Saving Seafood

How Fish Communicate, Even Using Noise

December 13, 2015 — Q. We know that aquatic mammals communicate with one another, but what about fish?

A. Fish have long been known to communicate by several silent mechanisms, but more recently researchers have found evidence that some species also use sound.

It is well known that fish communicate by gesture and motion, as in the highly regimented synchronized swimming of schools of fish.

Some species use electrical pulses as signals, and some use bioluminescence, like that of the firefly.

Some kinds of fish also release chemicals that can be sensed by smell or taste. In 2011, a scientist in New Zealand suggested that what might be called fish vocalization has a role, at least in some ocean fish.

Read the full story at the New York Times

Sanford CEO hopes new fishing style can create ‘Wagyu beef of seafood’

November 26, 2015 — Volker Kuntzsch, the CEO of New Zealand’s Sanford, hopes the under development precision seafood harvesting (PSH) method can lead to a transformation for the fishing industry worldwide.

Sanford, Sealord Group and Aotearoa Fisheries (AFL), the three companies involved in moving PSH toward commercial use, plan to start sales of fish caught with the method next year, Kuntzsch and Greg Johansson, chief operating officer, told Undercurrent News.

“We are expecting to have a number of vessels using the technology next year and a brand has already trademarked,” Johansson said.

Kuntzsch and Johansson declined to reveal the name of the brand, however. The idea is what the catch from all three companies sold under it, to give more volume in the market.

“We want to create an image something like Wagyu beef,” said Kuntzsch, of the way the companies want to brand seafood caught by the PSH method in a manner similar to the way the high-end, fat-marbled, Japanese meat is promoted.

The marketing needs to say, “this is a different method, a higher quality”, he said. “We are hoping this can be a game changer for the industry worldwide.”

“We should start having product in the market next year and ramp up from there,” said Johansson.

Sanford, AFL and Sealord plan to share the technology globally, in the future, said Kuntzsch.

Read the full story from Undercurrent News

Bill targeting pirate fishing worldwide heads for presidential signature

October 22, 2015 — WASHINGTON — A bill aimed at taking down “pirate” fishing by keeping illegally caught fish out of U.S. ports is headed for President Barack Obama’s signature.

The Senate late Wednesday passed a bill aimed at giving the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Coast Guard greater enforcement capabilities to combat illegal and unregulated fishing, a multibillion-dollar problem for Alaska and the U.S. fishing industry.

The bill, which brings together such unlikely bedfellows as Republican lawmakers and Greenpeace, passed the Senate by a unanimous vote. The House passed the same legislation in July.

The bill has the backing of the White House, which determined in 2014 that new legislation was needed to implement a port agreement requiring member countries to reject ships that have illegal product onboard. The European Union, Australia, Chile and New Zealand have signed on, among other countries. Ten more are needed to reach the 25 required before the agreement takes effect, according to environmental group Oceana.

“This important legislation, which imposes added sanctions on countries whose vessels engage in IUU fishing, would provide our authorities the tools they need to fight back against these global criminals and ensure millions of pounds of illegally caught product never reach market,” said Alaska Rep. Don Young, a Republican who co-sponsored the House version of the bill.

Read the full story at Alaska Dispatch News

 

 

New Zealand aims to improve oceans management

October 2, 2015 — Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith is to lead New Zealand’s delegation to the Our Oceans Conference in Valparaiso, Chile next week with the aim of improving the management of the world’s oceans.

“Oceans make up 72 per cent of the world, but only two per cent is in protected areas. The populations of marine life like fish and seabirds have halved over the past 40 years. The biggest problems are in the high seas beyond individual countries’ jurisdictions, making up about 70 per cent of the oceans, where we need strengthened institutions and rules to ensure the sustainability of fishing stocks and improved protection of marine life,” Dr Smith says.

The conference is being hosted by the Chilean government, with representation from the United States – led by Secretary of State John Kerry – as well as from 100 other countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Pacific. New Zealand’s delegation includes Pacific Economic Development Ambassador Shane Jones, ocean law expert Bill Mansfield, and officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Environment. New Zealand environmental organisations are also attending.

Read the full story from New Zealand News Online