Fishupdate briefing Friday February 23rd

 
ENERGY WORLD FIRST FOR NEW WELLBOAT
THE Norwegian company Nordlaks is building the world\’s first wellboat powered by Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion and a battery pack. It says the development will  provide significant environmental and climate benefits. Emissions of Co2 are reduced by 30 per cent and  by 90 per cent for NoX (nitrogen oxide). The wellboat will carry live salmon and trout  for Nordlaks. The project is being developed by  NSK Ship Design in Harstad, according to a press release. Delivery is expected in February 2020.
PORTUGAL TOLD TO TOE  EU LINE ON FISHING
THE European  Commission has warned the Portuguese Government  that it must respect the exclusive mandate of the EU  when it comes to fishery and marine  biological resources. The move follows representations made by Portugal  to the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) involving  measures to address the impacts of bottom fishing activities on vulnerable marine ecosystems. The Commission said the  approach breached EU law and has told Portugal that if it does not reply satisfactorily within two months, the it may refer the matter to the EU Court of Justice.
SEAFOOD PROCESSORS CALL FOR AIRPORT EXPANSION
A GROUP of seafood buyers in Halifax, Nova Scotia have urged local politicians to increase the cargo handling capacity at the city\’s Stanfield International Airport to meet growing demand for the province\’s seafood products. Leo Muise, executive director of the Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance, told a legislature committee that air was the only practical method of exporting fish, but because of restricted capacity some of the Alliance members were having to use other means to get their product to Asia . He said the airport was unable to handle  amount of live lobsters needed for the recent Chinese New Year.
HUGE INCREASE IN FISH WITH PLASTIC
RESEARCH  by scientists at  the National University of Ireland  (NUI) in Galway, has found that 73 per cent of the deep  fish in the North West Atlantic   were found to have  ingested plastic particles, one of the  reported highest frequencies in fish anywhere in the world. . The research was conducted during a transatlantic crossing by the  Celtic Explorer research vessel. During the journey, scientists recovered dead deep-sea fish by trawling depths of up to 600 metres in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. Upon examination they found that a very high proportion contained small plastic fragments of the type used in personal care products and clothing.