Fish Update Briefing, Friday, July 6

BLACK MARKET KING CRAB HAUL SEIZED
THE Norwegian authorities have seized a large number of illegal king crabs at a tourist resort in the northern Finnmark region of the country. They were found hidden in two freezers under a floating dock and later released. Just over a week ago, the government announced that it was taking tougher measures to crack down on seafood smuggling. Hilde Hamnes, regional director in the Northern Region Fisheries Directorate, said such actions were undermining the reputation of Norway’s seafood industry.
WHO’S THE SUCKER NOW!
RABIO, a clairvoyant octopus who correctly predicted most of Japan’s football world cup results, is no more. The creature was described as a psychic after forecasting Japanese wins against Colombia and their draw against Senegal and defeat by Poland by moving to different parts of a paddling pool. Food was placed in the pool at different points with each sector marked win, lose or draw and he picked out the correct point each time. However, Kimio Abe, the fisherman who caught Rabio, felt he\’d make more money selling the creature for food rather than from its clairvoyance skills. Japan was knocked out of the tournament by Belgium, but by that time Rabio had gone.
AIRLINE SUED OVER FROZEN FISH CONFISCATION
A COUPLE in Ontario, Canada, are reported to be seeking compensation after one of their bags containing frozen seafood was confiscated and destroyed without their consent. Totaram Drigpal and Nutan Ramcharan recently returned home from a trip to Guyana on Fly Jamaica Airlines, where they were visiting friends and family. When they arrived at the airport in Toronto, they couldn’t find their largest suitcase. Importing most types of frozen seafood is not illegal in Canada. Fly Jamaica Airlines said there was supposed to be a refrigerated facility on board, but it wasn’t working properly and the seafood had started to spoil. ‘Some of the passenger baggage in question contained large quantities of raw seafood,’ an airline spokesman said in a written statement. ‘In keeping with mandatory health regulations, bags containing decaying raw seafood were removed from the facility and destroyed.’
INDIAN SEAFOOD EXPORTS UP 21 PER CENT
INDIA’S seafood exports have risen by 21 per cent in the past year, with the United States continuing to be the lead destination. In value terms, exports totalled US $7.08 billion, up from £5.77 billion 12 months ago. Frozen shrimp and frozen fish continued to be the flagship export items, the Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) said in a release. The US, followed by South East Asia, retained their positions as the major import markets of India\’s seafood products, with a share of 32.76 per cent and 31.59 per cent in dollar terms, respectively.