English salmon stocks hit new low, report finds

Atlantic salmon stocks in England are more at risk than they have ever been, according to the latest report from the Environment Agency and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).

According to the Atlantic Salmon Stock Assessment for 2023, a joint study carried out by the two bodies, 90% of principal salmon rivers in England are classified as either “at risk” or “probably at risk,” meaning salmon numbers are below minimum levels to support sustainable populations.   

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£1.6m secured for fish health research

The Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) has announced its support for three innovation projects aimed at enhancing finfish health and welfare in response to a changing climate and other emerging challenges.

The projects concerned will address three major biological threats to farmed fish: micro-jellyfish, harmful algal blooms (HABs) and proliferative kidney disease (PKD).

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New name and brand for ECMA awards

Seawork image

Seawork, the European commercial marine & workboats exhibition, has announced a new brand for its prestigious European Commercial Marine Awards (ECMAs). From next year’s event, taking place at Seawork 2025 in June next year, these will be known as the Seawork Awards.

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Marine Fund Scotland announces latest grant decisions

A trial for a new water-borne feeding system for salmon farmer Cooke Scotland and a new service station for cleaning fish farming nets are among the projects supported in the latest round of funding from the Marine Fund Scotland.

In total, the fund is making grants with a total of £14m for marine industries and coastal and island communities in 2024/25.

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Partnership is key for Aquaculture Africa

Man with hat holding tablet by side of fish farm pond

Collaboration and partnerships are set to take centre stage at the upcoming Aquaculture Africa 2024 Conference in Tunisia, 19-22 November 2024. Aquaculture Africa 2024 Conference (AFRAQ24) takes place this November in Hammamet, Tunisia, with collaboration and partnership at the heart of the three-day event. The great strength of AFRAQ is the bringing together of the…

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Fresh farmed cod outstrips trawler catch in Norway exports

fish head on ice

For the first time, more than half the fresh cod exported from Norway last month was farmed, the latest statistics show. Two months ago the ratio was a third, which demonstrates the impressive growth in this still relatively young branch of aquaculture. The total September fresh cod export figure was 1,500 tonnes and worth NOK…

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US dockers suspend strike threat

ship moored at dock, with cranes

Dockers in the United States have agreed to suspend their strike until the New Year so that negotiations can continue.

Earlier this week there were fears that the dispute could seriously impact on seafood shipments from Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

Salmon exports would have been the most seriously affected. But last night the union representing the dock workers agreed to suspend the strike.

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Norway continues record seafood export run

Norwegian salmon exports continued their record run last month, totalling NOK 11.6bn (£828m) – an increase of 6% by value on September last year.

The volume, at 141,600 tonnes, represents a rise of 9%.

It was also a strong quarter (July to September) for salmon, which now accounts for 70% of all seafood sold, with 372,442 tonnes sold at a value of NOK 31.8bn (almost £2.3 bn).

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Oslo pleads for ‘salmon queen’ jail transfer

A modern conference room with Norway and China flags on a long table.

Oslo is asking for the Chinese government to transfer Yimin Dong, the woman jailed for salmon smuggling two years ago, to a Norwegian jail.

The family’s plea was sent to the Norwegian government, which has decided to ask the Chinese authorities for Dong to be moved to Norway to serve out her sentence.

The issue is also thought to have been raised when the Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre visited China on a seafood mission a couple of weeks ago. 

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