Latest Fishing News
21-27 September 2021
China Calls New US Indo-Pacific Alliance ‘Doomed to Fail’
Leaders of the United States, Japan, India and Australia presented a united front today at their first summit and stressed the need for a free and open Indo-Pacific region amid shared concerns about China.
The two-hour meeting at the White House of the Quad, as the grouping of the four major democracies is called, will be watched closely in Beijing, which criticized the group as “doomed to fail.”
While China was not mentioned in the public remarks by the four leaders, Beijing was clearly top of mind.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters after the meeting the countries agreed to cooperate on vaccines, clean energy and space, and to hold a summit meeting every year. Continue reading here (Source: Radio New Zealand).
WesPac Council Defers Decision on Am Samoa Bottomfish Plan
A meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council this week has deferred taking final action on the rebuilding plan for the federally managed bottomfish complex in American Samoa. The council and will organize an intercessional meeting for the week of Oct. 18, 2021.
Several Council members expressed their dismay at the low catch limit alternatives and the potential fishery closure.
Archie Taotasi Soliai, Council Chair and Director of the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources said the extra time would allow him time to consult with the governor on the coordinated management of the bottomfish fishery in territorial and federal waters. Continue reading here(Source: Talanei).
Commercial Vessels Continue to Fish Illegally in Philippines Waters
The number of commercial vessels fishing in municipal waters across different parts of the Philippines has gone down, but only a mere decline of 4.7 percent despite the pandemic, international marine conservation group Oceana observed.
Data released by Oceana showed commercial fishing in municipal waters pervades from 44,952 vessels in 2019 to 42,934 vessels in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Oceana reports the seemingly continuing intrusion of commercial fishing vessels in the designated 15-kilometer from the shoreline municipal waters that is exclusive to municipal and artisanal fisherfolk, as prescribed by the Amended Fisheries Code or RA 10654,” Oceana said. Continue reading here (Source: Manila Bulletin).
Fishing Industry Association of Papua New Guinea (FIA PNG) Adopts GDST Traceability Standards
We are delighted to announce that the Fishing Industry Association of Papua New Guinea (FIA PNG) has adopted the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) traceability standards to further our commitment to responsible tuna sourcing. We are confident that the adoption of the GDST traceability standards across tuna supply chains will benefit the industry globally.
Since 2011, FIA PNG has adopted and implemented the Fisheries Information Management System (iFIMS) platform that allows stakeholders in the Pacific access to real-time information across the tuna supply value chain which is based on e-tablet and e-reporting. Continue reading here (Source: FIA PNG).
CMCF Intensifies Efforts to Expand Into Pet Food Business
Chotiwat Manufacturing Plc (CMCF), a processed seafood producer, is ramping up efforts to expand into the pet food business to reduce risks and sustain its business growth over the longer term.
Somboon Chotiwattanaphan, CMCF’s chief financial officer, said the company will focus more on expanding into the pet food business because market demand is expected to continue growing by an average of 6% a year, outstripping that of standard processed seafood products, which are forecast to have an average annual increase of 5%.
According to Mr Somboon, competition among standard processed seafood products is fierce, leading to low profit margins due to price wars. Continue reading here(Source: Bangkok Post).
US Coast Guard Steps In to Help Samoa Enforcement Effort
A hole left in the fleet of the Samoan Coast Guard has been filled by the U.S. after one of its patrol boats hit a reef and was taken to Australia for repairs.
The Coast Guard cutter Oliver Berry patrolled Samoan waters over the course of September, policing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing while the South Pacific nation’s Nafanua II was out of service.
The approximately $12 million Samoan vessel, donated by Australia and commissioned in 2019, became stranded on a reef off the southeastern coast of Savai’i island in Samoa in early August. The Guardian-class boat was transporting police to Savai’i to keep the peace at a Human Rights Protection Party protest. Continue reading here (Source: Honolulu Civil Beat).
