Fisheries

• Friday, February 18th 2011 - 23:47 UTC

  Massive decline of predatory fish in the last 100 years threatens ‘wild’ oceans

  

  Researchers at the University of British Columbia say they have the strongest evidence to date that humans are indeed “fishing down the food web,” citing data that show predatory fish such as cod, tuna, and groupers have declined by two-thirds during the past 100 years, while small forage fish such as sardines, anchovy and capelin have more than doubled over the same period.

• Friday, February 18th 2011 - 06:00 UTC

  Japan announces the end of its annual whale hunt in Antarctica

  

  Japan ended its annual whale hunt in Antarctica early following clashes between its fleet and protesters, Agriculture Minister Michihiko Kano said.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 13:23 UTC

  Japan cuts short whaling season; Greenpeace says whale-meat market overstocked

  

  The Japanese whaling fleet has called an early end to its whaling season in Antarctica a move which conservationists tentatively say could spell an end to whaling in the Southern Ocean. But Greenpeace Japan said there were other reasons to halt “scientific whaling”.

• Tuesday, February 15th 2011 - 18:57 UTC

  Jiggers queue early for the Falkland Islands Illex squid licenses

  

  MORE than thirty, mainly Taiwanese, jiggers crowded into Stanley Harbour early this week prior to the beginning of the Falkland Islands Illex fishery season.

• Monday, February 14th 2011 - 20:41 UTC

  Argentine jiggers pleased with current squid season catch levels

  

  Argentina’s catches of squid (Illex argentinus) are averaging 20 tons per day and there’s no activity outside the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), according to the first landing reports.

• Thursday, February 10th 2011 - 23:33 UTC

  FAO admits illegal fishing remains major threat; calls for a global record of fishing vessels

  

  Countries are making progress in implementing the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, which is now 15 years old, but still extremely relevant. However, additional efforts are needed, declared participants at the close of the 29th session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries.

• Tuesday, February 1st 2011 - 12:54 UTC

  Northeast Brazil to become “tuna hub” with support from Japan

  

  Japan will help Brazil develop a “tuna hub” at the north of the country with the purpose of doubling tuna catches. State of the art Japanese equipment together with Brazilian personnel specially trained to operate the new logistics are at the heart of the ambitious project which plans to turn the north-eastern impoverished state of Rio Grande do Norte into a tuna hub covering an extensive zone of the Atlantic.

• Monday, January 31st 2011 - 21:21 UTC

  Fisheries, aquaculture support livelihoods of 8% of world population, says FAO

  

  The contribution of fish to global diets has reached a record of about 17 kg per person on average, supplying over three billion people with at least 15% of their average animal protein intake.

• Friday, January 28th 2011 - 21:33 UTC

  Poor Start to Falklands Illex Season

  

  VESSELS fishing for the squid species Illex argentinus in Falklands waters have been reporting poor catches of around two and five ton per day so far this season, confirmed Falkland Islands Fisheries Scientist Alexander Arkhipkin.

• Friday, January 28th 2011 - 18:24 UTC

  Toothfish quota reduced in South Georgia

  

  THE South Georgia toothfish quota dropped from 2800 tonnes to 1800 tonnes this year, with a reduction in the number of vessels from 9 to 6, confirmed the Senior Executive of the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) Martin Collins today.