The export of tra in Jan-June is expected to earn $800 million, a record figure in terms of year-on-year comparison.

In order to stabilise material area and export prices from July to the year end, Vasep’s freshwater fish committee had a meeting with 25 companies accounting for 70 percent of the country’s tra export volume.

Vietnam’s tra export price to US market is $3.3 per kilogram (for fillet trimmed) and $2.3 per kilogram (for fillet untrimmed). Also the kind of 850-gr weighed tra carries two levels of prices such as 26,000 dong per kilogram and 24,000 dong per kilogram.

Vasep wanted its members to have guidance on size of fish for farmers amid the shortage of some kinds of size, and proposed farmers to cooperate with tra producers and exporters in terms of market information.

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AgriMarine will collaborate with the School of Marine Science and Technology at Tokai University, Shimizu Campus, an internationally recognised leader in tuna husbandry studies, to scale up their current research and establish the husbandry and design parameters for rearing Bluefin tuna in closed containment to commercial production levels.

Ensuring a stable supply of food fish resources without depleting wild stocks has become an important issue of the 21st century. Bluefin tuna is one of the most prized fish worldwide but currently faces pressure due to intensive overfishing and is at risk of collapse. With demand at an all-time high, a 342 kg Bluefin tuna was recently sold by auction at Tsukiji Fish Market, Japan, for a record 32.49 million yen (approx. $400,000 USD).

Bluefin tuna is reared in captivity using net cages which has met with limited success to date due to a number of factors, including challenges associated with breeding, feed, and maintaining a suitable marine environment. Tokai University’s recent research has led to patents related to Bluefin tuna juvenile feeding and husbandry, while AgriMarine has successfully implemented its alternative sustainable technology for rearing salmon.

“We look forward to working with Tokai University. This project represents another avenue to demonstrate the application of the Company’s containment and life support technology with a very high value, high margin species”, said Richard Buchanan, CEO of the Company.

“AgriMarine’s strategy is to prove that our technology has the flexibility to operate in various aquatic environments, that it can be used to rear high value finfish species and that it can be deployed close to markets, around the world. With our Pacific salmon and trout rearing facilities in China and Canada, and with our research projects into Yellow Croaker and Bluefin tuna, we are positioning the Company to become the leader in sustainable aquaculture production technologies.”

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BFAR authorities have identified four areas of Lake Taal where the level of dissolved oxygen (DO) is low. The areas are as follows:

1. Agoncillo
2. Laurel
3. San Nicolas
4. Talisay

The lowest DO resitered in the latest survey was at San Nicolas, measuring one part per million (PPM). This is a crically low level when compared to the optimum level for bangus farming, which is six PPM.

Fish mortalities are therefore expected in these areas.

BFAR is advising farmers to either harvest immediately, if stocks are nearing harvestable sizes, or to move their fish cages to areas with a higher DO level.

BFAR Director, Asis G. Perez, ensured that technical teams will continue to monitor the areas and are urging affected fish farmers to move their fish cages into areas with a high DO level.

In addition, the 50 pumps lent by the Department of Agriculture are currently operating in these waters to improve water aeration.

It was also noted that a Quick Reaction Team will be visiting the areas affected in order to help with the proper disposal of dead spoiled fish to prevent any from reaching the market.

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“The Ministry of Fisheries latest fisheries assessment plenary report; ‘A stock take of the state of our fisheries management,’ indicates the fish stock has rebuilt itself, which is great news for the fishery and industry,” says Mr Heatley.

“Following a period which saw a limited number of young fish entering the fishery, resulting in depleted stocks between 2003 and 2006, the Ministry and industry made large reductions in catch. It’s a move that has now paid off with the Ministry able to declare this stock rebuilt.”

“The management of our fisheries resources is an ongoing process of review and adjustment and the positive status of the western hoki stock may result in a reconsideration of total allowable catches later this year,” said Mr Heatley.

New Zealand’s success in fisheries management was also documented in a science paper ‘Rebuilding Global Fisheries’ which has just been awarded the prestigious 2011 Sustainability Science Award from the Ecological Society of America.

The report, co-authored by Ministry of Fisheries Chief Scientist Pamela Mace, examines a number of global fisheries and analyses efforts to restore overexploited marine ecosystems.

“While the report’s findings were not positive for all global fisheries, New Zealand and Alaska received the highest ranking for sustainable fisheries management,” Dr Mace said.

“The research found that New Zealand is an area where fish stocks have generally not been over-fished and are effectively managed.”

Mr Heatley congratulated Pamela Mace and the team of 20 international fisheries and marine scientists that produced the paper.

“It’s a significant piece of research, given the scientists involved covered the spectrum of fisheries and conservation perspectives – it was the resulting consensual view that impressed the judges,” he said.

The ESA Sustainability Science Award is made annually to the authors of the peer reviewed paper published in the past five years that makes the greatest contribution to the emerging science of ecosystem and regional sustainability through the integration of ecological and social sciences.

The full “Rebuilding Global Fisheries” report can be viewed at: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/325/5940/578.abstract

The Fishery Assessment Plenary, May 2011: Stock Assessments and Yield Estimates is available by visiting and then entering Documents and Information/Stock assessment plenary: http://fs.fish.govt.nz/Page.aspx?pk=91

Information TheFishSite News Desk

Chu Tien Vinh, deputy director general of the directorate of Fisheries, said the sector earned $5 billion from exports per annum while contributing to poverty alleviation and safeguarding national sovereignty at sea.

Speaking at the Asean-SEAFDEC (Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre) conference held in Bangkok on June 17, Vinh said Vietnam was willing to cooperate with other countries in the region to develop sustainable aquaculture in the country’s East Sea to benefit future generations.

The conference theme was “Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security Towards 2020 – Fish for the People 2020: Adapting to a Changing Environment.”

In 2010, the Vietnamese aqua product sector earned $5 billion from exports with tra exports exceeding $1 billion.

In the first six months of this year, Vietnam earned more than $3 billion in export turnover, and the sector targeted a turnover of $5.5 – 6 billion for the year.

Currently, the US is Vietnam’s largest seafood export market, followed by Russia and Ukraine. Vietnam also plans to enter the central African market in the future.

Vietnam aims to diversify its aquaculture by applying new technologies for breeding clean tra and basa fish, ensuring food safety and hygiene and seeking new aquatic products.

Vietnam has cooperated with many Asean nations in the field of aquaculture. It has signed agreements on exploiting seafood products with Indonesia and the Philippines and plans to enter similar deals with Myanmar and Malaysia in the future.

Vietnam also aims to cooperate and exchange information with Thailand in this field.

A joint statement, released by Asean ministers and the SEAFDEC at the closing of the conference, emphasized producing aquatic products for food security and poverty reduction, improving effective management of aquaculture and strengthening adaptation to climate change.

It also encouraged increasing the competitive edge of seafood products in the world market, more efficient use of energy and renewable energy promotion.

“The ministers recognise the importance of the fisheries sector in Asean and the major role it plays in the three Asean Communities – political security, economic and socio-cultural. They also recognised the sector’s role in contributing to national development, food security, sustainable development and the improvement of livelihoods, as well as its important contribution towards the realisation of an integrated Asean Community and achieving the Millennium Development Goals,” the statement said.

“The ministers recognise the emerging challenges and changing environment facing the fisheries sector, particularly the degraded status of fisheries resources and their associated habitats, rapid changes in trade and market measures, and the potential adverse impacts of the changing environment brought about by climate change, among others.”

“These challenges require closer cooperation and innovative interventions to enhance the adaptive capacity of the sector in the context of Asean Community Building and beyond,” the statement said.

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Carlos Massad, general manager of Marine Farms Viet Nam, said that sales of the company’s akvacobia brand has increased dramatically from 2268 Kg to 9072 Kg per month during the first four months of its official launch in the American market.

Mr Massad is particularly pleased that cobia is popular over such a wide spectrum of market, grocery store chains, cruise ship lines, casinos, and seafood restaurants. Retail has been particularly strong in the Midwest where mild white fish are especially popular.

Marine Farms Vietnam has just leased a hatchery in the Nha Trang area to test out a larval rearing protocol, the first step in potentially building its own hatchery to increase its source of juveniles.

Mr Massad maintains that the company is on track to expand capacity to 4,000 metric tons by 2014.

Harvey Lipman, cobia project manager for the Nordic Group, Inc., the exclusive North American sales and marketing organisation for Marine Farms Vietnam, said the sharp increase in sales in such a short time frame took the company by surprise.

“While we have plenty of product to meet the increased demand, however we did not expect farmed cobia to take off so fast,” Mr Lipman said.

He attributes the campaign’s early success to “the market’s interest in finding a new, sustainable white fish fillet that is a high-quality alternative to the more costly and often difficult to obtain grouper, red snapper, halibut, mahi mahi, and cod.”

Mr Lipman also pointed out that the increased demand for sustainability in seafood products has played to one of Marine Farms Vietnam’s strengths.

“We utilise the highest level of recognised sustainability practices in aquaculture, all our fish are fully traceable and Sashimi grade certified,” he concluded.

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Mr Green said Government support of the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) would ensure the highest quality research and development for the State’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

Work will start soon on a new Commonwealth-funded A$45 million purpose-built facility for the Institute on Hobart’s waterfront.

“This will build the reputation of UTAS and Tasmania as the centre for Antarctic, marine, aquaculture, and fisheries research that is both nationally and internationally recognised,” Mr Green said.

Mr Green said detailed design work was almost complete for the project on Princes Wharf.

“The Government has been working pro actively with UTAS to make the land available for this exciting development to go ahead.”

Mr Green said the transfer of the site would be completed soon with building works to start later this year.

“This is obviously a prime location and will be a wonderful asset to Hobart’s waterfront.”

The former Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) was recently incorporated into IMAS as part of a new collaboration agreement between the Government and the University of Tasmania.

The Government is supporting the new initiative with annual funding of A$2.605 million.

“It is extremely important that we use the expertise of the Institute to achieve the best possible outcomes for commercial, recreational and conservation stakeholders.”

The Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Peter Frappell, said the focus of key IMAS research was aligned with the needs of the State’s fisheries and aquaculture industries.

“Through this partnership with the State Government, the University will deliver research and extension in these vital primary industries,” Mr Frappell said.

“We very much enjoy the collaboration and the direct impact our research has in industry application,” he said.

Mr Green said a key aim of the IMAS was to be responsive to the needs of the State’s fishing and aquaculture industries.

The Institute has joined efforts in the fight against the long-spined sea urchin (Centrostephanus) which is threatening marine ecosystems off the State’s East Coast.

“The sea urchin is a serious threat to abalone and rock lobster habitats and is extremely difficult to manage,” he concluded.

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If you work in the NPF and you are interested in learning more about the ecology of your fishery and playing a vital role in demonstrating its sustainability, you are invited to get involved in the Crew Member Observer Programme.

Crew Member Observers (CMOs) collect critical information about interactions with threatened, endangered and protected (TEP) species, as well as other species of interest while at sea.

This valuable scientific information will be used with other data sources to monitor the status of the fishery and help ensure it remains sustainable.

A training workshop will be held on 21 and 22 July 2011 which will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to correctly identify, measure, photograph and safely release TEP species.

As a CMO in the NPF, each year you will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to a pleasant location where you will be trained by some of Australia’s leading marine scientists and learn a few things you might not previously have known about the species in your fishery.

You will be provided with a waterproof digital camera to use for data collection and have the opportunity to win up to A$4,000 for collecting accurate and high-quality data.

The NPF Crew Member Observer Programme is managed by NPF Industry Pty Ltd (NPFI), the representative organisation for licence holders and fishers in the Northern Prawn Fishery, as part of a co-management trial with AFMA.

Primarily funded by industry, the CMO Programme is a great example of industry working alongside AFMA and CSIRO to ensure the sustainable management of a Commonwealth fishery.

In 2011, additional funding is being provided by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Next Generation Farmers grant scheme to enable more crew members to participate in this important programme.

For more information please contact Matt Barwick, NPFI Projects Manager on 0422 752 789 or m.barwick@npfindustry.com.au.

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Global Animal Feed Additives By Types, Livestock, Geography, Regulations, Trends & Forecasts (2009-2016)  is the title of a new report from Fast Market Research.

The market research company explains that animal feed additives are pharmaceutical or nutritional substances that are not natural feedstuffs and are added to made-up and stored feeds for various purposes, such as to control infectious diseases in animals, to promote growth, and to enhance feed digestibility in animals.

The global animal feed additives market is growing at a steady pace and has a promising future because of the globally increasing demand for meat and meat products. Feed additives are becoming an important part of feed for animal growth and nutrition. Recently, disease outbreaks such as avian flu and foot-and-mouth diseases have also increased concern over animal health across the world. Environmental concerns, such as reduction of phosphorous content in manure are promoting feed additives consumption for animals.

The Europe and the US are the largest markets for animal feed additives and Asia is emerging as a high growth market. The report provides a comprehensive review of major market drivers, challenges, and products such as vitamins, feed acidifiers, amino acids, and antibiotics. The market is further segmented and forecasted for major geographic regions: North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World including South America (Brazil and Argentina), Oceania, Africa and the Middle East. Top players of the industry are profiled in detail with their recent developments and other strategic industry activities.

The report covers the markets for antibiotics, vitamins, antioxidants, amino acids, feed enzymes and acidifiers for pigs, cattle, poultry and aquaculture.

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Mr Heatley opened the speech by saying how proud he was of NZ’s Quota Management System, which has led to NZ becoming a fisheries leader and having a system that everyone wants to copy.

Discussing recent challenges, Mr Heatley spoke about the recent tsunami in Japan, which disrupted their flow of exports to the country.

He praised NZ on its response to these challenges and for making the best out of each situation.

Moving on, Mr Heatley began to talk about opportunities and challenges in more depth including trade with China and the move to merge the Ministry of Fisheries with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Mr Heatley commented on the export prices for the last year saying they have remained strong. “The total value of seafood exports for the year ended March 2011 increased by a very healthy 11.4 per cent to NZ$ 1.52 billion. Inshore shellfish did even better – a 17.2 per cent increase to over NZ$ 281 million.”

He believes these strong figures reflect the high NZ dollar which has driven investment into higher value products.

When speaking about opportunities, Mr Heatley said: “The biggest opportunities will be in increased efficiencies in catching and processing, and adding value to seafood, not in increasing catches.”

“Investment is needed to get anywhere with that. The big challenge is to create more value from the same amount of fish.”

Other areas that were of interest to Mr Heatley were, the inshore fishery and the rock lobster and paua fisheries.

All of these he said were in need of controlled expansion and management.

Talking about research services, Mr Heatley said: “The ministry is in the process of revising its approach to the way it procures research through a move to longer-term contracts.”

“An international tender has been put out to support the implementation of the 10-year research programme for deepwater fisheries.”

The Ministry is also looking at the best way to support direct purchasing of research by industry. A report on this is now on the Ministry’s website.

In terms of regulations, Mr Heatley said the next step is progressing the Regulatory Reform Bill, which includes two amendments to the Fisheries Act, which will ensure a simple process for registration as a “notified user”.

“We’re also looking to consolidate the fisheries commercial and amateur regulations to ease the regulatory burden on stakeholders by (among other things) providing for less regulation – revoking 22 sets of regulations and consolidating them into two sets, allowing greater accessibility for users, and helping any substantive reform of the consolidated regulations in future.”

In terms of catch limits, Mr Heatley said his approach is always to be cautious and responsible saying: “I’ll increase catch limits only when I’m sure it will be sustainable. If the research says a reduction is needed for the sake of sustainability, that’s where I’ll go.”

To close, Mr Heatley wished everyone luck with new challenges and opportunities that arise all the time and said that they can be used to the country’s best advantage.

He also stated how he hopes to see the same intense focus on inshore fisheries.

“I want to better get the balance for recreational, customary and commercial users. This will mean the same level of intense work that has gone into the aquaculture reforms,” he conluded.

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