Eurofish Magazine 3 2021

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June 3/2021 C 44346

June 3 / 2021 Eurofish Magazine

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In this issue

Lithuanian Baltic Sea fisheries adapt to new realities Fishers in countries around the Baltic Sea have been affected by the status of cod stocks which are so dire that quotas have been slashed to nothing and a series of restrictions have been introduced in a bid to save the resource. Despite these measures, scientists consider it will take years before the stocks are at a healthy, stable level. In Lithuania cod fishers in the open Baltic Sea are switching to the pelagic species, herring and sprat, to make up for the lack of cod. The small-scale fleet that fishes primarily along the Baltic Sea coast, in the Curonian lagoon, and in the delta of the Nemunas river, also used to target cod, but must now make do with a small bycatch quota. Any bycatch may not be sold for human consumption but can be used in other industries.

Some small-scale fishers have therefore changed the fishing gear they use to avoid catches of cod. While this is a welcome development, the fisheries administration is also encouraging the small-scale sector to migrate from paper logbooks to an app that will make monitoring catches easier. A change that is part of a transformation to wider electronic surveillance for control and inspection of all fleet segments. Read more from page 24 Consumers’ need for reassurance that the food they eat is produced with minimal negative environment and social impacts has led to a plethora of labels that certify this. Within the aquaculture industry, Best Aquaculture Practice (BAP) represents standards developed by the Global Aquaculture Alliance, an industry body representing seafood farming companies from around the world. The standards cover the entire production chain from hatcheries, to farms, processing operations, and feed mills and certify the extent of environmental impact, social responsibility, and compliance with laws and regulations. Expert committees that bring together scientists, the industry, and environmental organisations develop the standards which cover fish, crustacean, and mollusc production. Even after being approved, standards continue to evolve in a dynamic process that takes into account developments in the area that the standard covers. A period for public comment during the development of new iterations of the standard makes for an open and transparent process. Regular audits by independent third parties ensure that certified companies comply with the standards. In the same way, independent bodies also assess the standards themselves for their impact on the sector. Read Dr Manfred Klinkhardt’s article on page 19 Ghost nets refer to fishing gear that has been lost, abandoned, or carelessly discarded at sea. They constitute an environmental hazard in at least two different ways: floating in the sea or stationary on the seabed, ghost nets continue to trap and kill all kinds of marine creatures. Moreover, since plastic is the most common material used to manufacture fishing nets, they contribute to the volumes of macro, micro, and nano plastic in the sea and in the organs and tissues of its inhabitants. Precise figures about the extent of the issue remain elusive with estimates ranging from 640,000 to 6.4m tonnes of fishing gear ending up disowned in the sea each year. Just as elusive is a solution to the issue as retrieving ghost nets calls for a lot of effort and a large budget. Measures that made it easy to hand in old nets at ports or that registered nets to their owners would help the situation. Building small, cheap, and long-lived transmitters into the net would facilitate retrieval, other devices could scare off certain species and prevent them from being trapped, if the nets were lost, and the use of materials that biodegrade after a certain length of time would also contribute to a solution. Read more on page 46 Women make a huge and undervalued contribution to the global fisheries sector. Working in all segments of the industry, most widely in shellfish fisheries and in the processing industry, women are heavily over-represented in lower-paid and physically demanding jobs, and under-represented at the top end of the sector. This is among the reasons why women’s contribution to the sector has not received its rightful recognition. The lack of recognition in turn means they are denied basic rights, support from institutions, and the benefits that their male counterparts take for granted. Spain has Europe’s biggest fisheries sector and one for which women long have worked. In recent years efforts have started to redress the discrimination women have faced for generations. These initiatives are being launched at different levels, not least by institutions within the government, but progress, though ongoing, is slow and uneven. While legislative and social developments have certainly improved the lot of women, small and medium fisheries lag other industries in terms of offering women employment opportunities, economic participation, and decision-making powers. Read more on page 51 EUROFISH Magazine 3 / 2021

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Table of News

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13 Global Fishery Forum and Seafood Expo Russia, 6-8 July 2021, St. Petersburg Meet the Russian fishery industry in person

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14 Biomark provides advanced technology solutions for broodstock management Marrying technology with genetics to breed better fish

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16 Sustainable sources of omega-3 fats for fish feeds Plants may be part of the solution

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19 Sustainability certificates increase trust in aquaculture products The BAP seal is setting high standards internationally

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23 Containers for fish, fry, and larvae are a necessity in most aquaculture operations Tanks and basins for any situation

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Lithuania 24 A quarter century’s experience in ministries and the private sector stands Donatas Dudutis in good stead A challenging portfolio of responsibilities 26 Dwindling cod quotas and the pandemic have left their mark on Lithuania’s Baltic Sea fisheries Quota swaps offer some cod fishers relief 31 The Lithuanian Fisheries Service is deploying information technology to monitor fisheries Artificial intelligence, business intelligence systems, and blockchain

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32 Proposal before Parliament will ban fishing in some areas and severely restrict it in others Inland and coastal small-scale fisheries fight an existential threat 36 Akvapona breeds catfish and grows vegetables in an aquaponics system Fish production capacity to increase four-fold in 2021

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Credits for cover photos: Main image: Alfonsas Bargaila, Lithuanian Fisheries Producers’ Association Small image of plants: Ariel Knutson

Contents 39 Local Ocean develops its shrimp production technology with a view to licensing it Fresh tropical shrimp for upmarket consumers

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44 Multi-disciplinary team from Vilnius University wins prestigious international competition Detecting, treating, and preventing flavobacterial diseases

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42 Marine Research Institute, Klaipeda University: Optimising recirculation systems for aquaculture Farming saltwater species on land

Environment 46 Ghost nets endanger wildlife and harm the environment The invisible danger at sea

Spain 51 Recognising women’s essential, but often unacknowledged, roles in Spanish fishing and aquaculture The Spanish fishing sector in transition

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54 Proper on-board handling of fish contributes significantly to higher quality and longer shelf life Insulated containers with lids can make all the difference

Worldwide Fish News Albania

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Service 56 Fish Infonetwork News 57 Diary Dates 58 Imprint, List of Advertisers

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[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] GFCM-Lex helps Albania fish more sustainably Albania along with Turkey and Tunisia have been selected by the GFCM to pilot a project creating an online repository for fisheries and aquaculture legislation in the Mediterranean. GFCMLex, as the repository is known, is intended to harmonise national legislation at the regional level and make it accessible to policy makers, researchers, the general public, and fishers. Each of the countries selected for the pilot represents a Mediterranean subregion—the Adriatic Sea, central Mediterranean and eastern Mediterranean, respectively. The next phase of the project will involve additional countries with a view to covering all the 21 countries in the Mediterranean by 2022.

GFCM-Lex provides background information on fisheries and aquaculture and on relevant decisions adopted by the GFCM, connecting national legislation to GFCM decisions. This information is available in English, French or the national language of the country covered.

GFCM-Lex is already impacting the national legislation in participating countries. In Albania, for example, administrators have used the repository to identify gaps in their existing legislation and update it in line with GFCM recommendations. These actions are helping to protect vulnerable species and support small-scale fisheries while addressing issues such as bycatch and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Albania, Turkey, and Tunisia will create an online repository for fisheries and aquaculture legislation on the Mediterranean that will be extended to all 21 riparian countries.

Estonia: Purtse port, Estonian Public Broadcasting programme win fishing achievement awards For the second year running, the Fishing Achievement of the Year was selected under the aegis of the Fisheries Information Centre.

Awards are handed out in two categories: the people’s choice and the grand prize. Candidates for the people’s choice can be nominated by anyone, and everyone living in Estonia is eligible to vote to decide the winner. Candidates for the grand prize are nominated and the winner selected by a jury of experts, including representatives from ministries, fisheries associations and institutions of higher education. Last year the people’s choice winner was the removal of a dam on Sindi River, which opened access to new high-quality spawning areas. The grand prize last year went to the Paldiski fish meal component factory.

This year, Estonians voted for the restoration of the little Purtse

fishing port. It was a bit of a dark horse, but this victory showed that small harbours play an important social and economic role in coastal areas when it comes to preserving fishing culture and traditions.

Ports have also long ceased to be the domain of fishermen alone— they are increasingly becoming community cultural hubs. The jury’s selection for grand prize was Estonian Public Broadcasting programme Osoon. Named after the Estonian word for ozone, it is a long-running (since 1993) nature and environmental programme on Estonian television. In recent years, topics related to fishing and maritime issues have been covered frequently. In 2020, a wide range of topics were covered: microplastic as a source of marine pollution, alien species in aquatic environments, various fish species such as river lamprey, sea trout and Atlantic sturgeon. Eel migration, fish species of the Narva

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The restoration of Purtse fishing port, a small harbour on the north eastern coast of Estonia, won the public’s votes for the 2021 Fishing Achievement award

River, and youth fishing camps were also featured, among many other topics. In 2019, Osoon also covered fish farming, seaweed, and freshwater pearl mussels. It is a pleasure to see scientists discuss their work, and it is gratifying that Osoon seeks to profile a number of scientific research projects and findings for its viewers, fostering

a positive image of the field and contributing to public interest in the sector.

The Fisheries Information Centre will continue to organise competitions in the years to come because it is one way of acknowledging and highlighting those who contribute to the field.

[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] USA: Global Aquaculture Alliance changes name The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), an organisation promoting responsible and sustainable aquaculture practices, and the developer of the Best Aquaculture Practices standards, has changed its name to Global Seafood Alliance. The new name better reflects the organisation’s growing involvement with capture fisheries through the development of

the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard and the Seafood Processing Plant Standard.

The change in name follows the merger of the GAA with its sister organisation, Global Seafood Assurances (GSA) which was launched in 2018 to address assurances related to environmental responsibility, social responsibility,

food safety and animal welfare for farm-raised and wild-caught seafood. GSA works with existing standards that meet Global

Sustainable Seafood Initiative and Global Food Safety Initiative requirements but will also develop standards where none exist.

Denmark: Thawing permafrost may lead to cooler groundwater Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the US Geological Survey have discovered that rising temperatures have an unforeseen effect on small water bodies in the Arctic. As global warming melts the permafrost, frozen Arctic soil, creeks, streams, and small rivers that flow into larger lakes and coastal waters seem to be getting colder. The researchers discovered that as the permafrost thaws, groundwater runs deeper becoming cooler than when it runs at the surface, according to the University of Copenhagen’s Faculty of Science. The permafrost exists just below the grounds surface and when it is intact groundwater runoff from springs and mountains tends to flow above it, where they get warmer during the summer months. When the permafrost melts this runoff sinks

deeper into the ground, where it cools before joining bigger rivers, and streams, and lakes. The scientists placed over 60 sensors in different streams in areas both with and without permafrost. The data from the sensors showed that water in the areas without permafrost was colder than in those with permafrost. A computer model calculated that the difference in temperature was significant. In summer average temperature would be 11 degrees in areas with permafrost against 4 degrees in areas without. While the research was carried out in northwest Alaska, the researchers were confident that studies in other parts of the Arctic with similar landscapes would not give different results.

The change in temperature may also have an impact on the

Melting ice is not the only consequence of global warming in the Arctic. A melting permafrost is thought to make ground water colder too.

fish species, including salmon, grayling, and sculpin, that populate these water courses.

Fish biologists from the US Geological Survey suspect that the cooler water may limit how

large a fish grows. In addition, run off from areas of melting permafrost could contain higher levels of carbon and nutrients affecting the aquatic environment.

Turkey: Pandemic has little impact on Turkish capture production The Turkish fishing industry exported products worth over USD1bn in 2020 despite the pandemic and the one-month ban on fishing for anchovy in part of the Black Sea, reports Bursa Hakimiyet. Altogether, 830,000 tonnes

of fish were caught in the 2020-21 season including anchovy, haddock, turbot, horse mackerel, sardines, and sprat. The fisheries law was amended last year to stiffen the sanctions for illegal fishing.

Despite the higher penalties and

the over 176 thousand inspections carried out, 2020 saw a decrease in the fines imposed. Transgressions included poaching, lack of fishing licenses, and sales of illegal fish. From 15 April to 31 August fishing is prohibited in Turkish

waters, however vessels that want to fish in international waters can obtain a license from the ministry of agriculture and forestry. During the closed season fishers are expected to maintain and repair their nets and vessels.

EUROFISH .BHB[JOF

[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] Italy: FAO, IMO launch global Initiative against marine litter Litter in the ocean, particularly plastic litter, is an increasing challenge.

Millions of tonnes of plastic waste are carried by rivers into the sea. And this refers only to the large and visible plastic pollution, macroplastics.

These objects represent only a part of the problem because hidden from view deeper in the water column or on the seabed is more plastic, for example, lost or abandoned fishing gear. The challenge does not end here for tiny particles of plastic (micro- and nanoplastics) are also to be found and because they are so small they are even present in the organs and tissues of marine organisms. Acknowledging the gravity of the issue, the FAO in partnership with the International Maritime Organisation and 30 countries recently launched an initiative to clean up the world’s oceans. Funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), the GloLitter partnership will assist developing countries to identify opportunities to prevent and reduce marine litter, including plastic litter, from the maritime transport and fisheries sectors. The project aims to decrease the use of plastics in these industries and identify opportunities to recycle

GloLitter, a partnership between FAO and IMO will assist developing countries to identify opportunities to prevent and reduce marine litter, including plastic from the fisheries sector.

plastics. The project will study port reception facilities for their ability to receive and process marine litter, enhance awareness in the fishing and shipping sectors and encourage

fishing gear to be marked so it can be traced back to its owner. Partner countries will be equipped with tools by the project such as guidance documents, training materials

and strategies to help enforce existing regulations. Countries from five regions, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific, are partners in the project.

USA: Freshwater fish farming can contribute more to global food security than offshore cultivation An article in the journal nature communications questions the use of marine waters for fish farming and argues that farmed fish production on land has the greatest potential to contribute to food and nutrition security. The authors point out that offshore fish farming is technically more demanding and more expensive than near shore cultivation so that the costs can be offset only through

the cultivation of high value species of fish. These tend to be carnivorous with expensive feed requirements in contrast to herbivorous or omnivorous freshwater fish that can be fed on cheaper diets based on terrestrial crops. Breeding and growing species like carps, catfish, tilapia, is relatively cheap making the fish accessible to low and middle income consumers and to small and

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medium scale producers, while carnivorous species produced offshore require investments by major corporations. Expanding offshore fish farming would also increase demand for fishmeal and fishoil as substitutes such as algae are not yet viable and plant-based ingredients, though increasingly used in the cultivation of some species, may not be suitable for others without intensive research

and development and selective breeding programmes as has been seen in the salmon industry. Terrestrial fish farming has grown rapidly over the years making freshwater farmed fish available to millions of consumers in countries that account for the majority of global aquaculture production. This production has far greater potential to contribute to global food security than marine fish farming.

[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] Denmark: Costs of Brexit for the seafood sector lower than envisaged, new analysis shows Denmark exported EUR202m worth of seafood to the UK in 2019 or approximately 5.5 of Danish total seafood exports. Roughly half of this amount (EUR107m) could be subject to customs duties as a result of Brexit. According to the Department of Food and Resource Economics (FRE) at the University of Copenhagen, the entire Danish fishing industry and wholesale trade could lose a maximum of 2 of annual turnover because of customs duties. This suggests that the affect of Brexit on the Danish seafood sector will be less severe than originally envisaged.

Analysing the figures for the

Danish Ministry of Food Agriculture and Fisheries, researchers at FRE said that turnover could be further reduced by 0.5-2.6 due to restrictions on fishing in UK waters—until last year the source of about a third of Danish catches. Max Nielsen, associate professor at DFE, explained that mackerel and herring quotas were the only ones that were fully exploited by the Danish fleet. Quotas for other species were only partially exploited.

Reductions in these quotas because of Brexit could be compensated for by exploiting them more fully and finding other EU markets to export to. However, the shrimp trade stands to suffer

Brexit could potentially cost the Danish seafood sector up to 270 jobs, but this is unlikely as new export markets replace the UK.

as Danish exports of cold water shrimp to the UK amount to some 7,000 tonnes annually valued at EUR68m, which will now be subject to customs duties. On the other hand a range of items including canned and fresh mackerel, fresh cod, sealed packages of mussels, and fishmeal which together account for some

EUR50m in exports will not be subject to customs. Brexit could, in the worst case, cost the Danish seafood sector between 150 and 270 jobs, the analysis revealed, but this is unlikely as new markets will probably be found for the products that are no longer exported to the UK because of the customs duty, said Mr Nielsen.

Learn More at www.Biomark.com

+1 208 275 0011 | biomarkservice@merck.com

[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] Norway: Environmental and health benefits could encourage consumers to try seaweed Seaweed is consumed in many parts of the world, but particularly in Asia, where it is used as a base for soups, salads, and sushi. Seaweed is rich in minerals, vitamins, and proteins, and has little fat and few calories.

It also helps to reduce greenhouse gases by capturing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen at a higher rate than plants because it grows faster.

In short, seaweed benefits both the environment and, through its nutritional properties, to humans. Or at least to those humans who eat seaweed. The question is whether more people can be encouraged to eat seaweed. Florent Govaerts, a Ph.D student at the Norwegian research institution, Nofima, is studying Norwegians’ attitudes towards eating seaweed and kelp as part of the Nordic collaborative project called

SUREAQUA. He recently conducted a nationwide survey in which 550 Norwegians participated and found that most would be willing to try it despite knowing little about seaweed, such as its healthfulness or its positive impact on the environment. Young, educated, and environmentally conscious consumers were more interested in seaweed than older, less educated people.

The survey showed that most people already consuming seaweed were in the 18-29 age bracket. Other trends such as increasing interest in organic, healthful, plant-based, and environmentally friendly foods may also encourage interest in seaweed.

Mr Gevaerts advice to producers is therefore to highlight these aspects of seaweed when marketing and promoting their products.

Increased interest in organic, healthful, plant-based, and environmentally friendly foods should boost interest in and consumption of seaweed outside Asia.

Spain: FLAG-supported company proves a success story in Galicia The Costa da Morte (coast of death) in Galicia shares its name with a fisheries local action group (FLAG) in the area. FLAGs are local partnerships that bring together the private sector, local authorities and civil society organizations to identify needs and opportunities to create employment and new economic activity in the area. In 2017 the FLAG supported an innovative small enterprise established by Jacobo Bouzada Rodríquez, a chemical engineer from the University of Vigo. Mr Bouzada Rodríquez was interested in extracting an oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids from a species of microalgae. For the FLAG, he represented an opportunity to diversify the coastal economy which was heavily dependent on fisheries and the canning industry. With the FLAG’s support Mr Bouzada Rodríquez found a production site and through the FLAG was introduced to local fishers and shellfish gatherers

who could help him find and collect the microalgae that he would then grow in bioreactors. In cash terms the FLAG contributed with a grant of EUR200,000 which allowed the engineer to employ a couple of people and buy and equip the facilities.

Four years later the company is still functioning although the FLAG was wound up in 2019. During the four years the market became interested in a different microalgae species so, together with researchers from the University of Vigo, Mr Bouzada Rodríquez started to adapt his cultivation to the new species. Although he suffered a setback when the pandemic locked down the research work at the university, today production of the new microalgae is well under way. The company continues to look for funding for more research that will expand productivity and make the company a model of a successful business in its local area.

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Despite the closure of the FLAG that supported it, a company producing omega-3 fatty acids from microalgae has continued to function.

[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ]

Aker BioMarine has had its aquaculture feed ingredients evaluated as medium green and sustainable

by Cicero Shades of Green, an independent provider of environmental assessments. The company’s aquaculture feed ingredients, like many of its other products for the animal feed, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries, are based on krill, a tiny marine crustacean found in the Antarctic.

The report from Cicero Shades of Green states that Antarctic krill is source of sustainable aquaculture feed with a positive climate contribution potential. In addition to its sustainable use of krill, the company’s efforts to reduce its carbon

footprint, its launch of a circular economy company to recycle and reuse waste, and a clear strategy to make the krill-catching vessels more sustainable, contributed to the positive assessment. Recent investments in new and more energy-efficient vessels that emit less carbon dioxide per unit of production than the older vessels also impressed the assessor. Over the last decade the company has halved the carbon dioxide emissions per tonne of krill and aims to halve it again within the next 10 years. The krill-based ingredient is used in salmon feed which is the main source of carbon emissions of farmed salmon. The company

Oeystein Paulsen, MAR-ECO

Norway: Krill fishing company gets positive rating from sustainability assessor

Investments in more energy-efficient vessels that emit less carbon dioxide per unit of production have enabled the company to halve its carbon dioxide emissions per tonne of krill. It aims to halve them again over the next ten years.

thus contributes to a Norwegian industry wide collaboration to

reduce the carbon footprint of farmed salmon.

Closer Black Sea regional cooperation will contribute to greater resilience at the next crisis Speakers at an international conference on fisheries and aquaculture in the Black Sea and Danube regions analysed the impact of the pandemic and suggested ways to mitigate its effects and rebuild the sector.

Organised by the Balkan and Black Sea Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR BBSC) and the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS), the event was chaired

by Carmen Avram, a member of the European Parliament (MEP) and vice chairperson for the Danube and Black Sea areas of the European Parliament intergroup, Searica, an acronym for seas, rivers, islands and coastal areas. An intergroup provides MEPs with a forum to informally discuss particular issues. At the conference Ms Avram said that national and international measures to contain the spread

of covid-19 including lockdowns, the shutdown of borders, and restrictions on travel within countries had hugely challenged the sector in the region. According to an analysis by the GFCM the number of vessels operating in the region had fallen by 80 with the brunt of the decline being borne by the small-scale coastal fleet. Ms Avram pointed out that for many of the fisheries communities the impact of the pandemic came at a time when they were already in decline.

She called for a mix of strategic initiatives and immediate action to secure the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture in the region.

Deputy Head of Fisheries Management in the Mediterranean and Black Sea. Bulgaria and Romania had been allocated an additional EUR6.6m and EUR6m respectively to support their fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

Across the region there has been an increase in direct sales, home deliveries, and internet sales of fish and seafood products as

traditional retail channels, apart from the supermarkets, shut down. These have been buoyed by consumer awareness campaigns promoting local and national production. The pandemic also showed that regional cooperation needed to be strengthened and given added flexibility for a more effective response, the next time a crisis strikes.

In relation to the pandemic, the rules of the EMFF were tweaked to support Member States’ initiatives to mitigate its impact, said Barbara Focquet, European Commission EUROFISH .BHB[JOF

[ INTERNATIONAL NEWS ] Belgium: Commission promises boost to organic aquaculture At 27,000 tonnes Ireland has the largest production of organic fish and seafood in the EU by a wide margin. Italy, the next largest producer, has just over a third of the volume coming from Ireland. Altogether, eight countries in the EU have a production of organic seafood totalling over 63,000 tonnes, a number the EU would like to increase. Organic aquaculture would contribute to the European strategy for sustainable growth called the Green Deal by contributing to one of the strategy’s objectives—sustainable food production and consumption. Organic seafood is gaining in popularity among consumers, growing on average by 20 in the five years to 2019, and by almost 50 in France. To accelerate this development the EU has launched an action plan structured around

three axes: boosting consumption, increasing production, and improving sustainability even further. These goals will be accomplished through measures that promote the advantages of organic farming for the environment, that improve traceability, that prevent fraud, and that encourage local and small-scale processing. The commission will encourage the sector to use less plastic and use water and energy more efficiently by issuing guidelines to this effect.

Other commission instruments such as the strategic guidelines for EU aquaculture and the national strategic plans for fisheries and aquaculture will also promote the sustainable development of EU aquaculture with support from the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF 2021-2027).

Organic seafood popularity has grown on average by 20% in the five years to 2019, and to accelerate this development the EU has launched an action plan structured around boosting consumption, increasing production, and improving sustainability.

Denmark: Pandemic causes fall in landing values despite an increase in catches Denmark’s upheld its status as one of the biggest fishing nations in the EU in 2020. Altogether some 940,000 tonnes of fish were landed in Danish harbours

by Danish and foreign vessels, but the total landed value fell 4 to EUR416m compared to 2019, reports FiskerForum. Industry captures, the fish that go into making fishmeal and fish oil, accounted for half the landings.

Catches of these increased by almost a third compared to the year before to 360,000 tonnes.

The fall in value can be at least partly attributed to the pandemic which closed the Horeca trade across Europe, the market for the high quality, high value species like turbot, sole, and shellfish, that the Danish demersal fleet specialises in.

The impact of Brexit on catches and markets will also need to

The high quality and high value Horeca market, that the Danish demersal fleet specialises in, was hard hit by the pandemic.

be factored in as more data become available in the course of the year. The fishing sector in

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Denmark is important from a socioeconomic perspective as it employs some 12,000 people

directly and indirectly in the main Danish harbours and the communities around them.

[ EVENTS ] Global Fishery Forum and Seafood Expo Russia, 6-8 July 2021, St. Petersburg

Meet the Russian fishery industry in person The organizing committee of Russia’s only fish and seafood event Global Fishery Forum and Seafood Expo Russia expects to hold the event the traditional way with visitors and exhibitors coming to St Petersburg in July 2021. This will be the first live industryoriented event at the Expoforum Exhibition Center since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.

I

n 2021 the Global Fishery Forum and Seafood Expo Russia will expand to occupy two pavilions amounting to 26,000 sq. m. The increase in floor area will create space for two new sectors—aquaculture and highly processed products. More than 350 companies, domestic and foreign, will take part in the exhibition. And for exhibitors who cannot attend in person, the organisers have introduced combined participation. This means company personnel on site and high-speed video broadcast will enable staff back at home to be virtually present at the stand and hold online meetings.

The potential of aquaculture will be discussed in depth at the Global Fishery Forum The business program of the event will include issues of international cooperation, developments in the domestic fisheries sector, and support for the fishing industry. A very important topic will be the potential of aquaculture as one of the key drivers of the industry’s growth.

Although this sector is considered to have a lot of potential in Russia, the volumes of farmed fish lag far behind those from

capture fisheries. The event seeks to highlight the challenges the aquaculture sector faces in Russia and will contribute to its development by introducing new brands to consumers, dispelling myths about cultivated fish, and presenting advanced foreign aquaculture technologies.

At the forum, key experts and government authorities will discuss current state and perspectives of aqua- and mariculture in Russia. Speakers from China, Norway, Japan, Denmark, and other countries will share their experience about developing the industry, measures of state support, and working practices during the pandemic. After the presentations, participants will have the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion, where topics will include the problems facing fish farms and their solutions, new technologies, the pros and cons of feeds, and successful cases of particular fish farms.

open and visitors are invited to register themselves at the official website, seafoodexporussia.com.

All registered visitors can attend the exhibition and forum for free.

For more information, contact Expo Solutions Group Tel.: +7 499 9224417, +7 495 2150675 info@rusfishexpo.com www.seafoodexporussia.com

The Global Fishery Forum & Seafood Expo Russia will be another step in the recovery of the fishery industry. The main aim of the 2021 event is to demonstrate the potential of the domestic market in Russia and to show that product distribution channels are returning to normal. Registration for the event is already EUROFISH Magazine 3 / 2021

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[ AQUACULTURE ] Biomark provides advanced technology solutions for broodstock management

Marrying technology with genetics to breed better fish Broodstock management lies at the heart of successful aquaculture production. Fish that better meet market demand are produced through generations of strategic breeding. Regardless of species or location, monitoring broodstock success requires careful analysis of breeding efforts and the ability to trace offspring.

R

FID technology or PIT tag implantation is a popular solution for broodstock management. The ability to track individuals throughout their lifecycle is an effective strategy for observing the heritability of traits related to survival, growth, disease resistance, fecundity, etc. By incorporating genetic data with RFID tracking, managers can identify target genotypes associated with desirable traits, and then optimise breeding strategies to ensure the expression of those desirable traits in the hatchery population. The use of PIT tag unique identifiers is critical to separating fish with traits that foster successful stocks.

PIT tags for a variety of applications and budgets Biomark offers a suite of Passive Integrative Transponder (PIT) tags that are a reliable, longlasting (no reliance on battery power), and an effective low-profile technique for associating vast amounts of data to individual fish.

These tags provide 100 unique 1 2

3

4

Biomark’s PIT tags are a way of matching a variety of data including fish movement, growth, survival, and habitat use, with an individual fish.

identification (ICAR certification, ISO Standard 134.2 kHz tags) and are the highest performing RFID tags on the market today for use in fisheries, aquaculture and wildlife research and monitoring. Tags are available in different sizes,

performance levels and packaging options to meet a variety of application needs and budgets.

The smallest solution, the 8 mm HPT tag, has proven effective in fish as small as 45 mm in fork length, with no visible effect on

behavior and growth1, 2, 3, 4. In larger species, the 12 mm APT tag is a common solution for tracking individuals and their offspring throughout generations, starting from 60 mm in fork length. The most common use in aquaculture

Borchert, A., Davis, J. & Barnes, M. (2020). Retention of Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT) Tags in Juvenile Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout. Journal of FisheriesSciences com. 14. 7-11.

D’Arcy, J., Kelly, S., McDermott, T. et al. Assessment of PIT tag retention, growth and post-tagging survival in juvenile lumpfish, Cyclopterus lumpus. Anim Biotelemetry 8, 1 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-019-0190-6 Hirt-Chabbert, J.A., Young, O.A. Effects of surgically implanted PIT tags on growth, survival and tag retention of yellow shortfin eels Anguilla australis under laboratory conditions.

J Fish Biol. 2012 Jul;81(1):314-9. DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2012.03289.x. Epub 2012 May 15. PMID: 22747821.

Navarro, A., Oliva, V., Zamorano, M.J.,Ginés, R.,Izquierdo, M.S., Astorga, N. & Afonso, J.M. Evaluation of PIT system as a method to tag fingerlings of gilthead seabream (Sparus auratus L.): Effects on growth, mortality and tag loss, Aquaculture, Volume 257, Issues 1–4, 2006, Pages 309-315, ISSN 0044-8486, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2006.02.072.

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[ AQUACULTURE ] is for salmon, trout, sturgeon, carp, turbot, sea bass, and sea bream. Biomark offers dedicated on-site training courses to properly mark fish with PIT tags.

Scientific advancements in the mapping of genomes, along with the continued development of affordable analytics, have changed the sampling industry, making it easier and quicker for producers to use DNA for parentage verification and genetic selection. The Biomark Tissue Sampling Unit (TSU) is an easyto-use, cost-effective, high-performing system that collects a 3 mm fin/tissue notch, includes a DNA stabilisation environment (liquid buffer), and a transport medium. It is usable in all DNA laboratory settings without any restraints on existing DNA extraction protocols. Vials are marked

Fully digital data ­collection reduces the risk of errors

allows, within a single platform, a fish or a shrimp to be tagged, scanned, measured, weighed, and tissue sampled, such that all of the data are recorded in real-time and associated with the unique PIT tag ID. Relying on digital data collection prevents common transcription errors (both on PIT tag ID as well as measurement error) and provides an efficient way to import associated tagging data.

In a step towards fully digital data collection, Biomark developed the Data Collection Module (DCM) that allows for the seamless pairing of PIT tag IDs and TSU vials with any other desired data by leveraging Bluetooth® functionality on existing devices (e.g., PIT Tag readers, electronic fish measuring board, scale, bar code scanner, and label printer). DCM measuring board and software

Once data are all available digitally, standard monitoring tasks become more easily automated.

The ability to track growth, survival, and maturation can occur in real-time from progression data. Being able to associate all data and metadata to individuals and a variety of groups (e.g., family, sex, rearing conditions, etc.) enables rapid sorting for monitoring and analytics. Upon ­detection

with a unique barcode that can be read with a Biomark wireless TSU scanner, allowing for digital data association, i.e., the ability to pair a tissue sample to a PIT-tagged fish, developed to minimize sampling error and accelerate data collection.

of an existing tag, the DCM will display prior data, allowing managers to evaluate progress in real-time and/or separate fish of interest (e.g., nearing maturation, target breeders, etc.). Furthermore, these data are easily populated into a spawning matrix for state-of-the-art selection analyses.

Tags allow the e­ valuation of different variables on physical traits In production aquaculture, PIT tags are being used for performance evaluations of real-life growing scenarios. Upon harvest, phenotypic traits (growth rate, disease resistance, fillet quality, abnormalities, etc.) are documented and associated with the unique ID for analyses. These

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[ AQUACULTURE ] data can be used to evaluate the effects of an assortment of variables, such as rearing condition, feed, and genotype (family) to real-life production standards, providing feedback for broodstock advancement. Customized PIT tag antennas can be installed at the processing plants to automate the sorting of tagged and untagged fish for further data collection.

Biomark is a worldwide supplier of electronic identification and related monitoring systems to fish and wildlife conservation communities and the aquaculture industry. The company designs, manufactures, and markets novel radio

frequency identification (RFID) technology for fish and wildlife, specialising in PIT tag technology used in a broad variety of identification and monitoring solutions.

Through advanced technology, Biomark develops services that prioritise the short- and long-term health and sustainability of fish, wildlife, and aquaculture, designed to deliver quality data necessary for critical management decisions.

Biomark is an aquaculture portfolio of digital products within MSD Animal Health.

For more information, visit www. biomark.com

The tissue sampling unit can take a 3 mm fin or tissue notch and includes a liquid buffer to stabilise DNA and a transport medium.

Sustainable sources of omega-3 fats for fish feeds

Plants may be part of the solution If the global expansion in aquaculture production is to continue, more sustainable sources of the omega-3 fatty acids required for the healthy growth of fish will be required.

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mega-3 fats are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) that are essential for the normal development of the human body. The best-known kinds of omega-3 fatty acids are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ALA (alphalinolenic acid). These substances are, however, not produced by the body but need to be obtained from the diet. The importance of EPA and DHA has been confirmed by scientific studies dating back to the 1970s showing their impact on the development and health of the brain, eyes, and the cardiovascular system and there are official recommendations from national and international bodies for daily intake of omega-3 fats.

While ALA is found mainly in vegetable sources including walnuts,

Some additives to fish feed offer benefits to the fish, while other are intended to improve different properties of the feed.

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[ AQUACULTURE ] flaxseed (linseed), rapeseed and their oils, and some green leafy vegetables, EPA and DHA are found in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, and tuna.

Eating oily fish is a way of obtaining recommended amounts of EPA and DHA. Fish in turn obtain these omega-3 fatty acids from their diets. Microalgae that float in the light-flooded, near-surface layers of the oceans are the original source of omega-3 fatty acids. In the marine food chains these fatty acids accumulate successively in zooplankton and then, in wild fish.

Farmed fish, such as salmon, one of the richest sources of EPA and DHA for humans, obtain omega-3s from the fish oil component of their feed.

Genetic technologies to produce omega-3s from plants Aquaculture production has been increasing steadily over the years

and with it demand for fish oil and fishmeal, key components of fish feed. These ingredients are derived primarily from industrial fisheries, that is, catches of species not used for human consumption, but supplies of such fish cannot keep up with the demand. This constraint threatens the growth of the global aquaculture industry which uses almost three fourths of worldwide fish oil production.

Although raw material for fish oil is now also obtained from the leftovers from processing operations and bycatches from the fishing industry, these sources are not expected to relieve the situation significantly. Sensing an opportunity companies have been exploring the possibility of producing omega-3-rich microalgae on a commercial scale and extracting the omega-3 fatty acids from them. Among the advantages of this source is that it has no impact on fish stocks. Companies

are also trying other approaches.

At Aquafeed Horizons, a webinar organised by aquafeed.com in February this year, Pablo Berner from Nuseed, an Australian company, reported on an omega-3 enriched variety of canola oil.

Canola (Brassica napus) is a crop grown for its seeds that yield an edible oil. Nuseed, in collaboration with two Australian research bodies, the national science agency and the Grains Development and Research Corporation, has developed a canola that is rich in omega-3 fats using genetic breeding technologies to insert microalgae genes into canola plants. The company claims that one hectare of its omega canola provides the omega-3 fats corresponding to 10 tonnes of forage fish.

Describing three trials involving salmon in which 60, 50, and 30 of the fish oil was replaced

13 - 15 OCTOBER 2021 / AALBORG, DENMARK

WELCOME TO DANFISH INTERNATIONAL Visit one of the most important exhibitions for equipment to the fishing industry. DanFish International takes place on 13-15 October.

VENUE Aalborg Kongres & Kultur Center Europa Plads 4, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark

Read more and book tickets now. www.danfish.com

OPENING HOURS 13 October 10 am – 5 pm 14 October 10 am – 5 pm 15 October 10 am – 4 pm

with the Nuseed product, Mr Berner showed how the production parameters, growth, specific feed rate, and feed conversion ratios all improved. He attributed this to the product’s omega-3 profile which increased the total proportion of omega-3s in the diet thereby increasing fish health and welfare. It also led to increased total omega-3s in the salmon fillet thus potentially benefiting consumers too. Another positive change was the decline in mortality which was even more pronounced when the fish were subjected to a sanitary challenge.

Including the product In feed formulations improved omega 6 to omega-3 ratios with a reduction in the use of fish oil. The fish farming industry is striving to further reduce its dependence on wild fish for feed, both in response to consumer demand, and to ensure the future of the sector itself. Plant proteins, products from meat

Olivier Decamp

[ AQUACULTURE ]

Probiotics, live microorganisms, feed on prebiotics to give postbiotics, metabolites that promote the health and wellbeing of the animal.

rendering plants, insects, microand macroalgae, bacteria, and fungi are all being considered for their potential as ingredients for fish feed and many of them are already being deployed. Mr Berner’s figures showed a decline in the fish in fish out (FIFO) ratio, a measure of how much wild fish is needed to produce a unit of farmed fish, when using the Nuseed product, thereby contributing to the sustainability of the aquaculture sector.

Probiotics+prebiotics= postbiotics Omega-3 fatty acids in fish feed contribute to the health and well being of the fish. Probiotics play a similar role. The intestines of higher organisms including fish and shrimp harbour billions of microbes that have a symbiotic relation with the host. In exchange for the nutrients they derive from the host’s gut, they help the host

make more efficient use of some nutritious elements and assist in the defence against pathogens.

In humans, these microorganisms, which include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses, help digest food, produce vitamins, and regulate the immune system.

The microorganisms while generally beneficial also include some pathogenic types. Maintaining the balance between the two kinds is key to the health of the individual.

Products promoting gut health include pre and probiotics which are widely used in the aquaculture industry. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that are introduced to colonise the gut while a prebiotic is a food ingredient intended to stimulate the growth and activity of the microbial population in the intestines. At the Aquafeed Horizons webinar Derek Petry from Diamond V, a US-based manufacturer of feed additives for livestock, spoke about the company’s postbiotic for fish and shrimp.

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The interaction between the probiotics and the prebiotics results in postbiotics, metabolites that contribute to the health and well being of the animal. These can also be created exogenously, that is outside the body of the animal, in a manufacturing facility and then fed to the animal. Postbiotics may have some advantages over pre and probiotics. The latter must go through the harsh environment of the stomach before they can reach the intestines that they colonise. This passage may also be interrupted by medicines being administered to the animal, or stress. In addition, as the pre and postbiotics are vulnerable to different factors it can also result in variations in the postbiotics.

Diamond V creates a consistent and high quality metabolite. Different analyses test for consistency which is also measured by rigorously testing product composition and comparing it against a

library of products. Performance testing confirms the expected performance. The product works by interacting with the animal’s innate immune system conferring a strong innate immunity and also by its impact on the adaptive immune system promoting rapid response and recovery, gut integrity, and digestive health. The product encourages the immune system to react to a threat quickly and at the appropriate level and then return to its usual state. Mr Petry stated that studies over the last decade, many of them published, show that average survival rates using the product are almost 12 percentage points higher than the controls and when the animals are challenged this increases to 27 points. The increase in survival rates was accompanied by a 5.3 increase in the growth rate and a decrease in the feed conversion ratio of 1.6. Similar results were obtained from a study carried out at the Kasetsart University in Bangkok.

The largest commercial fishing exhibition in the north The Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition covers every aspect of the commercial fishing industry from locating, catching, processing and packaging, right through to the marketing and distribution of the end product

Official Logistics Company:

Official Icelandic Publication:

Organiser:

Official International Magazine:

WORLDFISHING & AQUACULTURE INFORMING THE GLOBAL FISHING INDUSTRY SINCE 1952

Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition 2021 Much more than just an exhibition, REGISTER NOW! With more than a year of pandemic restrictions this September’s Icefish will provide exhibitors and visitors with the long overdue facility for multiple face to face business meetings in one place. European and Global Vaccination programmes are progressing well and planned Covid Passports relaxing travel from the summer.

With many new exhibitors, a wealth of new products and technologies to see, conferences, awards and a Matchmaking networking event, 2021 Icefish is a must attend event for anybody involved in the commercial fishing supply chain!

THE EVENT Since its inception in 1984, the Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition has become one of the world’s leading fishing events and anyone needing to keep up with the latest technology and developments should attend. Held once every three years, the 2021 event will be the biggest to date and will include many new Icelandic and international exhibitors taking up over 13,000m2 of inside and outside exhibition space. Around 500 companies are expected to showcase the latest developments in the commercial fishing industry and include National Pavilions from Norway, the Faroe Islands, Denmark and Spain.

KEY LOCATION Iceland is heavily dependent on Fishing with 41% of the country’s export coming from Fish or Fish related products and 10,000+ people directly employed in the sector.

Skippers and owners of 1,628 registered vessels continue to modernise their fleet providing the perfect business platform for the every 3 year Icefish.

INDUSTRY VARIETY The sector continues the move into sophisticated processing of seafood, value added, aquaculture and commercialisation of by-products, which will have its own dedicated area in this year’s show.

NETWORKING The last exhibition, held in 2017, saw a 41% increase in overseas exhibitors and a business focused attendance of 13,621 from 52 countries, The successful match making meetings will again be offered at this year’s show.

NEW FOR 2021: In addition to this Icefish are now working on a virtual exhibition and community platform, which will give exhibitors & visitors in September a reach, far beyond the face to face experience in the exhibition halls over the 3 show days.

4th CONFERENCE The 4th edition of Fish Waste for Profit will now take place in 2021 alongside the IceFish Exhibition from 16-17 September 2021.

The reutilisation of fish processing by-products is a lucrative add-on to regular fish processing, serving the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries.

Estimates reveal that 43% of fish and shellfish resources end up as wastage, which represents a significant amount of potential profit that could be generated from otherwise discarded material.

This is a must attend event for those looking to discover new innovations and industry insights, and to develop relations with key industry stakeholders.

For further information and a list of exhibitors visit: www.icefish.is < ICEFISH PRE-REGISTRATION > Alternatively, BEAT THE QUEUES and visit www.Icefish.is to pre-register online with your unique code code IFE21 to gain faster entry into the exhibition

OPENING HOURS: 10:00-18:00 Wednesday, 15 September and Thursday, 16 September 10:00-17:00 Friday, 17 September

ORGANISERS The Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition and Awards are organised by Mercator Media Ltd who also publish World Fishing and Aquaculture magazine.

For further information on the Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition or the Icelandic Fisheries Awards contact Marianne Rasmussen-Coulling tel: +44 (0) 1329 825335 email: mrasmussen@mercatormedia.com • www.Icefish.is

[ AQUACULTURE ] Sustainability certificates increase trust in aquaculture products

The BAP seal is setting high standards internationally In many European countries it is currently a somewhat rare find. In other regions of the world, however, the blue and white Best Aquaculture Practices logo with its three stylised fish is much more widespread and is recognised as a symbol of socially responsible, sustainable and environmentally friendly fish and seafood products. What does the BAP seal stand for, has it earned the trust of consumers and should we be paying more attention to it?

Sustainability certificates are also gaining in importance in Asian aquaculture operations and are often even a mandatory requirement for a successful export business.

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ore and more consumers are paying attention not just to quality, taste and price when they buy food, but also to whether it comes from sustainable sources and was cultivated in an environmentally friendly way. Conservation of resources, prevention of damage to

the environment and sustainability have become important criteria for responsible purchasing decisions.

Many fish and seafood products are also being measured against these requirements. They are often rejected because, allegedly, they are not cultivated with regard for animal welfare and they damage

the ecosystem. To overcome these concerns, aquaculture producers and fish processors can voluntarily have their operations certified according to rigorous standards. Certificates such as these usually have two aims. First, during the certification process the production culture of the operation with regard to food

safety, environmental management, animal welfare, employment and social conditions is raised to a significantly higher level. And second, the company can convincingly demonstrate to its customers with the sustainability certificate that it takes their concerns and fears seriously and is addressing them.

EUROFISH .BHB[JOF

[ AQUACULTURE ] Certificates are therefore also winning sales incentives that expand the customer base and create trust. Visible signs of successful certification are mostly in the form of conspicuous logos or seals on the products that signal to the customer that the relevant item was produced in an ethical and environmentally friendly way. Everyone will be familiar with these colourful markers on fish products in stores. However, not many will know where to start with them and know exactly what standards they represent. Because the variety of seals confuses consumers more than it enlightens them, some retail chains are focusing on just one of the logos in their range. In European countries, the turquoisecoloured logo of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is the most popular, while the blue and white Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) seal is less frequently seen.

Both certificates claim to represent the world’s leading standard for aquaculture, although their contents and standards are very similar, and in parts even identical. The reasons for preferring one or the other seal have less to do with their qualities in terms of their content than with trade politics decisions.

Essentially, both the ASC and the BAP standard mean the following: • Compliance with all applicable national laws and local regulations • Conservation of the natural environment, local biodiversity and the ecosystem • Protection of the health and genetic integrity of wild populations • More efficient and responsible use of resources • Environmentally responsible treatment of diseases and parasites • Development and operation of aquaculture companies in a socially responsible way

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Aquaculture should be a good neighbour and a conscientious member of society

The added value of the certificates is customer trust Interest in the certificates is growing. In 2019 alone, the number of companies certified by BAP rose by 15. At the end of the year, almost 2,700 hatcheries, aquaculture farms, feed manufacturers and processing operations in 36 countries worldwide were certified according to BAP standards. This means that over 300,000 employees are working under conditions qualifying as humane treatment, with fair pay. The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), an international non-profit organisation that describes itself as the “voice and representative of the aquaculture industry” is behind the GAP standard. With its GAP programme, the GAA is attempting to drive forward the development of responsible and sustainable aquaculture production that is oriented towards the needs of local communities and at the same time produces healthy and safe food.

The BAP standards were developed by expert committees, where representatives from science, the aquaculture industry and interested environmental organisations worked together. The idea for the certification standards dates back some 20 years and it was first targeted at shrimp aquaculture, which was increasingly criticised at the time due to the environmental problems associated with it. The BAP programme has continually expanded since then and today science-based certification standards are available for all sectors of aquaculture, from fish to crustaceans to molluscs.

The GAA offers certificates for fish, crustacean and mollusc farming, hatcheries, nurseries, feed mills

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BAP and ASC are important purchasing incentives, because they signal to consumers that the fish product has been cultivated in an ethical and environmentally friendly way that protects animal welfare.

and slaughtering, packaging and processing operations.

Because the certifications offered cover entire aquaculture production chains and take into account many aspects of environmental protection and animal welfare, social responsibility and food safety, they are described by the GAA as “responsible, comprehensive and trustworthy”. This message is understood and recognised worldwide, since the BAP seal can already be found around the globe in more than 150 wellknown retail and food service companies. It has its critics too, of course, primarily environmental and animal welfare organisations for which individual standards do not go far enough or are too lax. An example of this is a study funded by the Pew Environmental Group and carried out by the University of Victoria. In its response to the criticism contained in the study, however, the GAA claimed that the BAP standards were only evaluated with regard to their possible impacts on the environment, and aspects such as social responsibility, animal welfare and traceability were not considered at all, which completely failed to do justice to the complexity of the standards. It also claimed that some assessments were unfair because the authors of the study used their own idea of what should the sole

measure of value for acceptance of the standards be. One example of criticism was that the use of antibiotics is not explicitly prohibited in the BAP standards for salmon (“Standard sets no limit”).

However, the standards only allow for the use of antibiotics following a confirmed diagnosis of a disease by a veterinarian, which is completely justified from an animal welfare perspective.

The David Suzuki Foundation and the Living Oceans Society criticised the BAP standards for salmon cultivation operations as being too weak to support a claim of ecological or social responsibility or the sustainable cultivation of salmon.

They could be met by most salmon farms without major operational changes. In its response, the GAA emphasised it was not the goal of its programme to set the standard so high that it was only attainable for a few operations in the sector. Rather, it stated that the BAP programme was much more focused on continually improving the salmon industry as a whole through realistic and practical standards.

GAP standards take into account all aspects of aquaculture The elementary foundations of the BAP standards for aquaculture include preservation of the

[ AQUACULTURE ]

As part of the certification process, the production culture of many aquafarms and operations is improved to a significantly higher level.

environment and social responsibility, animal welfare aspects, food safety and traceability. The entire production chain from hatcheries to farms (ongrowing) to feed manufacturers, processing operations and feed mills is certifiable.

The scope of the certification programme can be identified by its star rating. This star system shows how many levels of a supply chain are being taken into consideration.

It goes from one star (processor) to two stars (processor and farm) to three stars (processor, farm and hatchery) and up to four stars (processor, farm, hatchery and feed mill). Thus, a four-star certification confirms that the entire supply chain meets the BAP standards.

When certifying aquaculture operations, the GAA works closely with national and local supervisory authorities, research institutes and environmental organisations in supporting the GAA

standards to find the greatest possible backing and support for the initiatives. As a rule, the sooner all participants are brought on board and the more they are integrated into the project, the more they engage with the certification process. The GAP standards offer very convincing advantages. For example, they contribute to the diversification of the local economy and community life. They support the creation of secure jobs (the BAP standards also contain specific provisions on protecting employment rights), promote the development of local infrastructure and prevent ecological damage to flora, fauna and the environment.

Certification audits are carried out by third parties The Aquaculture Certification Council is responsible for BAP certifications. As an independent

certification body, it employs an international team of accredited auditors. The auditors investigate the conformity of the aquaculture operations and facilities with the BAP standards on site, carry out tests if necessary and inspect operating records. Having the operational audits carried out by independent experts ensures the greatest possible fairness and guarantees that the efforts of the operations to achieve successful certification are appropriately considered and commended.

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The following key elements are primarily examined during BAP certification audits: 1. Environment of the aquaculture operations • Sediment and water quality • Economic use of fish meal and fish oil • Measures for preventing and controlling escapes • Use of genetically modified organisms (GMO)

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Interactions between farmed and wild animals Storage and disposal of animal losses Social responsibility Property rights and compliance with legal provisions Relationships and conflicts with local communities Occupational safety and employee relationships Animal welfare Animal health and wellbeing Biosafety and disease management Food safety Control of residues and pollutants Harvesting (fishing dry) and transport methods Compliance with operational HAACP concept Product traceability

The BAP standards are therefore not rigid and set in stone, but are instead regularly monitored,

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[ AQUACULTURE ] further developed and adjusted to developments using an open and transparent process. The Standards Oversight Committee (SOC), where representatives from all interest groups involved work together (environmental groups, science and industry each make up one third of the committee), is responsible for these updates. Drafts of new standards are made available to the public for comments for 60 days. If necessary and reasonable, these comments are incorporated into the final draft, which must be finally approved by the SOC and GAA Administrative Board.

Improvements and updates to the standards are possible at any time The BAP certifications are therefore both science-based and flexible, offering both certified companies and consumers a high level of security and reliability. For processing companies, the BAP Seafood Processing Plant Standard has the additional advantage of also complying with the requirements of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). If they are successfully certified as part of the BAP programme, companies can also achieve GFSI conformity through a single auditing process.

BAP certification standards are also recognised by the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI).

Important stakeholders such as seafood companies, NGOs, experts, institutions and intergovernmental organisations have joined together for this global benchmarking initiative. The GSSI’s Global Benchmark Tool is based on international FAO reference documents. It assesses the credibility of certification systems and, if necessary, initiates further improvements to strengthen trust in these labels, logos and seals. In addition to BAP and ASC, there are already three certification programmes for wild fisheries that have been recognised by

The idea for BAP certification standards dates back some 20 years and was first targeted at shrimp aquaculture, which was increasingly criticised at the time.

the GSSI: the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Alaska Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) and Island Responsible Fisheries Management (IRFM) certification programmes.

Just as the auditors assess and evaluate companies during the course of certification, the BAP programme or the standards it contains are assessed by others. For example, the Amsterdam Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), which works on the sustainable development of specialist expertise, training and intercultural cooperation, has investigated how BAP certification actually affects social and labour standards in aquaculture farms and processing operations. It recently confirmed that the certification process has had positive effects on the protection of fundamental rights, the elimination of forced and child labour and human trafficking, and that it increased equality of opportunities.

A certificate cannot fix or eliminate all undesirable social phenomena in specific regions of the world, but it contributes to improving occupational safety and the protection of employee health, ensuring fair

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pay or a minimum wage or raising standards of living, hygiene and nutrition.

Binding sustainability standards have also led to improvements in other areas. A few years ago, for example, the US Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) was adopted as a standard for soy cultivation for feed mills in the BAP programme. This was a very important step, because soy is increasing in importance as an alternative source of protein in feed mills for aquaculture. However, using soy instead of fish meal is only accepted in many markets if it is sustainably cultivated. With the independent SSAP certificate, which is monitored by third parties, soybean growers in the USA can now prove the sustainability of their operations at a national level. GAP certification is thus making an important contribution towards more sustainable aquaculture in this area, serving to defuse the occasional criticism of the use of soy in aquaculture feeds.

However, certification alone is not everything, as certified operations must also continue to comply with the requirements and standards

in the long term. In 2016, an article in SeafoodSource magazine reported on evidence of antibiotics in imported prawns, including products from four BAP-certified exporters. In this case, the infringements were detected by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but the GAA also carries out its own controls to check for antibiotic residues in products. BAPcertified processing operations are usually tested every 3–6 months.

If a company violates the certification standards, it is contacted immediately and must promptly introduce corrective measures. At the same time, significantly more unannounced tests are carried out on site to verify compliance with the regulations. Any company that does not respond is suspended or loses its certificate.

This means that fish and seafood products with the blue and white seal are a safe and trustworthy choice for consumers. They can be sure that the products come from sustainable aquaculture and that the fish have been cultivated according to the highest standards available. mk

[ AQUACULTURE ] Containers for fish, fry, and larvae are a necessity in most aquaculture operations

Tanks and basins for any situation Fish tanks are part and parcel of most aquaculture operation. Even on farms growing fish in earthen ponds, tanks are used in hatcheries, while they are a fundamental unit of recirculation aquaculture systems.

A basin made of fibre glass reinforced polyester is supplied with feet, drain outlet, and a pipe for to connect to a water supply. They are also available in different capacities.

T

anks perform a variety of functions on a fish farm and as a result come in different shapes and sizes. FIAP, a company based in Ursensollen in Bavaria, Germany that specialises in aquaculture equipment, offers fish tanks and basins in configurations that can meet any requirements fish farmers might have.

Profifish circular holding tanks can be placed on or recessed in the ground and have a 0.6 mm thick wall made of galvanised steel. The inside of the tank is lined with a 0.8 mm thick, black PVC foil and the handrail and bottom rail are made of tough, durable plastic and give the tank additional stability. These tanks are available in four different sizes from 2,600 litres to 10,600 litres.

They can be deployed quickly

and easily and have the option of a floor drain. This requires the tanks to be placed on a suitable structure to elevate them or, if being recessed in the ground, the drainage line has to be dug under the tank.

Tough and light, fibre glass is a versatile material The Profifish rectangular tanks, on the other hand, are made of high quality, laminated glass fibre reinforced polyester with smooth inner walls to facilitate cleaning. The tanks are designed for convenience while handling and have a long service life even under the toughest conditions.

They come equipped with a base grid, a swivel outlet for the water and a pipe to connect to a water

supply. The tanks come in five sizes from 1,100 to 3,000 litres. A smaller variant of this tank is sold as the Profibreed unit. This has a volume of 890 litres and like the Profifish series of rectangular tanks has a smooth inner surface and tapering sides to prevent injuries to the fry, improve the flow of water in the tank, and facilitate cleaning and disinfection. This focus on hygiene is to provide the fry and fish the best possible conditions for growth.

All the glass fibre reinforced polyester tanks include a floor drain and a drain grate and have very strong laminated feet that elevate the tank and create the space beneath for the water and drainage connections.

In addition to the rectangular tanks the company also has a

series of circular tanks. These too are made of high quality, laminated glass fibre reinforced polyester with smooth inner walls and come with robust feet (four per tank), a base grid, swivel outlet, and a pipe for inlet water.

The circular tanks are available in five sizes from 1,100 to 5,400 litres.

The wide range of tanks and basins can meet the requirement of any aquaculture operation, whether large or small, and irrespective of the species being cultivated. If in doubt, contact: FIAP GmbH Jakob - Oswald - Strasse 16 92289 Ursensollen Tel: +49 9628 9213-0 info@fiap.de www.fiap.de

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LITHUANIA

A quarter century’s experience in ministries and the private sector stands Donatas Dudutis in good stead

A challenging portfolio of responsibilities As Vice-Minister responsible for fisheries in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Dudutis has plenty on his plate. The impact of the pandemic on the sector, the new operational programme for 2021–2027, the ban on cod fishing, and declining quotas for some pelagic species are just a few of the issues he must contend with. If that were not enough, he also needs to persuade the Lithuanian Parliament of the importance of maintaining the small-scale coastal and inland fishing sector, which is under threat from a proposal that could effectively forbid it.

Last year marked the global spread of the coronavirus and unprecedented lockdowns around the world. Globally traded food commodities, such as fish and seafood, and their supply chains have been particularly affected. What impact has the pandemic had on the fishing and processing sector in Lithuania? Was a compensation scheme implemented for the sector and what were the measures it included?

Yes, with the onset of the pandemic crisis the fishing, processing and aquaculture sectors reported a sharp drop in demand.

Due to the closure of marketplaces, retail outlets and other distribution channels, prices and sales volumes decreased. Decisions on support for the sector were taken mid-2020 when the actual impact could only be estimated. We can now see statistics that show declines in all sub-sectors of the fisheries sector.

Fishery: Long-distance fishing activities were not significantly affected by Covid-19, catches did not decrease, revenues were stable, and this segment of the sector was profitable in 2020.

The sector reported that it had encountered logistical problems 24

(crew transportation, restrictions imposed by ports of landing, problems with product sales, etc.) but had adapted to the difficulties caused by the pandemic.

Volumes of fish caught and sold by fishermen on the Baltic Sea coast in 2020 decreased by 23% compared to 2019, the lowest since 2011. In the open Baltic Sea fishery, the fall was 24%, the lowest since 2014. This segment has been severely affected by the ban on cod fishing and declining quotas for other commercial species. Over EUR100,000 was paid to 17 fishing companies in support. Applications are also being collected this year for the temporary cessation of fishing activities in 2020, which are still being assessed, but the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) regulation requires vessels to have fished for at least 120 days in the two years prior to the year of the application to qualify for support. This was unworkable for the vast majority of our fishing vessels. So, only about 15% of all fishing companies applied for and received support.

Aquaculture: To find out the impact of the pandemic on aquaculture, we conducted a survey at the beginning of this year, interviewing all Lithuanian

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Donatas Dudutis, Vice-Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Lithuania

aquaculture associations and a few individual companies. In 2020 a 10% decrease in the value of sales has been noticed, though the volume of production remained the same. The impact on aquaculture production sales depended on the sector segment – large pond and RAS aquaculture producers with long-term sales contracts with retailers had a secure market and sales volumes were not or only minimally affected by the pandemic restrictions. Companies with small ponds or RAS depend on consumers to buy

products directly from them, on markets or similar outlets, so they were severely affected by the lockdown. In all segments, there was a surplus of manufactured products. With declining demand for aquaculture products and strong supply, production prices fell.

According to preliminary data, in 2020 compared to 2019, the average price of commercial aquaculture products for consumption decreased by about 8%. Support from the EMFF amounting to over EUR1m was paid to 37 aquaculture enterprises.

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Processing: The processing sector has been growing for a decade both in volume and value. In 2020, the 83 enterprises processed 138 thousand tonnes with a value of EUR623m. Over 95 percent of raw materials are imported. In 2020, the volume and value of production shrank by about 10 percent and equalled the 2016 results. Support for this sector is coordinated by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation. This sector is important for Lithuania economically and in terms of employment, so it is necessary to support the growth prospects of this sector, following the impact of the pandemic.

Lithuanian fishing vessels are quite old, the majority being over 26 years, according to Statistics Lithuania. Are there possibilities to get support to modernise the fleet to make them more fuel efficient and safer for the crews?

What are Lithuanian policymakers’ thoughts on this and is there understanding and support for the industry’s needs?

Balancing the fleet was one of the most important tasks facing both the previous political management and us. As in many EU countries, the long-distance fleet is profitable, balanced and successfully modernized through the EMFF and companies’ own resources. The balancing processes of the open Baltic Sea and the small-scale coastal fleet have been drastically affected by the ban on cod and the steadily declining quotas for other commercial fish species in the Baltic Sea, and we are now at a crossroad to find solutions that benefit fishermen and keep the fleet modern, more efficient, and safer.

Regulations on the ban on discards and the obligation to land all catches have been in force across the EU since 2019. What

has been the impact on the Lithuanian fleet? How is compliance with these regulations monitored and has it led, as envisaged, to fewer discards? What has been the reaction from the fishing sector? And what happens to fish that is landed but that cannot be sold on consumer markets (e. g. undersized specimens)?

The discard ban and the landing obligation have slightly reduced the share of the fleet that fished only with bottom trawls. Trawlers which were using bottom trawls have started fishing exclusively with pelagic trawls. This is closely linked to the targeted ban on cod fishing that has entered into force. This has led to a significant reduction in unwanted by-catches. Cod bycatch in 2019 amounted to about 14.5 t, and in 2020 – just over 1 t.

Coastal fishing companies were not significantly affected (in terms of number of vessels) because most companies started using more selective gear, for example, fixed traps. In this way, unwanted by-catches were reduced—less cod is caught in traps. From the end of 2020 banning cod nets on the coast has further reduced cod by-catches. Fishermen have been quite successful in adapting to the discard ban, finding ways to largely avoid unwanted by-catches. If despite their efforts any fish is landed as by-catch it is sold for non-human food use i.e., for fishmeal or animal feed.

The Fisheries Service under the Ministry of Agriculture controls the sector to ensure the fulfilment of these obligations. Inspections are carried out both at sea and on shore, and other measures are also in place. For instance, a vessel inspected at sea must have the same data during the onshore inspection. Inspections are recorded with video recorders

and sample composition analyses are performed to determine species composition. Fishing logbooks are checked and crosschecked through the Fisheries Data Information System.

What lies behind the proposal to stop the small-scale commercial fishery in the Curonian lagoon and in Baltic Sea coastal areas? How many fishers will it affect, and what will become of them and the communities they inhabit and serve?

I think it is too early to talk about the ban: so far only a draft law has been submitted to the Seimas (Parliament of Lithuania), which should go through all legislative procedures. Of course, during the deliberations, we will make our comments and suggestions to find a balance without prohibiting commercial fishing. With regard to possible restrictions on the Baltic Sea and its coastline, it must be borne in mind that the European Union has exclusive competence in this area and that any measures must be based on scientific advice regarding the state of fish stocks.

Perhaps these are not large numbers – if we look at the number of companies that fish in the Curonian Lagoon and the coast – but the proposed bans would severely affect the Curonian Lagoon and coastal communities. The situation is ambiguous also because 2022 is the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture as announced by FAO to promote global recognition of this sector and its uniqueness. We need to prove the necessity of the survival of this business in Lithuania.

Aquaculture production in Lithuania has stayed fairly stable in the five years to 2019, according to FAO statistics, and production is dominated by common carp.

What do you consider are the

main challenges facing the sector and how does the administration intend to address them?

In Lithuania, the largest production volumes are grown in traditional carp pond farms, but modern RAS systems are gaining ground, both for fry growth and commercial production. African catfish, rainbow trout and other salmonids, eels, Siberian and Russian sturgeons and their hybrids, and pike are being grown in these systems. There are several startups in Lithuania who have started growing shrimps in RAS and are planning to increase the volume of production. However, the consumption of fish is determined primarily by habits. Consumers must get used to new species and products. Lithuania is a small country and the domestic consumer market is not large. Consumer surveys (both in the EU and in Lithuania) show that there are three main determinants of demand and consumption: quality, variety, and price. The price of fish is higher than the price of other animal proteins. However, technology and EMFF support for this sector can contribute to reducing costs, ensuring quality, and diversifying the range of aquaculture products.

As consumer awareness increases, appreciation for more sustainable and high-quality products grows, so greater value addition will also contribute to diversifying supply and increasing the consumption of local products. We expect a significant increase in production from RAS until 2023, when the projects currently being implemented with the support of the EU will be completed and production will start. And by 2030, it is likely that aquaculture production in Lithuania will double, with the highest growth expected from RAS. There is a new political team in place at the Ministry of

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Agriculture. In the fisheries and aquaculture sector what are the priorities of the new dispensation and how will the industry be affected by this change? What are the highlights of the new operational programme and how do they differ from the old one?

The approved programme of the government pays special attention to the sustainable development of aquaculture production. It is also expected to make a significant

contribution to achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal. However, it is important to mention that all Lithuanian fisheries sectors – fishing, aquaculture, processing are different and face various natural, geographical, economic, and social situations and challenges. The preparation and implementation of the Operational Programme for the Fisheries Sector for 2021–2027 aims to respond to these challenges, by developing synergies at the Baltic Sea Basin

level, and focusing on actions that can be supported by the EMFAF. The programme also builds on the new Farm-to-Fork strategy for a fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly food system and on the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which aims to make biodiversity an integral part of the EU‘s overall economic growth strategy. Fishermen and aquaculture producers have an important role to play in the transition to a fairer and more sustainable food system. The implementation

of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the EMFAF will contribute to these efforts, while contributing to the socio-economic goals of fishermen (and their families) and aquaculture producers. The program aims to create flexible support systems to help move from a wide range of very specific small measures to more thorough action plans that can be used flexibly as circumstances change. This will be the main difference of the new programme.

Dwindling cod quotas and the pandemic have left their mark on Lithuania’s Baltic Sea fisheries

Quota swaps offer some cod fishers relief Lithuanian catches in the Baltic Sea amounted to almost 17,000 tonnes in 2020, the lowest since 2013 and a 17% drop compared to the average of the last five years. The decline is largely due to lower cod and sprat catches. Some four fifths of the catches are taken by the large-scale fleet operating in the open Baltic, the remainder by the small-scale coastal vessels.

T

he Baltic Sea provides about a fifth of Lithuania’s total catches of fish and seafood. The high seas and inland waters account for the remainder.

The Baltic Sea fleet comprises the small-scale coastal fleet and the large-scale open water fleet which together consisted of just over 130 vessels in 2020, a number that has stayed largely stable since 2016. Small scale vessels account for three fourths of the Baltic Sea fleet in terms of numbers. According to the latest Annual Economic Report on the EU fishing fleet (STECF 20-06), the small-scale coastal segment is further divided into vessels under 10 m fishing with passive gears and vessels in the 10-12 m bracket operating in the coastal area. Currently there is no strict definition for the coastal fishery, other than that it in the 26

Lithuanian fishers in coastal waters target a variety of species including round goby, herring, smelt, flounder, vimba, pike-perch, and garfish.

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Lithuania's Baltic Sea quotas, tonnes ICES zones Cod:

2020

2021

2,613

2016

2,477

2017

1,834

2018

1,612

2019

52

130

Western

22-24

298

17

0

31

8

97

Eastern

25-32

2,315

2,460

1,834

1,581

44

33

Herring

25-29, 32

5,182

6,469

6,933

6,495

5,632

2,848

Sprat

22-32

10,125

12,965

16,678

16,441

11,157

11,158

Atlantic salmon

22-31

1,486

1,649

566

550

521

1,464

19,406

24,388

27,279

26,160

16,893

14,266

Total

Lithuanian catches in the Baltic Sea, tonnes Cod Herring Sprat Flounder Total

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

1,669

1,729

775

125

11

5,199

4,036

6,676

6,083

5,577

11,548

12,480

16,499

16,228

11,140

303

258

365

69

77

18,719

18,503

24,315

22,505

16,805

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Lithuania

coastal area and covers boats not exceeding 12 m.

The large-scale open Baltic Sea fleet comprises vessels above 18 m. These are mainly either pelagic or demersal trawlers. The main species targeted by this fleet are the pelagic stocks of sprat and herring, as well as cod and salmon.

However, the total allowable catch (TAC) of cod in the Baltic Sea has plummeted over the last years as it has become increasingly apparent that the two cod stocks, the eastern Baltic cod and the western Baltic cod, are under serious threat. Several factors seem to be affecting the stocks including a rise in water temperatures brought on by global warming, the increasing abundance of grey seals, which affect cod directly by preying on them but, more insidiously, also harbour a parasite that attacks cod livers. In addition, the oxygen content of the water has been declining partly due to the inflow of nutrients present in

agricultural and municipal runoff, but also because of a lack of fresh inflows from the North Sea. While the flow of nutrients from agriculture and municipalities has been declining over the years it has not so far had an impact on oxygen levels as measured at the seabed.

Even stringent protection measures cannot guarantee the future of Baltic cod stocks The lack of oxygen in turn has an impact on a species of crustacean that cod feed on depriving the fish of a source of nutrition. The distribution of sprat, another species that cod feed on, has also changed so there is less overlap between the two and thus less feed for the cod.

This combination of factors has led, since the 90s, to a marked change in the eastern Baltic stock of cod. Individuals are stunted, skinnier, and are maturing at a

smaller size so that the volume of eggs the females produce has also declined. Fewer eggs mean fewer fish in the next generation. Scientists estimate that the stock is unlikely to recover in the near future even if is not fished at all. Policy-makers’ options are limited. Natural phenomena are difficult to regulate, so measure have been put in place to reduce the pressure on stocks from fishing. Spatial and temporal closures, the use of selective gear, bans on the targeted fishing of cod, and changes to the minimum landing size are in force. On 28 April 2021, the Lithuanian Ministry of Agriculture reminded fishers of the ban on fishing with any type of gear in subdivisions 25 and 26 (the eastern Baltic Sea) between 1 May and 31 August to protect spawning cod. In 2021, a cod bycatch quota of 94 tonnes in the western Baltic and 33 tonnes in the eastern is all that is available to Lithuanian fishers.

Some cod fishers manage by swapping quotas Alfonsas Bargaila is the chairman of the Lithuanian Fisheries Producers’ Association which represents companies in both the coastal and the open Baltic Sea segment.

He agrees that balancing fishing capacity with fishing opportunities would contribute to restoring fish stocks in the Baltic. With the ban on cod fishing, the available quotas for herring and sprat can be caught in a couple of months and vessels have to stay in port for the rest of the year.

As a result, he expects vessels to be withdrawn from the fleet in 2021. So far, however, the decline in quotas since 2018 has had no impact on the number of vessels in the Lithuanian fleet, which has remains unchanged since 2016. Demersal fishers denied cod-fishing opportunities have switched to targeting pelagics instead, although quotas for sprat (-33%) and herring (-59%) have fallen over the four years to 2021. Alenas Bulauskis, head of the Fisheries Compliance and Enforcement Division, Fisheries Service under the Ministry of Agriculture, points out that Lithuanian fisheries have been managed with individually transferable quotas (ITQ) since 2014. This allows fishers to buy or swap quotas when they need to.

Alfonsas Bargaila, Chairman, Lithuanian Fisheries Producer Association

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The number of swaps has reached new highs because of the last years’ lack of cod quotas for a targeted cod fishery. This makes the small cod quota allocated for bycatch very valuable as companies with pelagic quotas need at least a small cod bycatch quota. Cod fishers have used this facility to obtain quotas for pelagic fish which has enabled them to continue fishing after the restrictions on targeting cod were introduced.

Alenas Bulauskis, head of the Fisheries Compliance and Enforcement Division

Quotas can be swapped not only between Lithuanian fishers but also with fishers from other EU

countries. For example, Estonian or Swedish vessels interested in catching more Baltic salmon and Lithuanian fishers not utilising their salmon quota, could negotiate a swap benefiting both parties. The possibility to swap quotas also extends to different segments of the Lithuanian fleet.

If, for instance, by the middle of the year coastal fishers have not used all their pelagic quota, we can suggest a swap with the largescale Baltic Sea fleet, says Alenas Bulauskis, head of the Fisheries Compliance and Enforcement Division, Fisheries Service under

the Ministry of Agriculture. Even if the quantities involved are not very large, swapping between the two fleet segments is a possibility. The swaps are mediated by the Ministry of Agriculture to follow who is catching what and to make suggestions to the sector if there is a bottleneck. Individual fishermen, however, have been hit by the lack of cod quotas. All the companies belonging to the Lithuanian Fisheries Producers’ Association suffered losses, says Alfonsas Bargaila. With cod fishing quotas, companies operating in the open Baltic Sea were able to

Small-scale fishermen threatened by proposal in Lithuanian Parliament

The end of commercial inland and coastal fishing?

A proposal that is currently going through the Lithuanian parliament seeks to ban inland commercial fishing in the Curonian lagoon and fishing in several coastal area, while another would forbid fishing within 300 m of the shoreline. If the ban is adopted, it would signal the end of the coastal fishery after fishers have invested in trap nets to fish more sustainably.

According to Antanas Kontautas, a scientist at the Marine Research Institute of Klaipeda University, the proposal affecting the Curonian lagoon is a result of conflicts between the angling community and commercial fishers that have ballooned from a question of fisheries management into a political issue. Certain valuable species like pike, perch, and above all pike-perch, are targeted by both groups. The pike-perch stock in the Lithuanian part of the Curonian lagoon (three fourths of the lagoon belongs to Russia) is not healthy which is affecting catches. Another factor adding to the dispute is the ban on fishing cod in the Baltic which affects both commercial fishers and anglers. Investments in equipment for cod fishing made by individuals in both groups have not delivered the expected returns. Socioeconomics may also play a role as the number of people involved and the value of the small-scale fishery are both considerably less than for the angling sector. Fishermen’s organisations emphatically oppose the proposal citing scientific advice showing the health of the fish Antanas Kontautas, a scientist at the Marine Research Institute stocks they target is not poor enough to warrant its adoption. While agree- of Klaipeda University and an expert on angling among other fishing to the need for restrictions during the spawning season, they say the related topics. proposal will destroy the traditional long-standing, subsistence fishery on the Baltic coast. It will also have an impact on the round goby, an alien species, which is currently targeted by fishers who have found markets for it. if fishing is banned altogether up to 300 m from the shore this fish will displace the already depleted herring and other stocks from the coast.

Angling is a popular pastime in Lithuania though estimates of the number of people who fish for pleasure vary from 100 thousand to half a million depending on how it is defined. The number of annual permits sold, a proxy for a regular angler, is about 70,000. Anglers target several different species of which the most popular are pike, pike perch, and perch. Other fish include bream, roach, chub, and grayling as well as salmon and sea trout.

In western Lithuania, the waters of the Curonian lagoon, the delta of the Nemunas river, and the Baltic Sea are popular destinations, but the Nemunas’ tributaries, Neris and Merkys, smaller rivers, and lakes offer anglers opportunities in other parts of the country too.

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flounder is carried out with the help of bottom trawls, but the risk of exceeding the bycatch quota for cod is too high, while at the same time, the price for flounder is low. The coastal fishers are better placed. While catching eastern cod is forbidden there are several other species that can be caught including round goby, herring, smelt, flounder, and vimba bream.

Giedrius Mačernis, head of the Baltic Sea Fisheries Control Division

plan their activities all year round.

Now, he says, the available quotas for herring and sprat do not allow efficient fishing operations through the year. His members find it difficult to switch to other fish species such as sprat, herring, salmon, or flounder, because they (excluding flounder) are subject to quotas and swapping is not always feasible. With flounder the issue is different. Fishing for

Bycatch may not be used for human consumption The cod bycatch in the pelagics fishery is actually insignificant.

In 2019 the total bycatch of cod in the pelagic fishery was about 14 tonnes while in 2020 it was about 1 tonne, reports Giedrius Maþernis, head of the Baltic Sea Fisheries Control Division. Considering that the cod bycatch quota was 202 tonnes in 2020 this was less than half a percent. The most common bycatch species are cod and flounder. Bycatch is treated in accordance with the landing

obligation that has been in force across the EU since 2019. This legislation stipulates that bycatch of undersized species caught and landed may not be used for human consumption, but instead be made into petfood, fishmeal, pharmaceuticals, or nutraceuticals, etc. It also specifies that all catches of species regulated by catch limits or minimum landing sizes must be landed and counted against the fisher’s quotas. The purpose of the legislation is to prevent discards by encouraging the use of more selective gear to avoid unwanted catches.

Coastal fishers are switching to more sustainable fishing gear In Lithuania, a combination of factors has contributed to the coastal fishing fleet switching to more sustainable fishing gears.

Coastal fishers, who number 100150 people employed by about 50 companies, traditionally fish with gill nets which can be fixed

up to a depth of 20 m, the limit for coastal fishers to operate. In 2020 the Fisheries Service introduced a rule forbidding cod-specific gill nets and another that stipulated that when coastal fishers have a bycatch of cod of more than 10%, they must report it to the Fisheries Service which will suspend fishing in the area for three days, explains Mr Maþernis. To assist in the implementation of the landing obligation, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund offers fishers support to change to more sustainable gear. All these developments encouraged coastal fishers to switch from gill nets to trap nets, which have gradually become the main fishing gear in the coastal fishery. Trap nets are more selective and therefore more sustainable. The mesh size is smaller than on gill nets, so cod do not get caught. In addition, trap nets are fixed at a depth of 3.5-4 m which is closer to the shore than the gill nets were. Cod typically do not come this close to the shore reducing further the risk

The Lithuanian Fisheries Producer Association

Members process their catch to increase its value Established in 1997 the LFPA represents five companies fishing in the open Baltic Sea and 18 coastal fishing enterprises. These represent about 30% and 40% respectively of the vessels in the two segments. The vessels in the open Baltic are between 20 and 25.5 m and have been fishing mainly in the Lithuanian economic zone though previously they fished also near Denmark or Poland. The main target species are herring, sprat, cod (only bycatch), and flounder. The coastal vessels are 5-12 m in length and the fishers use passive gear targeting round goby, herring, smelt, flounder, vimba, pike-perch, garfish, and cod (only bycatch). The members are primarily fishermen, catching the fish and selling it to primary buyers. Some coastal fishers have invested in value-adding activities, such as smoking, drying, or salting which provides an additional source of income as it is difficult to make a living only from fishing activities. The last year has been particularly hard for the sector says Alfonsas Bargaila, president of LFPA, as the pandemic shut down markets, retail outlets, and the restaurant secSome small-scale fishers are extracting more value from their tor. In addition, support for the sector, he says, was received only in 2021 catch by processing the fish into smoked, dried, or salted products. although the impact of the pandemic was felt already in March 2020.

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Vessels fishing in the open Baltic Sea target sprat and herring as well as salmon and cod. In the absence of cod quotas, those of other species have become even more important (archive photo).

of cod bycatch. From the LFPA, Mr Bargaila confirms, most coastal fishers have taken advantage of the support available to purchase more selective fishing gear.

Open Baltic Sea vessels are subject to intense monitoring The large-scale fleet operating in the open Baltic Sea is responsible for the bulk of Lithuania’s Baltic Sea catches of some 17,000 tonnes in 2020. These vessels, 27 in 2020, are subject to several control measures including physical inspections at sea, vessel monitoring, traceability systems, and electronic logbooks. Inspectors cross check catches and landings with the logbooks and since last year, following an EFCA recommendation, vessels inspected 30

at sea are again inspected at landing especially when reinforced controls are carried out in certain periods. A European Commission proposal to tighten control rules is in the process of being adopted and will potentially see all fishing vessels being tracked, the harmonisation of sanctions for the infringement of fisheries rules across the EU, and improved traceability of seafood products. While Mr. Maþernis, and no doubt inspectors in other EU countries, supports the use of CCTV on large-scale vessels to monitor fishing operations in real time, the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries decided not to make it mandatory unless as a penalty for vessels that infringe repeatedly. Not complying with regulations can take different forms, but those

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typically seen by Lithuanian inspectors include the use of prohibited or non-compliant gear, or the failure to record or report catches.

A traceability system that tracks the fish from the sea to the final buyer European legislation demands the traceability of seafood from sea to plate and in Lithuania a system has been in place for over two years that can trace the fish from the vessel to the last buyer.

The system records the fish from the vessel to the landing point and each transaction in the distribution chain. All the data is maintained in the Fisheries Service’s system to which the first buyers have access so they can record their own transactions which are

associated with their user ids.

In this way the Fisheries Service knows who has bought and sold what. This control extends all the way to the retail outlets at small markets where inspectors can use quick response (QR) code scanners to scan boxes of fish and confirm their provenance and their compliance with the 48-hour rule which specifies that fixed nets must be emptied every 48 hours at most.

By ensuring compliance with the rules, adding value to catches, fishing more sustainably, and developing science-based solutions all the players in the Lithuanian fisheries sector, fisheries managers, fishers, and researchers, contribute to an environmentally, economically, and socially viable sector in the long term.

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The Lithuanian Fisheries Service is deploying information technology to monitor fisheries

Artificial intelligence, business intelligence systems, and blockchain The Fisheries Service under the Ministry of Agriculture has, among its responsibilities, the monitoring, inspection, and control of the entire Lithuanian fishing fleet. Technology is playing an ever bigger role in carrying out these tasks.

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biding by requirements to trace fish from net to plate calls for electronic solutions to ensure simplicity, reliability, and cost effectiveness. The Lithuanian fleet operates in too many distant parts of the world for inspectors to regularly check vessels in person, so we must rely on technology, says Tomas Kazlauskas, Director of the Fisheries Service under the Ministry of Agriculture, who is spearheading the widespread implementation of IT in the sector.

Calculating risk on the basis of data While the EU has determined that countries should use electronic logbooks, sales notes, and traceability systems, there is now also a requirement to use electronic inspection reports. The data from these reports is stored in a database and as the volume of this information increases it becomes possible to use it to objectively analyse the risk of infringement by vessels with statistical tools as current expert analysis could be subjective and is not the most efficient. While this is particularly important for the high seas fleet, where physical inspections are not cost effective to carry out, it is also used for the open Baltic Sea vessels. Mr Kazlauskas is also paying more attention to the coastal fleet, where vessels are more numerous, and infringements easier to carry out.

In a bid to improve tracking of coastal vessels, the Fisheries Service has also developed an app that can be installed on a mobile telephone to record the vessel’s location and to function as an electronic logbook i.e. to record catches. More efficient than sending inspectors to patrol the shore and more convenient than a VMS device, which calls for space and a relatively protected environment on board a vessel, the app is currently being tested and will soon be available on the Play Store. The next phase of development will add data on the fishing gear used and its position in the water to control fishing gear placement and position restrictions. Of course, critical for the success of the app is for fishers to download and use it. The Fisheries Service offers soft incentives, such as publishing a list of fishers who use the app and hopes that fishers will be further encouraged if they can see it is easier to use than the traditional paper logbook. Coastal fishers are also aware that the current proposal that could potentially ban the coastal fishery may be more difficult to adopt, if they can prove that they are subjecting themselves to more stringent control.

Tomas Kazlauskas, Director of the Fisheries Service under the Ministry of Agriculture

would like to create a blockchain encryption based “sandbox” area, a virtual container on the fishermen’s own phones or computers on which the app is installed. This is a controlled area where, when software is installed or removed, it is recorded and tracked. This ensures the integrity of the data

as it makes hacking the app very difficult. Initially, the sandbox will be created on laptops used on the high sea vessels in conjunction with the electronic logbooks. If it works well, it will be installed on the machines (phones or computers) used by fishers on other fleets.

Preventing data from being compromised The use of electronic tools does not stop there. Mr Kazlauskas

Electronic tools are increasing being used to control fisheries as they are more efficient and cost effective.

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Proposal before Parliament will ban fishing in some areas and severely restrict it in others

Inland and coastal small-scale fisheries fight an existential threat The small-scale fishery in coastal and inland waters, an activity that has existed for centuries, may become history if a contentious proposal to restrict it is adopted in Parliament. The new proposal amending Lithuanian Fisheries Law aims at completely banning the commercial fishing in Curonian lagoon, banning commercial fishing in five areas (bars) of the BS coast and preventing fishing within 300 m of the shore in the rest fishing bars of the BS coast.

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he coastal fishing fleet is a small-scale fleet mostly comprised of vessels not exceeding 6 m, although 12 m is the official limit. Small-scale vessels are prohibited from fishing with trawls and driftnets, instead they use traps and set gillnets (a wall of netting which hangs vertically in the water column with weights along the bottom and floats along the top) anchored on the seabed.

Coastal fishermen are granted transferable rights to gear for 15 years, and the distribution of quota in the Baltic Sea for small-scale coastal fishing is regulated by the national Law on Fisheries. Companies in the Lithuanian coastal fleet are organised into several associations and a single producer organisation. Mindaugas Rimeikis is the president of one such association, the Coastal Small-scale Fisheries Association, which has 12 member companies with another three waiting to join. He thus represents just over a fifth of all the companies registered in the coastal fisheries sector, and between 35% and 45% of the total catch in coastal waters.

Coastal fishers target the quota species, herring, sprat, salmon, cod (only bycatch), and non-quota species including smelt, round goby, and recently also garfish.

Fishing is carried out in areas called bars, of which there are 29 for the 32

55 companies that constitute the coastal fishing sector. Coastal fishers operate up to the 20 m isobath and in the territorial Baltic Sea. A maximum of 4 km of gillnets can be set up to the 20 m isobath. Within the 20 m isobath, small-scale coastal fishermen are allowed to set no more than 5 km of gillnets up to the territorial sea boundary.

According to Mr Rimeikis, up to three traps can be set per fishing company in the bar following an informal agreement between the coastal fishers. The number of traps that can be set is conditional upon the required minimum distance between them being observed.

Some small-scale segments have used EMFF support to add value to fresh fish Fish caught by coastal fishers is usually sold fresh to primary buyers both Lithuanian and foreign.

The members of the Coastal Smallscale Fisheries Association do not process the fish in any way, says Mr Rimeikis, as this calls for investments in equipment which the fishers cannot manage without support. According to him, in the past fishers could not avail of support from the EMFF because they did not meet the conditions set out in the rules governing support. As

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Siga Jakubauskiene, the leader of Lampetra, a producer organisation and association of fishers operating in the Curonian lagoon, the Nemunas river delta, and the coastal Baltic Sea.

a result, even the roads leading to the landing sites are of poor quality. The small quotas that the fishers get, the ban on cod fishing, the lack of productivity of some fishing bars, and the inability to add value to their catch all contribute to making fishing only a part time

occupation for most coastal fishers, who fish between 30 and 80 days a year. In contrast, in the Curonian lagoon, a body of water shared with Russia, fishers have used the EMFF to add value to their production, says Siga Jakubauskiene.

She heads Lampetra, a producer

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amended even more frequently.

Right now, it is also in the process of being revised. In addition to affecting fishers this unpredictability, he claims, is delaying the operational programme for the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) that Lithuania must submit to the European Commission. Between the EU’s regulations and directives, and constantly changing national rules, the problems facing the Lithuanian coastal fisheries remain unsolved, he feels.

Mindaugas Rimeikis (second from right), President of the Coastal Small-scale Fisheries Association whose 12 members account for about 40% of the catch in coastal waters.

organisation and association of fishers operating in the Curonian lagoon and the Nemunas river delta. It has 44 members, 38 fishing in the Curonian lagoon, and 6 in the lower Nemunas. In 2017, the fishers were granted transferable five-year rights to their fishing quotas (it used to be a one-year right) which encouraged many companies to seek support from European funds.

Thanks to this support, today, 12 companies are engaged in the production of fresh fish, semi-finished products, smoking, and public catering during the tourist season, while a further two are implementing projects to process their catch.

The local municipality together with Lampetra is implementing an infrastructure project aimed at organising direct sales of fish to consumers and short supply chains to kindergartens, schools, and hospitals. And five companies are currently certifying fish products and fishing methods to encourage fishing tourism to the Curonian lagoon region. These efforts to add value to the resource have

increased profitability and have led to the development of high-quality fish products. These developments have been positive for the sector but may not be enough to counter other trends.

is the instability of the national framework that governs fisheries, which changes almost each time a new government comes into power, with some parts of it being

Mr Rimeikis proposes that in addition to establishing a mechanism to compensate fishers who voluntarily decide to leave the sector, innovative projects that combine educational activities with other priorities such as green energy or diversification of income streams that could benefit fishers should be implemented along the coast.

He suggests that a commission that brings together representatives from the ministry of agriculture, members of parliament,

Unpredictable rules and regulations are a burden on the sector The number of coastal fishing companies has not declined over the years, but neither has it increased, nor is the activity attracting young people, a common issue both within Lithuania and in other parts of the EU. One way forward might be to offer fishers some incentive to leave the profession as this would bring fishing capacity closer into balance with the resource, and make fishing more profitable for the fishers who stay. A proposal to this effect went to the Lithuanian parliament but funding for the proposal failed to get enough votes. But, says Mr Rimeikis, the main challenge for the sector

Jūros Vėjas, a member company of Lampetra, produces a variety of canned, MAP and other value-added products based on different fish species from the Curonian lagoon. Pictured, marinated shad in glass jars.

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A small-scale coastal fishing vessel with a fyke net. This activity could become history if a proposal to prohibit it is passed by the Lithuanian Parliament.

representatives of the coastal fishing association, scientists, economists, and others should study the issues and report their findings before amendments are made to the fisheries law—but he is doubtful that this will ever happen.

Fishers rely on own shops as markets shut down during pandemic The structural issues faced by the sector were compounded in 2020 by the pandemic, which caused volumes to drop by over 20%.

At Lampetra losses were worth about 30% of turnover. Compensation offered by the EMFF was minimal, says Ms Jakubauskiene, just 10% of the last three years’ average income, so only 34

three companies applied. Fishers in the Curonian lagoon are responsible for four fifths of the wild catch placed on the Lithuanian market. This production is sold on the local market, but with logistics improving it is also delivered to the rest of the country as fishers, with EU support, have invested in refrigerators in their cars and can now supply Kaunas, Vilnius, and other areas. But last year sales of fresh fish were affected by the lack of orders from the retail and food service sectors, so the fish was frozen and stored. Fishermen’s own outlets did better because the smoked or otherwise processed fish could be sold to locals and tourists visiting the shops.

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Controversial proposal bitterly opposed by sector A new challenge has emerged in the form of a proposal in Parliament to amend the Fisheries Law that, if adopted, will essentially wipe out the fishery in the Curonian lagoon and the small-scale coastal fishery in the Baltic Sea. The proposal seeks to completely ban commercial fishing in the Curonian lagoon and in five bars (fishing areas) on the Baltic Sea coast. It will also prohibit fishing within 300 m of the shore in the remaining bars on the coast. Like his counterpart Mr Rimeikis, Alfonsas Bargaila, the chairman of Lithuanian Fishery Producers

Association representing both the open Baltic Sea fishery and coastal small-scale fishing vessels, is adamantly against the proposal which he says has less to do with science than with politics. Mr Bargaila points out that, according to scientific advice, the state of fish stocks is not poor enough to justify a complete ban on fishing. Certain restrictions are necessary during the spawning season, but prohibiting fishing altogether completely disregards the experience and suggestions of fishermen and scientists. According to Ms Jakubauskiene, the proposal was brought by the roughly 200,000-strong angling community and is backed by politicians eyeing their votes. There

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The Curonian lagoon is a source of some valuable species including pike (pictured) and pike perch.

is no scientific basis for banning commercial fishing in the Curonian lagoon as Lithuanian and Russian scientists assess the stocks annually and decide the catch limits for smelt, pikeperch and bream, she says. Mr Rimeikis points to the physical impossibility of fishing beyond 300 m from the shore along the Baltic Sea coast. At 300 m the depth of the water could be 4-8 m and we cannot set our traps at such a depth let alone pull them up from the water, he says.

Such a ban, without adequate compensation, is unequivocally opposed by the entire coastal fishing community, he says.

Lithuania has about 100 km of coastline and this needs to be shared by all the users. He suggests a holistic solution that

addresses all the different interests, economic, environmental, and social.

Taking the interests of the smallscale coastal fisheries into account would be consistent with EU and international priorities such as the Green Deal, Europe’s sustainable growth strategy, one of the features of which is its inclusiveness—no people or places may be left behind, and the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) which called for the promotion of policies that support and recognize the contribution of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture in food security, employment and income, in a declaration following its meeting in February 2021. In addition, the UN has

declared 2022 the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture to recognise the contribution of small-scale fishers and their contribution to food security. A ban on the sector in Lithuania would fly in the face of these international efforts.

Uncertainty as to whether the proposal will be adopted or rejected is taking its toll on the fishers. They are confused and anxious not knowing whether they will have jobs or an income in the future. If the proposal is adopted, all the time, money, and effort that fishers have invested in adding value to their catch would be wasted, says Ms Jakubauskiene. Consumers would suffer too as the only

source of fresh, domestically caught wild fish will dry up and Lithuanians will only be able to consume frozen imported fish.

Even if the same wild fish species are imported fresh, they will cost twice as much, she foresees. And the repercussions from such a decision would not stop there. Over 150 fishermen will be out of work, isolation of the region will increase, and the whole supply chain will suffer.

The cultural loss would also be huge as fishing skills that have been handed down from generation to generation atrophy and disappear, fishing villages lose their identity, and culinary traditions vanish. Whether fishermen will survive this change and learn to live with it, only time will tell.

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Akvapona breeds catfish and grows vegetables in an aquaponics system

Fish production capacity to increase four-fold in 2021 The production of food requires the consumption of resources such as land, water, fossil fuels for energy, and nutrients, all of which are limited and are already being exploited at rates that are unsustainable. Changing this, so that food production systems meet human requirements while maintaining earth’s capacity to provide goods and services for current and future generations, calls for innovative and environmentally sound approaches to agriculture and aquaculture.

At Akvapona, a recirculation aquaculture system is used to breed African catfish and the water from the system fertilises plants in a greenhouse.

This removes the nutrients, so the water can be led back to the fish.

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lobal population is forecast to grow to about 10bn by 2050 and to ensure food security for all, food production will need to expand by 56%, according to the World Resources Institute, from its 2010 level. Challenges such as climate change, pollution, degradation of arable land, and loss of biodiversity suggest that the adoption of technology, and the development of efficient and sustainable production systems and supply chains are the only way to secure the production of the volumes

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of food required in 2050 and beyond.

Aquaponics could contribute to food security Aquaponics could play an important role here as it has been identified as a way of producing food sustainably. Simply put, it combines fish farming systems with the production, typically, of plants—vegetables, flowers, fruits, and herbs—where the plants are grown not in soil

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or other substrates, but in water enriched with nutrients from the fish culture in coupled or decoupled systems. In the former, bacteria convert the waste from the fish into nutrients for the plants.

The plants absorb the nutrients thus cleaning the water which is returned to the fish. However, there are currently very few commercially successful aquaponic systems in the EU, many of those that exist are pilot systems established by research organisations or non-profits. The lack of role models has not deterred a

Lithuanian company, Akvapona, from cultivating African catfish in a system that is also connected to the production of vegetables and plants. The activity started more or less as a hobby in 2014 with a small system for the production of a few tonnes of catfish and some plants. It was hampered however by several technical issues. A couple of years later Vladas Vicknjnas, the founder of Akvapona, was joined by a Norwegian partner and a larger and more professional system was introduced for the catfish production.

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African catfish are a robust, rapidly growing species with flesh that has a texture reminiscent of meat. It has proved very popular in Lithuania where production has increased significantly the last few years.

Production of the fish increased first to 60 tonnes and then doubled 18 months later. A year after, the company set up a hatchery with broodstock to have a full production cycle, while at the same time continuing the experiments with the plants. A lot of information on aquaponics is available on the Internet, says Mr Vicknjnas, but we quickly discovered that it targeted mainly hobbyist which is very different from commercial producers.

Today the company has solved many of the technical issues that had caused problems in the initial stages and is in the process of completely renovating and expanding the greenhouse, where a lot of new equipment will be installed. The renovated greenhouse has an area of 1,200 sq. m and it is placed above the building housing the fish. Commercial production of the plants is expected to gradually start in a couple of months and if the results are as good as they were in the trials, then the greenhouse will be expanded with a further

2,000 sq. m, though that will not happen this year. The focus right now, however, is on the fish production which is being expanded further to 500 tonnes, for which the construction and equipment purchases have already started. Part of the reason behind the rapid expansion is that the company is processing the fish into a series of ready-tocook products, like fish balls, fish burgers, fish en croute and other easily prepared items. Consumers need less than half an hour to make them and they are tasty and healthful, so demand has increased rapidly.

Big increase in Lithuanian African catfish production the last five or six years The heart of the fishfarm is its filtration systems. The action of bacteria, which are present in the biofilms that form on the plastic elements in a biofilter, coverts the dissolved nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from uneaten feed and fish

waste into bioavailable forms that can be used by the plants as fertiliser. This mechanism, in addition to offering benefits for the production of both fish and plants, significantly reduce the environmentally harmful discharges from aquaculture production. At Akvapona this fertiliser was tested on the plants and gave very good results, says Mr Vicknjnas. However, the water must be treated properly as the pH for the fish can be 7-8 while the plants prefer 6-6.5. This means that the production system must have monitoring stations to ensure that the water circulating between the plants and the fish has the appropriate pH for each type of organism. Catfish are a fast growing (1.5 kg in seven months), robust species well suited to production in aquaculture. In addition, the flesh is a dark colour and has an almost meaty texture making it popular amongst farmers and consumers alike. It is, however, highly sensitive to noise which can cause stress and loss of appetite. Five years ago, it was a relatively new species in Lithuania, but since then it has grown

in popularity. According to the FAO, African catfish production in Lithuania grew almost seven times from 46 tonnes in 2014 to 311 tonnes in 2019. Today, says Mr Vicknjnas, it is everyday fare. Consumers buy our fish as a regular meal option knowing that it has been produced in Lithuania, is very fresh, and has a long shelf life.

The company’s facilities are located 90 minutes from Kaunas, a major logistics and distribution hub from where the product can get very rapidly to the rest of the country within a few hours. In comparison, imported products usually have a much shorter shelf life. The other reason for the popularity of catfish is the products that it is made into. At Akvapona some 20 value-added products have been created with catfish that are targeted at families with small children. In Mr Vicknjnas’ experience parents want their kids to eat fish, but it can be an uphill struggle. The products from Akvapona mix fish meat with other ingredients, vegetables,

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herbs, and spices, so that, combined with the special consistency of the flesh, the net result is not very fish like at all. In fact, in tests that the company carried out only 1 or 2 percent identified the product correctly as fish, the rest thought it was meat. As a result, 70-80% of the sales is to families with small children. The fish balls are sold both fresh and frozen. The former have a shelf life of 3-4 days, while the frozen balls last much longer and are very convenient to take from the freezer and prepare. Sales are primarily within Lithuania, through the company’s own network of shops, markets, and the retail chains. Institutions, such as kindergartens are also among the customers, as well as a few restaurants. Another channel that has developed rapidly over the last year is Internet sales direct to consumers. There are also a few customers in neighbouring Latvia for the fish and some German buyers have shown an interest, but the current production volumes are not enough to support exports to Germany.

All the family members have a role in running the company Apart from cultivating and processing catfish the company also sells its excess production from the hatchery to other farmers.

Some ten producers in Lithuania and another couple in Latvia regularly source catfish fingerlings from Akvapona. Currently, some half a million fingerlings a year are produced in the hatchery of which 150,000-200,000 are used for production while the rest are sold. With the production of market-sized fish set to increase to 500 tonnes, capacity at the hatchery will also be expanded to 1m of which half will be used and the rest sold. The hatchery was established with support from the 38

Most of the company’s products are processed in some way. Headed and gutted fish is available too but forms only a small part of the assortment.

EMFF and Mr Vicknjnas is very pleased with the way it has turned out. We have had smaller projects in the past, but this one was larger and very successful. It is, in fact, his daughter Monika, who is responsible for the hatchery, while Mr Vicknjnas himself takes care of the adult fish. Per Christian, the Norwegian partner, is responsible for the company’s strategy and its economy, and Mr Vicknjnas’ wife handles the processing side of the operations, developing and testing new products. This role is critical as the company is planning to explore the market potential in Poland and Germany.

Precisely identifying consumers’ taste preferences and reproducing them convincingly will be vital for success on these markets.

The size of the fish will also have to be adapted as consumers in countries like Germany and the Netherlands prefer smaller fillets, while those in Lithuania, Latvia, and probably also Poland, prefer larger portions. As a result, fish for these latter markets are grown to

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1.5 kg to give a fillet of about 350 g which is the preferred size.

Production and delivery is around the year. As Mr Vicknjnas explains, the system is built so that the biomass in the tanks is at the same level all the time. Fingerlings are introduced and adult fish are harvested at regular intervals to

maintain the biomass at about 20% of the annual production with minor fluctuations. This allows the biofilter to operate steadily rather than being underworked when there is little fish in the system and overworked when there is too much. It too is a living being and functions optimally when conditions are stable.

Akvapona Skaisteriǐ g. 2C Skaisteriǐ kaimas LT 13118 Vilniaus rajonas Lithuania Tel.: +370 685 71762 info@akvapona.lt www.akvapona.lt Partners: Vladas Vicknjnas (adult catfish production), Per Christian (strategy and economy) Activity: African catfish production Volumes: 500 tonnes (2021)

Employees: 17 Hatchery capacity: 1m fingerlings (2021) Fingerling sales: 0.5m (2021) Products: Fish balls (fresh and frozen), fish mince, fish burgers, fish en croute, fillets, fish headed and gutted Brand: Žuvies paštas Markets: Lithuania, Latvia Customers: Retail chains, network of own shops, restaurants, institutions Vegetable production from aquaponics: Lettuce, onion, tomato, cucumber

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Local Ocean develops its shrimp production technology with a view to licensing it

Fresh tropical shrimp for upmarket consumers A Lithuanian company is optimising its technology to start the shrimp farming industry in Europe.

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orthern Europe is not the first place one associates with the cultivation of tropical shrimp. And, indeed, there is virtually no production in the region. According to Eurostat, in 2019, Germany was the only country growing Pacific white leg shrimp, while some Kuruma prawn was cultivated in France.

The total volumes barely exceeded 100 tonnes, to which can be added a few tonnes from Greece (also Kuruma prawn) and Cyprus (Indian white prawn). This is a mere drop in the ocean compared with the 285,000 tonnes of tropical shrimp that were imported by the EU that year. The product is popular, which explains why, even in northern Europe, some companies are investing in the production of warmwater shrimp. Using modern technology and, ideally, a source of warm water, these ventures can defy temperate climatic conditions by growing the shrimp in closed recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS) fully isolated from the weather.

Founders push on despite setbacks Local Ocean, a Lithuanian company, has launched its production of Pacific white leg shrimp for the local market. The company was founded in 2017 by a group of Lithuanians and a Frenchman who took up the challenge of growing shrimp on a commercial scale, well aware that success had eluded all the

others in the business. The shareholders have different backgrounds but are all entrepreneurs and were confident that they could make this work. This confidence was not dented even after a massive failure in system design a year later. Today, says Christophe Legrand, who has a background in software and digital marketing, we are in the third iteration of the farm and technology and we think we have finally nailed it. With most of the technical challenges solved, the company was just starting to go commercial when the pandemic struck, upending the group’s plans. The brand name had not been established, markets had closed, supermarkets were unwilling to take risks on an unknown company in an unstable situation, so it was altogether a severe setback.

After eight months of delay the company finally began selling shrimps to supermarkets in October 2020.

The farm is based half-way between Kaunas and Vilnius just off the main motorway linking the two cities and 250 km from the coast.

Water is therefore drawn from a subterranean source. Shrimp are marine creatures and so the water must be treated to match the salt and mineral profile of the south Pacific, the native home of white leg shrimp. This includes removing certain elements and adding others and, in addition, heating the water to the 29-30 degrees that the shrimp require. This is done using wood chips and is a major but unavoidable cost. The current

Christophe Legrand, CEO Local Ocean

farm is like a pilot, explains Mr Legrand, we wanted first to test the concept to see if it was viable, as we knew that once we had proven the concept then optimisation would be fairly easy. In the first instance we needed to establish something quick and flexible, and burning wood chips to heat the water met that requirement. Our next phase

foresees expanding the farm from 1,500 sq. m to 5,000 sq. m and for that, we will need to consider the use of solar heating, geothermal energy, and waste heat from industrial plants. The latter would require the farm to be moved to another location where a partnership with an industrial plant co-generating heated water would be possible.

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The shrimp are grown using biofloc technology. A variety of microorganisms are present in the water maintaining its quality, providing nutrition for the shrimp, and combating pathogens.

Biofloc technology is economical but finicky to operate The farm uses a unique hybrid RAS system, and in contrast to a system that has biofilters and UV and ozone treatment for water purification, Local Ocean developed a unique biofloc technology (a method of producing beneficial microorganisms). Local Ocean’s biofloc produces an array of beneficial microorganisms that plays a role in maintaining the water quality in the tanks, providing a source of nutrition for the shrimp, and competing with pathogens to prevent their levels from increasing to the point where they pose a threat to the stock. New nutrients are then produced from the unused 40

feed and the waste produced by the shrimps and these nutrients are either used directly by other organisms or are converted into new microbial biomass which can be consumed again by the shrimp reducing the need for feeding.

The action of beneficial bacteria in the biofloc keeps compounds in the water like ammonium at levels that are not toxic for the shrimps, so that the water in the system does not require replacement or recirculation (only 10-15% water loss per cycle). In addition to the benefits of the biofloc for the shrimp production, the biofloc systems developed by Local Ocean also offer economic advantages as they are much cheaper to build and operate than a traditional RAS. However, because the water is a

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living medium full of all kinds of microorganisms including fungi, protozoans, rotifers, nematodes, copepods, and microalgae in addition to bacteria, it is more difficult to optimise. As a result, the water in each tank has a unique set of bacterial parameters and is kept independent of all the other tanks. This separation keeps the system biosecure so that in case of a problem with the water in one of the tanks, the issue is confined to that tank and is not spread across the whole system.

Both the biofloc and the shrimps consume oxygen, so the water must be aerated constantly. The slightest disruption to the aerating systems can cause mass mortalities so the company has not one but

two backup systems to ensure the water is always properly oxygenated. Keeping the growing units independent of each other, allows the company to experiment with the water and the systems in different ways to find out what works best for shrimp growth. This has revealed two or three directions that yield very good results with high yields (currently over 10 kg of biomass per sq. m) and low mortalities (less than 25% loss from the post larvae stage). Most interesting is that the limit does not seem to have been reached, says Mr Legrand, so we are still increasing the density and producing more shrimp per sq. m than in the previous cycle, so there is still scope to develop and optimise further. A production cycle takes 3-4 months

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The shrimp take 3-4 months to grow to market size but are harvested on demand. Production is currently 2 tonnes a month.

by which time the shrimp have reached a minimum of 17 g. As the shrimp are sold fresh, harvesting is on demand, so the shrimp can spend another 2-4 weeks in the system before they are sold.

Cost effectiveness at scale is the ultimate goal Local Ocean currently imports post larvae for the production, but the plan is to start a hatchery and breed PL that are optimised for growth in the kind of system that the company is operating. The purpose of the company is not to just grow shrimps for the market, but to develop and perfect the technology to breed shrimp cost effectively at commercial scale, says Mr Legrand, so the shrimps we produce now can be considered a by-product from our research and

development. Once the technology is ready, we will license it to other potential shrimp producers.

Local Ocean is not just a shrimp farming company, but a shrimp farming-technology company and the hatchery we plan to build will complement this strategy by offering PL, that have been specially adapted to grow in our system, to all the companies that license the technology. With his background in software, Mr Legrand envisages applying artificial intelligence and other tools to the data generated by the system to automate as far as possible, so that human intervention can be optimised to make the production even more cost effective and scalable.

For now, however, the shrimp production is supplied to two, and soon three, big retail chains in Lithuania and talks with upmarket

restaurants have restarted as the sector is starting to open up again and chefs are returning. The shrimp retail for EUR45/kilo, which is twice the price of premium south American frozen shrimps and liable to attract only the very top end of

the consumer segment but, as Mr Legrand says, the shrimp are fresh, healthful, and locally farmed, and perhaps the biggest draw for consumers will be the novelty of eating tropical shrimp with a “Farmed in Lithuania” label.

Local Ocean Palangos g. 9 LT- 44287 Kaunas (office) Strơvos g. 6A, Bnjbliǐ k.

LT-56362 Kaišiadoriǐ r. (production site) Tel.: +370 673 81521 info@localocean.eu localocean.eu

Activity: Technology for farming tropical shrimp; Pacific white leg production Volumes of shrimp: 1 tonne/ month currently Product form: Fresh Area: 1,500 sq. m, set to expand to 5,000 sq. m in Q3 2021 Markets: Domestic Sales outlets: Retail chains

Christophe Legrand: Chief Executive Officer EUROFISH Magazine 3 / 2021

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Marine Research Institute, Klaipeda University: Optimising recirculation systems for aquaculture

Farming saltwater species on land Researchers at the Marine Research Institute of Klaipeda University consider recirculation aquaculture systems an innovative way to establish a marine water farming industry in a country that has a 100 km coastline.

Experimenting with warmwater shrimp production In Lithuania, at the Marine Research Institute of Klaipeda University (KU), Nerijus Nika and Gintautas Narvilas are studying the biological implications of shrimp production and the technology that enables it, respectively. The researchers have partnered with Klaipeda Science and Technology Park (KSTP), a business support agency with 42

Klaipeda University Marine Research Institute

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U imports of frozen warmwater shrimps amounted to close to 285,000 tonnes with a value of just under EUR2bn in 2019 according to the EU Fish Market report from EUMOFA. The species imported are the Pacific white leg and the giant black tiger.

Shrimp that is frozen and shipped from Asia or Latin America is quite a different product from fresh shrimp grown locally. The challenge is that Europe does not have the climatic conditions to grow fresh shrimp the way they are grown in tropical parts of the world. The popularity of warmwater shrimp in Europe and the high price it commands combined with the evolution of farming technology has inspired several attempts to produce shrimp in recirculation aquaculture systems. These endeavours are made by research institutions interested to customise the technology and develop the protocols for this production, as well as by entrepreneurs who sense an opportunity.

The time it takes to reach a 22 g shrimp has been decreasing as the scientists identify and solve issues that stress the crustaceans.

extensive facilities including a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS), to investigate the best way to produce under local conditions warmwater shrimp which require water at a temperature of about 30 degrees C. They also seek to make this technology most effective and attractive to potential investors. To produce shrimp on land using RAS, beside heat, artificial marine water is an important issue. In western Lithuania, where Klaipeda is located geothermal resources are extensive, but also shallowly located and therefore relatively easy to

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access. The area is the site of the country’s only geothermal power plant and since it was trying to diversify its activities, feasibility studies were conducted to find out whether this resource could be used for aquaculture production. Their conclusions suggested that shrimp would be one of the most suitable species to farm.

The research is being conducted as an activity of the Aquaculture Competence Centre, a joint venture between KU and KSTP established in 2018, the goal of which is to acquire shrimp cultivation

knowledge, to optimise growth technology for local conditions and to comercialise this knowhow. Over the last three years of running the trials different issues have cropped up in the production which the researchers have tried to overcome and thereby improve the system. The goal is not to produce commercially themselves, Dr Nika emphasises, but to develop reliable production technologies and knowhow that can then be offered to potential investors interested in shrimp production. The RAS being used is designed by German experts

Klaipeda University Marine Research Institute

LITHUANIA

At the Marine Research Institute experiments are conducted with rainbow trout with a view to growing them in saltwater recirculation aquaculture systems.

who were also consulting Lithuanian researchers. Using a RAS in northern Europe to produce fresh shrimp compensates for environmental impacts associated with some shrimp production in Asia as well as for emissions attributable to the freezing and shipping of the product to Europe. But while recirculation aquaculture has been used for many years to produce fish, shrimp production is still a new activity and needs a lot of development. Even in countries like Poland with a long history and large volume of farmed fish production, a pilot RAS for shrimp was only recently established at Gdansk University as part of an EU-funded project (InnoAquaTech).

Challenges abound when producing shrimp in recirculation systems White leg shrimp is naturally found on the Pacific coast of Central and South America, from where it was brought to the US, where the technology to produce it was developed. Today, most of the production has shifted to Asia. Everywhere in the world, the shrimp aquaculture sector is dependent on a sustainable supply of post-larvae (PL), imports of which to Europe are not allowed from Asia. Some of the biggest suppliers of specific pathogen free (SPF) shrimp larvae are based in America, from where Europe sources its requirements. As interest in Europe to

produce shrimp increases, there is likely to be a ready market for post-larvae produced within the EU. But first, the challenges associated with production need to be solved. Growth, for example, tends to be uneven across a batch leading to large individuals and small ones in the same tank which increases the risk of cannibalism.

Understanding what stresses the shrimp and how to prevent it is another subject that the researchers want to concentrate on. They have already established that there are periods when the shrimp seem to be more stressed than at others, so interventions at these times are reduced to the minimum. Also, other stressors, like fluctuations in water quality, light regime, animal

density, food availability are being better managed to minimise stress.

These adjustments have led to a decrease in mortality and a faster growth rate.

The post-larvae are 10-15 days old (PL10, PL12, PL15, where the number refers to the days) and the target size 22 g on average. In the first production cycle the average size was 25 g after five months, but by the third cycle this was achieved in four months as a result of making minor adaptions to the system, among others, to eliminate cannibalism. If this growth rate can be maintained, Dr Nika expects it to be possible to manage three production cycles in a year with an output of 100-200 kg

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LITHUANIA

per cycle. In a test of meat quality, the Lithuanian shrimp did very well, besting imports. The scientists have also studied the issue of space as this could be a constraint in the commercial production of tonnes of shrimp per year.

To address this, they developed a shrimp tower RAS that would produce high volumes using much less space. In the next production cycle this new RAS will be stocked to see if it lives up to expectations.

Research follows many different directions Shrimp production is however only one part of the research being carried by this wing of the Marine Research Institute. Other directions include developing the brackish RAS technology that is used to produce tilapia and

rainbow trout. The plan is to grow rainbow trout to 70-100 g and then transfer the fish to tanks with salt water to see if they can be grown to the large sizes seen when growing trout in the sea. The Lithuanian coastline is only 100 km in length, the water is brackish, and most of the coast is protected, so to prevent pressure on coastal waters, the researchers would like to breed fish in RAS systems that use salt water. This can either be from the geothermal source, where the water is naturally salty, or by adding marine formulated salt, which is very expensive. The geothermal water will also be tested for bioaccumulation of different trace elements to make sure that it is suitable for fish farming.

The point is to experiment with different sources of salt to see which gives the best and most

cost-effective results, because this would potentially allow the development of an innovative saltwater aquaculture industry in Lithuania based on RAS. Dr Nika is convinced that this is where the future of the sector lies, as demand for high value species is likely to increase with rising prosperity. For potential investors too, the prospect of producing on land should be attractive as obtaining permission is much smoother than if the production were in the sea.

used to conduct experiments and to train students. Another area of research is probiotics, beneficial bacteria that help break down and digest feed and promote a healthy digestive tract. The researchers are testing feeds produced by a Lithuanian start-up to recommend feeding regimes and provide information on feed conversion rates. This research together with the other directions are all part of the Klaipeda 2030 strategy for blue growth in which aquaculture is one of the priorities.

Dr Nika’s team has also started experimenting with aquaponics.

Two projects are being carried out, one to install aquaponics systems for small-scale crop and aquaculture farmers and the other at the institute’s laboratory on the Curonian spit, where a greenhouse is

For more information, contact: Dr Nerijus Nika Marine Research Institute Klaipeda University nerijus.nika@apc.ku.lt http://apc.ku.lt/en/

Multi-disciplinary team from Vilnius University wins prestigious international competition

Detecting, treating, and preventing flavobacterial diseases The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of synthetic biology, education, and the development of an open community and collaboration. The foundation runs the iGEM competition, an international contest for students to find solutions to everyday issues using synthetic biology. The competition started as a summer event at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2004 with five teams and has since expanded to over 350 teams from 40 countries.

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n 2020 a team from Vilnius University won the event’s undergraduate grand prize for work on detecting, treating, and preventing toxic bacteria from colonising fish farms using recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Led by Ieva Lingytơ, a student at Vilnius University’s Life Sciences Centre, the team comprised 14 members, many of them from the Life Sciences Centre, but some also from the faculty 44

of Mathematics and Informatics, faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, and other departments.

It was the discovery that two bacterial infections, columnariosis and cold water disease, were so toxic to fish growing in recirculating aquaculture systems that they could decimate a stock within a couple of weeks if left unchecked, that inspired the team to address the issue. The solution took the form of a test, like a pregnancy

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test, that could identify species of Flavobacterium. This genus is responsible for several serious diseases in farmed trout and tools currently used for detection are highly complex and not very cost effective.

Time is of the essence when treating disease Like many pathogens these bacteria normally coexist with the

fish, but if a change in environmental or other conditions raises the stress levels of the fish, their immune systems weaken, and they start displaying symptoms of the disease. Within 24-72 hours of changes in fish appearance or behaviour, mortality rates accelerate and can reach over 70% among the infected population.

Being able to quickly identify the pathogen is therefore a vital step in preventing the disease from

LITHUANIA

Members of the Vilnius University team that won the 2020 International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Foundation undergraduate grand prize for their work on detecting, treating, and preventing certain fish diseases in recirculation aquaculture systems.

flaring out of control. The primary goal of the project was to develop a detection kit for flavobacteria that was efficient, cost effective, robust, and fully portable, as current methods, though sensitive and fairly quick, require special laboratory equipment and samples from live fish. In addition to developing the test the group created a software tool that could speed up the whole process of developing tests, making it easier to create tests for other pathogens. Another project output was the design and production of a 3D-printed case to protect the testing strip during its use on a fish farm.

Once the pathogen is identified the next step is to treat the infected fish. The team was well aware that generally treatment

methods for bacterial infections in fish are to dose the fish with antibiotics. While this stops the infection, over time it also contributes to the evolution of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

To avoid this, it was decided that the treatment strategy should help reduce usage of antibiotics against bacterial fish diseases.

The idea behind the treatment was to base it on exolysins which attack the harmful bacteria that form biofilms on the fish gills which prevent the fish from respiring. The exolysins would only work when they sense sufficient concentrations of a molecule that expresses the biofilms. However, Ms Lingytơ says much more work is needed before such a treatment strategy can be considered safe and effective.

Prevention based on an oral vaccine to prevent fish handling The third leg of the project was to develop a prevention strategy that would stop the disease from breaking out again. The obvious way to do this is by vaccinating the fish but this calls for physical handling which stresses the fish and weakens their immune systems. The solution was to develop an orally administered vaccine in the form of a protein embedded in a protective envelope. The envelope would allow the protein to survive the harsh environment of the stomach so that it could be released in the midgut where naturally occurring bacteria dissolve the protective membrane and enable the vaccine to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

In addition to developing the tools for detection, treatment and elimination, the terms of the competition prescribed the creation of a detailed website (https://2020. igem.org/Team:Vilnius-Lithuania) that described the work the team was doing. Moreover, the team made presentation videos, carried out outreach activities promoting synthetic biology, and interacted with academics, government officials, and private companies. For the team members, the months of intense work that went into the project were tough but, thanks to all they learned and experienced, also rewarding. That they then went on to win the grand prize was like the icing on the cake.

For more information, contact Ieva Lingytơ, ieva.lingyte@gmail. com

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[ ENVIRONMENT ] Ghost nets endanger wildlife and harm the environment

The invisible danger at sea Every day, nets and other fishing gear are lost in the vastness of the oceans or are intentionally disposed of at sea. These ghost nets keep on catching, however, and can become deadly traps that threaten marine biodiversity. Even their gradual disintegration presents dangers, because it contributes to microplastics pollution in the seas. There is still no practical solution in sight for this issue.

Nets made from synthetic plastics are extremely environmentally resistant and take 400–600 years to break down in water.

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few decades ago, fishing nets were still mainly made from perishable natural fibres such as cotton yarn, hemp, manila or sisal. These were regularly impregnated with preservatives at a huge expense to prevent their disintegration. It was therefore seen as great progress when the first nets made from synthetic, almost completely rot-proof plastics such as polypropylene, 46

polyethylene and nylon (polyamide) arrived on the market.

The environmental cost of this supposed progress was willingly accepted at the time. Synthetic polymer net materials take an average of 400 to 600 years to completely break down in nature. Lost fishing gear can therefore remain capable of catching marine life and endanger wildlife for decades. Just like our packaging waste, it also

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contributes to plastic pollution of the seas.

No responsible fisher would leave their expensive fishing gear in the sea intentionally. But the loss of nets cannot be completely prevented in the fishing industry, because the material ages, and can end up lost in the sea due to tearing, accidents and other adverse circumstances. However, where

there are no options for disposal or they are costly, nets are also carelessly thrown into the sea. After all, the sea is vast and the nights are dark. There is a terminological distinction made between “Endof-Life Fishing Gear” (EOL) and “Abandoned, Lost and Discarded Fishing Gear” (ALDFG) when it comes to ghost nets. This kind of pollution of the seas is forbidden by law almost everywhere.

[ ENVIRONMENT ]

Ghost nets are said to represent a significant proportion of the plastic waste in the seas. However, only rough estimates of how high the amount actually is are possible.

European fishers are obligated to retrieve lost nets or report losses to the supervisory authorities.

In this case the responsibility for their retrieval lies with the state.

This, at least, is what is stated in the EU fisheries control regulation.

However, no Member State is compulsorily obligated to retrieve lost nets. Often, the political will and also the financial means to retrieve lost nets are lacking. Potential risks to the ecosystem and environmental damage clearly do not justify any particular urgency in this case.

Often only the waste that endangers the safety of shipping routes is cleared up.

The extent of the problem is often unknown Storms and accidents at sea are among the most common causes

for fishing gear being lost as ghost nets. Gillnets are torn from their anchors and carried away by the current. Marker buoys for nets and crab pots can be lost, which makes finding fishing gear more difficult. Trawl nets can get stuck on rocks, corals, wrecks or other obstacles on the sea floor. Dolly ropes are woven into the underside of many bottom trawl nets to protect against abrasion caused by sharp rocks and banks of mussels, and can be torn off. Fishing gear is frequently lost overboard during shipping accidents. Unfortunately, in many regions it is still standard practice to dispose of worn out or overly damaged nets in the sea, because bringing them back to land would result in unnecessary costs. Net dumping is also a common practice in IUU fishing. If illegal fishers are at risk of being detected during their

nefarious activities, they often cut the lines and throw the nets overboard to hide potential evidence of their misdeeds.

In 2009, the UNEP and FAO estimated that at least 640,000 tonnes of nets and other fishing gear is lost, abandoned or thrown away at sea each year. At that time this constituted some ten percent of the waste ending up in the oceans globally. Today these quantities could be even higher, but might potentially be lower due to increased environmental awareness. It is difficult to say precisely what quantity of net materials ends up in the seas each year. All figures quoted in the media and public forums regarding this are only estimates, which may be totally exaggerated or underestimated due to vested interests. How frequently

this takes place, if the figures cannot be correctly verified, is the subject of lively speculation. In this exaggeration competition, it is difficult to identify those few studies that at least attempt objective quantification. In the year 2020, the WWF claimed that at least one third of the plastic waste in the sea globally is composed of fishing gear such as nets and ropes. It also claimed that some 500,000 to one million tonnes would be added each year. A report from World Animal Protection (WAP) estimates that at least 700,000 tonnes of fishing gear from commercial fisheries is disposed of in the sea each year. EcoWatch uses the 640,000 tonnes figure from the FAO, but for ResearchGate this is too low, it assumes that 6.4 million tonnes of fishing gear ends up in the oceans each year.

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[ ENVIRONMENT ] Diverse threats to wildlife at sea and on land According to Greenpeace, six percent of all nets used, nine percent of fish traps and crab pots and 29 percent of all longlines end up in the ocean as marine waste. Pham et al. (2014) estimate that approximately one third of the plastic waste on the sea floor of the North Sea, the Atlantic, the Arctic and the Mediterranean is composed of fishing gear, mainly nets and ropes. And the environmental project Ocean Cleanup, founded by the Dutchman Boyan Slat, claims to have determined that fishing nets and net components, ropes and fishing lines make up almost half of the enormous 1.6 million square kilometre Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Approximately 46 percent of the 79,000 tonnes of plastic waste in this area between the US West Coast and Hawaii, which is some three times the size of France, is said to be made up of lost or thrown away fishing gear.

These are all only vague estimates, but regardless of their credibility, it cannot be disputed that ghost nets represent a serious problem that urgently requires a solution.

This is because durable fishing gear continues to fulfil its original purpose as ghost nets: fish and numerous other animals get caught in the mesh. Fish remain caught in the nets and unwillingly become bait that attracts larger marine animals such as porpoises, seals, dolphins, diving birds and sea turtles. They can also become entangled in the nets and get injured or stuck and drown.

Sometimes animals mistake floating bits of nets for food and perish miserably as a result. World Animal Protection estimates that more than 136,000 seals, sea lions and great whales lose their lives to 48

Minor damage to nets can often still be repaired, but with large-scale defects there is no other option but to completely replace the fishing gear.

ghost nets each year. An unknown number of seabirds, turtles, fish and other species meet the same fate. The Internet platform earth. org claims that the number of animals lost to ghost nets is significantly higher, at “up to 650,000 marine animals”. A scientific study (Kühn et al. 2015) lists 344 species that have already been found in ghost nets. Almost half of these (161 species) were seabirds, marine mammals or aquatic turtles. Other estimates arrive at approximately 800 species. Depending on the source, the losses to commercial fish stocks due to stray ghost nets run between 5 and 30 percent. But again, these are only assumptions and claims that cannot be verified and therefore also cannot be disproved.

Microplastics can enter the food chain Nobody would seriously dispute that ghost nets cause damage to marine wildlife. However, damage to the ecosystem also occurs

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through mechanical effects such as when nets cover reefs and suffocate them or fish baskets get caught on corals. Even nets that are washed ashore can have destructive effects, because seabirds like to use the soft material to build their nests. The tear-resistant loops of the nets can have deadly consequences for old and young birds if they get stuck in them.

North-East Atlantic found that 73 percent of the animals studied had microplastics in their digestive tract (Wieczorek et al. 2018).

98 percent of these plastic particles were fibres for which the origin – ghost nets or other plastic waste – could not be identified, however the study underlined the urgency of solving the plastics problem in general and that of ghost nets in particular.

Ghost nets that permanently remain at sea gradually become brittle and over the decades slowly crumble into ever smaller particles until they become microplastics measuring less than 5 millimetres. This does not in any way solve the problem of ghost nets, however, but rather gives it an extra dimension, because the tiny plastic particles continue to drift through the sea, releasing chemicals such as plasticisers and flame retardants, and can enter the marine food chain. An analysis of the stomach contents of some species of fish from the

Retrieval of ghost nets is difficult and expensive But how does one combat a problem of global dimensions that is not visible to most people, and the solution for which involves a lot of effort and is also expensive?

Locating and retrieving ghost nets from the oceans requires enormous efforts. Even in shallow coastal waters, professional divers and technical equipment are often needed, the costs of which can quickly reach several thousand euro per day at sea.

This is often more than the cost of

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Each piece of fishing gear used in fishing is subject to certain risks of being damaged from rough use at sea and becoming useless or being lost.

new fishing gear, which explains why many fishers would rather invest in new gear than retrieve lost equipment. In deeper regions of the sea beyond continental shelf areas, attempts at retrieval are unlikely to be successful in any case. Although net losses at sea can never be completely prevented, some causes for it can be (or can be limited). For example, illegal disposal of worn-out nets in the sea could be alleviated if the regulatory authorities introduced personal registration of all nets and made handing in old nets easier. Setting up a deposit and return system for nets would also be a sensible idea. Responsibilities would have to be clarified and tasks clearly allocated.

The legal foundations are actually already in place. At an international level, both the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the

MARPOL Convention prohibit the disposal of fishing gear at sea. Article 48 of the EU Fisheries Control regulation obliges fishers to report the last known location of lost nets. However, such requirements are often ineffective, because they are not sufficiently enforced. Various national and international organisations, as well as private companies, attempt to fill the gap by increasing awareness of the problem and publicising retrieval of ghost nets from the seas. These include, for example, the WWF, the Ocean Voyages Institute, Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delphine (Dolphin Rescue Society), Nofir, Healthy Seas with Ghost Diving and other initiatives. The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI), which was established in 2015 by World Animal Protection, specifically deals with the issue. It involves NGOs, the private sector, the

fishing industry, scientists, governments and top-level organisations (e.g. UNEP, FAO, NOAA, CSIRO, EU-GD, MARE) working together on specific projects. As part of a project to identify fishing gear in Pacific waters, for example, the GGGI is working together with local fishers, the FAO and the state authorities of Indonesia and the Netherlands.

Lots of ideas, but no general solution in sight There are plenty of ideas, technical solutions and other measures globally to prevent the loss of fishing gear or to make finding and retrieving it easier. These include tiny acoustic underwater transponders that can be attached to the nets and require very little electricity, so that they can work for months without requiring new batteries. With new GPS locating

systems, it would be possible to precisely mark the locations at which nets were lost. To keep electrosensitive sharks away from ghost nets, it is often enough to simply attach small magnets to the net. Side-scan sonars, which generate 360-degree maps of the sea floor using sound waves, are helpful for tracking down lost fishing gear. With their help, sources of interference such as ghost nets and other fishing gear can be detected. Underwater drones can also be helpful, such as the remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) from Deep Trekker.

Some projects focus on prevention and offer fishers financial incentives for reporting lost gear or old damaged nets, so that they never become ghost nets in the first place. Perhaps net materials that degrade much more quickly in the water and thereby limit the Eurofish Magazine 3 / 2021

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Aquaculture net enclosures, which are almost permanently in use, are subject to particular stresses as they must withstand wind and waves.

lifespan of ghost nets could also be used. This option has already been in use for a long time for lobster pots on the North American coast. They have escape windows that dissolve in the water after a certain time, so that crabs caught in them can escape from the traps through these “emergency exits”.

Where retrieval of ghost nets with divers is too expensive, too dangerous, or not possible for other reasons, net rakes are frequently used. The nets are caught on their prongs and can then be hauled up. There are even smartphone apps that have been developed recently, with which practically anyone can report a find of stray fishing gear. Using this notification system, important information such as the location coordinates, immersion depth and a brief description of the objects found – photos can even 50

be uploaded – are recorded in a database. Depending on the level of threat, professional divers can then take care of retrieval.

Recycled ocean plastic is often only good for advertising Despite high engagement levels, many retrieval actions by environmental organisations and activists have little more than symbolic significance. Their real value lies in the broad reach they have with the public, which increases awareness of the problem. It can be difficult not to exaggerate the significance of individual actions in order to boost donations for a good cause. But what actually happens to ghost nets after they are retrieved? Disposal methods vary depending on region and range from bringing nets to

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landfills to utilisation for energy in waste incinerators to material recycling, which is however only rarely undertaken as the required logistics are lacking. A few years ago, however, a GGGI project in Alaska attempted to develop reasonable options for recycling old and ghost nets.

The recycling of ghost nets from the sea is expensive and requires a lot of effort, which often makes it uneconomical. Gillnets are usually weighted at the bottom with poisonous lead that must be removed before recycling.

The nets are also contaminated with sand, sludge and organic materials such as algae, barnacles and fish remnants. Another difficulty is that the nets are often made up of a mix of different plastics, which takes a lot of effort to separate. In principle,

thin monofilament nylon gillnets can be spun into yarn and thicker trawl nets and cables melted down into pellets, but this is usually not done in practice due to the high cost. This makes it all the more astonishing that the quantity of products that claim to be made from “recycled ocean plastic” is steadily increasing.

The “ocean plastic” advertising promise often turns out to be a misleading marketing trick that plays with the expectations of many customers but really only serves to swell sales. Many of these swimming shorts, sports clothes, mobile phone cases, sunglasses and skateboards, rucksacks and carpet tiles that claim to be “helping the marine environment” are actually made of recycled plastic of which only a small percentage or none at all comes from the sea. mk

SPAIN

Recognising women’s essential, but often unacknowledged, roles in Spanish fishing and aquaculture

The Spanish fishing sector in transition Fishing is more than taking fish from the ocean or from inland lakes and streams. The simplistic image of men labouring on the sea in the face of nature’s harsh challenges does not portray the complexities of today’s fishing sector. Before and after fish are taken, a large amount of work must be done, on board and ashore, by both men and women.

Shellfish are also collected from vessels using a hand-held dredging tool. The dredging is usually done by men, while the women sort the shellfish by size and species.

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s long as can be remembered, women have worked in all segments of the industry, yet even today, they often remain invisible. Men went to sea, and women worked on land. Women’s work was considered complementary to their domestic duties and was not recognised socially, legally, or economically. As a result, they have been, and still are, denied basic rights, benefits, and institu-

tional support that men have always assumed as their due.

Refusing women their rights A realistic assessment of women’s involvement in fishing is slowly coming into focus, and the wealth of work performed by women is beginning to be recognised. In Spain, however, despite decades

of organising to achieve the same rights and opportunities as men, their contribution continues to go unnoticed. Without this recognition—from society, government, neighbours, and families— women are denied their basic rights as workers: a decent living wage (or any wage at all), safe and decent working conditions, social security including unemployment and retirement benefits, regulated

work hours and holidays, medical coverage that recognises sectorspecific medical conditions, and parental leave and childcare.

There is, however, an increasing understanding that, by preventing women from participating fully and contributing their experience to a body of shared knowledge, the industry is losing out. Further, since the 1990s, many codes of conduct have been adopted, Eurofish Magazine 3 / 2021

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and businesses are learning that embracing good practice leads to increased sales and profits from ethical trade. They are realising the advantages of taking their corporate social responsibility seriously. In parts of Spain, many obstacles are being removed, but progress is slow. Whether it is inevitable remains to be seen.

The work that women do falls into two general categories. In the first category are professions that are clearly visible and, in many parts of Spain, are officially recognised as job titles. These include such jobs as rederas, who manufacture and repair nets, mariscadoras, who gather clams and cockles by hand, workers in the canning and processing industry, and fishmongers, who sell in wholesale and retail venues.

The second category has to do with “caring” and seems to be an extension of their housework and the care they provide for the family. Women provision the boats, often making the crew’s daily meals. They prepare the fishing gear, clean the boat, and manage its upkeep. They ensure that all legal aspects are in order. They deal with crew contracts, salaries, insurance, and unemployment.

They make sure health and safety requirements are met. In the afternoon, when the day‘s catch arrives in port, they unload it, transport it to the fish market, and attend the auction. And all of this in addition to their responsibilities as wives and mothers, but these invisible jobs are essential to the maintenance and growth of the fishing sector.

Patriarchy is not inevitable A way of life as traditional as fishing—with strong cultural rules, durable societal conventions, and long histories during which roles were codified—distances women in many ways from the values and advantages of modernity. Women 52

must contend with a tangle of complex, ancestral relationships in a society that perceives them simultaneously as women, wives, community members, and co-workers. For example, as the owner or co-owner of a vessel, a woman might be her husband and son’s boss. But in this context, their work might still be regarded as merely supporting the family’s financial and nutritional requirements, even as the women reinforce the backbone of social relations and ensure cohesion in their fishing communities.

Women contribute to the economic security of their homes and so contribute to the socioeconomic development of their communities. Understanding the complex distribution of roles, power, and profits is hindered by the scarcity of quantitative, qualitative, and sex-disaggregated data. (In Spain, fishery data was not disaggregated according to sex until 2005.) The wide variety of women’s activities is barely reflected in fishery statistics, because the records only look at the male population. Further, data is sparse and, when it exists, it may be incomplete and inconsistent between regions and industrial sectors. To overcome this, data covering women must be introduced into fishing studies, statistics, and institutions.

It is estimated that, in the EU, more than 100,000 women contribute to the fisheries sector. Women make up roughly 13 per cent of capture fishery employees, 26 per cent of the workforce in aquaculture, 51 per cent in seafood processing, and 95 per cent of shellfishers. In all, women hold approximately 27 per cent of all jobs in EU fisheries, aquaculture, processing, and auxiliary activities combined. Spain employs the largest number of

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people in the fishing sector in the EU. It is estimated that, of the nearly 38,000 people in the sector, women make up 27 per cent of aquaculture workers, 95 per cent of shellfishers, and 80 per cent of processing industry employees.

Óscar Vifer

SPAIN

Gender policies in Spain are modern in some cases and insufficient in others According to the FAO, the Spanish government’s work on gender equality is consistent with EU principles, laws, and regulations, and is framed by international treaties and conventions. It is also supported by the Spanish constitution. Nevertheless, gender policies in Spain have been both forward thinking in some areas and inadequate in others. On one hand, there have been many legislative and societal advances.

(The country was named eighth in the 2020 World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report, recognising its success in fighting gender discrimination in the social, political, and economic areas.) On the other hand, small- and mediumsized Spanish fisheries have been slow to catch up to other industries in terms of employment opportunities, economic participation, and decision-making.

A 2016 legislative change to the Special Regime of the Sea (REM) incorporated professional groups that had not been acknowledged previously, for example, neskatillas, who unload and clean the fish, and packers, who classify the catches before they are sold. Up to this point, legislation used the masculine form for job titles. The new law added feminine job titles. For example, rederas was added to the masculine term rederos for net makers. Although the job of net maker appears as a category within the Social Institute of the Sea, in the province of Valencia, it is not recognised. In terms of rights and

Rita Míguez de la Iglesia, president of the National Association of Women in Fisheries (ANMUPESCA)

benefits, Valencian net makers do not exist.

The shellfishers of Galicia: mariscadoras For centuries in Galicia, as in other parts of Europe, women and children developed a subsistence activity by collecting shellfish and crustaceans on the shore. In Galicia, shellfish were consumed by the local population and constituted an important source of protein. By the end of the 1960s, the value and status of the catch increased as the country’s economy developed, mostly as a result of tourism. Also, local canneries used shellfish to keep themselves busy in the period when sardines were out of season. To gather shellfish in the tidal zone, women needed only basic equipment (knives, sticks, lamps to fish at night, nets or traps, baskets or bags) and skills that, in many cases, they had already learned from their mothers. Today, approximately 90 per cent are self-employed women, and almost 60 per cent are women over 50 years old. According to Rita Míguez de la Iglesia, president of the National Association of Women in Fisheries (ANMUPESCA), shellfishing on foot generates a greater return than other types of catches.

SPAIN

Galician mariscadoras have been very active in exposing the reality of women’s lives in the fishing industry.

In the mid‐1990s, they began to form independent organisations through which they hoped to claim legal status and recognition of their contribution. After obtaining professional status, they joined the fishermen‘s organisations or cofradías.

The tradition of cofradías possibly predisposes Spanish fishermen to look naturally for situations in which effort is shared for the common good. For centuries, Spanish fishermen have managed artisanal coastal fisheries with guilds or cofradías. Guilds in some regions have their roots in medieval institutions.

In Galicia, however, the guilds were promoted by Franco only after 1943.

As the 1990s progressed, the Galician organisations were joined by other groups along the Cantabrian coast. Finally, most of these local associations joined forces creating larger entities. Examples include the Galician Association of Shellfishers (AGAMAR), the Association of Net Makers, the Neskatillas of Euskadi, and the Spanish Network of Women in the Fishing Sector. In 2016, ANMUPESCA, was established, with the participation of ship owners, net makers, and shellfishers, mainly from Galicia, but open to any woman or group of women from the fishing sector. In addition to providing moral support and contact development, these groups lobby for women’s rights, work to increase their negotiating power, participate in fishery management policy, secure capital resources, and sponsor capacity building sessions.

The National Association of Women in Fisheries fights for a better future for its members Rita Míguez de la Iglesia, spent 11 years working as a mariscadora.

After collecting shellfish from one of the Galician rias, mariscadoras queue to sell the catch to the producer organisation of which they are members.

From her days in the sandy areas near the municipality of Pontevedra, Galicia, she knows first-hand how brutal the work can be. Days can exceed 16 hours simply to make a day’s wage, and the conditions are merciless. Workers face storms and excessive exposure to the sun.

They stand in waist-deep water for hours and suffer lumbar-area back pain, urinary tract infections, vision problems, and stings from aquatic animals such as jellyfish, among other hazards. Ms Míguez says that gaining recognition of these physical conditions as occupational diseases is a main concern of ANMUPESCA. She points out that the harsh working conditions often make it unlikely that a woman will be able to work until retirement age, therefore reducing her pension.

ANMUPESCA’s is fully engaged in

a wide range of challenges faced by women. Some current concerns include determining a minimum wage for certain groups who sometimes must work 10- and 12-hour days to earn a minimum wage, and setting the retirement age for net makers. Ms Míguez sums it up, “we have to fight for the same retirement rules as workers on fishing boats. We have to fight for our occupational health problems to be recognised. We have to fight for representation in the relevant decisionmaking bodies and commissions”.

Maria Damanaki, former European Union Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, noted the “inadmissible contradiction” between the role that women play in the European maritime sector and the wealth that such work generates.

Fair is fair. But achieving balance in a profession that is, by its traditional nature, resistant to change, will take considerable realignment and political commitment. Women’s organizations created to fight for gender equality will continue to play a decisive role by advocating for policy support and convincing change makers to back activities identified as central to achieving women’s empowerment. Everyone will have to step back and study the larger picture to determine what is most beneficial for the maritime sector as a whole. Fishing implies a certain way of life and a particular social reality. Borders between work, family, and community are often blurred.

Bringing the lines into focus may be where all of this is leading.

William Anthony Eurofish Magazine 3 / 2021

53

[ TECHNOLOGY ] Proper on-board handling of fish contributes significantly to higher quality and longer shelf life

Insulated containers with lids can make all the difference Fish from the Icelandic fishing industry has an enviable reputation for quality. Insulated containers have contributed to this in no small measure.

O

nboard handling refers to the conditions that fish are subjected to after harvest and up to the point of landing, when the fish is transferred on shore, according to the FAO. Proper handling is critical to slowing the process of deterioration, prolonging the shelf life, and maintaining the quality of the product.

Better handling increases thereby the value of the catch. At a webinar organised by Seafood Source, Björn Margeirsson Research Manager at Sæplast and Associate Professor at the University of Iceland spoke about ways in which on-board handling could be improved to maximise the value of the catch. As he pointed out, the quality of the fish when it leaves the sea is at its peak—from that point on the quality will only deteriorate. Therefore, the main aim of on-board handling and storage is to reduce this deterioration for as long and as effectively as possible.

Chilling and the maintenance of good hygiene conditions are critical for quality and shelf life during fish handling.

Improvements have come about in a series of small steps Iceland has a well-deserved reputation for exporting high quality fish. This has come about through investments in research and in developing technology which has led to incremental improvements over a period of decades. Up 54

Improvements in on board handling including the use of insulated containers has contributed to the increase in value of fish from Iceland.

to around 1970, fish was stored in bulk on shelves in the hold.

Thereafter, shallow plastic crates were brought into use. These were much better but there was a tendency to overload them with fish and ice resulting in high pressure on the crates at the bottom of the hold. Plastic crates were replaced by insulated plastic containers in the 80s and 90s. These were much better at maintaining the temperature, but initial generations of these insulated tubs were so big and deep (660 litres with a depth of 58-60 cm) that the fish at the bottom of the tub was subject to sub-optimal pressure from the layers above. From the mid-90s these tubs were replaced by shallower insulated containers that

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typically had a depth of 40-42 cm and a volume of 460 litres, resulting in a weight loss of around 1.5 compared to around 2 for the 660-L tubs during one-week storage. The 460-L containers have since become the most widely used containers for fish in the Icelandic fresh fish industry. The holds in modern vessels in Iceland house rows of neatly stacked containers of this type and are often equipped with automatic systems for moving them around.

Bleeding and chilling determine fillet quality On-board handling starts with the catch arriving on board followed by, in some instances, sorting by

size and species. Mixing red fish with cod or haddock, for example, may have an impact on the quality of the latter, so it is better to sort them. Bleeding is the next stage and it is important to remove the enzymes and iron present in the blood which can otherwise compromise quality and affect fillet appearance. This step together with chilling are the most important determinants of fillet quality, emphasised Mr Margeirsson.

Bleeding carried out within 30 minutes of capture gives the best results in terms of fillet colour. After that, the longer the interval before being bled, the more discoloured the fillet. Bleeding is followed by gutting which removes microbes from the fish and thus also helps to preserve

[ TECHNOLOGY ] quality. However, Mr Margeirsson said, experience in Iceland had shown that if proper washing is not possible post gutting, then it was probably better not to gut the fish on board but to do it later onshore.

This is normal practice in Iceland for fishing trips shorter than a day, but on longer trips, which are common, the fish will be gutted and thoroughly washed on board. After washing, the fish must be chilled, a process that entails first bringing the temperature down to 0 or -1 centigrade and then maintaining this temperature while the fish is under storage. The quicker the fish is brought to this temperature the longer the shelf life. Chilling can be achieved with different media— brine, ice of different kinds, or refrigerated seawater. Following chilling the fish must be packed in boxes with ice. Research has shown that cod stored at zero degrees has a shelf life of 12-15 days while storing at 10 degrees centigrade reduces shelf life to three-four days. The longest possible shelf life is of the utmost importance when the fish is 5-6 days away from the market where it will be sold. Until 2005 or so it was customary to chill to 0 degrees centigrade, but then it was discovered that superchilling to minus 1 degree centigrade can increase the shelf life by 1-3 days (as compared to the 12-15 days at 0 °C).

Each form of ice has benefits and disadvantages The fisheries sector uses different kinds of ice to chill and store the fish including block ice, flake ice, crushed block ice, and slurry ice.

Ice is used to reduce the temperature and, as it melts, to keep the fish clean and moist. Slurry ice, a pumpable mixture of ice, water, and salt, can be cooled to minus 2 or minus 3 centigrade. It chills therefore faster than flake ice, which has a melting temperature

of about 0 degrees. The small particles of ice in the slurry are also gentler on the fish than the sharp edges of flake ice. Another advantage is that since it encloses the fish better without air gaps at the fish surface, the transfer of heat from the fish to the cooling medium is higher. Rapid chilling postpones rigor and maximises its duration thereby reducing the risk of toughness, gaping, and shrinkage in the fillet. However, temperature is only one factor influencing the impact of rigor. In general, there is no question that slurry ice works better if the main aim is to chill the catch fast, said Mr Margeirsson. Maintaining temperature, however, is something else.

Slurry ice is not as effective for this task because it actually has a lower cooling capacity per kilogram than flake ice. After the first few days of storage, the faster melting of the slurry results in inferior cooling capacity compared with flake ice.

Therefore, a few shovels of flake ice are sometimes added on top of fish, which has been stored in slurry ice for a few days.

Insulated containers require less ice than single-walled ones In Iceland recommendations for packing fish in flake ice are to start with a layer of ice, followed by a layer of fish, bellies down to prevent water from accumulating in the gut cavity. Successive layers of ice and fish follow terminating in a top layer of ice after which the lid is put on. The drain holes in the container are kept open to allow melt water to escape. The accumulation of melt water is detrimental to quality. Mr Margeirsson also showed that fish arranged in two layers in a container can take 9-12 hours to cool from 10 to 2 degrees C, while if arranged in three layers the same reduction in temperature would

Insulated containers are better than single walled containers at maintaining temperature and so require less ice.

take 4-5 hours. Insulated containers offer an advantage when storing the fish at these temperatures as they maintain the ice much longer than single walled containers. As a result, less ice is needed to keep the fish cool, though this is also influenced by how well the hold is refrigerated.

The final stage of the handling on board is when the containers are offloaded and transported to the processing facility or auction.

Offloading highlights another difference between plastic crates and insulated containers that has implication both for speed and for safety when offloading. A catch of 100 tonnes of gutted fresh fish could take 8 workers up to 8 hours

to offload when using fish crates.

With 460 litre insulated containers the same volume could be offloaded in 3-4 hours by two people. However, the faster offloading presupposes the use of heavier equipment such as cranes.

In conclusion, Mr Margeirsson told the audience that insulated containers and ice will increase quality, reduce handling, extend shelf life, and maximise yield.

They are quicker and safer to offload, and the fish will command higher prices. In the Icelandic fishing sector, constantly optimising on-board handling has contributed to an increase in the value of catches over the years.

EUROFISH Magazine 3 / 2021

55

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FISH INFONETWORK NEWS

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News

INFOFISH-organised TUNA 2021 successfully moves to virtual format As in many segments of the global fisheries sector, the tuna industry is responding to the pandemic with innovative solutions. Trailblazing through Tough Times was the theme of TUNA 2021, the 16th INFOFISH World Tuna Conference and Exhibition. Held in May 2021 on a virtual and interactive platform, almost 240 participants listened to and networked with more than forty highly sought-after experts and world spokespersons on salient aspects of the industry.

Among the many important messages from the conference were:

(i) that sustainability and social accountability strongly influence the direction of the industry; (ii) technology is driving innovation which is unfolding at breakneck speed partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and (iii) in the wake of the current global disruptions, collaboration and equitable partnerships between all stakeholders is crucial to better tackle challenges. Phil Roberts, the conference chairman, added that, in general, fishing and processing operations coped with the disruptions caused by Covid-19, though the cost for many working at sea, who

could not disembark, take leave, or see their families, was high.

Canned tuna sales have risen in the Middle East and Africa, he observed, while food service has not recovered. On the other hand, he noted how the pandemic accelerates the move to e-commerce and online shopping particularly in Asia. Climate change is also an ongoing concern and the question remains as to how we can mitigate its worst effects.

The 17th INFOFISH World Tuna Trade Conference will be held next year in Bangkok, subject to

Phil Roberts, managing director, Tri Marine International (PTE) Ltd, and conference chairman

travel and safety guidelines at that time.

INFOPESCA participated in the organization of the Korea International Cooperation Conference on Oceans and Fisheries (KICCOF 2021: LATIN AMERICA): “The Future Direction of the Development Cooperation on Oceans and Fisheries in the Post Covid-19 Era”.

The virtual event took place on 23 February 2021 and was held by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, with the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) & Korea Institute of Oceans Science & Technology (KIOST) as co-hosts.

Graciela Pereira, Director, INFOPESCA, presented an overview of the region (aquaculture and fisheries production, trade, etc.), with figures based on FAO data, and a summary of the main challenges facing Latin American countries and their needs.

The most important issues facing the sector in Latin America include illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; low fish 56

consumption; dependence on export markets; climate change; the impact of COVID-19 on fisheries and trade; overexploitation of stocks; and the lack of RFMOs. Some of these issues could be addressed with the help of projects in the areas of: cooperation and exchange between fishermen; construction of fishing ports, landing sites, fish markets; assistance to the network of women in fisheries; building fishermen’s and processors’ capacity in hygiene and fish management; improved trade of fishery products between Latin America and the Republic of Korea; direct trade between Latin American fishing communities; and aquaculture.

The Korean authorities expressed satisfaction at the opportunity to learn about the situation in Latin America and about prospects for cooperation. KIOST and KMI are the two most representative entities of the sector and they will

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INFOPESCA/Nelson Avdalov

KICCOF 2021: Latin America and the Republic of Korea commit to fisheries cooperation

The Latin American region is interested in increasing its trade in fisheries products with Korea.

continue their cooperation with the Latin American region, said Park Jun-Yong, General Director, KIOST. Joint activities are important, he added, to be able to respond, for example, to climate change efficiently. If Korea and Latin America cooperate in this regard, it will reduce the impact on both regions.

In conclusion speakers emphasised that the conference should lead to projects. The parties committed to continue working together and agreed that communication should not only be virtual but also through the physical staging of new events, forums, and conferences once the pandemic allows this.

DIARY DATES Restrictions imposed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic may cause changes. Readers are advised to check the event websites for the latest information.

6-8 July 2021 Seafood Expo Russia St. Petersburg, Russia Tel.: +7 499 922 44 17 info@rusfishexpo.com www.rusfishexpo.com

13-15 October 2021 DanFish Aalborg, Denmark +45 99 35 55 18 ehe@akkc.dk www.danfish.com

13-15 March 2022 Seafood Expo North America Boston, USA Tel.: +1 207 842 5590 sales-na@seafoodexpo.com www.seafoodexpo.com

15-19 November 2021 World Aquaculture 2021 Merida, Mexico mario@marevent.com www.was.org 15-17 September 2021 Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition Reykjavik, Iceland Tel. +44 1329 825 335 jmiller@mercatormedia.com www.icefish.is

4-7 October 2021 Aquaculture Europe 2021 Madeira, Portugal mario@marevent.com www.marevent.com

5-7 October 2021 Conxemar Vigo, Spain Tel.: +34 986 433 351 conxemar@conxemar.com www.conxemar.com

5-8 December 2021 World Aquaculture 2020 Singapore mario@marevent.com www.was.org

13-15 February 2022 fish international Bremen, Germany Tel.: +49 421 3505 260 info@ fishinternational.de www.fishinternational.de

26-28 April 2022 Seafood Expo Global Barcelona, Spain Tel.: +1 207 842 5590 sales-global@seafoodexpo.com www.seafoodexpo.com

1-3 June 2022 Polfish Gdansk, Poland Tel.: +48 58 554 93 62 monika.pain@mtgsa.com.pl http://www.polfishfair.pl/

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Fish feeds: Plants may be the future source of omega-3 fats Aquaculture: Using PIT tags to manage broodstock Proper onboard handling is key to fish quality and shelf life is a member of the FISH INFO network

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