Behnan Thomas

Over the last few years, Croatia has set a path to introduce electronic data delivery for the entire fisheries sector. The progress is evident and the introduction of electronic data delivery is very well accepted by the end-users - fishermen, farmers, buyers and the administration itself. Commercial fishers can deliver catch and landings data on paper (logbooks or reports), electronically through e-logbooks, via an app, or by email. Up until now, nearly 40% of the fishing fleet delivers daily catch and landing data electronically/digitally or by mobile application. What is even more significant is that these data cover nearly 98% of the catch.

The US fishing and seafood sector has generated more than USD 200 billion (~EUR 165 billion) in yearly sales and supported 1.7 million jobs in recent years. 2020, however, resulted in broad declines due to the COVID-19 public health crisis, according to a new NOAA Fisheries analysis. The protective measures introduced in March across the United States and around the world had an almost immediate impact on seafood sector sales. 2020 started strong with a three percent increase in commercial fish landings revenue in January and February. Revenues, however, declined monthly from a 19% decrease in March to a 45% decrease by July, resulting in a 29% decrease for the first seven months compared to 5-year averages and adjusted for inflation.

EMODnet Bathymetry, an initiative of the European Commission, is pleased to announce the release of the latest version of the EMODnet Bathymetry Digital Terrain Model (DTM). With over 33,000 individual tiles downloaded in 2020, this bathymetric product is already widely used in a whole range of applications, from marine science to sustainable ocean governance and blue economy activities. The product benefited from significant developments and expert inputs in 2020, including new data gathering, reprocessed data, thorough selection of the best data source and use of innovative bathymetric sensors such as satellite derived bathymetry.

…

Russia has recently started to pay more attention to aquacultural issues. Over the last five years fish and shellfish farming has become an important part of the national development strategy for fisheries with particular focus on the Russian Far East. Early in 2020, for example, Russia simplified the rules for obtaining land to be used for fish farming. Since then, breeding volumes have increased and capacity in salmon farming has doubled. Growth, however, is still limited by administrative barriers and the sector is dependent on imported feeds and equipment. Unlike in Europe where there are many industry-oriented events, Russia lacks a united platform to maintain a dialog on aquaculture issues and international cooperation.

One in every two seafood workers is a woman, yet women are over-represented in the lowest paid and lowest valued positions and are seldom seen in leadership positions. Women are essential contributors to this important food industry, but they remain invisible. The need to increase awareness about women’s role in this industry and to recognize the value they bring is the objective behind the organisation Women in the Seafood Industry (WSI). Among its initiatives is an annual video competition started in 2017 inviting men and women to tell their story of women in the seafood industry. The goal is to bring attention to the gaps and challenges experienced by women in seafood and to cast light on positive stories.

Norway exported 2.7 million tonnes of seafood worth NOK 105.7 billion (~EUR 10.2 billion) in 2020. This is the second-highest value ever and is the equivalent to 37 million meals every day throughout the year or 25,000 meals per minute. The total volume of seafood exports increased by 2 per cent in 2020, while the value was reduced by 1 per cent, or NOK 1.5 billion, compared with the record year of 2019. Seafood exports for the second year in a row exceeded the ‘magical’ NOK 100 billion mark and that this was achieved during the corona pandemic in 2020 was fantastic, said Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen, Minister of Fisheries and Seafood.

Greenland concluded negotiations with the EU for a new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) that will strengthen cooperation between the two partners for the next four years with the possibility of a two-year extension. The agreement is an important milestone in the long-standing bilateral cooperation between the two in fisheries and renews the commitment to promoting the sustainable use of marine resources. Financially, this is the third most important agreement in place for the EU and will allow the EU fleet (12 large-scale trawlers) to continue fishing in Greenland waters for at least the next 4 years while continuing to contribute to the development of the fisheries sector in Greenland.

The latest Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet has been released showing a profitable fishing fleet in 2020, despite the effects of COVID-19. In 2008, the EU fishing fleet was barely breaking even and ten years later it registered a net profit of EUR 800 million. This significant progress was the result of higher average fish prices, lower fuel costs, and improved stocks of important species. This trend continued into 2019. The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 interrupted the trend with estimates suggesting that the economic performance of the EU fleets decreased by 17% in landed value, 19% in employment and 29% in net profits compared to 2019.   Despite the impact of COVID-19, projections indicate that the EU fleet is resilient and would end 2020 with a reasonable level of profitability as a result of the efforts made by the sector in the previous years. This includes fishing to the maximum sustainability yield combined with low fuel prices.