FishUpdate Briefing Friday July 20th

SO MUCH FISH WASTED.
ONE in three fish caught around the world never makes it to the plate because it is thrown back overboard or left to rot  before it can be eaten, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Its biannual report on the state of the world’s fisheries also shows that total fish production has reached a record high thanks to more fish farming, particularly in China, with over half the fish eaten in the world now coming from aquaculture. The report also says fish farms will continue to expand,  helping sustain the growing global population.
MORE FISH  INSPECTORS FOR NEWFOUNDLAND
GERRY Byrne, the fisheries minister  for Newfoundland and Labrador, has  told The Gulf News  of his plans to ensure the province’s Fish Inspection Act and regulations are adhered to include not only hiring more inspectors at Port aux Basques, but his “long-term objective” is to build a drive-through inspection facility in the town. He said hiring more inspectors would help ensure both live and frozen product leaving the province are in impeccable condition and that minimum processing and other requirements under the Act are adhered to. Port aux Basques – often referred to as the gateway to Newfoundland – currently has only one fish inspection officer. The Minister has been looking at ways to improve the quality and value of seafood since he was appointed to the post a year ago.
ICELAND TO BUILD £23m FISHERY RESEARCH VESSEL
ICELAND is to build a new fishery and marine research vessel. The decision was taken at a special session of the Icelandic Parliament when it was agreed to spend 300 million kroners  (£2.1 million sterling) on the design  and preparation next year. This will be followed by the construction process between 2020 and 2021 at a cost of 3.2 billion kroners (£23 million). The  current vessel was built in in 1970  and no longer met modern requirements, MPs were told.
NEW FISH SPECIES FOUND IN BALTIC SEA
A NEW fish species has been found in the Baltic Sea. Researchers at the University of Helsinki have named  it  the Baltic flounder, (Platichthys solemdali) and it is the only known fish species native to the Baltic ,  said Professor Juha Merilä from the university in a press release. According to the university, finding a new vertebrate in the Baltic Sea is significant, because the area has a scarcity of marine fauna and because  biological research has been conducted there for more than a century. Professor Merilä said the Baltic flounder has not been recognised before as it appears to be nearly identical to the European flounder.