International & Trade

May 8, 2012 – Prince Charles, the Duke of Rothesay was speaking at the World Fisheries Congress in his role as the founder of The Prince's International Sustainability Unit.

He called for "urgent and collective action" to allow global fish stocks to recover.

The event is being attended by about 1,000 delegates from more than 65 countries around the world.

The prince warned global fisheries leaders that significant progress would only be achieved if governments, international institutions and even the smallest fishing communities work together.

Among those taking part in the conference is Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead and UK Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon.

Mr Lochhead said: "As one of the foremost fishing nations, Scotland is at the centre of international efforts to sustain the world's fisheries.

"Bringing together leading scientists and experts will provide stimulating and thought provoking discussions, and I look forward to building on our work and exchanging ideas with international partners."

He added that fishing made a "massive contribution" to Scotland's economy and stressed: "The Scottish government is committed to doing all we can to preserve the marine environment and to ensure a sustainable, long-term future for the fishing industry in Scotland."

A so called "report card" on the state of fish stocks was also launched at the conference.

The Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) brings together scientists, government, its agencies, non-governmental bodies and industry.

Its latest findings give clear indications that climate change is affecting fish stocks.

The report said warming sea temperatures were related to changes seen in the depth, distribution, migration and spawning behaviours of fish.

It said cultivated fish and shellfish were both susceptible to climate change.

The partnership also suggested controlled or closed fishing areas that can be adapted in response to climate change have the potential to help protect commercial and vulnerable fish stocks.

The report highlighted the wider impact of climate change on the wider marine food chain and said if some fish species, which are key to the integrity of food chains, are affected then extensive restructuring of the chains will follow.

Read the full story at the BBC.

 

 

May 8, 2012 – The world’s fisheries community gathered in Edinburgh today (Tuesday, 8 May) to discuss the future of sustainable fishing at the 6th World Fisheries Congress.

Organised by The World Council of Fisheries Societies, the congress is being held at Edinburgh International Conference Centre and will address “Sustainable Fisheries in a Changing World”. The event draws leading international figures influential in driving debate and shaping global policy on fishing.
 
The Duke of Rothesay addressed the conference on sustainability in His Royal Highness’s capacity as the founder of The Prince’s International Sustainability Unit (ISU). Established in January 2010, the ISU works to build consensus on how to resolve some of the key environmental challenges facing the world, specifically those concerning food security, ecosystem resilience and the depletion of natural capital.  The ISU works with governments, the private sector and non-governmental organisations with the aim of building partnerships to help address these challenges.

Read the full story here.

 

 

May 3, 2012, UK – Young’s Seafood Limited today reiterated its support for moves to tackle the wasteful practice of discarding fish caught at sea. This re-affirmation of Young’s long-held policy comes after a recent meeting with Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment and in advance of the World Fisheries Congress 2012, set to be held in Edinburgh from 7 – 11 May 2012.

Young’s Seafood Limited has campaigned for a number of years on discards and supports sustainable practice in fisheries through its Fish for Life programme on responsible sourcing.

Pete Ward, Chief Operating Officer of Young’s Seafood Limited, stated: “We have long held the view that the practice of discarding fish at sea is both a senseless waste of resource and a barrier to sustainability in fisheries. We are actively engaged with scientists, fishery managers and fishermen in joint initiatives to better understand and reduce discarding. Following our recent meeting, we plan to continue to work closely with the Scottish Government and other key stakeholders to keep up the momentum on this issue.”

Leendert den Hollander, Chief Executive of Young’s Seafood Limited, added: “Moving discards up the policy agenda is very important. Well-managed eco-systems are clearly critical to ensuring we have bountiful sources of fish, healthy people and healthy societies. We’re doing our bit through our Fish for Life initiative on responsible sourcing and by encouraging people to try a wider variety of fish. We hope that consumers, retailers and the supply chain continue to support sustainable practice in fisheries and fish farms.”

Read the full story here.

 

 

May 2, 2012, SCOTLAND, UK – Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO) Chairman, Professor Phil Thomas, will speak at the World Fisheries Congress in Edinburgh on the role of aquaculture in the context of sustainable fisheries.

Occasionally circumstances conspire to bring forward certain events at a particularly propitious time – a point at which there is a pressing need for discussion and a special opportunity for that discussion to take place. Thus it is that the dedication of a major part of the sixth World Fisheries Congress to aquaculture is a signal event, coming at a time when aquaculture increasingly can be seen as the future dominant source of fish supply for the world’s growing population.

The Congress, which takes place in Edinburgh from 7-11 May is being hosted by the Fisheries Society of the British Isles on behalf of the World Council of Fisheries Societies. The meeting is scheduled on a four year cycle, and this year there are dedicated aquaculture sessions on the 9, 10 and 11 May.

These cover: Aquaculture and Sustainable Feed Supply; Aquaculture and Stock Improvement: Fish Welfare, Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture; and Aquaculture, Fish Nutrition and Health. The agenda across the three days is therefore almost all-encompassing and addresses many of the most prominent topics of current debate within the global aquaculture industry.

Read the full story here.

April 27, 2012 – As the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform heats up, Oceana is urging the Council to favour responsibility over short term political gain and put the future of Europe’s fish stocks first.

Oceana has drawn attention to a new paper co-authored by fisheries scientist Dr Rainer Froese and resource economist Martin Quaas, linking the Council’s poor decisions and disregard for scientific advice to the collapse of North Sea cod. The international marine conservation organisation is urging Council members to put aside their talking points and make the strong decisions necessary to safeguard the future of Europe’s fish stocks and industry.

“For years, the Council has consistently disregarded science, and this study shows one of the many consequences of their careless inaction,” stated Xavier Pastor, Executive Director of Oceana Europe. “The Council had all the information they needed to prevent the collapse of cod in the North Sea – but they willfully chose to ignore it, and now the fishing industry is paying the price. European citizens have entrusted them with the responsible management of this public good and it is high time our Ministers repair that broken trust.”

Read the complete story from The Fish Site.

 

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK – It is evening at Daniel, the New York restaurant of French chef Daniel Boulud on the Upper East Side, which has three Michelin stars. A couple sitting at the bar tastes the caviar. "Fantastic. Simply fantastic," they say. Even the price – $470 for 50 grams of highest-quality caviar – doesn't spoil the taste for them. New York diners are prepared to pay generously for good raw ingredients.

What the couple and the other guests at the prestigious restaurant don't know is that this fine and costly caviar comes from Israel. "We started serving Israeli caviar at the restaurant four or five years ago and since then it has only improved. And today it is the best there is on the market," says Jean Francois Bruel, the chef at Daniel. "The quality of Israeli caviar really is excellent. The grain is very firm and the flavor is excellent. Unlike many kinds of caviar, Israeli caviar doesn't have an aftertaste – in my opinion because it is raised in especially clean water."

Daniel is not the only respected restaurant that has discovered the wonders of Israeli caviar. "All the chefs and buyers who specialize in fine food appreciate its quality," says Rod Browne-Mitchell, owner of the Browne Trading Company, a purveyor of high-quality fish and seafood that has been distributing Israeli caviar in the United States for 10 years now. 

Eric Ripert, the chef and proprietor of the most important fish restaurant in New York today, Le Bernardin, echoes the compliment. "The Israeli caviar is the best there is today on the market," declares Ripert, whose restaurant has not only been awarded three Michelin stars but also has held the top spot on the list of popular New York restaurants in the Zagat guide, the city's most important food guidebook. "There is some not bad caviar on the market," adds Ripert. "The Chinese have good caviar but the quality of it is not consistent. Germany and Italy have pretty good caviar and there are also products from France and the United States, but what comes from Israel is the nearest thing to the top." 

Read the complete article from Haaretz.com

 

 

 

 

 

OTTAWA — The Harper government unveiled a massive omnibus budget implementation bill Thursday that includes Fisheries Act amendments that will strip the term "habitat" from the most crucial section of the law.

The government's intent, according to a spokeswoman, to assist "everyday Canadians" in their dealings with federal fisheries bureaucrats.

And the official said allegations that the government is giving in to demands from energy and mining lobbyists are false.

"These are changes being made in our department that are designed to help Canadians — everyday Canadians: landowners, municipalities, farmers – be able to undertake activities on their properties without obtrusive interference by our department," said Erin Filliter, spokeswoman for Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield.

But opposition critics and environmental groups say the government is misleading the public about what they say is a move in the 431-page bill to appease the natural resource sector.

Read the complete article from The Vancouver Sun

 

 

 

 

 

April 27, 2012 – The non-government marine conservation organization Oceana warns that there is a link between the collapse status of cod from the North Sea and bad decisions taken by the Council of Fisheries Ministers of the European Union (EU).

While working on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), Oceana urges Member States to give priority to the future of stocks over short-term political gains.

Based on the findings of a study carried out by Rainer Froese, a scientist specialised in fishing; and Martin Quaas, an economist expert in resources, the NGO requests members of the Council to take the necessary measures to safeguard the future of the sector and Community fishing stocks.

"For years, the Council of Fisheries Ministers has persisted in ignoring science, and this study shows one of the many consequences of its neglect and inaction," pointed out Xavier Pastor, executive director of Oceana in Europe.

"The Council had all the information needed to prevent the collapse of cod in the North Sea, but chose to ignore it, and now the fishing industry is suffering the consequences. European citizens trusted they would responsibly manage a public asset, and it is time our ministers acted in response to that trust."

According to the authors of the study, the closure of the cod fishery for three years could have led to the recovery of the stock and to the great compensation for the loss caused by the closure.

"The study analyzed the actual data on the recruitment of juvenile specimens, declared cod discards and prices. The only supposed figure was what would have happened with fewer captures than those determined by the Council," explained Froese.

Read the full story here.

 

 

April 26, 2012 – A group of fishermen are seeking a meeting with the government to try to get scallop dredging banned off the East Yorkshire coast.

They claim scallop boats operating off Holderness have caused £100,000 worth of damage to their fishing gear in recent weeks.

Scallop fishing uses large metal dredges which rake the seabed to lift the shellfish.

The industry's association said it investigated incidents of gear damage.

Mike Cohen, chief executive of the Holderness Coast Fishing Industry Group which represents local fishermen, said: "The activities of scallop dredging are very damaging to the seabed and the local fishery is dependent on crabs and lobsters, which are associated with particular kinds of seabed habitat.

Read the full story at the BBC.

 

 

PETERBOROUGH, ON, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – From May 27 – 31, 2012, the first ever National Fish & Wildlife Conservation Congress will take place at the Westin, Ottawa, bringing together governments, policy and program managers, fish and wildlife experts from across Canada and the U.S., nongovernment organizations (NGO's) and others to chart a course for the future conservation of our nation's fish and wildlife resources.

The Congress is being led by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) in partnership with the federal government, government of Ontario, and a long list of national and international NGO's such as Ducks Unlimited Canada, Wildlife Habitat Canada, Canadian Wildlife Federation, Boone and Crockett, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the Wildlife Society, among others. The event has attracted over 100 speakers from government, conservation organizations, academia and industry, who will deliver presentations and facilitate workshops designed to develop recommendations for the road ahead. Topics will include invasive species, fish and wildlife diseases, sustainable use, funding policies and a host of other topics relevant to the conservation of our valuable natural resources for today and into the future.

"The Congress is the first event of its kind to be held in Canada. Many leading experts in the field of fish and wildlife conservation from Canada and the U.S. and most of the largest conservation based organizations across North America will come together to discuss the challenges we face, and opportunities for the future in a unique format that will result in key recommendations being developed. These will serve as the impetus for creating a collaborative map on both sides of the border for the road ahead," said Greg Farrant, OFAH Manager of Government Affairs & Policy, and Congress General Manager.

Read the full story here.