Commitments of USD16 Billion Pledged at Our Ocean Conference to Help Manage Marine Resources
At the closing of the Our Ocean conference in Palau the co-hosts announced that 410 commitments were made by various, countries, civil society, and industry valued at $US16.35 billion.
The two-day conference was held in the Pacific region for the first time.
Palau’s president, Surangel Whipps Jr, and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, closed the conference. Each of them praised those attending for the commitment to protect the ocean.
“Our goal this week was to shine a light on what is happening to our ocean and to make real commitments about real actions and not just words,” Kerry said. Continue reading here (Source: Radio New Zealand).
US General Calls on Latin America and the Caribbean to Crack Down on Illegal Fishing
Although drug trafficking is the region’s No.1 problem, a top U.S. military officer in Latin America and the Caribbean has called last week for authorities to also intensify their crackdown on fish piratery, organized crime and China’s expansion.
In a speech that opened the Caribbean Nation Security Conference 2022 last week, Gen. Laura Richardson, the commander of U.S. Southern Command (SouthCom), said that transnational criminal organizations remain the most imminent threat because they are allegedly “poisoning the Caribbean and American people trafficking in drugs, arms, humans and other illicit products, worsening corruption.” Continue reading here(Source: Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project).
Century Pacific Food Revenues Up 13%
Century Pacific Food, Inc. (PSE:CNPF), one of the Philippines’ leading branded food and beverage companies, posts a strong finish in 2021, registering another year of strong growth in spite of an extraordinary performance back in 2020.
CNPF continued to accelerate in the fourth quarter, registering double-digit growth for both topline and bottomline. Sales increased by 18% in 4Q21, while bottomline grew by 14%.
Overall, 2021 saw unaudited consolidated revenues continue to reach highs with sales landing at Php 54.7B, clocking in a growth of 13% versus the year before. Continue reading here (Source: Century Pacific Food, Inc.).
New Zealand and Pacific Islands FFA Partner to Increase Support for Offshore Fisheries
Increasing employment and economic benefits from the Pacific’s offshore fisheries is the focus of a new NZD$5 million partnership between Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
The partnership was announced today at the 7th Our Ocean Conference in Palau, by Minister for Pacific Peoples and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aupito William Sio and FFA Director-General, Dr Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen.
It is the third phase of a successful programme with the FFA that has delivered improved economic outcomes for the Pacific for sustainable use of the region’s tuna fisheries. Continue reading here (Source: Devdiscourse).
Vietnam’s Tuna Export Maintains High Growth in Q1
Tuna export has maintained a high growth rate in the first months of 2022 despite strong fluctuations in the world market over the past more than one year, partly thanks to free trade agreements that Vietnam has signed.
Customs statistics showed tuna export value leaped 108 percent year-on-year in January to 88 million USD. The rate slowed down in February but still at a high 57 percent and a value of 67 million USD, almost double the figure in February 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic had not started.
The growth in March remained stable, pushing the export earnings for the first quarter to over 230 million USD, up 53 percent on a yearly basis. Continue reading here (Source: Vietnam+).
Inflation Harms Fresh Seafood Sales, But COVID-19 Concerns Ease
Record-high inflation impacted U.S. fresh seafood sales in March, but frozen and shelf-stable sales spiked.
The results are partially the result of public concern about the impacts of rising inflation, polling found. But Americans are now much less concerned about COVID-19, a potential boon to the foodservice sector.
Fresh seafood prices rose an average of 12.1 percent from a year ago to USD 8.51 (EUR 7.83) per unit in March 2022, according to new data from IRI and 210 Analytics. In February, they rose by 10.9 percent. Continue reading here (Source: SeafoodSource).
Ghana Tuna Reiterates The Need For Comprehensive Fisheries Management
The Ghana Tuna Association (GTA) has reiterated its call for a comprehensive approach to the management of Ghana’s fish stock, as the annual close seasons implemented by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture cannot last.
The sector Ministry in a release dated April 12, 2022, and signed by the minister, Mrs. Mavis Hawa Koomson announced that from July 01 to July 31, 2022, artisanal (canoe) and semi-industrial (inshore) fleets would have their one-month close season, while the sea would be closed to industrial trawlers for two months between July 01, and August 31, 2022.
The Ministry added that during the period of the 2022 closed season which was initiated based on scientific evidence and stakeholder consensus, no premix fuel would be allocated to the coastal landing beach committees. Continue reading here(Source: Modern Ghana).
