Fishupdate briefing Friday December 7th

COD MAY HELP PEOPLE WITH KIDNEY PROBLEMS
RESEARCHERS at the University of Bergen in Norway believe that eating cod can help people with obesity related  kidney or renal  problems. They have recently carried out a study using overweight rats who were fed a quarter of their protein using cod over a period of four weeks. At the end of the period the rats were found to have improved renal function. The team said it looks as if cod can help to maintain muscle loss.  A combination of obesity and kidney problems in humans can lead to high blood pressure, which is not good for the heart. The university team said it will carry out further research before coming to a firm conclusion.
CANADIAN FISH STOCKS IN ‘SERIOUS DECLINE’
CANADA still has a lot of work to do to reverse the decline in fish stocks, said the advocacy group Oceana Canada, which has published a report assessing the health of the country’s fishery. Oceana’s science director, Robert Rangeley, said he hoped the audit would be a ‘wake-up call’ for better fisheries management. He added: ‘My biggest fear is one of complacency. We’re still hovering around one-third of our fish stocks (that) are healthy, which is very poor performance for the 194 stocks that are so important for coastal communities.’ The audit found that only 34 per cent of Canada’s fish stocks were considered healthy. Twenty nine per cent  were in a critical or cautious zone and, perhaps most alarmingly, 37 per cent of stocks don’t have sufficient data to be given a health status.
MACKEREL QUOTAS CUT BY 20 PER CENT
THE European Union, Norway and the Faroe Islands have been granted a total mackerel quota of 653,438 tonnes for 2019 –  around 20 per cent down on this year. The three groups have accepted scientific research which has shown that the North Atlantic  mackerel stock is lower than in previous years. The EU, which will still include Britain in the event of a Brexit deal, receives the largest share at 322,077 tonnes, followed by Norway at 147,085 tonnes and the Faroe Islands at 82,339 tonnes.
SUN SHINES ON GALWAY BAY SEAFOODS
GALWAY Bay Seafoods has been named Irish Independent Seafood Retailer of the Year for its customer retail shop, the Dockside Deli, at the National Seafood Awards in Dublin. Since 2016, the awards have recognised excellence and innovation within the seafood sector in Ireland, rewarding those who have gone above and beyond to promote the sector in the categories of innovation, sustainability, competitiveness and skills. Galway Bay Seafoods, which serves the city bearing its name, is more than 70 years old and is noted for a family tradition of craft fishmongers. The Dockside Deli is a recent addition to its business.