuestran barcos con 96 tripulantes
- Aviones y fragatas protegerán a la flota europea en Somalia  
- EUR 8 millones costará la protección de los atuneros en el Índico  

Un avión P-3 Orion ya comenzó a patrullar la zona cercana a Somalia, para proteger a la flota atunera. (Foto: Min. Defensa/C. Reports)

EUR 8 millones costará la protección de los atuneros en el Índico

ESPAÑA
Friday, September 26, 2008, 02:10 (GMT + 9)

Con el fin de vigilar posibles movimientos de piratas, un avión español de patrulla marítima P-3 Orion realizó el miércoles su primer vuelo operativo frente a la costa norte de Somalia, dentro de aguas internacionales.

 La ministra de Defensa, Carmen Chacón. (Foto: Ministerio de Defensa)

La tripulación del avión, que sobrevoló dichas aguas durante dos horas, está compuesta por siete militares españoles.

Según estimaciones del Ministerio de Defensa, este despliegue militar realizado por el Gobierno español para proteger a la flota pesquera que opera en el océano Índico costará cerca de EUR 8 millones.

Durante el primer vuelo, el P-3 Orion captó el tránsito de “varios pesqueros y barcos mercantes”, informó la agencia Europa Press.

Los datos recogidos serán entregados a la Célula de Coordinación de la Unión Europea (UE), encargada de coordinar las actividades de vigilancia y protección frente a las costas de Somalia, con el fin de contribuir a luchar contra la piratería en aguas próximas a este país africano.

La ministra de Defensa, Carmen Chacón, dijo que la operación durará en principio tres meses, aunque el

Atuneros españoles operando en el Índico. (Foto: OPAGAC)

plazo es ampliable “en función de las decisiones que se tomen en el ámbito internacional”.

Por su parte, el presidente de la asociación de atuneros Opagac, Julio Morón, sostuvo que los vuelos de reconocimiento del P3-Orion sólo son un primer paso antes de que una flota internacional ponga en marcha el dispositivo de defensa en aguas somalíes.

El 11 de septiembre, un barco pesquero español perteneciente a una empresa vasca consiguió escapar de un intento de secuestro por parte de piratas en aguas internacionales del océano Índico, frente a las costas de Somalia.

El barco atunero estaba a 325 millas de la costa somalí cuando se le acercaron tres lanchas equipadas con motores potentes, pero logró escapar hacia alta mar, según informó el Gobierno del País Vasco.

Noticias relacionadas:

- Apoyados por un avión patrulla, los atuneros vuelven a faenar en Seychelles
- Pescadores españoles escapan de intento de secuestro cerca de Somalia

Por Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com