Fish Update Briefing, Friday, November 16

SALMON DOES HELP HEART VICTIMS, SAY STUDIES
TWO Harvard led clinical trials have shown that eating more fish or taking a fish oil supplement can reduce the risk of a heart attack. One of the studies, known as Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial (or VITAL), found that healthy people who ate oily fish or took a fish oil supplement suffered fewer heart attacks, particularly if they were black or did not regularly eat fish. Meanwhile, it was found that a purified form of omega-3 fatty acid reduced the risk of death from heart attack or stroke in people with hardened arteries, according to findings from a study by the Reduction of Cardiovascular Events with Icosapent Ethyl Intervention Trial (known as REDUCE-IT). The two studies provide firm evidence that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish such as salmon, sardines or tuna can have a beneficial effect on heart health, said Dr JoAnn Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women\’s Hospital in Boston, and lead researcher for the VITAL trial.
SCOTTISH SHELLFISH PRODUCERS OFFERED TRAINING HELP
SEAFISH has teamed up with the Scottish Seafood Training Network to offer training for fish and shellfish producers looking to make the transition to the next version of British Retail Consortium (BRC) standards. The BRC standard for Food Safety is the highest grade that food producers need to meet so they can supply the major supermarkets and similar retailers. Every few years the BRC updates the standard and from February 2019 all supplier audits will use Version 8 of the Standard. Booking is now open for a training session on Tuesday, January 8, at the new Peterhead Fish Market. To make an enquiry about the course or reserve a place, contact onshore@seafish.co.uk or 01472 252300.
79 ARRESTED IN BLUEFIN TUNA CRACKDOWN
A TOTAL of 79 people have been arrested in southern Europe for conducting illegal trade in bluefin tuna. The operation was carried out by Europol following a coordinated international operation called Tarantelo, conducted by the Spanish Guardia Civil with support of French, Italian, Maltese and Portuguese authorities. Investigations revealed that the fish was being traded illegally in Spain, but imported into the country through French harbours, after being caught in Italian and Maltese waters. Illegally fished Bluefin tuna was transported in false bottoms under the deck of a vessel. More than 80 tonnes of illegally caught tuna were seized, but the authorities estimated that the network trafficked a volume of over 2,500 tonnes a year (more than twice the legal trade). Several histamine poisoning cases were also attributed to the unsanitary conditions in which the fish were stored.
US TO STAGE MAJOR AQUACULTURE EVENT
THE National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the fishing industry watchdog in the United State, is to stage a two-day aquaculture workshop on the Gulf Coast early next year. The event, on February 12-13 at Ocean Springs, Mississippi , will examine innovations and trends affecting the US and global aquaculture sectors. It will also highlight new investment possibilities. Although open to all US aquaculture businesses, priority will be given to businesses from the Gulf Coast and Midwestern states of the US.