Reports

Find here reports and statistics from the latest events from the world of Fish & Seafood

Weitere Informationen zu diesem Bericht und vielen weiteren Themen finden Sie unter delikatessenschweiz.ch

Alaska’s pink salmon season may see delays

Although it is still too early to whether the pink salmon season in Alaska is on track to reach season projections, low numbers have some wondering if there will be a delay in the season.

According to Jeremy Botz, gillnet area management biologist with the ADF&G, scientists are still waiting on three hatcheries as well as wild stocks to come online.

 

"It's way too early for us to tell," he said. "In early August we'll have a better handle."

Botz did say, however, that water temperatures have been cooler this year, which "is affecting the timing of these runs".

 

"It seems like so far we're seeing a lot of later run times...that's something we might see into August with the other pink salmon runs," he said.

 

According to a report sent to Undercurrent News by the McDowel Group, as of July 17, the harvest of pinks in Alaska was approaching 70 million fish.

 

"Pink harvests are trailing the 2015 pace in the early going," the report said, adding that last week salmon numbers doubled in Prince William Sound to 16m fish, although this "remains behind the 2015 pace in that region."

 

As of July 19, the catch in Prince William Sound had reached 12.9m fish, and the total season forecast is set at 55.9m fish.

 

For the entire state, the 2017 season pinks forecast is 141.9m fish, however catches had only reached 19.9m fish as of July 19.

 

"Pink harvests have also been sluggish in Southeast and Kodiak, but it's still early," the report said. "Last week traditionally marks the beginning of larger pink catches. This year's 'week 28' pink harvest lagged 2015's week 28 by 25%."

 

The report emphasized that it is still early in the season. Last week was only week 28 of a season that saw catches continue through week 37 in 2015, as seen in the graph above. The numbers and current trends may not be indicative of the rest of the season.

 

A comparison to 2015, rather than last year, is more fair given that Alaska pink runs are generally much stronger in odd numbered years than they are in even numbered years.

The overall global supply picture for pinks was projected to be down dramatically from 2015 -- the last high production, odd numbered year -- when Alaska and Russia combined produced 1.002 billion pounds of the species, according to McDowell’s Pink Salmon Outlook and Summary. This year's forecast is 781 million lbs — a drop of 22%.

 

This decrease came after a dismal year of production in Alaska, which managed to reach 150m lbs of pink salmon last year despite a large average fish size, depleting Alaska's inventory.

At the end of last month, Undercurrent reported the price outlook for Alaska pink salmon is looking good for this year.

 

Average canned prices were up 5% in this year’s first trimester over 2015 for 48-can cases of talls. They rose from $82.84 in the first trimester of 2015 to the equivalent of $86.98 in this year’s first trimester, according to data from the Alaska Department of Revenue. When compared to 2016 pricing, the average this year is up 20.7%.

 

However, despite the overall downturn in global production between 2015 and 2017, average frozen H&G prices dropped 6% during this year's first trimester, from $1.43/lb in the first trimester of 2015 to $1.34/lb in 2017’s first trimester.

 

Yet this year’s $1.34/lb level is a large improvement from last year’s $1.14/lb level.

Land-based shrimp aquaculture is expanding. Will it pay?

Two companies – one Japanese, the other American – are bringing revolutionary technologies into commercialization in large-scale shrimp aquaculture facilities. But questions remain as to whether the operations can be profitable.

 

A year ago, Tokyo-based Nippon Suisan Kaisha (Nissui) announced a plan to build a new land-based shrimp farm on a 30,000 square-meter in Minamikyushu City, Japan. The JPY 421 million (USD 3.8 million, EUR 3.3 million) facility is expected to produce around 200 metric tons of vannamei a year by fiscal 2018 intended primarily for use in sushi and sashimi. Nissui has already developed land-based farming technology at its Oita Marine Research Center, also on the island of Kyushu, but this latest project is its first commercial one. Imported shrimp larvae will be raised using seawater and bio-floc, microbes that can cleanse the water by converting shrimp waste products to food.

Meanwhile, in the U.S.A., technology developed by Dr. Addison Lawrence, a professor at Texas A&M University, has been licensed and further developed by Marshal, Minnesota-based Ralco Animal Nutrition, a supplier of livestock nutrition, animal health products and crop enhancement technologies, and is being advanced at the Balaton, Minnesota test facility of their “trū Shrimp” subsidiary.

 

The Texas A&M system is housed indoors, with shrimp raised in raceways with a water depth of just 12 inches. The shallow depth allows raceways to be stacked in eight levels, greatly reducing the space needed. Temperature and water conditions can also be closely controlled for optimal health and growth conditions. 

Additionally, in the tightly controlled and automated environment, feed can be evenly distributed in the amount needed, greatly reducing waste and increasing feed-conversion ratios. In the traditional pond system, feed is thrown into ponds unevenly, often by hand, and feed that sinks to the bottom generally goes uneaten. 

 

Like the system being built in Japan, the “trū Shrimp” system uses the biofloc waste treatment system. The technology is now going international, through a cooperation agreement with Blue Tiger Shrimp Aquaculture (BTSA) based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.A. and Hamburg, Germany and led by CEO Rudy Ahrens and Managing Director Joerg Meier. CEO Ahrens originally became interested in land-based shrimp farming as a possible use for deep ocean water, with which he was involved, but the current system uses filtered and salinized fresh water.

 

“Blue Tiger” is not a breed of shrimp, but rather a trademark. In fact, the system is designed to raise vannemei, just like the Japanese system. Rather, it was noticed that the color of the shrimp is influenced by the color of the raceways. The shrimp will change color to camouflage with their surroundings, so by using blue raceways, the system can make shrimp with a distinctive blue color, which Meier said was chosen as “royal blue” had a good image for a premium shrimp.

 

Meier said that projects are already moving forward in Tiko, Cameroon; in Heilongjiang, China; in Rehna, Germany; and in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The company is looking opportunistically for future project locations. Investor interest is a prerequisite, Meier said, but good air links are also needed to carry the product to elite markets, such as in the European Union, Hong Kong, Moscow and the U.S.A. The company is targeting the top 10 percent of the market, especially for raw uses like sushi and sashimi, as well as ceviche.

Despite savings on space and improvements in feed conversion, the resulting product will still be more expensive than that from outdoor pond aquaculture, because it will require a building and a considerable amount of equipment, as well as water treatment facilities. 

Meier expects to get premium pricing for the product because it will be both organic and fresh. It can be organic because it is raised in a bio-secure environment, and it can be shipped fresh by air because the production volumes can be strictly controlled and predicted to meet the needed amount. After being vacuum packed, the product can last eight days in the chilled state.

 

BTSA is offering construction of turnkey facilities, with ongoing technical support and feed sales from Ralco. 

 

“The local investor has to raise the money, but he becomes 100 percent owner,” Meier said.

He predicts that premium shrimp can sell for up to USD 70 (EUR 62) per kilogram, at which price return on investment could be achieved in three to four years.

©seafoodsource.com

EU fleet closing in on new Indian Ocean yellowfin quota, prices could rise sharply

The European fleet active in the Indian Ocean is already close to reach 70% of its yellowfin tuna quota for this year.

Reaching 100% of their quota could force many European firms to stop fishing before the end of the year, because of the bycatch associated with yellowfin fishing.

This is expected to lead to a lack of raw material in Europe in the second half of the year, industry sources told Undercurrent News. 

In this context, yellowfin prices are expected to stay stable in the "high range" or increase by up to €400 per metric ton by the end of the year, sources told Undercurrent.

A quota for yellowfin fishing in the Indian Ocean has been introduced for the first time this year. The European fleet's quota for 2017, which will be probably approved also for 2018, was 77,700 metric tons, of which nearly 38% was assigned to the French fleet and nearly 3% to the Italian fleet. The remaining percentage has been assigned to the Spanish fleet.

 

Spanish fleet

The Spanish fleet has already fished 30,000t, reaching almost 70% of its 45,000t quota (general or Olympic quota), according to Spanish sources.

The Spanish fisheries ministry is currently deciding on the criteria -- such as vessels' tonnage and years in operation -- to assign the remaining share of the quota, which should be notified in two-to-three weeks.

 

"The Olympic quota is about to be completed in the Indian Ocean," one Spanish source noted, pointing out that, with what remains to be assigned to each boat, some firms will possibly have up to two months remaining of fishing.

 

"It will remain what has been assigned to each boat, which might barely cover the next two months. This can force the fleet to stop fishing before the end of the year," the source said.

"When you fish small skipjack, they have 10-30% of yellowfin [by-catch] associated. European boats cannot throw anything [back] to the sea, they have full retention," he also said, explaining that boats could assign to their next year's quota small quantities of yellowfin by-catch. But, then, they could not go back to fish again, because of the risk of fishing illegally. "When they go over he quota they have to stop, or get quotas for other oceans, which is not simple," he said.

He also pointed out to the scarce fishing in other oceans.

 

In Eastern Pacific, they are close to reaching their yellowfin quota, which was 16% less than last year and the fishery might be over in a couple of months, the Spanish source added.

Catches in Ecuador have dropped sharply in June, according to Ecuadorian sources.

"At the end of the year, there will be a shortage of fish in the Indian Ocean and in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, so the forecast is that from now to the end of the year, prices will go up quite a bit," the Spanish source noted.

 

French fleet

The French fleet has reached 66-67% of their quota, according to a French source.

"It is difficult to estimate when [100% of the] quota will be reached, there are too many uncertainties," the source noted. "In any case, we will have to stop before having consumed 100% [of the quota], for prudence, not to exceed [it]. For the French [fleet], the decision could be made at the beginning of December, perhaps," he added.

 

Prices

At present, yellowfin tuna is priced around €2,550-2,600/t (around $2,900/t), one of the sources said. Yellowfin in the Indian Ocean is at €2,600/t  and can easily reach €2,800-€3,000 because of the lack of raw material, another source said.

"In the fishing grounds, the price is already €2,450/t, plus €300/t transport cost to Europe," the second source noted, pointing out that in the Atlantic prices were already higher, around €2,575/t in Abidjan, as well as in the Atlantic, where "we are selling
Atlantic fish in Spain already at €2,800/t".

 

Sources also pointed to new measures introduced in the last few months by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, which add further restrictions to yellowfin fishing in the Indian Ocean.

The new set of rules might keep yellowfin prices "stable, in the high range", according to one source, and also indirectly impact skipjack fishing, several sources pointed out.

One noted that skipjack prices were less driven by catches in the Indian Ocean, as they mainly followed demand and supply trends in Bangkok, Thailand, which were mainly dependent on the fishery in the Western Pacific.

 

"Introducing the quota [for yellowfin catches] for 2017 had a stabilizing effect [at a high price] on yellowfin prices," one source noted.

 

One of the Spanish sources pointed out that those measures would further reduce supply next year.

Tilapia virus, spreading rapidly, poses threat to global food security

Tilapia farmers around the world are growing increasingly concerned about the growing number of incidences of Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV), which has already been reported in Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Israel, and Thailand. 

 

TiLV is a newly emerging and highly contagious virus associated with significant mortalities in tilapia, which is spreading amongst both farmed and wild stocks. In Thailand for example, outbreaks have led to the mortality of up to 90 percent of stocks. 

The virus belongs to the same family of viruses as infectious salmon anaemia (ISA), which has caused considerable losses to the salmon farming industry. 

 

TiLV is thought to represents a significant threat to the global tilapia industry, which recorded a production in 2015 of 6.4 million tons with a value in excess of USD 9.8 billion (EUR 8.7 billion). Worldwide trade was valued at USD 1.8 billion (EUR 1.6 billion). Tilapia is the second-most traded aquaculture species and one of the world’s most important fish for human consumption.

 

Countries importing tilapia have been asked by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in a special alert through the Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS), to examine their biosecurity measures and to put appropriate risk management measures into place. These include intensifying diagnostics testing, enforcing health certificates, deploying quarantine measures, and developing contingency plans.

 

According to the FAO, the virus does not pose any risk to public health, but the loss of fish through mortalities poses a concern for global food security and nutrition. The low price of tilapia, its omnivorous diet, tolerance to high-density farming methods, and previously strong resistance to disease, help to make this fish an important protein source, especially in developing countries and for poorer consumers.

 

Affected countries, along with those importing tilapia, are encouraged to initiate public information campaigns to advise aquaculturists of the clinical signs of TiLV and the need to flag large-scale mortalities to biosecurity authorities. Many tilapia producers are small scale fish farmers or smallholders, who may not be aware of the growing threat. Infected fish may display a loss of appetite, have slow movements, dermal lesions, ulcers and cloudy eyes.

 

Active surveillance for TiLV is currently being conducted in China, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines, but there are many knowledge gaps about how it is spread. For example, it is not known if it can be transmitted through frozen tilapia products, and more research is required to determine whether TiLV is carried by other fresh water fish species or by piscivorous birds and mammals.

 

While there is currently no vaccine available against TiLV, an Israeli company is working to develop one. However, a diagnostic test is available, and authorities are being urged to use it to rule out the virus as the cause of unexplained mortalities. 

 

Around 80 countries currently farm tilapia. China, Indonesia and Egypt are the three leading aquaculture producers of tilapia and sub-Saharan Africa is seen as having the greatest potential for expansion. 

©Nicki Holmyard, seafoodsource.com

Mad rush for shrimp raw material ongoing in Vietnam

Availability of black tiger shrimps in Vietnam has dropped, since Chinese buyers “started to book directly raw material” from local farmers, as prices for the processed item are on the rise, sources told Undercurrent News.

“It’s a mad rush for material,” said a source at PineTree, Eric Ng, general manager at Singaporean firm PineTree, which processes black tiger shrimps at its plant in Vietnam. “We wanted to do more but there is not enough raw material,” he said. “We are fighting China for raw material. It’s a big problem,” he also said. 

He added that the firm had a project to build a cooperative of Vietnamese farmers in collaboration with the Singapore government to ensure its supply in the country, but that the project would take more time to be completed.

Demand for Vietnamese black tiger has risen, boosting prices 5-7% year-on-year, since many Indian farmers have switched their production to vannamei (see separate post further down this blog). Demand from Japan, Middle East and Asia is strong, sources said. 

 

China prefers buying black shrimp from Vietnam than from Bangladesh, because logistics is easier. Chinese buyers want black tiger delivered in Vietnam, Shyamal Das, managing director at Bangladeshi farmer M.U. Sea Foods said, adding that Chinese buyers had increased their purchases recently. Prices have increased 20-25% y-o-y, he added. 

Supply of vannamei in Vietnam is also insufficient to meet demand, a large buyer from a North-American firm noted.

©Undercurrent News

Vietnam shrimp exports to UK, Germany fall, but surge to Netherlands

Vietnamese shrimp exports to the EU increased by 6.4% during the first three months of 2017, compared with he same period last year, according to Vietnamese Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.

The UK, the Netherlands and Germany were top three main importers of Vietnam shrimp in the EU.  

Shrimp exports to the UK, the largest buyer of Vietnam shrimp in the bloc, dropped 2.8% to eye US$27.8 million in the first three months of this year.

After a strong growth throughout 2015 and the first three quarters of 2016, shrimp exports to the UK in the last quarter of 2016 fell by 3.9%. In early 2017, exports to this market grew positively in January and February before declining in March.

However, demand for warm-water shrimp in the UK remained high thanks to reasonable prices and a drop in supplies of cold-water shrimp. Vietnam shrimp exports to the UK were unstable due to Brexit.

Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Germany were valued at $18.4m, down by 22.8% compared with the same period in 2016.

 

Out of top three main shrimp importing markets of Vietnam in the EU, shipments to the Netherlands recorded the highest growth of 82.5% year-on-year to hit $26.5m. The Netherlands is currently the second largest importer of Vietnam shrimp in the EU.

In 2016, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the Netherlands reported the continuous growth. Particularly in the first three months of 2017, shrimp exports to the market posted the 2-3 digit growth over the same period in 2016.

Imports of vannamei shrimp from Vietnam into the Netherlands comprised 69% of shrimp exports, while black tiger shrimp accounted for 21% of exports. For vannamei shrimp products, exports of processed items to the Netherlands were higher than those of live/fresh/frozen items.

For black tiger shrimp products, the Netherlands preferred exports of live/fresh/frozen items than those of processed items.

In 2016, the top five largest shrimp suppliers to the Netherlands were India (accounting for 17.6% of total shrimp imports into the Netherlands); Vietnam (accounting for 15.6%); Morocco (12.3%); Bangladesh (12.2%) and Germany (8%).

 

Of the two largest shrimp suppliers to the Netherlands (India and Vietnam), in 2016, the Netherlands tended to imports shrimp from Vietnam with higher volume thanks to stable quality products, Vietnamese sellers enjoyed tax incentives for exports to the market.

Top three major shrimp suppliers to the EU in 2016 were Ecuador, India and Vietnam. While India tends to reduce exports of shrimp to the EU, Ecuador and Vietnam are increasingly boosting shrimp exports to the market. Currently, Ecuador is Vietnam's main competitor in the EU.

©Undercurrent News

Filme für die Erde

Filme für die Erde ist ein internationales Kompetenzzentrum für Umweltdokumentarfilme, dessen Ziel es ist, mit ausgewählten Filmen möglichst viele Menschen zu erreichen, Wissen über Nachhaltigkeit weiterzugeben und zum Handeln zu inspirieren. 

Die Überfischung der Meere

Fisch: 96 % importiert

Wenn in der Schweiz Fisch auf den Teller kommt, dann handelt es sich oft um Lachs. Mit einer Verkaufsmenge von 3333 Tonnen war er 2016 der beliebteste Frischfisch im Detailhandel. Konsumenten essen dagegen immer seltener einheimischen Fisch.

Mehr als 96 Prozent des verkauften Fisches im Schweizer Detailhandel wurden letztes Jahr importiert – Tendenz steigend. Das geht aus dem Marktbericht Fleisch des Bundesamtes für Landwirtschaft (BLW) hervor, der am Dienstag veröffentlicht wurde.

Weniger Forellen abgesetzt

Grund dafür sei, dass Konsumentinnen und Konsumenten hierzulande immer öfter Salzwasserfisch essen würden. Dies sei bedingt durch die Präferenzen der zuwandernden Bevölkerung wie auch der erhöhten Reisetätigkeit von in der Schweiz lebenden Menschen in Gebiete, in denen traditionell oft Fisch gegessen werde, heisst es im Bericht weiter. Dieser Konsumtrend lässt sich etwa am stetigen Absatzrückgang bei der Forelle ablesen. Vergangenes Jahr wurden 1354 Tonnen des Fisches verkauft (-4,6 Prozent). Damit rangiert die Forelle in der Gunst der Konsumenten noch an dritter Stelle.

Bleibt Nischenprodukt

Immer häufiger geht dafür Pangasius über den Ladentisch. Letztes Jahr stieg der Absatz des asiatischen Fisches um 7,8 Prozent auf 1384 Tonnen. Nach der Forelle folgen auf den weiteren Plätzen Dorsch, Kabeljau und Goldbutt. Insgesamt verkaufte der Detailhandel im vergangenen Jahr 23’068 Tonnen Fisch und Meeresfrüchte im Wert von 547 Millionen Franken. Das sind rund 210 Tonnen mehr als im Vorjahr. Fisch bleibt aber ein Nischenprodukt. Zum Vergleich: 2016 wurden hierzulande rund 226’000 Tonnen Fleisch und Fleischprodukte verkauft.

Warum der Lachs rosa ist

Das Fleisch aller Lachse, ungeachtet ihrer Herkunft – gezüchtet oder wild lebend – ist rosa, weil sie durch ihre Nahrung ein Carotinoid Antioxidans aufnehmen.

 

Carotinoide sind eine natürlich vorkommende Pigmentgruppe, die das Gewebe einer Vielzahl von Organismen färben. Es wurden über 600 natürlich vorkommende Carotinoide bei Pflanzen und Tieren identifiziert – alles von Tomaten bis Flamingos. Sie erzeugen sogar die Farben von Herbstblättern.

Vorteile der Carotinoide

Die Carotinoide, die bei Fischen vorkommen, gehören zu der Gruppe der Xantophylle und schließen Astaxanthin mit ein. Astaxanthin ist das am häufigsten vorkommende natürliche Carotinoid bei Wildlachsen und Krustentieren, wie Garnelen und Hummern, und ist für ihre pink/rote Pigmentierung verantwortlich.

 

Es hat sich auch gezeigt, dass eine Ernährung, die Carotinoide enthält, die Wachstumsrate und das Überleben junger Fische erhöht, und zwar sowohl wenn sie im Brutfutter enthalten sind als auch im Setzlingsstadium.

Nahrungskette

Astaxanthin besteht aus Mikroorganismen wie Hefe und Algen. Diese Substanzen werden von kleinen Fischen und Krustentieren gefressen, die wiederum von Lachsen gefressen werden. Dadurch dass Lachse und Krustentiere diese kleinen Fische und Krustentiere fressen, sammeln sie genug Carotinoid an – was sich in ihren Muskeln, aber auch in ihrer Haut und ihren Eiern absetzt – um die Farbe zu verändern.

Gezüchtete Lachse

In vielen Tierfuttern werden synthetische Pigmente standardmäßig verwendet, darunter auch im Futter für gezüchtete Fische. Wenn das Futter biologisch hergestellt wird, stammt das Pigment von Bakterien.

 

Da Lachse kein eigenes Astaxanthin produzieren können und es somit durch ihre Nahrung aufnehmen müssen, war es viele Jahre lang normal, in Meerwasser aufgezogene Lachse mit Nahrung zu füttern, die naturidentisches Astaxanthin enthält. Das bedeutet, dass obwohl das Astaxanthin synthetisch ist, es eine reine Variante dessen ist, was Wildlachse fressen. Dadurch hat der Fisch gesundheitliche Vorteile und die gewohnte Farbe, was dem Endkonsumenten auf der ganzen Welt gefällt.

 

Es sei jedoch darauf hingewiesen, dass durch seit Langem bestehende Vorschriften in Bezug auf Futtermittelzusatzstoffe festgelegt wurde, dass synthetisches Astaxanthin Lachsfischen in den ersten sechs Monaten ihres Lebens nicht gegeben werden darf.

Die Wichtigkeit der Pigmente

In vielen Tierfuttern werden synthetische Pigmente standardmäßig verwendet, darunter auch im Futter für gezüchtete Fische. Wenn das Futter biologisch hergestellt wird, stammt das Pigment von Bakterien.

 

Da Lachse kein eigenes Astaxanthin produzieren können und es somit durch ihre Nahrung aufnehmen müssen, war es viele Jahre lang normal, in Meerwasser aufgezogene Lachse mit Nahrung zu füttern, die naturidentisches Astaxanthin enthält. Das bedeutet, dass obwohl das Astaxanthin synthetisch ist, es eine reine Variante dessen ist, was Wildlachse fressen. Dadurch hat der Fisch gesundheitliche Vorteile und die gewohnte Farbe, was dem Endkonsumenten auf der ganzen Welt gefällt.

 

Es sei jedoch darauf hingewiesen, dass durch seit Langem bestehende Vorschriften in Bezug auf Futtermittelzusatzstoffe festgelegt wurde, dass synthetisches Astaxanthin Lachsfischen in den ersten sechs Monaten ihres Lebens nicht gegeben werden darf.

©Pittman Seafoods

Global Consumer Trends To Watch

Today’s consumer marketplace has a diverse cast of key players – from refined Baby Boomers (born between the years of 1946 and 1964) to savvy Millennials (born between the early 1980s and 1998), all the way down to the fresh-faced Generation Z (born between the years of 1998 and 2010).

Bornstein Market Report März 2017

Bornstein Market Report February 2017

First Bycatch, Then Prey

Interested how a fish that was not considered as enjoyable made its way to a highly appreciated one? Read the following article, written by Claudio Zemp

 

First bycatch, then prey

For quite some time, true minnows were said to be unmarketable. 

However, if roaches, European chubs or common breams are treated correctly, they prove to be perfect for regional and seasonal specialities. A great chance for fishermen and chefs.

Cosy public rooms, well-attended bistros or takeaways: Swiss gastronomy is in trend with its 

 

Knusperli of the Common Roach - the perfect Swiss fish for winter!

 

5 Kg-cardboard box

Knusperlis have a weight of +/- 35g

 

Important: The time of this delicious winter speciality starts around the end of January 2017! 

 

I'm looking forward to your reservation!

 

All the best wishes! 

 

Arne van Grondel

...always available unter Mobile 079 904 00 89!

 

I'm looking forward to meeting you!

 

PS: My recommandations! 

In the rapture of colours

 

Swiss lakes are too clean

Balanced diet

Employees that have a healthy diet are less expensive for their employers than their not-as-healthy counterparts. 

Canteen owners now look for a way to make healthy food appear more appealing for employees.

Krusty Filet

The era of the ever-present "Schlemmerfilets" with its low share of fish is over: It's time to discover something new. 

Krusty Filet with its delicious taste and light italian hint is the perfect alternative option.

 

Find more information in our online catalogue.

Arrosti Fish & Seafood

Fried and frozen fishfilet portions for quick and easy meals. Delicious and healthy, with the popular and unmistakable flavour of a carefully fried fish. No matter what age, no matter where, Arrosti is liked by everyone.

 

Find more information in our online catalogue.

Aquaculture in Vietnam

In many aquacultures of south-eastern countries, El Niño has caused severe difficulties; especially the Vietnamese farmer and producers suffer from this phenomenon. And now, in autumn, the situation is becoming even more serious. 

What exactly is El Niño?

El Niño describes a climatic change which occurs mostly in the pacific region between South America’s west coast and the South East Asian area.

This meteorological condition happens in irregular breaks of 2 to 7 years. 

Two-faced phenomenon

While there are heavy rain and flooding in South America, things are very different on the other side of the planet: South East Asia is dealing with extreme droughtiness. Due to these circumstances, farmers in the Mekong Delta, which is usually known for its surplus of water, are affected the most.  

 

Barely any rain during monsoon season

Not only the rainy period was much shorter than usual, there was also basically no rain in six months. Even upstream the Mekong, rain was seldom. 

Higher salinity

Because of the lack of fresh water from the Mekong, the water level of the ocean is rising and the mixture between fresh and salt water reaches further than normally into the delta. As a result, salinity in the ponds is increasing and the fresh water is replaced by brackish water or even salt water. 

Why salt water is not favourable for shrimp farming

Although Black Tiger Shrimp and Vannamei Shrimp originate from the sea – and therefore salt water – they don’t react well to the unusually high level of salt in the traditional ponds.

 

The growth rate of smaller animals slows down whereas fully grown ones can already be taken out of the ponds. This results in a lack of a new shrimp generation for the start of 2017.

Vagaries of the weather

As in June rain finally started to fall, things seemed to get better. Yet soon after, the weather changed again and what followed were brief, alternating periods of sun, rain or floods.

These rapid changes caused the pH-value in the ponds to drop and a lot of farmers decided to not add new shrimp larvae into the ponds as the majority of them would die in a short time.

 

Market Situation 2016

The bountiful, yet early harvest, the slower growth of young shrimp and the missing biomass in spring and summer now reveal the consequences that affect the whole industry. The amount of shrimps that could be yielded is too small to satisfy the rising demand. 

In consequence of these circumstances, prices for shrimp have risen and are currently by 40% higher than they were in August and September. 

 

Situation in other countries

Countries like India, Indonesia and Thailand that have a traditional way of shrimp farming as well are facing similar situations where prices for a limited number of resources are climbing.

 

Lately, producers started preferring Vannamei Shrimp. This species is less sensitive, more resistant and has a higher growth rate than Black Tiger Shrimps.

But compared to these, Vannamei Shrimps produce a significantly smaller amount of ready-to-harvesting shrimps. This causes the prices of Black Tiger Shrimps from Silvofishery aquaculture to increase. 

 

Prospects 2017

It is yet unclear how the situation will be evolving next year.

The period of time until February 2017 is crucial to see if the situation is going to pick itself up.

 

Should there be another generation of shrimps – namely Black Tiger – prices will be stabilized but still be higher than in summer 2016.

 

Market Report Bornstein September 2016

 

                         

Situation of salmon fishing in Alaska, Canada, Kamtshatka

The latest news of this year fishing season of Keta salmon and pink salmon are not very promising. 

The landings are extremely small and stay far below the expectations of the fishing industry as well as the markets.

> The pressure put on trading as well as retail is still rising. 

Keta salmon

In the middle of June, the fishing seaon in Alaska started with poor results. Due to the low amount of fish, the prices rose - for the conventional goods and also for MSC-certified fish. 

The fact that the demand for fish is continously increasing causes anger - especially with the processers. 

 

In Russia, the total of the current harvest is 10.000 megatons which is less than 10% to what is usually caught. It can be expected that the large amounts of fish will not be arriving any time soon. 

> To even make reliant statements, the following weeks have to be awaited.

 

Meanwhile in Canada, prices for MSC Salmon are rocketing. It should be remarked that only a small amount of caught wild fish are caught by boats that are certified with MSC.  

> It is still unclear for how long the increasing demand can acknowledge these prices on the market.

 

Pink Lachs

The fishing season of Pink Salmon in Alaska started, just as scientists predicted, with small amounts of fish. Markets have already taken precautions at the end of 2015 and made adjustements. 

 

The prices have increased here as well, particularly for MSC-certified fish.

Experts assume that this price level will stay until the end of the fishing season. 

> This suggestion has to be treated with the appropriate caution.