AquaBlog

Common Fisheries Policy     —     August, 2010

1.      The Commission has passed a regulation setting rules for the certification of exempted products under the EU’s ban on the import of seal products from third countries, as contained in Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009. The regulation establishes an attestation system for certification of seal products from hunts traditionally conducted by Inuit and other indigenous communities, and which contribute to their subsistence.

2.      The Commission has passed a regulation setting out the procedures to be followed for the implementation of real-time closures of the trawl and line fisheries for cod, haddock, saithe and whiting fisheries in the North Sea and Skagerrak. It requires Member States to prohibit fishing when juvenile fish comprise more than 15 % by weight of the catch (10% if more than 75% by weight is cod). It defines juveniles (by size) and indicates how closure areas are to be defined.

3.      The EU has amended the 2010 TACs and quota regulation to account for additional cod quotas available in Norway, additional whiting and plaice resources in the North Sea, and the reopening of cod and redfish fisheries in NAFO zone. Bluefin tuna quotas were reduced, amongst other amendments.

4.      The Commission passed a regulation increasing 2010 quotas for a number of fish stocks, following requests from Member States to transfer up to 10% of the quotas allocated to 2009.

5.      The European Commission issued a press release expressing “grave concern” at the unilateral mackerel quota of 85,000 tonnes set by Faeroe Islands for 2010. This is three times the level of Faeroese quota allocated under the multilateral management arrangements between the EU, Norway and Faeroe Islands in force from 1999 to 2009.

6.      The Commission published a stop fishing notice for Spanish vessels establishing a prohibition of fishing for blue ling in EU waters and international waters of VI, VII effective 22 August 2010.

7.      The Commission transferred EUR 64 million to the Government of Mauritania, as compensation for fisheries access to the Mauritanian zone by EU vessels, under he terms of the EC’s Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) with Mauritania. The amount includes EUR 55 million for the cost of access and budgetary support of EUR 9 million in support of Mauritania’s fisheries sector.

8.      The Czech Republic notified the Commission of its provision of state aid for of aquaculture activities, including financial support for measures for protection and improvement of the environment, natural resources and genetic diversity, and upkeep of the landscape and the traditional characteristics of aquaculture zones. It will also provide compensation for the losses incurred by fishery businesses in connection with their obligation to maintain the functions of lakes as water-management tools.

9.      The Commission published the results of four studies involving joint industry-scientific research projects. Studies were conducted on brown crab (Cancer pagurus), fishery information systems for demersal fisheries in the Celtic Sea and western Channel, electronic logbook trial in the Basque trawling fishery and the Portuguese artisanal deep-water longline fishery. The studies provide data additional to the EU Data Collection Framework, and support the work of the RACs.

10.     The Commission has posted new videos online, describing elements of its integrated maritime strategy. They include the titles: “Integrated Maritime Surveillance”, “Maritime Spatial Planning” and “An Integrated Maritime Policy”.

Fish Hygiene

11.     In August 2010, the Commission issued rapid alert notices for failure to comply with health conditions in respect of 7 consignments of bivalve molluscs, 7 consignments of cephalopods, 4 consignments of crustacean, and 31 consignments of other fishery products. They included live clams, mussels from Italy, squid, cuttlefish and octopus from Ghana, peeled frozen raw black tiger prawns from India, and chilled swordfish from Malta.

12.     The Food and Veterinary Office of DG SANCO reported on a mission to Romania in March 2010, with the objective of evaluating the control systems in place governing the production and placing on the market of fishery products. The mission found that there were severe deficiencies in the official controls covering mainly: the lack of registration and inspection of fishing vessels; unsatisfactory sanitary conditions in fresh fish collection centres; lack of an approval system; unsatisfactory sanitary conditions of some approved processing establishments (mainly due to hygiene conditions and HACCP programme); unsatisfactory monitoring of  histamine; lack of monitoring arrangements for the chemical contaminants in fishery products; and lack of powers of the official veterinarians performing the inspections. The Competent authority (the Bureau of Veterinary Hygiene and Epidemiology) was found to be incapable of enforcing the legal provisions and could not impose sanctions. It was concluded that the system of official controls of fishery products shows major deficiencies which need to be addressed urgently.

13.     The Food and Veterinary Office of DG SANCO reported on a mission to Senegal in April 2010, with the objective of evaluating the control systems in place governing the production and placing on the market of fishery products. The mission found that there were some improvements since a previous mission in 2007, but many shortcomings were still evident. In particular, there was no inspection and control of small scale fishing vessels providing fish for the EU supply chain, conditions at landing and first sale were found to be unsanitary, and not subject to regular inspection. Several non-compliances were detected in freezer vessels and processing establishments, particularly in terms traceability and HACCP plans. The official control system in place could not be considered to be equivalent with European legislation, although the impact of the shortcomings is lessened by the fact that most products exported to Europe are whole, refrigerated or frozen fish, cephalopods and prawns. The Competent Authority (the Ministère de l’Economie Maritime, Direction des Industries de Transformation de la Pêche) was requested to submit a plan of corrective actions to be approved by the Commission.

14.     The DG SANCO programme “Better Training for Safer Food” published its Annual Report for 2009. The initiative provided training on around 20 different subjects related to food and feed law, animal health and welfare rules and plant health rules. In 2009 financial and administrative competence for the BTSF programme was transferred to the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers (EAHC), with the Commission Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO) retaining its guiding policy role. BTSF also launched a specific programme targeted at Africa, and mapped out a long-term strategy for meeting demand for EU and third country-level training in the relevant areas.

15.     The Commission passed a ruling allowing the use of dimethyl ether as an extraction solvent to remove fat from animal protein supplements used in human foods. It established the maximum residue limit for dimethyl ether of 9 μg/kg of extracted animal proteins, in line with the recommendations of the European Food safety Authority.

Link to these key developments in EU fisheries and fish trade policy and legislation at MEGAPESCA.

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Common Fisheries Policy     —     July, 2010

1.      Commission counters EU Parliament claim that CFP reform does not address unfair competition from third countries
2.      New EC and Solomon Islands Fisheries Partnership Agreement ratified
3.      EU joins South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation
4.      Commission report on news species potentially to be subject to fisheries management
5.      EU adopts revised bluefin tuna catch documentation system, in line with ICCAT
6.      Commission doubles 2010 allowable catch for sandeel to 400,000 tonnes.
7.      Commission increases 2010/2011 allowable catch for anchovy in the Bay of Biscay to 15,600 tonnes
8.      Commission allocates additional days at sea to Portuguese vessels
9.      Commission modifies technical measures applied to trawl gear in the Baltic Sea
10.     Commission passes regulation amending data structure for electronic logbooks.
11.     Commission sets requirement for weighing of catches of southern mackerel and horse mackerel.
12.     CFCA hosts seminar to strengthen Joint Deployment Plans
13.     Commission contributes EUR29 million to fisheries data collection
14.     Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, visits Poland
15.     New chairman of the EU’s Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture

Fish hygiene

16.     Thirty three rapid alerts notified in July 2010 for fishery products.
17.     FVO reports on a mission to Denmark; some fundamental deficiencies detected
18.     FVO reports on a mission to Chile; appropriate guarantees but some defects
19.     FVO reports on a mission to Malaysia; significant improvements, but still with shortcomings
20.     Commission extends testing safeguards on aquaculture products from India
21.     Commission amends safeguard measures on shrimp from Bangladesh
22.     DG SANCO updated its website on veterinary medicine controls
23.     Commission launches new webpage OSHV-1 virus in oysters
24.     EFSA publishes study on non dioxin-like PCBs; fish implicated and limits are being considered
25.     EFSA publishes opinion marine brevetoxin; emerging risks but need analytical methods
26.     EFSA considers red food colour Amaranth (E123); reduction in ADI recommended
27.     EFSA gives green light for “Sardine Peptide Product”
28.     Commission commences publication of animal welfare newsletter

Common Fisheries Policy

1.      In a speech to the European Parliament, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Mrs. Maria Damanaki defended the Commission’s proposals for the reform of the Common Fisheries policy against Parliament’s allegation that they did not take sufficient account of concerns expressed about unfair competition from third countries and the absence of a level playing field in terms of social conditions, environmental and sustainability requirements, and health protection laws in the fishery sector.  Mrs Damanaki indicated the EU had changed the rules of international trade to help eliminate IUU fishing, and was working to actively promote the adoption of international principles and instruments of good maritime and fishery governance. She also indicated that the new market policy of the CFP should aim at strengthening producer organisations in their ability to better link supply to demand in terms of quality and volumes. She also indicated that requirements for marketing standards and information to consumers (for example in labelling) should be reviewed.

2.      The European Council passed a decision ratifying a new Fisheries Partnership Agreement and Protocol between the EC and Solomon Islands, which was initialled on 26 September 2009. Fishing opportunities are provided for up to 4 EU purse seine vessels. In return the EC provides an annual amount of EUR 260,000, equivalent to a reference tonnage of 4,000 tonnes per year, and a specific amount of EUR 140,000 per year for the support and implementation of Solomon Islands’ sectoral fisheries policy. Fishing opportunities are allocated between Spain (with 75 % of fishing opportunities available) and France (with 25 %).

3.      On behalf of the European Union, the Commission signed the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources of the South Pacific Ocean in Wellington, New Zealand. The Convention establishes the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) with a mandate to manage non-highly migratory fish species in the region, including deep sea fish stocks such as orange roughy.  The Convention fills one of the remaining governance gaps for high-seas fisheries. The EU is the seventh party to sign the SPRFMO Convention (after Chile, Columbia, Cook Islands, Kingdom of Denmark in respect of Faroe Island, New Zealand and Peru).

4.      The Commission has published the “NESPMAN” report “Improving the knowledge of the biology and the fisheries of the new species for management”. The report presents the status of biological studies on species of increasing commercial importance in the ICES area. This includes sea bass, striped red mullet, red gurnard, tub gurnard, grey gurnard, John Dory, dab flounder, witch flounder, lemon sole, turbot and brill. The study considers the gaps in scientific knowledge that will need to be addressed if these species are to be brought within the scope of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the European Community (EC) and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in 2004, regarding the species in the ICES fishing area for which recurring advice is requested by the Commission.

5.      The EU passed a regulation implementing an ICCAT Recommendation from November 2009, which entered into force on 1 June 2010, and requires Member States to introduce a strengthened bluefin tuna catch documentation programme. Each consignment of this species placed on the market must now be accompanied by a completed bluefin tuna catch document validated by the relevant authority. Catch documents must be communicated electronically to the Commission and ICCAT within 5 days of issue.

6.      The Commission adopted a Regulation to modify the 2010 fishing possibilities for sandeel in the North Sea and Skagerrak, following scientific advice that the North Sea TAC can be raised from 200,000 to 400,000 tonnes. The EU receives a 90% share of the North Sea TAC with the balance fished by Norway and Faroe Islands. A further 16,920 tonnes of sandeel can be fished from the EU waters of the Skagerrak.

7.      Following the publication of new scientific advice which confirms that the stock is in a good state and above safe biological limits, the European Commission has increased the total allowable catch (TAC) of anchovy in the Bay of Biscay to 15,600 tonnes for the fishing season 1 July 2010 - 30 June 2011. The proposed TAC represents 30% of the estimated biomass, and will be available to fishermen from France (10%) and Spain (90%). The amendment has been made in close cooperation with stakeholders in the South Western Waters Regional Advisory Council (SWWRAC). The anchovy fishery in the Bay of Biscay was re-opened in December 2009, after a five-year closure.

8.      The Commission has allocated additional fishing possibilities for Portuguese vessels over 10m in length operating in ICES Divisions VIIIc and IXa, in the form of an increase in days at sea (to 177 days/year). The increase is as a result of a reduction in fleet capacity since 2004 (by a total of 28 fishing vessels).

9.      The Commission passed a regulation modifying the technical measures applied for the conservation of fishery resources in the Baltic Sea, the Belts and the Sound. New specifications are established for certain types of trawl gear.

10.     The Commission has passed a regulation amending the requirements for the data structure and variables used in reporting of fishing activities by electronic logbooks.

11.     Following discussions with Norway and Faroe Islands, the Commission has amended the requirements for the weighing of catches of mackerel and horse mackerel taken from the southern stock components.  A requirement to keep a logbook of weighing events is also introduced.

12.     The Community Fisheries Control Agency (CFCA) held a seminar on Joint Deployment Plans (JDPs) in which staff from different Member State fisheries control bodies participate in joint enforcement missions, with a view to finding ways to further improve their effectiveness. The Seminar concluded that regional control areas should be established, JDPs should be based on pre-agreed objectives, priorities and benchmarks, and that there should be a timely sharing and collection of data and intelligence.

13.     The Commission set out the financial support to be provided by the community to EC Member States for the implementation of the fisheries data collection regulation. Out of a total eligible expenditure of EUR57.2 million by 18 Member States for 2009 and 2010, the EC will contribute EUR28.6 million.

14.     On a visit to Poland, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Mrs. Maria Damanaki set out proposed reforms in the Common Fisheries Policy and recognised the importance of the European Fisheries Fund in the modernisation of the Polish fisheries sector. She indicated that Poland will receive 40% of the overall EFF budget for Axis 4 (i.e. sustainable development of fisheries dependent regions). She also set out the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy in that region.

15.     Mr Gerard van Balsfoort was appointed as the new chairman of the EU’s Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (ACFA) until 2013. ACFA provides a forum for ongoing policy dialogue between the Commission and the industry.

Fish hygiene

16.     Rapid alerts were notified for failure to comply with health conditions for three consignments of bivalve molluscs, including from France (oysters) and USA (scallops), four consignments of crustaceans including from Croatia (rose shrimps ), Bangladesh (frozen prawns, freshwater shrimps, frozen raw shrimps), and twenty five consignment of other fishery products including Morocco (alice shad fillets in sunflower seed oil), France(fresh red gurnard ), USA(anglerfish), Ivory Coast(tuna in olive oil), China (frozen Alaska pollock fillets). A non-compliant consignment of whelks from Netherlands was also notified.

17.     The Food and Veterinary Office of DG SANCO reported on a mission to Denmark in March 2010, with the objective of evaluating the control systems in place governing the production and placing on the market of fishery products. The mission found that the official controls undertaken by the Central Competent Authority (the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration) are in general performed in line with EC requirements and as described in the Danish Multi Annual National Control Plan. However there were some deficiencies detected. Sampling schemes for fishery products did not cover all parameters required under Community Regulations. There was no official testing of water in establishments, and there was only limited testing of ice used to chill fish. The food business operators own control programmes were not fully compliant with Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point principles, and did not cover all production. HACCP plans were not always fully implemented. The report makes a number of recommendations, aimed at rectifying the shortcomings identified and enhancing the control measures in place.

18.     The Food and Veterinary Office of DG SANCO reported on a mission to Chile in April/ May 2010, with the objective of evaluating the public health conditions for the production of fishery products and live bivalve molluscs intended for export to the European Union. The mission found that the control system implemented by the Competent Authority offers appropriate guarantees concerning the sanitary conditions of bivalve molluscs and fishery products for European Union export. However, there were some areas in which the system was not fully compliant, in particular concerning the classification and frequency of monitoring of productions areas, and in the laboratory analysis methods used for assessing microbiological status. Organoleptic checks were not in line with EU requirements and one establishment (out of 11 visited) was identified with serious deficiencies. The Commission sought guarantees that the deficiencies would be addressed in a plan of corrective actions.

19.     The Food and Veterinary Office of DG SANCO reported on a mission to Malaysia in April/ May 2010, with the objective of evaluating the public health conditions for the production of fishery products intended for export to the European Union. The mission followed previous missions in April 2008 (after which Malaysia voluntarily suspended exports of fishery products to the EU) and in March 2009 (after which a number of aquaculture product establishments were re-listed for supply to the EU market). The mission found significant improvements in the system of official controls. However, some shortcomings were still evident, especially in relation to vessel inspections, weak follow up on non-compliances detected during inspections, lack of adequate sampling for histamine testing and lack of adequately trained inspectors. The report makes a number of recommendations aimed at rectifying the shortcomings and requires the Competent Authority to submit a plan of corrective actions.

20.     The Commission passed a Regulation setting out extended safeguard measures to be applied on the import by the Community of aquaculture products for human consumption from India. Following the results of a Commission inspection to India in September 2009 which revealed shortcomings as regards the residue control system in aquaculture products and a lack of appropriate laboratory capacity for detecting residues of veterinary drugs, as required by Directive 96/23/EC, a requirement to test all shrimp consignments from this source was introduced. Pending evaluation of a new residue monitoring plan, the Commission has now extended the requirement for mandatory testing for the presence of nitrofurans or their metabolites to all consignments of aquaculture products.

21.     The Commission also passed a Decision amending the safeguard measures applied on shrimp products imported from Bangladesh. A Commission inspection to Bangladesh in January 2010 revealed that the previously identified lack of appropriate laboratory capacity for the testing of certain residues of veterinary medicinal products in live animals and animal products still persists. The import of consignments of this product, will be permitted providing they are accompanied by a test certificate which indicate that they have been tested for chloramphenicol, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, metabolites of nitrofurans, and malachite green and crystal violet and their respective metabolites. Member States are also required to ensure that 20% of the imported consignments are sampled and tested in Community laboratories (and are detained pending test results).

22.     DG SANCO of the European Commission updated its website with regards to information about the controls for residues of veterinary medicines in consignments of foods of animal origin imported from third countries.

23.     The Commission also launched a new webpage regarding the OSHV-1 virus, being a cause of increased mortalities of oysters in the EU in 2008 and 2009. The site includes links to EU Member State web pages in Ireland, France Netherlands and UK (the most affected states) where more information is provided regarding containment areas, areas where the absence of OsHV-1 μvar has been demonstrated, areas which previously have been subject to containment measures, and areas covered by programmes for the early detection of OsHV-1.

24.     The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a detailed study on non dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs) in foods. The study reviews data from tests on a total of 11,214 food and 1,349 feed samples collected from 18 EU Member States, Iceland and Norway between 1999 and 2008. The study shows that, as with dioxin- like PCBs, fishery products, fish meal and fish oils are the foods most implicated, and that NDL-PCBs can be present in levels up to 6 times higher than dioxin like PCBs. Furthermore, following recent studies, some non dioxin-like PCBs (which do not share the toxocological characteristics of dioxins) have been shown to elicit neurological, endocrine, immunological and carcinogenic effects. Several international agencies classify PCBs as probably carcinogenic to humans. Following scientific advice from EFSA, the Commission has announced that it is currently discussing setting maximum levels for the sum of the six indicator NDL-PCBs in food and feed.

25.     The EFSA also published an opinion on the food safety risks associated with brevetoxin-(BTX) group toxins (marine biotoxins which can accumulate in shellfish and fish, primarily produced by a dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. The study found that to date BTX-group toxins have not been reported in shellfish or fish from Europe. However, BTX-group toxin producing algae have been discovered and the expansion of algal blooms suggests that BTX-group toxins could also emerge in Europe. Currently there are no regulatory limits and more work is required to assess what they should be. EFSA recommends that there is a need to validate a test method based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods.

26.     The European Food Safety Authority’s Scientific Panel on additives, the ANS Panel, has assessed the safety of the red food colour Amaranth (E123) which is sometimes used to colour fish roe preparations in the EU. The panel concluded that the colour is neither genotoxic nor carcinogenic, but recommended lowering the acceptable daily intake to a level of 0.15 mg per kg body weight per day.

27.     Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) reported on its assessment of the safety of a  “Sardine Peptide Product” (a food supplement derived from sardine muscle), as a food ingredient. The Panel considers that there is no evidence for safety concerns for adults, children or pregnant and lactating women.

28.     The European Commission commenced publication of a new newsletter on animal welfare, following the introduction of animal’s rights as “sentient beings” under Article 13 of the Treaty of Lisbon, which came into force last December. The EU is now obliged to take animal welfare fully into account in policies relating to agriculture, fisheries, transport, internal market, research and technological development.

Link to these key developments in EU fisheries and fish trade policy and legislation at MEGAPESCA.

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Common Fisheries Policy

1.      Commissioner Damanaki sets out CFP reform ideas to Parliament; effort based management for mixed fisheries and tradeable fishing rights are in; decommissioning and market withdrawal subsidies are out.
2.      Commission grants EUR30 million towards Member States’ fisheries control activities
3.      Regulation on technical measures in the Mediterranean comes into force
4.      Commission publishes on North Sea plaice box; no clear conservation benefit
5.      UN Fish Stocks Agreement failing to meet objectives; new approaches discussed
6.      EU and Seychelles agree new protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement.
7.      EU and Chile agree on joint management for conservation of swordfish SE Pacific
8.      EC member States to ratify the ILO “Work in Fishing Convention 2007
9.      Commission proposes EU plan on seabirds mortality by fishing gears
10.     Commission launches new fisheries publications page
11.     EU Fisheries Ministers criticise Commissions quota proposals for 2011

Fish hygiene

12.     Forty three rapid alerts announced for fishery products entering the EU market in June 2010
13.     Amendments to requirements for fisheries products under Regulation 853/2004
14.     DG SANCO publishes new guidance on import of fishery products
15.     EFSA presents scientific opinion on ciguatoxin risks in EU caught fish
16.     EFSA presents scientific opinion on toxic cyclic imines risks in EU caught fish
17.     DG SANCO publishes 2009 report on “Better Training for Safer Food Programme”
18.     EFSA publishes 2009 annual report; 636scientific outputs
19.     Most of Norway declared free from IHN and VHS salmonid diseases.
20.     New organic aquaculture standards and labelling implemented
21.     Commission updates list of Community Reference laboratories for residue monitoring

Common Fisheries Policy

1.      In two major speeches to the European Parliament on 1st and 7th June 2010, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki set out the Commission’s views on the possible directions for CFP reform. The Commission argues that tradeable fishing rights would provide fishers who wish to retire from the fishery with a means to build alternative livelihoods. Average social retirement payments have been sufficient to create the incentive to leave the fishery, whilst public financed vessel scrappage schemes have proved to be an inefficient way to reduce capacity. It appears that the Commission will propose dropping subsidies for decommissioning of vessels.  The principles of a future EU tradeable rights scheme are likely to be based on rights which a) are tradable only within a Member State b) are only user rights (not property rights in perpetuity) and will fall back to the Member States after a period and c) have limits in terms of their concentration of ownership. The Commission will propose affirmative action to support smaller vessels, although there is some resistance from some Member States. With regard to fisheries management, the Commissioner indicated that pelagic fisheries are likely to remain subject to TACs and quotas, whereas mixed fisheries should be managed by effort limitation, thus allowing for the implementation of a discard ban. The Commissioner was clear in the commitment to maintain the principle of relative stability in the allocation of fishing rights between Member States, albeit expressed in the allocation of effort rights, rather than quota rights. The Commission further strongly supports the devolution of fisheries management decision making to the Regional Advisory Councils, but indicates that there should be clear conditions on performance. CFP reform should also aim to remove price support for withdrawal and destruction of fish from the market (retaining only storage and processing support) and place greater responsibility on producer organisations. External policy reform will aim at enduring the same standards are applied in external waters, and Fishery Partnership Agreements in future are likely to include clauses on democracy, human rights and social issues.

2.      The Commission announced its annual decision on the EU’s contribution to Member States’ fisheries control inspection and surveillance activities for 2010. Out of a total planned expenditure by Member States of EUR132 million, the EU will provide grants of EUR30 million. The Commission capped the eligible expenditure on fisheries patrol vessels and aircraft to EUR1 million per Member State. Ireland will spend the most on its control plans (EUR51 million), whilst at the other end of the scale, Belgium plans to spend EUR254,000.

3.      The Commission reminded Member States that the “Regulation on technical Measures in the Mediterranean”, which entered force in January 2007, becomes fully applicable from 1 June 2010. The Regulation applies to Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Cyprus and Malta. The regulation establishes updated technical measures to protect sensitive habitats, prohibit the use of dangerous fishing practices, control types of gear to improve selectivity, sets limits on the minimum size of fish, and prohibits the use of professional fishing nets for recreational fishing. Member States are also required to draw up National Management Plans for the fisheries in their territorial waters. The Commission called for Member States to put all of the measures into full effect as soon as possible.

4.      The Commission has published a study undertaken by the Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem studies of Netherlands, regarding the effectiveness of the North Sea plaice box, a series of management measures which limit fishing effort (specifically by banning fishing by larger beam trawl vessels) in a specific zone of the North Sea. The study found that the fish stock biomass decreased during the period of study, undermining the credibility of closed areas as a fisheries management tool for this fishery. It concludes that it was very difficult to find any clear conservation benefit derived from the measure.

5.      The European Commission participated in a conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, to assess the progress made in implementing the United Nations Convention on the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. There is concern that the Convention is not fulfilling its aims, since the many shared fish stocks continue to suffer from overfishing. The delegates discussed new ways of strengthening the management of highly migratory and straddling fish stocks. Although the conference expressed support for the ecosystem approach to fisheries management, is was unable to agree on the need for Marine Protected Areas, nor on how to control the effects of pollution on fish stocks and habitats.

6.      The European Commission and the Republic of Seychelles agreed on the content of a new protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the parties, for a 3-year period starting in January 201. The protocol provides for an annual financial contribution of EUR5.6 million from the EU in return for catch of up to 52,000 tonnes of tuna and related species by 60 EU flagged purse seiners long liners.

7.      Following negotiations held between the European Commission and the Republic of Chile regarding the conservation of swordfish stocks in the South-Eastern Pacific Ocean, the parties reached agreement on a joint management for the stock. The Agreement recognises the EU/Chile Bilateral Scientific and Technical Committee as the point of contact in matters of common interest regarding conservation of swordfish. The Agreement requires all vessels to operate satellite VMS, but recognises that EC vessels shall not be bound by specific conservation measures prescribing a minimum length. It also sets up a designated ports scheme for EC vessels landing in Chile.

8.      The European Council passed a Decision which authorises EC member States to ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) “Work in Fishing Convention 2007 (”convention 188″), which aims to improve the working conditions of fishers on board fishing vessels. The Convention establishes minimum international standards for the fishing sector, such as the conditions of service, the right of repatriation, rules on accommodation and food, occupational health and safety, medical care and social security.

9.      Following a study by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the European Commission has proposed a European Union action plan to limit the incidental catches of seabirds by fishing gears. The areas of main concern are the longliners and gill net fisheries in the Mediterranean, North and Baltic seas and off the southwest of Ireland. Bird species of concern are the Cory’s, Balearic and Yelkouan shearwaters. The Commission announced the intention of proposing a number of potential actions, and to launch a public consultation.

10.     The Commission announced the launch of its new publications page, with links to online EU fisheries publications, available for public download and order by mail.

11.     The Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers discussed the Commission’s proposals for fishing opportunities for 2011, criticising a lack of scientific evidence for some of the quota reductions proposed. Ministers also discussed the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, considering the options presented by the Commission. The Council also discussed low rate of disbursement of the European Fisheries Fund, and the ongoing tough negotiations on mackerel stocks with Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

Fish hygiene

12.     During June 2010, rapid alerts were notified by Member States for failure to comply with health conditions for 43 consignments of fishery products, including chilled tuna loins from Sri Lanka,  fresh anchovy from Croatia,smoked mackerel in oil from Thailand, swordfish fillets and loins and frozen hake from Chile and frozen tuna, blue marlin, hake, sailfish, and kingklip from Namibia.

13.     The Commission published amendments to the Annexes of Regulation 853/2004 (concerning the hygiene rules for food of animal origin) which modify the requirements for bivalve mollusc and fisheries products. The changes remove the requirement for classification of harvest areas of gastropod molluscs according to the microbiological quality of the water; require closure of all packages of bivalve molluscs leaving despatch centres, until presented to the final consumer; require marine gastropods to be subject to the same controls as Pectinidae when harvested outside classified production areas. The amendment also extends the requirements for handling fresh fishery products to thawed, unprocessed fishery products and fresh fishery products to which food additives have been added (both of which are excluded from the definition of fresh fishery products). It also removes the requirement that whole fish frozen in brine to be used subsequently for canning, be stored at a temperature of -18ºC. In future, it may stored at a temperature of -9ºC.

14.     The European Commission DG SANCO published a new guidance document on requirements for the import into the EU of consignments of fishery products originating from third countries. The document is aimed at staff at EU Border Inspection Posts, and sets out the system for making documentary, integrity and physical checks for compliance with the EU’s food safety and animal health rules. It also clarifies a number of important issues with regard to fishery products (e.g. certification requirements when the country of origin is not the country of despatch, and indirect import via transport vessels).

15.     The EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain presented its scientific opinion regarding the risks of ciguatoxin (which originates from the benthic dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus) in fishery products consumed in Europe. Recently ciguatera toxins were identified in amberjack species caught in Canary Islands and Madeira. There are no toxicological studies which permit the setting of a tolerable daily intake, nor an acute reference dose. However, toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) for CTX-group toxins are proposed, as well as a safe level for sensitive individuals of 0.01 μg P-CTX-1 equivalents/kg fish. There are no regulatory limits at present, and the use of the live mouse bioassay as the reference test method remains a concern because of animal welfare issues.

16.     EFSA panel on Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain presented its scientific opinion regarding the risks of the acutely toxic cyclic imines (spirolides, gymnodimines, pinnatoxins and pteriatoxins) a family of marine biotoxins present in shellfish, produced by marine dinoflagellates Alexandrium ostenfeldii, and Karenia selliformis. Spirolides and pinnatoxins have been reported in filter feeding shellfish harvested in European waters. The toxicological database for cyclic imines is limited, but they are know to bind and block acetylcholine receptors in the central nervous system. EFSA considers that, whilst the current estimated human exposure to cyclic imines does not raise concerns, there is a need to undertake more work to establish the acute reference dose and to validate methods of analysis other than the live mouse bioassay.

17.     The DG SANCO “Better Training for Safer Food Programme” published its annual report for 2009. During the tear the programme supported 63 EU based training activities, 36 in Africa and 43 in other third countries. A total of 6,566 persons (including government officials and industry representatives) received training. In the fishery area, in the EU, the AETS consortium delivered 5 workshops on fishery products. For third country participants, four workshops were held; on fishery products in Myanmar; on requirements for fishing vessels in Chile; on requirements for live bivalve molluscs in Spain; and on marine biotoxins, also in Chile.

18.     The European Food Safety Authority published its annual report for 2009. The total number of scientific outputs rose to 636, 68% of which were evaluations of products, substances and claims. Milestones included the first Annual Report on Pesticide Residues in Foods, advice on marine biotoxins and advice on safety of food colours.

19.     The EFTA Surveillance Authority declared that Norway (with the exception of two areas) was an approved continental and coastal zone for fish, with regard to freedom from IHN and VHS salmonid diseases.

20.     EU rules for organic aquaculture under Regulation 710/2009 came into force at the end of June 2010, setting the organic standards for fish welfare, spawning controls, organic feeds and ecological impacts. In 2008 an estimated 123 certified organic aquaculture operations were in operation in Europe, out of a total of 225 such farms worldwide.  New EU rules were also announced on organic food labelling including the requirement to display the new “Euro-Leaf” organic logo (optional for non-packed and imported). The new measures come into force after 2 years.
21.     The Commission updated the list of Community Reference laboratories for the analysis of residues of veterinary medicines and chemical elements in foods of animal origin.

Link to these key developments in EU fisheries and fish trade policy and legislation at MEGAPESCA.

The news is constant in that there will always be a bycatch problem with the major fish species.  There is a solution besides cage aquaculture and that is, Land Based Aquaculture.  Complete control can be maintained from birth to harvest of the chosen species and, better yet, right through processing and distribution.

A single operation can yield 80-100 mt of fish that can be processed on site and freighted right to the distributors or you can even be the distributor.

How, simple.  Diobas Ltd has developed a system of producing both saltwater and freshwater fish inland anywhere you choose to situate your tank.  Theses can be as large as 52m x 20m and yields of cod for example can be 80mt.  No boats, no landing docks required.

They are building these installations worldwide with the most recent completion in Singapore.  For more information follow the Diobas link that will explain in depth what this is all about.

Diobas Ltd.

April deliveries to Japan were recently reported at 621 M/t of king crab which is 185% of 2009 deliveries. Of this 421m/t were Russian product. Prices during this month inceased by an average of .42 /lb. Total to date Japan imports for king crab from all sources remains at only 68% of prior year.

Opilio deliveries continue with a significant surge in live deliveries to Hokkaido o 1,279 m/t for this one month period. Live snow crab deliveries continued at a brisk pace in May. Total deliveries of processed opilio to Japan through April were 4,050 m/t of which more than 50% were Russian product.

At the same time, it is reported that US imports of king crab from all sources through April is down in 2009 from 13.2 to 11.5mm lbs in 2010.

Fishing continues in the Russian Far East with 57 vessels reported to be fishing legally for crab. The majority of the fishing effort is on Opilio although there are 6 vessels fishing blue king crab and 6 continuing on gold king crab with some of the later concurrently fishing opilio.

So, what is the effect of this information on the US market?

There is now a steady stream of vessels into Busan with offloads of Russian opilio and the occasional offload of blue and gold king crab. We are currently have offers on opilio parcels totaling more than 250 m/t. The size of opilio from the Northern Okhotsk is excellent as is the meat fullness. The vessels are delivering excellent size opilio with a significant amount of 2L (8up) and larger product. Unfortunately , opilio prices are being driven up by the Russian producers and Korean trading companies. They are aware of the increases in prices of Candian opilio this year and the limitation on 8oz up product. The producers are meeting significant price resistance from US and Japan buyers, but so far have not backed down to lower price levels.

What the Russians do not understand is that there is a difference in that the Canadian opilio is packed in even weight cartons and most brine frozen Russian opilio is random weight 15-30 kg cartons. This limits the application of the Russian opilio and makes it difficult to place in the retail trade without further processing. Still, unless the Russian producers meet strong resistance (no sales), we expect to see this market continue to be pushed up. The question is where the balance can be achieved between the supply and demand for this item. We have both Russian and Canadian opilio crab available upon request and can provide good quality and large size product.

Russian Far East king crab deliveries are sporadic with more buyers than sellers. We have been active in negotiations on both blue and gold king crab and can tell you the war stories upon request. Cost models indicate that prices reportedly paid on king crab will most likely present a loss to the importer/marketing company. This based on import, production costs and assuming selling at the HIGH Urner Barry level. One must assume speculation or necessary purchases at any price to fill contracts. The real market for king crab in the US appears to be stalling at current level with mainly small spot purchases excluding truckload sales. We expect little relief in this situation over the summer.

The Dungeness crab supply should see improvement with the new openings in South East and Canada. While total deliveries are small compared to other areas, it will be welcomed in 2010. Last year there were 2.6mm lbs of dungeness crab delivered in South East. Prices are expected to be in line with larger size opilio as the summer progresses.
David
DKSUPPLIES
480 656 7690
David@dksupplies.com

 Common Fisheries Policy

1.      Commissioner’s speech to European Parliament indicates direction of CFP Reform
2.      European Parliament raises doubts on legal aspects of EU-Norway fisheries agreement
3.      European Council considers adoption of international standards for fish workers
4.      Joint control plan for bluefin tuna for 2010 launched by EU’s Fisheries Control Agency.
5.      EU allocates entire 2010 quota of Greenland capelin to Iceland
6.      Commission announces timetable for quota discussions; expects tough negotiations
7.      Reference levels for fleet capacity in Guyana and Martinique revised
8.      Council recognises Icelandic catch certificates as meeting IUU Regulation requirements
9.      Commission establishes an EU list of vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
10.     Commission launches European Atlas of the Seas; asks for feedback

Fish hygiene

11.     Fifty seven rapid alerts notified in May 2010 for non-compliant fishery products.
12.     Commission comments on OIE draft Aquatic Animal Health Standards
13.     Commission publishes explanation on new controls for oyster viral disease
14.     FVO report on mission to Serbia; only minor shortcomings in fishery product controls
15.     FVO report on mission to Thailand; shortcomings in animal health controls for live fish

Common Fisheries Policy

1.      Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, gave a keynote speech on the “Priorities for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries” to the European Parliament Fisheries Committee. She provided some early indications of the likely reforms to the CFP, arsing from discussions with EU fisheries ministers and stakeholders held in La Coruña, Spain on 2nd and 3rd May, and the content of the subsequent Informal Council of Fisheries Ministers organised by the Spanish Presidency in Vigo. There is general agreement that fisheries management decision-making needs to be revised, bringing decisions closer to those affected, with strong support for regionalisation on the basis of ocean basins. Options for regionalisation will therefore be developed by the Commission. The Commissioner also discussed the possible adoption of individual transferable rights in the EU fishing sector. Although Iceland is regarded as a negative example, several EC Member States have successfully applied the concept at the national level and support its extension. However others have voiced doubts about an EU-wide transferability, and wish to avoid an EU-wide system and maintain relative stability. The Commissioner appears to support this position, and argues for the introduction of tradeable fishing rights on a national level, with opt-outs for small scale fisheries. On Fisheries Partnership Agreements, Council agrees that there is a need to find a new balance for funding, with a stronger EU budget component for development, to contribute to partner country’s fisheries governance and support for local fisheries economy. There is support for new political clauses covering notably democracy, human rights and social aspects.

2.      In the same speech, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries indicated that the European Parliament legal service has raised doubts regarding the EU-Norway fisheries agreement and Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and quotas regulations. The Commission proposed that legal experts from the three Institutions seek to clarify the position.

3.      The European Council considered the International Labour Organisation (ILO) “Work in Fishing Convention 2007 (”convention 188″), which aims to improve the working conditions of fishers on board fishing vessels. The Council proposed to authorise EU member states to ratify the convention, which  establishes minimum international standards for the fishing sector, such as the conditions of service, the right of repatriation, rules on accommodation and food, occupational health and safety, medical care and social security.

4.      The Community Fisheries Control Agency (CFCA) announced the commencement of the Joint Deployment Plan (JDP) for the control of the bluefin tuna fishery in the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Atlantic waters for 2010. Under the plan Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain pool their control means under the coordination of the CFCA.

5.      The Commission passed a regulation allocating the entire 2010 capelin EU allocation in Greenland waters to Iceland (11,550 tonnes).

6.      The European Commission has announced the timetable for decisions on fishing opportunities in EU waters in 2011. An early start is proposed, for what are anticipated to be tougher negotiations than usual.

7.      The Council passed a Regulation amending the reference levels for the fleet capacity (for vessels<12m) in  the French Outermost regions of Guyana and Martinique, following a previous underestimation of the number and capacity of vessels.

8.      The Council amended the catch certification requirements applicable to Iceland in compliance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. In future, Icelandic catch certificates issued to Icelandic vessels (in respect of catches recorded electronically) will be considered to meet the requirements.

9.      The Commission passed a Regulation establishing an EU list of vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The list names 85 vessels, whose activities in relation to EU ports and supplies to the EU market are now restricted. The list is based on IUU vessels identified by regional fisheries organisation, but until now does not include any vessels identified by the Commission.

10.     The Commission launched the pilot version of the European Atlas of the Seas (an interactive web-based database on European fisheries available at http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/atlas/index_en.htm) . The Atlas presents an array of information on EU maritime subjects and areas, such as: the volume of passengers and cargo carried to and from various destinations, the areas most affected by coastal erosion, or which Member States fish for a certain species in which sea basin. Information on sea depths and undersea relief names, rivers and their drainage basins, tide amplitude, sea level rise, and marine protected areas are also be found. The atlas is available in English, French and German. The Commission published a FAQ sheet on the Atlas of the Seas, and is soliciting feedback from stakeholders.

Fish hygiene

11.     Rapid alerts were notified for failure to comply with health conditions in respect of 4 consignments of bivalve molluscs; 1 consignment of cephalopods; 8 consignments of crustaceans; and 44 consignments  fish and products, this latter group including; two consignments of Pangasius from Vietnam, chilled skin-on tuna loins from Ecuador, frozen mackerel from Mauritius, and frozen monkfish wings from South Africa.

12.     The Commission published its comments on the OIE draft “Aquatic Animal Health Code” published by OIE (the UN’s World Organisation for Animal Health) in February 2010. This Code proposes substantive technical standards regarding fish health and welfare. When adopted the measures will provide a basis for regulation of international trade in aquatic species on grounds of animal health criteria.

13.     The European Commission published an explanatory note regarding the extension of controls for the containment of the oyster viral disease Ostreid herpesvirus (OsHV-1 μvar), outbreaks of which appear to have been the cause of mortalities in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) in European waters in recent years. Given great uncertainties as regards the emerging disease, the Commission has adopted a precautionary approach and is monitoring the situation closely.

14.     The Food and Veterinary Office reported on a mission in Serbia carried out in February 2010, following Serbia’s request in October 2009 to be EU listed for export of fishery products. The report concludes that the Serbian competent authority is in a position to guarantee the public health requirements as laid down in EC food safety regulations. However some minor shortcomings were identified, including legal limits for heavy metals which did not match Community requirements and lack of assessment of freshness indicators. The Competent Authority was recommended to address these in an action plan to be submitted to the Commission.

15.     The Food and Veterinary Office reported on a mission to Thailand to evaluate the implementation of the animal health requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1251/2008. Currently Thailand exports ornamental aquaculture animals, but does not export live fish intended for human consumption. The mission found that the Thai Competent Authority have a control and certification system in place that can in general be regarded as equivalent to the EU standards. However the mission doubted the efficacy of the system of declaring certain areas as free from a disease due to the limited monitoring. The mission also raised concerns regarding the movement controls, record keeping at farm and disease surveillance. However overall it concluded that the export of live aquaculture animals from Thailand to the EU does not constitute a major animal health threat to the EU, due to the general favourable animal health situation and the kind of animals exported to the EU. The report addresses a number of recommendations to the competent authority aimed at rectifying the identified shortcomings.

Link to these key developments in EU fisheries and fish trade policy and legislation at MEGAPESCA.