Star Kist ties up Samoa tuna fleet USA, November 20, 00
Due to heavy oversupply and the continued depression in the Skipjack market, U.S based Star Kist (world's largest tuna processor) has announced that it will tie up it's purse seine tuna fleet until further notice. Star Kist which has most of its fleet stationed in the Western Pacific Ocean, and uses the Island Samoa as its major production location outside the USA issued an statement that "Future market conditions are extremely uncertain and it cannot be predicted with confidence when it will be economic for the Star Kist fleet to begin fishing". Currently prices is Samoa are around US$ 350 landed for skipjack whole round frozen 1.8 kg up. Star Kist stocks are already very high in the U.S market, and  therefore there is also hardly any outlet for the fish being caught far below cost price.

EU Fisheries Ministers discuss future management Tuna Stocks Europe, November 20, 00
Among many other subjects the EU Fisheries Ministers are likely to discuss the management of tuna stocks during their 17 November Council meeting in Brussels. They will also hold a policy debate on the fishing fleet; discuss the findings of the report on the application of the EU fisheries and aquaculture system in 1996-1998; try to reach political agreement over a draft Decision on a financial participation for managing highly migratory species; and hold an informal discussion into the impact of rising oil prices on the fishing industry.
The European Commission proposed on 10 May to cut the European Union's fishing capacity to bring it more in line with the available fish stocks (see European Report Number 2500), following a mid-term review of the fourth Multiannual Guidance Programme or MAGP (one of the instruments for strengthening the fishing industry) which indicated that the Programme had only had a very marginal impact to date on cutting excess capacity.

Below a sum up of the subjects to be discussed :

Aid for managing highly migratory species
The Council is expected to formulate common guidelines on a draft Commission Decision on EU funding for managing highly migratory species, which the Commission transmitted to the Council in October.
-At its 11th Extraordinary Meeting, in 1998, the ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna) adopted a recommendation that floating gear be banned for a limited period from the Gulf of Guinea in order to reduce the catches of juvenile tropical tuna.
The recommendation came into force on 21 June 1999, and the Council is currently considering how this should be incorporated in EU law. The ICCAT recommendation obliges the contractual parties to take an observer with them on vessels fishing in the relevant zone during the specified period of time. The Commission's proposal for introducing this monitoring system proposes to co-finance (50%) the cost of the measure for Member States from 1 November 2000 to 21 January 2001.-
Bluefin tuna TACs and quotas.
The Council is likely to adopt the proposed amendment of the Regulation outlining the Total Allowable Catches for bluefin tuna.
Regulation 2742/1999 lays down the authorised fishing of bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean for the year 2000. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna granted the EU a quota of 18 590 tonnes.
The Commission's proposal aims to raise the EU bluefin tuna quota to 21 171 tonnes for the year 2000 since at its last annual meeting (November 1999) the ICCAT recognised that the Community had under-fished its quota by 2581 tonnes in 1998 and this surplus could be carried forward to the year 2000. The proposal suggests that the surplus be broken down in proportion to the under-fishing of the quota by each Member State based on the ICCAT's figures.

Technical measures for highly migratory species (tuna and swordfish)
The Council aims to draw up common guidelines for the draft Regulation concerning technical conservation measures for specific highly migratory species. The proposal incorporates the existing autonomous technical measures (which only apply to the EU fishing fleet) on drift nets and purse seine fisheries. Member States and the European Commission are divided over this issue.
All delegations seem to accept the Presidency's suggestion that the drift net measures be scrapped, but the Commission finds this unacceptable, arguing that the prime objective was to combine several bits of legislation in a single Regulation and it would make no sense to operators for two separate regulations to include the rules in question.
The Commission's draft Regulation aims to create a single act outlining all the technical conservation measures for highly migratory species, which would make the legislation more accessible and transparent for the industry. Many of the technical measures are currently contained in the recommendations formulated by the Regional Fisheries Organisations responsible for regulating the fishing of tuna, swordfish and other such fish.

United Nations Convention on Straddling Stocks
Commissioner Franz Fischler will address the Council on the subject of ratifying the United Nations Convention on Straddling Stocks (fish which are found both inside and outside exclusive economic zones). For procedural reasons, the Community and its Member States have not yet started ratifying the Convention and for this reason the Commission is pressing ahead with the ratification process.

Rising oil prices
Over lunch, Ministers will discuss the impact of rising oil prices on the fishing industry. The Commission feels that such a discussion will inevitably cover the issue of state aid and has asked the Presidency to take particular care when formulating their conclusions to avoid forcing the Commission to dissociate itself from their findings.

Monitoring fishing activities
The Council will hold a policy debate over the issue of a draft Decision (presented on 27 October 2000) which would provide Member States with Euro 105 million in EU aid from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2003 to help them set up control, inspection and monitoring programmes for the CFP (see European Report Number 2540). The policy debate will focus on three topics: the duration of the proposed action and the accompanying financial package; intervention rates; priorities and setting up monitoring systems within the Regional Fisheries Organisations.
This draft Decision will replace Decision 95/527/EC which granted Euro 205 million in aid over five years (1996-2000).

The 2001 fishing year
This Regulation deals with the common organisation of the markets for fish, seafood and aquaculture. For each product in Annex I and each product or group of products in Annex II, it sets a guide price based on the average wholesale market price for the product in question over the three fishing years leading up to the year for which the price is being set.

"Philippine tuna industry should view skipjack crisis as opportunity"  Philippines, November 23, 00
Philippine tuna sector players should view the ongoing industry crisis as an opportunity and prepare themselves for fierce competition in the global market, a fisheries specialist Dr. Stanley Swerdloff, senior fisheries consultant of the USAID-funded Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program said.
At the second Philippine Tuna conference Mr. Swerdloff said that the current global tuna crisis will almost certainly result in a worldwide shake-out. "The least competitive fleets and processors will drop out, and those companies with imagination and efficiency will expand," he said.
For two years, the global tuna industry has faced volatility and financial crises in the canned tuna subsector, due to oversupply. The current trend of dropping prices of canned tuna to stimulate consumer demand in the US and Europe has resulted in modest, sometimes low increases in sales.
According to Dr Swerdloff, who has a long experience in tuna fishing, those countries with the best combination of competitive advantages will come out ahead, compelling weaker producers to drop out of the global industry. "Government plays a vital role in the reorganization and modernization of this sector, as it determines the extent of support to be provided to its tuna industries,".
He added that a strong working partnership between the business community and government has given the Philippine tuna sector an edge.
The world tuna industry is divided into three major subsectors, the first being the traditional fishery sector, which supplies tuna for the domestic markets.
This subsector generally catches the smaller types of tuna and utilizes traditional fishing technologies. This sector, however, is considered relatively stable, balancing supply with local demand.
The second sector deals in the Japanese-created market for sashimi, or raw fish, and also has been relatively stable for years, with price variations based on the strength of the Japanese economy.
A new technology for mass-producing frozen sashimi and tuna steaks was recently developed in the Philippines, creating a new consumer demand.
Purse seine-canned tuna enterprises belong to the third sector, which is considered the most complex, due to the fragmented setup of processing areas, consumer markets, and the scattered fishing grounds. One of the major opportunities for the local tuna industry is the modernization and stabilization of pump boat, or handline, fishery.
On simple wooden-hulled boats equipped with outriggers like the traditional banca, fishermen use handlines to catch the highest-grade sashimi, sold for small fortunes in Japan and other countries. Dr. Swerdloff said that the tuna handline operators need to improve both catch rates and fish landings, and study the potential of setting up bases in the Pacific islands such as Micronesia and Papua New Guinea.
Another possibility is for Philippine tuna canning operators to enter the China market, which has about 1.7 billion consumers.
Philippine-developed frozen sashimi and tuna steaks are rapidly gaining a foothold in US and European markets. This sector can be expected to expand dramatically, given that the Philippine-based processors continue to give high priority to product quality, Dr. Swerdloff said.
Already, Philippine processors are banding together in an association, to address quality standards and other issues. "Once the Philippines is recognized for having consistently high product qualities, the country will have a chance to corner the market for this product, and this will mean a ready market and steady prices for Philippine tuna," Dr. Swerdloff said.
In the Philippines, fishing is a P50-billion industry, contributing about 4% of the country's gross national product. General Santos City is the second largest fish-producing area in the Philippines and the largest producer of tuna. Its daily landings of 300 metric tons being in an annual income of US$130 million from exports.

Japan and Australia join Bluefin research program Japan, November 23, 00
Japan has agreed with Australia and New Zealand to jointly fish southern Bluefin tuna for research purposes for two years beginning in 2001, the Fisheries Agency said today. Under the agreement, Japan will terminate its sole research fishing, which has been conducted since 1998 outside of the quota system established under the 1993 Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna among Japan, Australia and New Zealand, it said.
The first joint research by the three countries will be carried out with an annual maximum quota of 1,500 tons, with details to be worked out by experts from third countries, including the United States and Britain, by next April, the agency said.
In August last year, the Hamburg-based International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ordered Japan to halt its research fishing program at the request of Australia and New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand then brought the case to a Washington-based tribunal under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, which ruled in line with Japan's claim that the court has no jurisdiction over the issue, nullifying the Hamburg tribunal's interim ruling. As for self-imposed commercial fishing quotas for 2001, Australia declared that it will catch 5,265 tons, unchanged from the previous year, while New Zealand announced a plan to set its quota at 400 tons, down 20 tons, the agency said.
Japan, one of the world's biggest tuna-fishing nations, is considering setting its quota at more than 6,065 tons.

Danish research challenges fish health benefits Europe, November 23, 00
A diet high in fish and other marine life affects lipid and glucose levels in ways that can have a significant impact on cardiovascular health, both for better and for worse, according to researchers in Denmark. Writing in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition , P. Bjerregaard and colleagues at the National Public Health Institute in Copenhagen described a study conducted to "analyze the associations between the intake of fish and marine mammals and risk factors for cardiovascular disease...in a population whose average consumption of n-3 fatty acids is high compared with Western countries."    Bjerragard and colleagues examined the lipid and blood glucose levels of a sample drawn from the native Inuit people in Greenland, who live almost exclusively on marine life ("The associations of a marine diet with plasma lipids, blood glucose, blood pressure and obesity among the Inuit in Greenland,"
They found that the marine diet consumed by the Inuit correlated with increased levels of high-density lipoprotein, which facilitates the removal of cholesterol from arteries. The marine diet was also associated with lower levels of triglycerides, high levels of which can contribute to heart disease, and very-low-density lipoprotein, which carries cholesterol to the arteries.
However, the Inuit also showed elevated levels of blood glucose, according to the report, which can lead to an increased risk for coronary heart disease. Other risk factors - including body mass index and blood pressure - were unaffected by a marine diet, the researchers found.
"There are statistically significant associations between the consumption of marine food and certain lipid fractions in the blood also in this population with a very high average intake of marine food," Bjerregard and colleagues concluded. "The observation that blood glucose is positively associated with marine diet in a population survey is new and should be repeated."

Opposition against tuna being declared organic USA, November 24, 00
The prospect of seafood, such as salmon and tuna,  gaining widespread acceptance from the organic food industry appears to be out of the question. But there are new signs that the opposition is softening. Many seafood and fishing organizations would like an organic classification because it could bring better marketing opportunities for their products and consequently higher prices and better margins. But quite unbelievably most of the organic foods industry, however, says seafood, both farm-raised and wild-caught fish - doesn't meet the necessary standards to be labeled as organic.
In two preliminary reports presented to the National Organic Standards Board on Friday by a joint industry task force working on the issue, there were still two unresolved issues about fish: lack of control over the ocean environment where fish, such as tuna and salmon live; and the feed given to farm-raised fish. "Either wild fish can be certified organic or it can't. But if wild fish is not certified organic, farmed species eating wild fishmeal can't be certified either," according to the report of the Aquatic Task Force Working Group.
"To say that wild salmon (or wild tuna) cannot be certified organic because it's not known what they eat, but farmed fish eating 'unmanaged' wild fish made into fishmeal can be certified organic, would be a double standard," the report says. Still, the reports said there could be support for a "sustainable" labeling program similar to the one implemented by the Marine Stewardship Council. Recently initiatives have been taken to get MSC certification for Bluefin tuna fisheries in the W.P.O. Also Fisheries in the Eastern Pacific are studying possibilities for MSC certification.
The organic seafood issue is a contentious one. Last year, two Alaska seafood companies began selling some salmon and halibut products as "organic." The organic foods industry protested, and the USDA was directed to adopt a set of organic standards for seafood.  The NOSB is being forced to study the matter after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it could not make a recommendation on organic seafood standards without input from the board. The USDA will make a final decision next spring on whether seafood can be labeled as organic, and if so what the standards should be. The new reports are expected to play an influential role in the decision.
 There were plenty of signals that the board would probably not change its mind in opposing organic certification for farmed fish. For instance, the task force said that for aquaculture operations to be designated as organic, they must be totally dependent on organically produced feed, and not use drugs, growth hormones and "terrestrial animal livestock products."
"When it comes to ... salmon, I would submit that organic certification would depend upon a showing that both the salmon fisheries management and the many fisheries themselves do no harm to salmon biodiversity," he said.

South-Korea to help domestistic tuna fishing sector   Korea, November 24, 00
President Kim Dae-jung today called for the government to come up with "special measures" to help the country's agricultural and fisheries economies recover from the current economic slowdown.
Kim made the remarks while being briefed by Agriculture and Forestry Minister Han Kap-soo and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Noh Moo-hyun on ways to revitalize the country's agriculture and fisheries industries. "The government and ruling party will have to take the lead in revitalizing the agricultural and fisheries economy," Kim said. "Farmers and fishermen suffered as much as anyone in other industries in the course of economic development and the recent economic crisis." Kim said that the government and his party will have to look closely at the problems of farmers and (tuna) fishermen to come up with a measure to alleviate their debts. Kim also recommended including incentives in the measure for the fishermen and farmers who have been successfully repaying their debts, so the measure will not be disadvantageous to them.
The Korean tuna fishing industry has also been suffering heavily from the depressed skipjack prices on the world market. Korea has one of the largest tuna fleets in the world, targetting tuna in the Western Pacific Ocean.

Japan budget to include JPY 3.3 billion for scraping 132 Taiwan tuna boats Japan, November 27, 00
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has demanded JPY 3.3 billion from budget funds to develop a project for the scrapping of Taiwanese flag-of-convenience (FOC) tuna vessels.  If the budget is approved, Japan will assume the total social cost of more than JPY 3 billion (JPY 50 million per vessel on average) for the scrapping of 62 vessels over a three-year period. This amount was agreed by Japan and Taiwan out of a total of 132 FOC Taiwanese vessels of Japanese origin. The Ministry plans to pass the JPY 3.3 billion onto the Overseas Fishery Co-operation Foundation (OFCF). The foundation will pool resources and use them as a subsidy for the scrapping project carried out by the "Responsible Tuna Promotion Organisation", which is to be established by the industry by December.

U.S investigates 5 Mill. Mexican tuna cans on Dolphin-safe USA, November 27, 00
U.S. federal authorities are still investigating the entry of 5 million cans of Mexican tuna (about 60 container loads 20 ft ) that allegedly hit market shelves in violation of dolphin-safe standards. The market distribution in California and Illinois apparently violates regulations on the catch of tuna. As we reported 3 weeks ago at atuna.com, EII said the Sinoloa-based company Dolores Tuna used dolphin-safe labels, but did not offer documentation as proof that it adhered to a multilateral protection act. Under U.S. law, fisheries must comply with netting practices that do not put dolphins' lives at risk.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Customs received a formal complaint from the non-government Defense of Wildlife (DOW) organization, alleging the contraband tuna entered the United
States, despite what it believed to be illegal fishing practices.
The attorney of the environmentalists William Snape  said that even though the cans had the dolphin-safe logo, a preliminary investigation found that U.S. Customs had no records of the shipment. PINSA, one of the nation's largest tuna distributors, denied it was exporting its product illicitly.
At the request of the Chamber of the National Fishing Industry (Canainpes), Mexican authorities have been considering "a partial suspension" of a trade agreement that requires Mexico to adhere to U.S. industry standards in the protection of dolphins.
Canainpes President Alfonso Rosignol recently said that dolphin-safe regulations have served to protect the U.S. tuna industry. "The program has served to regulate Mexico, but not the United States," he was quoted as saying. Should Mexico decide to gut the agreement, President-elect Vicente Fox's administration will be faced with the decision of a partial or a complete suspension of the accord.

European "FDA" to start in 2002 Europe, November 27, 00
Spurred by the latest relevations in the E.U. such as the mad cow disease, and the pig pest, in early November, Europe's food safety chief David Byrne unveiled plans for a new European Food Authority (EFA), designed to provide consumer health protection in the area of food safetyacross the 15 nation European Union (EU). The new authority already has the backing of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and will now be examined by EU member governments. If the legislative timetable is kept, the food authority will be operating by 2002. So far food safety policies and their enforcement was handled by each member state indepedently, often lacking coordination with Brussels. This lead many times to inconsistent enforcement and decision making, also towards tuna imports.
The European Commission envisions an authority with 250 staff and a budget of some 40 million euros within three years, and for the overall number of employees eventually to rise to about 330. The authority will be completely independent, operating under its own management board consisting of national and EU representatives.
In addition to the EFA, a new food law will provide the basic principles and requirements for the marketing of food and for the assurance of a safe food supply to consumers. It will also address the safety of animal feeds particularly where these may have a direct or indirect effect on food safety.
"The substantive food law and the creation of the European Food Authority are the building blocks, the very foundations upon which our new food safety policy will rest," said Byrne.
The EFA will have six main functions:

(1) independent scientific opinions (at the request of the Commission, Member States, national food bodies or the European Parliament)
(2) advice on technical food issues to underpin policy and legislation in the areas of food safety and nutrition, as well as animal health and welfare, and plant health
(3) collection and analysis of data on dietary patterns, exposure, risks etc. for monitoring food safety in the EU
(4) identification of emerging risks
(5) day-to-day operation of the rapid alert system covering both food and
feed
(6) a clear communication role to inform the public on all matters within
its mandate.

The main focus of the EFA will be to provide independent scientific advice and establish a network of close co-operation with similar bodies in Member States.

World Tuna boat owners meet in Manila Nov 30th Philippines, November 27, 00
Major tuna boat owners around the world are preparing to fly off to Manila, where the 2nd World Tuna Boat Owners meeting will be held from November 30th till December 1st. The meeting will be attended by boat owners from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, USA, Philippines, Indonesia, France, Spain and Latin America.
The continued low skipjack prices which the boat owners are facing, have a very damaging effect on the financial position of most boat owners. Some are suffering more extensively then others, but over the entire tuna fishing industry it is clear to improvement of prices has to come very soon, and losses must be minimized fast.
It will be likely that boat owners will try to mend a global agreement towards a very dramatic reduction of skipjack fishing. Such initiatives towards an agreement have been taken before; during the latest World Tuna conference Bangkok; later in Paris and Hawaii, and but never with any lasting success. Usually the problems is related to the lack of any body to control, enforce and sanction the agreements.
However this time the mood seems that most boat owners are ready to take firm steps this time, most major players will be represented, and this meeting has only on major agenda point : reduction.

Thai tuna industry faces abt 50,000 M/T skipjack stock Thailand, November 27, 00
According to several sources there are firm indications that currently as much as 50,000 M/T of mostly skipjack tuna fills the coldstorages in Bangkok, and other locations in Thailand. Part of these stocks have already been bought by processors, of which most have enough skipjack in stock to cover their demand up to end of February 2001. When trying to establish the monthly skipjack demand of the entire canned tuna processing industry in Thailand, we would indicate 10-15.000 M/T monthly. How long these stocks will last will much depend on the orders on hand, and new orders within the coming months. As it looks now, most factories will shut down at least a total  2-3 weeks in the next 2 months. This could possibly indicate that the current frozen skipjack stocks in Thailand can meet the industries demand for about the next 3 months.
Most of the skipjack stocks held by packers could be valued at an average of US$ 420 p. M/T. This also explains why buying interest at US$ 400-$420 CF Bkk is very limited, and bidding takes place at a level of $380, but no deals reported yet. Likely packers are might be conservatively willing to take in some more frozen tuna at rock-bottom prices to average out their stocks.
Traders and boat-owners are however firmly holding onto prices of $400, believing that reduced catching and less fishing efforts justify the current price level. However time is against them, coldstorage holding costs are high, and fish quality is dwindling during storage.

Majority Philippine tuna canners shut down in December Philippines, November 28, 00
Philippine canned tuna production will almost be entirely cut down during the last month of the year. As a result of the failing demand, the financing burden of produced stocks, and the lack of any positive outlook have made almost all packers to either shut down entirely or switch to the production of other species. Marfishing, major exporter to the U.S market active close to Zamboanga city with a capacity of abt 150 M/t a day has stopped production for at least one month, the other Zamboanga City region processor has switched mostly to canning and exporting other fish species.
In General Santos, the newest factory Gentuna has decided to stop for most of December. The country largest tuna processing group First Dominion, operating 5 factories in its high days, is today operating 2 facilities only, one in Manila and one in G.S., and these at limited capacity. RFM has decided to step out of the tuna exporting business entirely, and is focussing its efforts now on the domestic canned tuna market.
Ocean Canning has also closed down for the rest of the year, and it is likely that SeaTrade and Celebes Canning will take similar decisions soon.

ICCAT bans 280 FOC industrial big-eye long liners  USA, November 28, 00
In a major move against illegal fishing, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), during its meeting in Morocco last week, banned the import of bigeye tuna from Belize, Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. All five countries are notorious Flag Of Convenience (FOC) countries and collectively operate a fleet of some 280 industrial longline vessels fishing illegally on the high seas in the Atlantic Ocean, targeting mostly bigeye and other tuna species.
Bigeye tuna, the main target of the Atlantic FOC fishing fleets, commands a high price on the Japanese market and is mainly used for sushi. Japan, together with the European Union, the United States and other countries that are members of ICCAT, are now legally bound to close their markets to the tuna caught by vessels registered to the five flag of convenience countries.
A "flag of convenience" country allows fishing vessels to operate under its flag without exercising any control over the activities of the vessel. Under international law, the flag state has the primary responsibility to ensure a vessel fishing on the high seas abides by all international rules and regulations.  Fishing vessel owners and companies use flags of convenience to avoid fisheries conservation and management regulations, as well as safety and labor standards. ICCAT published a list of 345 fishing vessels flying flags of convenience operating in the Atlantic of which 279 are registered to the five countries listed above.
The ban is greatly supported by Greenpeace, who has lobbied for it. "It is our hope that the import ban will put these boats out of business," said Greenpeace fisheries campaigner Helene Bours. "These fleets operate beyond any international control in complete disregard for the damage to fish stocks, sharks and other species affected by their activities."
Japan has taken a lead role in combating pirate fishing and initially proposed the ICCAT import ban. The Japanese government is upping the pressure on Japanese companies involved in transporting and trading tuna to stop doing business with FOC fishing fleets. South Africa, another member of ICCAT, has also recently taken action to ban FOC fishing vessels from landing their fish catch in South African ports.
Surprisingly the EU, though a member of ICCAT and other regional fisheries organizations which feel undermined by FOC fishing, has taken hardly any action. Their position is largely influenced by the fact that a large number of flag of convenience fishing vessels operating around the world are owned by companies based in EU member states, primarily Spain.The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is in the process of developing an international plan of action (IPOA) to 'prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing'.
In order to stop over-exploitation of resources, and improving ocean stock management Greenpeace is calling on governments to close their harbors to FOC fishing vessels and vessels servicing FOC fishing fleets. Also the activists want nations to close markets to FOC caught fish and fish products and prevent companies from owning or operating FOC fishing vessels or otherwise doing business with FOC vessels.
The next UN FAO meeting on pirate fishing will be held in Rome from 26 February to 2 March 2001. There will be a last negotiation session on 23-24 February where states will attempt to come to an agreement on the international plan of action on IUU fishing.

ICCAT: China must reduce Atlantic big-eye efforts 50% USA, November 29, 00
ICCAT, the intergovernmantal  organization on the conservation of Atlantic tunas, has recommended China's catch quota of big-eyed tuna in the Atlantic Ocean be cut in half next year from 7,300 tons this year. The unanimous recommendation was made at a policy-making commission meeting of the 28-member  ICCAT in Morocco last week.
China, one of the commission members, has been sharply boosting its fishing of big-eye tuna in the Atlantic, spawning concern about a sharp fall in tuna resources in the Atlantic.
The ICCAT recommended China's quota be set at 4,000 tons for next year. The ICCAT also recommended that China reduce the number of its longline tuna fishing boats from the current 60 to 30 in the future, the officials said.
The recommendations were based on a joint proposal by Japan and the United States. The ICCAT also adopted a resolution calling on Japan and Taiwan to ban their fishermen from working on FOC fishing boats not bound by ICCAT rules.

New Certificate of Origin policy could effect Thai tuna exports Thailand, November 29, 00
International trade will soon undergo a major change when the World Trade Organisation's new rules of origin take effect. In the future it will be more complicated to determine a product's origins. This is because more and more products are made from parts or raw materials from different parts of the world. Products made or canned in Thailand will not automatically qualify for the Thai certificate of origin any longer.
The origin of a product is either the country where the product has been obtained wholly or, when more than one country is involved in the production, the country where the last substantial transformation was
carried out.
Firmer implementation of Country of Origin rules could challenge if frozen tuna delivered by Taiwanese tuna boats, or other tuna catching nations, could qualify as canned tuna with a certificate of origin from Thailand. It is known that several customs offices have been looking into this matter already, without any known consequences so far.
Exports to the E.U will not be effected since Thai tuna imports onto the E.U are slapped with the maximum percentage of 24%, which also counts for Taiwan, or any other non- ACP country. Howewer for countries which have which give very favourable duty tariffs to Thai imports there could possible have implications.
At stage it remains unclear what this will mean for future Thai canned tuna exports to Saudi Arabia, Eastern European nations, and other markets, and what the exact implications might be.
Although new WTO the rules are scheduled for completion this month, implementation might be delayed for another year. But the businesses should not be complacent, as the rules will most likely have enormous impact on their trade.
Depending on export markets businesses might need to reformulate their strategies as well as their marketing and procurement plans to accommodate the new rules of origin to compete in the international market. The rules of origin are useful for determining whether imported products will receive most-favoured nation or preferential treatment; for implementing trade policy instruments such as anti-dumping duties, safeguard measures, and countervailing duties (charged to counter export subsidies); for the purpose of trade statistics; or for government procurement.

Marocco calls for reduction of tuna catches Marocco, November 29, 00
During the 12th meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), held in Marrakech from 13-20 November, Morocco called for a reduction in tuna catches in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean to 3,028 tonnes in 2001.
The director of the Moroccan Ministry of Fisheries Co-operation and Juridical Affairs Department, Mr Dris Meski, told the MAP agency that Morocco had invited the Commission to consider its proposal to reduce the catches assigned to ICCAT member states. Morocco has developed a programme, which would register the artisanal vessels that operate along the Moroccan coast. The result was the identification of 90 landing points and the elaboration of bluefin catch statistics for the Mediterranean. 
The studies showed that catches by the artisanal fleet have increased to 879 tonnes, of which 379 tonnes escaped from maritime authorities' controls. Mr Meski said the 1993-1994 catch statistics used as a basis to set Morocco's fishing quota were provided by the ICATT scientific committee. However, the figures corresponding to those two years were inaccurate due to failures in the statistical system employed at that time.
During 1998-1999, Morocco's unreported tuna catches amounted to a total of 379 tonnes (artisanal fleet) and approximately 219 tonnes were caught by coastal vessels.  At the moment, the quota assigned to Morocco does not reflect the true capacity of its tuna fishery, nor does it reflect the efforts made by Morocco to attain rational, responsible and sustained management of the resource, said Mr Meski.

Galicia rallies for support to abolish EU fishery quota's Europe, November 29, 00
Spain, with a total annual catch of 1.2 million tonnes in EU waters, is the EU's fifth major fishery power, after Denmark, the UK, the Netherlands and France. But considering its operations in international waters, Spain occupies the first position as fish catcher producer, with an annual catch of nearly 1.5 million tonnes, of which a large share is tuna.
The Galician fishing sector is calling for the abolition of EU quota's (TACs) and the creation of an "authentic EU fleet".
In March 2001, the European Union will present the Fisheries Green Book, which will officially open a two-year debate on the renewal of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). EU member states must approve the new CFP by December 2002. Galicia, with a fishing fleet composed of 18,400 vessels - about 20% of the EU total fleet - will account for 50% of Spain´s fisheries output.
However, the sector will contribute just 1% of the Community´s GNP. Therefore, Galician ship owners are calling on the Government to seek political allies within the EU in an attempt to rally support for its thesis. The Spanish proposal contemplates the abolition of TACs and the creation of an authentic community fleet.
According to representatives of the Vigo Ship Owners´ Co-operative, one of Spain´s main organizations, these alliances should be established right now, three months before the Green Book is approved, as this document will serve as a basis for the renewal of the CFP. Possible allies could be Portugal, a natural ally of Spain, or Italy and France, which share similar interests.
The document presented by the Spanish ship owners proposes some changes to be introduced into the new EU Fisheries Policy. These modifications include the elimination of TACs and the introduction of a system that would regulate the fishing effort, and the creation of an authentic EU fleet.
It also proposes the limitation of access to resources, or the establishment of a principle of relative stability among the different national fleets.
The Galician proposal also contemplates the allocation of financial aid to renovate vessels and the implementation of conservation measures in the fishing grounds. In addition, it calls for the establishment of a 12-mile strip under the jurisdiction of coastal countries.

Vietnam Yellowfin exports on the rise November 30, 00
Vietnamese seafood exports should reach US$1.4 billion by the end of the year, exceeding the State's annual target by 12 per cent, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Fisheries.
Aquacultural product exports had passed the Government's target of $1 billion by early October and export value in the last four months of the year traditionally accounts for 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the annual
total. Last month alone, a record $120 million worth of marine products were exported.    Shrimps account for more than 50% of export value and fish 18%. Of these 18% important large part consist out of frozen yellowfin tuna, which is enjoying increased popularity in the States, and other markets
Nevertheless Japan is the biggest buyer of Vietnamese marine products, taking 36% of the country's haul. The US takes second place with more than 20%, after booking a 2.5-fold increase over 1999's figures.
Meanwhile the EU ranks third, importing just under 20%.
The export turnover of Vietnamese seafood to the US surged in July, reaching $45.23 million. That figure, the highest-ever turnover, coincided with the inking of the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
Vietnam is currently the leading exporter of fresh water fish to the US.
The value of aquacultural products export is forecast to continue rising particularly once Vietnam is granted Most Favored Nation (MFN) status.
The seafood industry in Vietnam has suffered heavy damage during the recent floods in the Mekong River Delta, companies are now in the process of urgently rebuilding marine product facilities.

Spain opposes 200-mile Galapagos Agreement in EPO Europe, November 30, 00
Spain believes the European Union should oppose the Galapagos Agreement. One of the subjects on the agenda of the EU Fisheries Ministers Council's meeting of 17 November, included the discussion of a complaint against Chile's intention to control part of the Eastern Pacific fisheries, in conjunction with Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
The four South American countries - members of the Permanent Commission of the South Pacific (CPPS) - are trying to extend their fishing rights further then the 200-mile area. If the EU decides to intervene in the conflict, this could imply a clear position against Chile. The EU already lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Chile due to the problems affecting the Galician swordfish fleet operating in that region. Any action taken by the EU against the Galapagos Agreement is expected to be supported by the United States, Mexico, South Korea and Japan, as these countries have also been excluded from the plan promoted by Chile. Some say its is Chile's intention is to control the south-western Pacific fisheries.

Philippines & Brunei pact could spur Mindanao Fishing investments Philippines, November 30, 00
Last Nov. 14, the Philippines and Brunei signed a pact on technical and trade cooperation in developing both countries fisheries sectors. Within the agreement  Mindanao is eyed as the center of fishing activity in the EAGA ( East Asia Growth Area) sub-region.
Philippine officials are optimistic that a joint fisheries agreement signed by the Philippines and Brunei last week will result in joint ventures between the two countries in developing their maritime resources. Philippine ambassador to Brunei Enrique Zaldivar said the agreement would bring together the technical knowledge of the Philippines and the capital resources of Brunei. "The Philippines has the technical know-how in this respect, and Brunei would like to avail itself of this technical assistance from us. On its part, Brunei can invest in fishery ventures for the mutual benefit of both countries.
It remains unclear now how much the pact would involve in terms of investments, Zaldivars office would start following up on the implementation of the agreement. 
The pact encourages joint ventures between the private sectors of both countries in the fisheries sector and the strengthening of friendly relations through increased technical and trade cooperation. It also paves the way for cooperation in the exchange of materials and market information, the increase of trade, the conduct of strategic market facilitation activities, organization of workshops and seminars related to fisheries development, and the implementation of joint venture projects. It also aims to revitalize the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), where Mindanao is eyed as the center of fishing activity in the EAGA sub-region.

2nd World Tuna Boat Owners meeting started  Philippines, December 01, 00
In Manila today the 2nd World Tuna Boat Owners meeting started with major fishing companies from, Ecuador Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Philippines attending. The conference which has been hosted organized by the Philippine Tuna boat owners is held in the Marine Technology Center, in Intramarus Manila. The attendees represent together close to 65% of the total global skipjack tuna caught, and came together with the firm intention to come to an agreement about a global reduction in global tuna catches.
Important absentees were the Spanish and French tuna boat owners, who were holding their own meetings the last few days in Europe, trying to reach an agreement on reductions for the European skipjack fleet, active in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. The Spanish and French boat owners, although not attending, expressed their solidarity and their dedication to come to an agreement on ending the over-supply of tuna.
American tuna catchers were also absent but made known that they had already decided to keep most of their boats (including Starkist vessels) in port. Within 10 days no single American vessel will be fishing skipjack tuna anymore. This measure will continue at least till the beginning of February 2001, and may be extended if the market shows no improvement. The Americans are calling for the boatowners gathering in manila to follow their example.
The first meeting day was used as an assessment of the catching capacity and situation by each country, and data on vessels, catches, and consumption were exchanged. Partcipants showed great determination through their preperation for this meeting, and their willingness to share and exchange relevant data. During the afternoon there was a discussion on possible proposals to come to dramatic measures to turn to current depression in the market around. Tomorrow the delegations will try to come to some mutual agreements and plans to reverse the current state of the market.
We will keep you posted on the latest developments from Manila !  Read more on this very important meeting tomorrow at atuna.com !

Tuna Boat Owners agree Global Skipjack Tuna Catch Reduction  Philippines, December 04, 00

Last Friday afternoon December 1st a meeting of the Worlds most important Skipjack Tuna fishing fleets agreed the following Resolution, below you find the full original text:

WHEREAS, the present volume of world (skipjack) tuna production has increased for the past two years, resulting in the oversupply of raw materials:

WHEREAS, there is a need to practice responsible management of the world tuna resources;

WHEREAS, there is a need to manage the global fishing fleet and fishing effort in order to avoid overexploitation of world tuna resources in terms of conservation; and

WHEREAS, the world demand for tuna products, particularly in canned form, has not substantially increased and the accumulated inventory of frozen skipjack and canned tuna has precluded the present state and the future of the fishing industry in a sustainable way

RECOGNIZING THE PRESENT TUNA CRISIS, WE HEREBY RESOLVED, in Manila the 1st day of December 2000 in the 2nd World Tuna Boat Owners Meeting to adopt the following actions:

1. To form an international purse-seine owners organization, to be called WORLD TUNA PURSE SEINE ORGANIZATION (WTPO). Said
   organization will be established within the first quarter of year 2001. however, an interim secretariat based in Manila shall immediately be set up, one function of which shall be to monitor implementation of these resolutions
   
2. All participating countries agreed to entirely stop fishing for a minimum of 30 days, within the next 60 days, or to implement a reduction of 35% in fishing effort. and to meet on January 29 & 30, 2001 to assess need to implement more stringent measures if necessary.
   
3. To establish a mechanism for complying with all the provisions of the Resolutions and binding power through penalty rules:
   
4. To establish strategies for stimulating consumer demand of tuna both for domestic and international market. Such strategy shall include to
   explore new markets and requesting respective government to use tuna in any food program activities.
   
5. To establish short and long term strategies to set a production volume just sufficient to meet market demand through efficient data gathering, exchange of information with regards to production and demand volume and related matters, and to take actions if necessary;
   
6. To encourage all tuna boat owners to continue established reduction efforts among which are:
   

1. US Fleet operating in WPO agreed to stop fishing until February 1st 2001. After fishing resumes from February 1st, USA vessels will remain in port for a minimum of 21 days between each fishing trip.
   
2. For the Spanish fleet operating in the Pacific Ocean, from January 1st 2001, each vessel that will call into port for transshipment of whatever amount of fish, will remain in port for three weeks from the date of entry until its exit, during the first two trips. In the Atlantic and Indian Ocean from January 1st 2001 after the first entry into port of every tuna boat, it will stop fishing for 90 days.
   
3. French Orthongel agreed to limit their catch of skipjack 7.5MT per day per vessel, starting November14th 2000: and
   
4. Ecuador and other IATTC countries operating in the EPO have reduced their skipjack catch by 20% through the ban on FAD fishing

7. To call for the moratorium of the building of new fishing boats except as replacement for an equivalent existing vessel. Provided the replaced vessel will be decommissioned .
   
8. To schedule a 3rd World Tuna Boat Owners Meeting on March 2 and 3, 2001 in Ecuador: and
   
9. To disseminate these resolutions through the appropriate media.

ADOPTED this 1^st day of December 2000 during the 2^nd World Tuna Boat Owners Meeting in Manila.

Francisco P. Tiu Laurel
Philippines

Starkist tuna could capitalize on "Seafood Twice a Week" campaign  USA, December 04, 00
Heart Smart Seafood educators and the AHA (American Heart Association) are teaming up for a new campaign to promote to U.S consumers to eat seafood, and tuna,  twice a week. Tuna sales are likely to benefit, considering per example that Starkist Seafood markets eight products which have AHA certification on the labels,including the cans of Starkist tuna. Iniatives like these could give a much needed boost to tuna sales in the Sates.

Recent studies show that consumers know that tuna and other fish - especially fatty fish - is a healthy alternative to other proteins, but they're not sure why. So a familiar question is being asked again: Is the seafood industry doing enough to assert the healthy forces of fish?

 "The opportunity is there," said Evie Hansen, director of marketing for Seattle-based National Seafood Educators (NSE). "It just depends on the vision and the passion of the people in the industry."
In the coming months, NSE will serve as the educational arm of the American Heart Association, which in October published a new set of dietary guidelines recommending that all Americans eat seafood twice a week.
"You can print tons of paper materials, but unless you have an educational plan and a way to disseminate the information to the consumer, it doesn't mean a thing," she said.
The AHA guidelines are currently the heaviest nutritional ammunition that seafood sellers have, as the federal government isn't quite singing the same song, as you could read in recent publications at atuna.com. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has essentially handcuffed the industry by restricting health claims for omega-3 fatty acids, which have been touted by scientists to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Earlier this year, the National Fisheries Institute and the Florida Department of Agriculture teamed up to seek a $1.5 million federal grant to fund a three-year "twice a week" promotional program, which could ultimately gain national attention as well.
That program would also focus on the AHA recommendations, according to Linda Candler, NFI's vice president of communications.
Some seafood sellers have already capitalized on the heart association's seal of approval, and are well aware that nutritional value is paramount to the public. According to Michael Mullin, spokesman for Starkist Seafood, who uses the AHA certification on Starkist Tuna labels, for consumers, the AHA endorsement "solidifies their choice to buy seafood," he said. "People buy seafood for two different reasons: taste and nutrition," Mullin added. "(The AHA logo) adds another dimension to our product, and illustrates the added benefits." "The mark on the labels is the most important place because it's where consumers see it - at the grocery store," Mullin said.

With that kind of potential, retailers are anxiously awaiting the use of AHA's support as leverage in grocery store promotions. "No food is a magic bullet," said Paulette Thompson, a registered dietitian and nutritionist with Giant Food Inc.'s consumer affairs office in Landover, Md. "But any time a product is supported by a health organization, we want to make sure our consumers know."
"Every retailer I talk to says, 'You get me the AHA logo, and I'll be with you.' How do you argue with that?" Hansen said. "We can empower the health professional to be our salesperson."

Bintuni Group sells boats to pay debts Indonesia, December 04, 00
Indonesian fishing companies PT Daya Guna Samudera (DGSA) and PT Bintuni Minaraya, both Bintuni Group members, have sold a combined 26 of their 538 fishing ships for Rp41.4 billion (US$4.55 million) to repay their debts to the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency.
The Bintuni Group's 26 ships - ranging from 74 to 105 gross tons - were bought in 1995 and 1996 and sold last Wednesday, DGSA management said.
At the same time another Bintuni Group Subsidiary, PT Kinantan Senaputra, sold 15 fishing ships ranging in size from 74 to 293 gross tons that were bought in mid-1996.
The number of ships sold by the Bintuni group in November is now 41, valued at Rp49.55 billion, reducing the number of the ships owned by the group to 662 ships from 703 before the sales.
The Bintuni Group, which has relations to the Suharto family,has been previously involved in the development of a new large tuna canning factory. The project, which was planned on a small Island within the tuna-rich fishing grounds south of PNG, involved the construction of a new harbour, a new airstrip,  a brand new tuna canning facility, and the aquisition of new tuna boats. According to one source the project was funded mostly by foreign development aid, and involved about US$ 17 million in investments. Despite the ambition of the project, partly due to the depression in the skipjack tuna market, it failed, and was never completed. This has been the faith of many large canned tuna projects throughout Indonesia over the last 10 years !

Yen falters as Mitsui Seeks Relief from Debt December 04, 00
The dollar rose to a 9-month high against the yen after Mitsui Construction Co. said it would ask creditors to forgive some of its debt, fanning concern about Japan's recovery.
At noon, the dollar was 111.355 yen, its highest level since late February, up from 110.260 late Thursday November 23rd in London.
Mitsui's trouble fuel speculation that "there will be more to follow, and put a lot of pressure on banks and delay potential recovery in Japan," said Jeffrey Yu of Sanwa Bank. "it certainly puts pressure on the yen."
Mitsui said it would probably ask Sakura Bank Ltd. and other creditors to forgive more than 100 billion yen (US$ 899 million) in loans. It would be the eight Japanese construction company to obtain debt forgiveness from the banks the last three years. (source: The Asian Wall Street Journal)

Spanish tuna canner receives EU subsidy for new factory Europe, December 04, 00
Canning company Conservas Burela is to receive a subvention of about 332 billion pesetas (ESP) to build a new factory and improve its existing facilities. The Conselleria de Pesca,Marisqueo e Acuicultura of Galicia has set aside the money from EU funds of the FIGG (Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance), reports La Voz de Galicia.
The firm plans to build the new cannery in O Perduro. The factory is expected to start operations in 2002, to be fully operational in 2004, according to representatives of the company.
The funds represent nearly 50% of a total estimated investment of some ESP 789.7 billion. The new factory will initially employ 50 people, and will produce 30,000 kilograms of fish per day. The main species to be processed are northern bonito (Bonito Del Norte), anchovy, chicharro, seaweed, mussels and sea urchin.
Of the total subvention, the company will use some ESP 38.9 billion to remodel the factory that the firm has in Celeiro (the total cost of the renovation work is estimated at ESP 82.334 billion).

New Hydro Protein plant a scam  USA, December 04, 00
The U.S.A. National Fisheries Institute (NFI) warned its members of a venture capital scam regarding seafood development, including a new large hydrolyzed fish protein plant, in Nigeria. According to the NFI, members of the seafood industry were sent e-mails from a person purporting to be a professor of science and technology in Nigeria, seeking assistance from U.S. seafood companies to establish offshore bank accounts for technology development.
NFI said that the letter is a scam. The U.S. Department of Justice "will add this recent e-mail to their staggering list of pending Nigerian venture capital scam investigations," the NFI said in its warning.

One E.U. flag for all EU fishing vessels Europe, December 05, 00
During a meeting held on 27 November AETINAPE (The Spanish Association of Nautical Fishing Officials) president Mr. Manuel Muñiz presented this proposal to EU Fisheries and Agriculture Commissioner, Franz Fischler. During the meeting both sides discussed important aspects of the EU fishing sector.
AETINAPE, is calling for all fishing vessels belonging to EU member states to fly a unique flag.
Mr. Muñiz also proposed to implement a unique inspection for all European fishing vessels and he asked for the approval of nautical fishing titles in the European Union and the strengthening of security mechanisms.
Furthermore, he highlighted the need to increase the effective participation of sea professionals in the discussions of international fishing agreements. 

Two-stock Atlantic Bluefin model questioned at ICCAT meeting USA, December 05, 00
Since 1981, bluefin tuna populations east and west of 45 degrees west longitude have been managed as two separate biological stocks. However during the last meeting of the ICCAT (International Commission for the  Conservation of Atlantic Tuna) this model has been seriously questioned by new research data. This new data could drastically change the International management of Atlantic bluefin tuna in the future. It could lead to shifting quota allocations among countries engaged in the fishery, as evidence mounts that the current management regime is flawed.
The central premise of that current management regime - that two distinct stocks exist on either side of the Atlantic - was questioned by respresentatives from the U.S. "The new research got quite a bit of attention, probably ten times more than it has at any previous ICCAT meeting," says U.S. ICCAT commercial commissioner Glen Delaney. "But that´s still ten times too little. It´s time to start embracing the fact that research shows the two-stock hypothesis is obsolete."
Since 1981, bluefin tuna populations east and west of 45 degrees west longitude have been managed as two separate biological stocks, with separate quota structures for each. Those quotas strongly favor countries participating in the eastern Atlantic, who have a 34,500 mt quota for 2001. By comparison, U.S. quota for western Atlantic remains at 2,500 mt, less than one-tenth that of the eastern Atlantic.

However, new studies reveal previously unknown migration patterns,undermining the two-stock model, which assumes that each stock stays on its respective side of the line. "The new tagging data are showing that it´s just not a biologically sound model," says Molly Lutcavage of the New England Aquarium, Boston, a leader in Atlantic bluefin research. "If it´s not biologically sound, how can you expect fishermen to buy into a management scheme? There is reason to question the line." Lutcavage has recorded data on bluefin tuna caught off New England using sophisticated archival pop-up tags. The electronic tags accumulate detailed light, temperature, and depth data, and then release to the surface after a preordained period of time of up to 500 days. Once at the surface, the tagstransmit their stored data via satellite to a receiving station. While the depth and temperature data provide some insight into tuna behavior, the light data can be converted into a record of the tuna´s movements.

The location data revealed that western Atlantic tuna routinely travel across 45 degrees west longitude, where they enter in the eastern Atlantic fishery. This year, the third year of her studies, fully 70% of the tuna Lutcavage tracked travelled across the line. Furthermore, of the 14 bluefin tuna whose tags reported back successfully - mature fish 18-20 years old, weighing 400 or more pounds - none went to spawn in the Gulf of Mexico. Until now, fisheries managers believed all mature western Atlantic blue fin migrated each year to the Gulf of Mexico, the only presumed spawning ground of the stock. Lutcavage´s work suggests that the bluefin tuna might spawn in the mid- Atlantic, which has powerful implications for both fisheries management and conservation. According to Lutcavage, areas in the central Atlantic have the salinity, temperature, and productivity conditions required for tuna spawning, and undiscovered tuna spawning grounds may well exist there.

Although it may be years before such research influences ICCAT bluefin management, the Commission is taking the first steps towards reforming the current model. "The scientists have been directed to completely re-examine the two-stock hypothesis, based on all the available data - pop-up tags, archival tags, everything," says Delaney. "We also passed a resolution to look at the central Atlantic spawning situation. ICCATT has basically committed to resolve what those fish are doing out there in the central Atlantic. I know that many of our management assumptions are wrong. The problem is that I just don´t know what´s right." (Fish Info Service)

Chinese boats halted by S- Korea suspected of illegal fishing December 05, 00
The maritime police here captured four Chinese fishing boats, together with their 80 crewmen, for alleged illegal fishing in territorial and contiguous waters Wednesday. The Chinese boats intruded three miles into the territorial waters 11 miles north of the Hongdo Islands, police said.
The boats and crewmen were brought to Mokpo for questioning about how they intruded into the South Korean waters. It was not clear whcih species the boats were targetting.

U.K study shows tuna oil important benefit to vascular system Europe, December 06, 00
Researchers in the U.K. at Dundee University have completed a study, which suggests eating fish four times a week can cut your risk of heart disease.
During the study tuna was stacked up against a range of oil supplements including a high animal fat supplement, which reflects the typical, unhealthy Scottish diet. The GBP500,000 (US$713,000) experiment involved 176 human "guinea pigs" volunteering to be put on different diets over an eight-month test period.
Volunteers who took tuna oil supplements in their diet showed "measurable benefits" to the vascular system, which could lead to fewer heart and circulatory problems.
The University´s Professor Jill Belch said: "The result has definite implications for diet advice and practice. We now have concrete evidence to show that fish oils, taken regularly over a long period are good for you. "The main message from this study is that people may be able to lower their risk of heart problems by eating fish four times a week." Recent publications and research of the American Heart association advised consumers to take at least two seafood servings a week.
Before and after tests at the university´s health department at Ninewells Hospital showed that vascular tone and fatty acids in the blood both improved from the tuna oil diet. The "fish equals health" message will be especially welcome on Tayside where over 50 per cent of the population are said to have cholesterol levels above World Health Organisation recommended levels.

88 million acres Hawaii Marine Reserve considered USA, December 06, 00
President Clinton is likely to create a marine reserve that would encompass 88 million acres throughout the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. According to a report in the Honolulu Advertiser, the protected area would limit commercial and recreational fishing permits and set new restrictions on near-shore fishing - including lobster harvests - near coral reefs. Mining, drilling, dumping and harvesting corals or anchoring on them would also be banned. The action, which could either be a reserve or a national monument designation, may come as early as Monday.
The 1,200-mile-long archipelago includes 70 percent of all U.S. coral reefs and is home to the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and turtles. Hawaiian fishermen and coral divers are opposed to the decision. "This is a gross perversion of due process," said Kitty Simonds, executive director of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC).
A reserve would come under the jurisdiction of the Commerce Department, which generally tries to accommodate commercial activity. Designation as national monument, however, would place the archipelago under the jurisdiction of the Interior Department, with a greater bias toward environmental protection. WPRFMC member Roy Morioka said the reserve would cover an area 1,380 miles long and 115 miles wide, and would bar existing fishing activities.

Dutch authorities ring alarm over Carbon Monoxide in Frozen Tuna Steaks Europe, December 07, 00
The " Keuringsdienst van Waren" of the Netherlands, comparable to the American FDA, has taken steps against the Dutch frozen tuna importer Anova, for importing fresh tuna treated with carbon monoxide. Department of justice authorities are considering if the company will be prosecuted.Already in February 2000 the Dutch  Health authorities warned consumers regarding tuna which was imported from Asia and has been sold throughout the country at large scale. The estimation is that about 50% of all "fresh" tuna sold has been treated by the carbon monoxide method.
Dutch authorities said they found the treatment misleading, because "old tuna with a brown color is transformed to look like a fresh tuna steak with a fresh red or orange color". This concerns products imported in frozen from, and brought into the market defrosted. They added that there is no danger to the public health.
Officials at the "Keuringsdienst" told journalists that " the consumer should be protected against tricks", " it is not allowed to mock up tuna, so that it appears that the quality is of a better grade".
The importer involved, Anova b.v., commented that it concerned an excellent product and that the treatment only has a conserving function. They announced to challenge the department of justice to start legal proceedings against them, so they can proof their innocence and good intentions.
European regulations and enforcement of food laws in still very inconsistent and subject to local interpretations and preferences. Often their is a conflict between different authorities, one looking protecting the health, the other the commercial aspects of food stuffs.

Heinz profit slightly up, but Starkist tuna hurts performance  USA, December 07, 00
H.J. Heinz Co. said on Tuesday its fiscal second-quarter earnings rose 5.8 percent, beating its lowered estimate by a penny, as continued streamlining helped profit margins.
The Pittsburgh-based world leading canner of tuna with their "StarKist" brand   Ketchup, Ore-Ida frozen potatoes and 9-Lives cat food said it earned $241.7 million, or 69 cents a diluted share, on a core basis,excluding restructuring and other items, in the quarter ended Nov. 1. That compares with $228.4 million, or 63 cents a share, for the year-earlier period. Heinz said its target for fiscal 2001 core earnings per share is ``tracking'' analysts' estimates and remains subject to currency fluctuations. The company's shares earlier rose to a 52-week high of $47-13/16 but by midday had slipped 9/16 to $46 on the New York Stock Exchange.
In the company's North American grocery and food service division, second-quarter sales rose 1 percent to $1.04 billion. Excluding pet food and tuna, sales in the unit rose 10 percent. Sales of ketchup, condiments and sauces increased 13 percent.
``They still have a challenging environment, particularly in tuna and pet food,'' Leach said. Heinz said record-low prices of raw tuna continued to hurt performance of tuna products, prompting the company to shift its emphasis to its higher-margin StarKist pouch products now in national launch. Introduction of this product line has only recently began, and it remains still doubtfull if the new product will meet the high expectations. The fact that the retail price is within many stores more then triple the price of a can of canned tuna is not helping. Tuna sales continue to be impacted by record low prices for raw material. Sales in the tuna category (StarKist) fell $27 million, or 11 percent during the quarter. During the first quarter of their fiscal year, tuna sales declined 13.8 million, or 5 percent.
The prospect is that Heinz will be suffering from the tuna crises some longer. Analysts expect that tuna products will continue to hurt performance for at least another quarter, possible up to th end of the second quarter of 2001.
In the European division, second-quarter sales increased 2.9 percent to $623.2 million after the impact of currency conversion. Heinz is expanding its soup business in Britain with the launch of Fridge Door soup and is also launching Microwaveable Meal Bowls. No specific numbers on the European tuna activities were reported, but it alos seems that here results are quite disappointing, and dragging profits down. The dollar -Euro factor is also playing a role here.

Indonesia: Foreign tuna vessels only allowed with local joint-venture Indonesia, December 07, 00
The Indonesian government said on Tuesday that it would soon issue new fishing regulations to tighten up the regulatory scheme governing the operation of foreign fishing vessels in an effort to curb illegal foreign fishing.  Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries spokesman Zukafril said that the foreign fishing permits issued under the new regulations would be more difficult to manipulate or misuse. "To date, many foreign fishing vessels have abused or falsified their permits," Zukafril told reporters during a seminar on the Indonesian fishing industry that was held by the daily Bisnis Indonesia.
Mr. Zukrafil said that under the new government regulations, foreign fishing vessels would only be allowed to operate under joint-venture arrangements with local partners. Foreign fishing vessels operating here must also sell 30 percent of their catch to the local fish processing industry, he added."This will provide them (foreign fishing companies) with the right incentives to invest in Indonesia's fishing industry," Zukafril explained. According to him, foreign fishing companies would then be encouraged to invest in local fish processing plants. To reduce the manipulation of fishing permits, Zukafril went on, foreign vessels must also have their permit numbers painted on their hulls.
Zukafril said that in order to control the activities of foreign fishing vessels, they would be required to have a transponder on board that would allow the government to monitor their routes.The government recently announced that it was developing such a monitoring system, under which all ships – including local vessels of more than 2,000 dead weight tons – must equip themselves with transponders next year. Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sarwono Kusumaatmadja has said that the system would employ satellite and radar monitoring similar to that in use in Peru, Morocco and India.
Sarwono estimated that the monitoring system would cost between US$3 million and $10 million, excluding the price of the transponders, which must be purchased by the owners of the vessels. According to him, several foreign companies had made bids to run the system, including Argos from the Philippines, and Imarsat and Racal from Britain. Sarwono has long complained that the rampant poaching by foreign fishing vessels was causing the state losses of about $2 billion per year.
Up until May of this year, the government reported that fish exports had generated total earnings of $1.9 billion, and might hit $3 billion by the year's end. Under the concept, fish processing companies like the publicly listed PT Dharma Samudra Fishing Industries would join forces with other firms to market their products under one brand name. Zukafril said that these companies have responded well to the government's proposal and were now fleshing out the technical details. However, he did not say how many companies would become involved in the plan. The government, he added, would issue guidelines next month for the implementation of the scheme.

Shrinking tuna exports hurt Ecuador Ecuador December 08, 00
Ecuador's trade surplus shrank 23 percent in October from the previous month as non-oil exports plummeted, led by tuna, bananas and flowers. Ecuador posted a $77 million trade surplus in October compared with a revised surplus of $100 million in September and a surplus of $182 in October of last year, said the Central Bank in its monthly report.
"The prices of primary goods have been falling this year, with some of Ecuador's principal products – such as tuna, bananas and flowers – suffering from a worldwide over-supply," said Maria de la Paz Vela, an economic analyst at Quito-based economic think tank Multiplica. Ecuador's commercial balance remains in surplus due to the high world oil price. Oil is Ecuador's top export earner, generating $2.08 billion during the first 10 months of the year.

RD Canners to operate RFM canning plant Philippines, December 08, 00
RD Canners, a PNG/Philippine company currently operating a tuna canning plant in PNG,   will definitely be operating the RFM plant in General Santos early next year. RFM has agreed to lease out the plant to RD, which is now busy hiring people for the tuna canning operation. The target date for production is around Jan 16 '01. The RD Group of companies, based in Mindanao, operates one of Philippines largest tuna fleets.
The plant will be managed by Mr. Bob Yumul, who has many years of experience in the Philippine canned tuna export business.  The RFM Corporation, which was running the plant under the name Swift Tuna, has decided to lease the facility out, due to very disappointing results over the last few years in tuna canning. It seems likely that RFM domestic tuna brand will in the future be produced by other canners under a "toll packing" agreement.

Iran might invest in Pakistan Tuna canning December 08, 00
Iran has expressed interest in investing in the development and upgrade of Pakistan's canning industry along the coastal areas of Balochistan. Pakistan and Iran have also agreed to formalise trade of various fish species, such as tuna between the two countries and both sides will also undertake joint trade in fish and fishery products.
Both sides, discussed crop production, fisheries, livestock, and range management, comprehensively. The Iranian minister, who was heading a high level delegation comprising the concerned people during his formal talks with the agriculture ministry officials said, Iran was ready to consider the proposal for the establishment of canning industry in Balochistan in the private sector.
Sources said that both sides had also decided that their fisheries scientists and institutions should cooperate more closely, and that mutual exchange of experts would he arranged to identify areas for further collaboration, particularly livestock production research.

Sect leader Moon focuses on tuna fishing Marshall Islands, December 11, 00
South Korean cult leader, Sun Myung Moon, has offered to fund a Pacific government task force in the Marshall Islands, officials have confirmed. Moon has large fisheries industry holdings in the US and his expansion into the Marshalls suggests a new interest in tuna fishing. The Marshall island are located in the South Pacific ocean, an area known for its rich tuna resources.
Moon has pledged USD 10 million for the development of fisheries and education programs in the region. Plans for the task force and the offer of multi-million dollar aid, were among key results of an international conference, co-sponsored by the Marshall Islands government and the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace  which Moon founded.
"The idea behind the task force was to bring island people together to seek a commonality of problems and solutions," he said. One aim of the task force was to create a Pacific trading bloc to give island countries more power in their relations with Asia as a region and other major country and trading blocs globally.Regional leaders, including Marshall Islands President Kessai Note would be left to implement the task force.
Peter Murray, executive chairman of the Murray Group, an international business management company based in Tasmania, Australia is also interested in the project. He said that his company would be happy to offer advice and technical assistance if needed. "Solutions are not easy, but the task force can give direction and people like myself, who have the time and ability, can help, he said. Pacific governments had nothing to lose by forging ahead with the task force as Moon´s proposed funding had no strings attached," he said. "I can´t see any threat or quid pro quo (for the islands to be involved with Moon´s organization)," Murray said.
Despite criticism of Moon´s recent emergence in the Marshall Islands from some local churches and government leaders, Murray said there was no cult flavor to the conference, officially titled Building a Culture of Peace in the Pacific Region: Character Education, Family and Global Cooperation. It was a straightforward meeting that brought Pacific people together to discuss problems and solutions, he said.

New $5.6 million seafood plant in Vietnam Vietnam, December 11, 00
A plan to build a seafood processing center in Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Tao Industrial Zone has been approved by Vietnam's Ministry of Fisheries.   The center will be built at a cost of 81.3 billion Vietnamese Dong (US$5.64 million) on an area of 26,650 square meters. It will include a cold storage compartment, workshops to process frozen and fresh products for export, and a workshop to process aquatic products of high economic value. When operational, the center will be able to turn out nearly 8,500 tons of seafood annually.
There are more than 200 seafood processing establishments in the city, including 46 that process seafood for export. They have a total capacity of 200 tons per day.  Ho Chi Minh City has the largest demand for aquatic products in the nation, at about 160 tons a day. Every year, the city consumes 200,000 tons of aquatic products and processes more than 25,000 tons of aquatic products for export. The city's fisheries sector will focus on upgrading export-oriented seafood processing establishments from 2001 to 2005. The sector will concentrate on building fishing infrastructure facilities and a commercial center for selling aquatic products, with a goal of becoming a key economic sector.

Economists promote auction of tuna fishing right and quota's Europe, December 11, 00
A team of Applied Economy experts from the University of Vigo has concluded that Galician fishing companies should assume more responsibilities in private agreements enabling them to fish.
The authors of the study are convinced that ship owners will be forced to seek their own resources, in keeping with the new international economy and as a result of governmental agreements, which are aimed at ridding them of the protagonist role they used to enjoy. The new context will lead to an unavoidable change in community regulations and to the development, at general level, of the possibility of transferring fishing rights.   
The book entitled, "Fisheries Economy. Present and future of the fisheries regulations in Galicia", analyses the sector’s present situation and its future prospects in view of the negotiation to renew the Common Fishing Policy (CFP) in 2002. The study is based on the profound changes the fishing sector is presently facing, the clear trend towards globalization and technological transformations and particularly, the redefinition of fishing rights.  
According to Manuel Varela, of the Department of Applied Economy and co-ordinator of the book, the principle of relative stability, which establishes the immobility of national fishing quotas within the E.U. will radically change. "We think a market of rights, similar to those of other sectors, should be created, because the present framework prevents the circulation of capital and people," he said.  
The specialists say the new framework has certain particularities and that Galician companies should be prepared to compete. "We believe they are actually prepared and that they have a leading capacity to acquire fishing rights. This means paying for fishing."  
Regarding the possibility that the changes would promote the development of monopolies, Mr Varela affirms that certain mechanisms could be established to prevent some companies from acquiring too many rights. "Anyway, it would be positive to have self-sufficient companies, which do not depend on subventions," he stated.

EII offers Mexicans to lift Dolphin Safe embargo USA, December 12, 00
EII (Earth Island Institute) the foremost promoter of the tuna embargo against Mexico, says it will withdraw its demands to maintain the sanctions against the country, if the new government encourages the reformation of the tuna fishery.  
"If the government of President Vicente Fox encourages the entire Mexican tuna fleet to stop fishing tuna using nets over dolphins, we would withdraw our complaint or modify it," said EII representative, Mark Palmer. However, leaders of Mexico’s tuna fleet rejected Palmer´s proposal. Though the US Department of Commerce lifted the embargo, which was originally introduced in 1990, on Mexican tuna in April this year, Judge Thelton Henderson, of San Francisco, reverted the measure alleging that the DOC did not have enough evidence to back its decision. Henderson´s action did not stop Mexican tuna from entering the US, but it did mean that the Mexican product could not bear the ‘Dolphin Safe’ label. President Clinton´s administration appealed Henderson´s verdict. The final decision was expected during the first quarter of 2001, but as the Court rejected the petition of the Department of Justice to speed up the case, so the definite verdict could be reached during the second quarter of next year.  
At the centre of the dispute are complaints lodged by some environmental organisations, which claim that the nets used to fish tuna in the Eastern Pacific cause physical and/or emotional damage to dolphins. Fishing vessels usually use dolphins to locate tuna schools and they cast their nets on them to catch the tuna swimming beneath the water.   
According to Alfonso Rosignol, president of the Tuna Section of Canainpersca(the National Chamber of Fishing and Aquaculture Industry) EII´s new proposal was absolutely absurd and senseless. "They want to win a war, which they lost scientifically, by means of politics. We are not willing to accept such a proposal,”. Rosignol said the alternative fishing method known as floating objects, was highly destructive and harmful to other marine species, including turtles.  
Mr Rosignol said he discussed the issue with Fox´s transition team before the new President took office, and that the private sector still thought Mexico should abandon the international dolphin protection agreement. "We do not trust the Government of the United States, which has been an accessory to the conflict." However, he emphasised that tuna fishermen would keep protecting dolphins.
Rosignol concluded by saying that the private sector expected the Mexican government to implement a reciprocal measure. He pointed out that if a cannery such as Starkist has supported the restrictions imposed on the entrance of Mexican tuna on American market with the Dolphin Safe label, Mexico should adopt a similar measure against American products.

General Santos hardly any activity  Philippines, December 12, 00
At this moment we can hardly report any market movement from the Philippines. The major production area on the island of Mindanao at General Santos City shows very little activity. Due to the fact that stocks are high, and stocks of finished product still exceeds the demand, the Philippine tuna business is very slow. Frozen skipjack prices have moved downward the last two-three weeks from $ 430 to currently $ 380. Much of this downward pressure is caused by the fact that prices in Bangkok have remained low, and where lower then landed General Santos. This has forced frozen fish suppliers to adjust their price for skipjack. But even at the level of USd 380 p. M/T there are no takers.
The Philippine tuna fleet is almost for 40% in port, and other are targeting other species then skipjack. Most factories are not operating and will do mostly maintenance till the end of this year.

Taiwan and Indonesia intend to join bluefin pact Indonesia, December 12, 00
Indonesia plans to join the Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, whose current signatories are Japan, Australia and New Zealand, an association of Australian tuna boat owners said Sunday. According to sources in Japan also Taiwan wants to join the pact.
Jakarta expressed its intention to join the pact during a Friday Indonesia-Australia ministerial meeting in Canberra, according to a statement released by the association. South Korea alerady announced last month that it also intends to join the pact.
The association welcomed the Indonesian decision as helpful for protection of the bluefin tuna, which has a spawning ground in the Indian Ocean south of Indonesia's Java island.
Japan, Australia and New Zealand concluded the treaty in May 1994 to establish quotas for catches of the fish.

Traders push skipjack up to $480 CF BKK  Thailand, December 13, 00
In Bangkok the last few days the larger tuna brokers from Japan, Taiwan and the USA have made a joint ? effort to  push up the price of whole round frozen skipjack to USd 480 per m/t, for 1.8kg up. The market which was until last week around the level of USd 380, has not reacted on this price yet. There are reports of quotations between $480 and $450, but also a total lack of buying interest at the same time.

Packers in Bangkok are very well covered regarding frozen skipjack, well into the first two months of the next year, and they are not motivated to start paying higher prices now.
The increase in the price level of price is caused by the fact that indeed catches and efforts for skipjack are reducing. But a more important factor is likely that also frozen tuna traders have been taking quite a beating the last year. They also hold large stocks of frozen fish, but also frozen tuna loins. With the ever declining market they have also been feeling the strain. Supported by less supply of fish, and the cry of the fishermen, frozen tuna traders are now making a move to get the market into a positive up-ward trend.     

It remains to be seen if they will prove to be successful in their efforts to hike up the price by almost $100 in one/two weeks. Much will be depend on the boat owners to fulfil their agreement as made in Manila, to stop fishing for at the very least one month. If they would manage to stay in port, and create a dramatic reduction in fish caught, then there might be basis for prices to stick to level close to $450 and even an increase to USd 500 by the end of January 2001

Indian Ocean boats switch to yellowfin  Europe, December 13, 00
The tuna boats in the Indian Ocean are starting to follow the same strategy as many purse seiners have been doing the last month(s) in the Western Pacific: switch to catching yellowfin.
With yellowfin prices being around the level 0f $ 850 CF for fish under 10kg and as high as abt $ 975 CF 10kg/up, there is a great incentive for boat owners to switch their boats to this more profitable specie. In 1998 catches of yellowfin in the Indian Ocean amounted totally 250.000 M/T but the peak was in 1993 with 350.000 M/T. Traditionally the catches of skipjack and yellowfin are fairly equal, so it provides a good alternative to boat owners.
The latest reports are that boats prefer not to catch any skipjack anymore, since prices are close to nothing and they also have no place to unload. Seychelles, a major discharge port has coldstorages stuffed up to the ceiling, and Starkist is only able to take quantities for immediate production, which takes abt two weeks for a boat to unload.
Reports say that yellowfin catches are not fantastic, but at least providing an alternative. Scientists have warned in the past that the yellowfin resources have been fully exploited already, and that fish size has decreased sharply the last few years, leading to reducing yields. Most of this fish will likely find its way to the Italian market. It remains to be seen what the effect on yellowfin prices will be the coming months.

300.000 Chinese fisherman jobless, due to 200 mile enforcement December 13, 00
China will have to find work for tens of thousands of fisherman who will lose their jobs because of the implementation of new fishing agreements, according to Zhang Hecheng, vice-director of the Fisheries Bureau under the Ministry of Agriculture. China has signed international fishing treaties with Japan and South Korea this year and hopes to agree another deal with Viet Nam over the Beibu Gulf. "Upon the implementation of the agreements with the three countries, China will see at least 300,000 fishermen move out of the fishery sector for jobs elsewhere. The lives of nearly 1 million people in ports and villages will be affected," Zhang said.
These arrangements will result in tens of thousands of Chinese ships having to find work in other sectors and will cut the country's annual fishing output by more than 1 million tons, according to Zhang's bureau, an agency under the Ministry of Agriculture that oversees the country's fishing industry.
Under rules enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which China ratified in 1996, every coastal nation is allowed jurisdiction over resources up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from its shores, Zhang said.
China will sign fishing agreements with neighboring countries with which it shares seas, but where there is less than 400 nautical miles between them. Experts believe this situation will force more Chinese fishing vessels out of business, increasing the number of redundant fishermen and reducing catches
A provisional fishing pact between China and Japan took effect on June 1, a similar deal with South Korea was signed in August 3. An agreement with Viet Nam over the demarcation of the Beibu Gulf is expected to be worked out soon, according to Wang Xiaodu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In Shandong Province alone annual losses could amount to 1.2 billion yuan (US$144 million) as many vessels are decommissioned in areas such as Cheju Island, according to Tang Houcheng, president of the Rongcheng Fishery Association.
Since marine fishing is the main industry in coastal regions and uses huge amounts of rural labourers, Zhang said the new situation could threaten coastal economic growth and could also lead to social problems.
Furthermore, an increasing number of ships not allowed to fish in open seas will turn to fishing in offshore waters, which will affect already dwindling fish stocks in those areas, he said.
To accommodate the changes brought in because of the "exclusive economic zone system," China will readjust the economy in coastal fishing regions, the vice-director said.
"Fishermen affected because of this new system will be helped to set up fish farms, processing plants, or encouraged to get involved in ocean fishing or non-fishing businesses," he said.
He appealed to related government departments to offer backing in terms of funds, credit and taxation policies to the affected regions.
A system to scrap fishing vessels, especially those withdrawn under the new agreements, will be introduced to curb offshore overfishing, he said.

USd 460 CF BKK for skipjack paid Thailand, December 14, 00
The latest news is that some Thai packers have made a deal through trader for Taiwanese fish at the level of USd 460 CF BKK for whole;e round skipjack 1.8kg/up. It seems the quantity concluded is limited, but still this is an indication that frozen tuna traders are booking some progress in moving prices up.
Another remarkable trend is that high quality skipjack caught by Spanish boats in the Indian Ocean is now being offered landed Bangkok at USd 550. Obviously this price is quite some higher then Korean and Taiwanese originated fish, but the Spanish boat owners have more options in terms of selling their fish. They have several places to unload in the Indian Ocean, where factories need Spanish or French originated tuna in order to comply with the ACP duty free access scheme for the E.U market. The catching of skipjack in the Indian Ocean is down quite a bit, and also catching in the South-Atlantic (West- Africa) is down due to yellowfin season there. Also faced with the high freight costs to Bangkok, the sellers of Spanish fish are very firm at USd 550 CF, no discussion possible.
In general the spirit are softly and carefully rising in the skipjack market. This is also reflected in an increase in prices quoted for retail packs 48x6oz to the U.S market. During the last two weeks the rock-bottom level moved upwards by 7%.

Ecuadorian  tuna packers faced with non-supply Ecuador December 14, 00
In Ecuador tuna packers are faced with a very weird situation. While the whole world in stuffed with skipjack, they cannot export to Europe, due to a shortage of fish and non-competitive prices. The cause of all this, is the sharp decline of skipjack catches during this year in the EPO, and consequently an increase in skipjack prices to the level of USd 550 landed Manta or Guayaquil during the last few weeks.

The latest statistics of the IATTC show that up until last week annual catches of skipjack are down by 30% to 202,494 M/T compared to 1999. This has led to a situation that during the last three months packers have hardly been able to obtain any significant quantities of fish to fuel their vital exports to the EU. In order to export to the EU and obtain the ACP duty free status, the fish must be from either Ecuadorian or Spanish boats. Packers cannot benefit for their EU exports from the large quantities of skipjack which was moved from Samoa in the WPO to Ecuador at very low prices. This fish was mainly caught by Korean and Taiwanese boats, and can only be used for the domestic sales and exports to other S-American markets. But in  important export market such as Argentina, the competition with Thai tuna canners has been fierce and this has led to the loss of several major contracts for the Ecuadorians.
Faced with the lack of "EU qualifying" fish, and high prices, several packers who were loining for Europe previously, have now made a contract packing agreement with major american tuna brandholders to loin tuna for their factories in the USA or Puerto Rico. This is a quite a shift in exports from Ecuador, which has also started looking at the Mexican market now. Product canned from cheap Western Pacific Taiwanese and Korean skipjack can now be exported at very attractive prices to Mexico. Mexican factories are much further away from the WPO and they have higher labor costs, which could creates a better position for the Ecuadorian industry.

Only when skipjack catching will resume after the New Year celebrations there might be some improvement in the supply. But then Ecuadorian packers will be faced in the EU by the fact that especially Starkist has been fortifying its position and has been able to build high stock levels of very cheap frozen skipjack, priced  below USd 350 in the Seychelles and Ghana. This will create quite a barrier for Ecuadorian processors in obtaining contracts in markets like Germany and the U.K within the first half of 2002.
The frozen loins market in Europe also doesn't also look too attractive. Spain has very high inventories of low priced fish, and the stocks of loins in Italy and Spain are also considerable. Spain, a major export market for frozen skipjack loins, holds in average about two months of canned products, so also there will be no immediate need to buy raw material. The beginning of 2002 will be a tough one for the tuna industry in Ecuador.

US Adminstration joined by Greenpeace and WWF against EII USA, December 14, 00
In a case that has divided environmental groups, the federal appeals court in San Francisco is reviewing the Clinton administration's appeal to relax the nation's labeling standards for "dolphin-safe" tuna. A Justice Department lawyer was joined by several prominent environmental organizations, including Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund, in arguing yesterday to broaden the allowable fishing practices covered by the coveted label.
Other environmental groups, led by the San Francisco-based Earth Island Institute – whose founder, the late environmental pioneer David Brower, remains the lead plaintiff in the case – argued that the change would be misleading to consumers and potentially deadly to dolphins.
Since 1991, tuna fleets that want a dolphin-safe label have been prohibited from using large encircling nets that trap both tuna and dolphins, which swim with yellowfin tuna in the eastern tropical Pacific. Congress had banned the use of those nets by U.S. tuna boats in the 1970s and declared an embargo in 1994 on imported tuna, from Mexico, Panama and several other nations, that failed to meet dolphin-safe standards.
But in 1997, with dolphin kills at a fraction of their former level, a new law allowed tuna to be labeled dolphin-safe if shipboard observers saw no dolphins killed or injured by the nets. The law was to take effect in 1999 but specified that it would not be implemented if the government found that dolphins were significantly harmed by repeatedly being chased, caught in the nets and released. Then-Commerce Secretary William Daley ordered the change in April 1999, finding that although the dolphin population had not returned to earlier levels, there was insufficient evidence that netting practices were harming them.
But he was overruled this April by U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson, who said the reason Daley lacked evidence was that the government had failed to conduct studies required by the 1997 law on the effects of the practices on dolphins. Henderson also said the available evidence suggested dolphins were being harmed. The Earth Island Institute's suit against the government was backed by a large majority of environmental and animal-protection groups, said Joshua Floum, attorney for the groups.
But environmentalists, including Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund,  allied with the Clinton administration say its strategy of international cooperation is more effective than simply excluding foreign-caught tuna. "We think it's the best hope dolphins have," attorney Patricia Byrne told the court. "There's been an enormous drop in dolphin mortality" because foreign governments now have an economic incentive for safety.

Japans seafood consumption down, meat up December 14, 00
Japans food self-sufficiency rate came to 40 percent on a calorie basis in fiscal 1999, unchanged from the previous year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced Friday.  Growth in imported meat consumption – a shift away from Japan's traditional diet of rice and fish – is the major factor holding down the rate, the ministry said. This trend is completely the reverse of what most other major markets show us. The Japanese government is targeting a 44 percent food self-sufficiency rate in fiscal 2010. To achieve this goal, the ministries of agriculture, education, and health and welfare are promoting rice consumption.
Annual rice consumption averaged 65.1 kilograms per person last fiscal year, down 0.2 percent on the year and marking the fourth straight year of decline. Fish consumption fell 0.3 percent. On the other hand, per capita meat consumption rose 1.8 percent to 28.6 kilograms, and per capita wheat consumption grew 0.6 percent to 32.4 kilograms on increased bread output.
Daily caloric intake increased 0.7 percent to 2,619 kilocalories per person. Carbohydrates accounted for a record low 58.4 percent of the average consumer's total intake of protein, carbohydrates and lipids, while lipids marked a record high 28.5 percent of the total.
Rice self-sufficiency dropped to a record low of 37 percent in fiscal 1993 on a bad harvest, then recovered to a record high of 46 percent the following fiscal year. But it has been declining steadily ever since.

Cape Verde demands landing of tuna in Mindelo Europe, December 15, 00
Negotiations between Cape Verde and the EU are not progressing smoothly, the African Island Sate, located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Senegal, demands that all tuna caught by EU surface longliners will be landed in the port of Mindelo. The agreement is essential for the 38 Spanish tuna vessels, purse seiners and long liners, since the previous agreement has already expired since September 6.
Spain, and other Memberstates are objecting strongly to the demands of the Cape Verdian negotiators, due to the proposed regulation to land all fish caught by surface longliners at the Cape Verdian port of Mindelo. This will increase costs, and effect efficiencies for the Spanish fleet, but will bring much needed income to the island nation.
According to EU Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Commissioner, Franz Fischler, the three rounds of negotiations held with Cape Verde were useful for the development of closer fishery ties and discussion of budgets. Mr. Fischler has been under criticism from the Spanish side for not reaching any concrete results so far.  Mr. Fischler admitted that none of the meetings had resulted in the renewal of the fishing agreement, which expired on 6 September. He attributed this failure to the lack of consensus regarding the landing of catches.
The previous agreement signed with Cape Verde benefited a total of 38 Spanish vessels, mainly tuna vessels and longliners fishing for swordfish. Galician ship owners complained that the European Union had not set a negotiation schedule before the agreement expired.
According to Mr. Fischler, the agreement had not yet been renewed because the Commission, in agreement with the EU member states and "particularly Spain," had not accepted the demands of the African country, which included a regulation obliging.

Korean Tuna Fleet takes serious reduction measures Thailand, December 18, 00
Out of the Korean purse seiner fleet of 28 vessels most boats have gone to port. The Korean purse seiner fleet, of which almost half is owned by Dongwon, the major tuna fishing company in Korea, has taken far-going measures in order to stop the over-supply in skipjack tuna.  Out of the total fleet 7 vessels are still at sea, but they have announced to call and stay in port as soon as they are filled up. Of the 28 tuna purse seiners 8 boats are currently in Guam, and this might rise to at least 12 when the boats who are still out fishing will return to port to unload.
Several Korean companies have already decided to take very harsh measures and have said they will keep their boats in port till at least March 2001, or even longer when needed. The Korean fleet has an annual catch in 1998 with a volume of 255.300 M/T of tuna, which makes it the fourth largest tuna catching nation in the world. Over the year 1999, although we have no reliable data yet, the total catch might have been close to 300.000 M/T, which represents 6.5% to 7% of the total global tuna catch.

Ecuadorian fleet prepares to start catching skipjack again  Ecuador, December 19, 00
After a period of almost 3 months of reduced fishing activity on skipjack with the use of FAD's, the Ecuadorian fleet has started to make preparations in order to resume the catch of skipjack. Although still about 45% of the Ecuadorian skipjack fleet remains in the major ports of Manta, and Guayaquil, several boats have sailed to set FAD,s so that they can resume fishing for skipjack and big-eye after the New Year festivities.
The skipjack catch within the EPO has almost dropped to zero, in the last month, after already September 15th the IATTC banned the use of FAD's till December 15th 2000, in order to prevent the catch of juvenile big-eye. Since skipjack is mostly caught through the use of these floating objects, the ban also blocked catches of skipjack by mostly smaller boats. It is estimated that due to the ban 50.000 tons less skipjack has been caught in the Eastern Pacific
Now catching will resume, there might come some relieve to the short supply situation to Ecuador of skipjack which is caught in compliance with the duty free requirements of the E.U. Major point is that the fish must be caught by either Ecuadorian or Spanish flag vessels. If requirements are not met,  24% duty is imposed on Ecuadorian tuna imports into the E.U.

Costa Rica expands export of tuna loins December 19, 00
Costa Rican tuna exports have considerably increased over the last few months as a result of the opening of a new tuna processing company, Tunatun S.A. The factory will employ 400 workers, and produce exclusively tuna loins. The factory, which is French owned will compete with two other tuna processing companies based in the country, Tesoro del Mar and Sardimar.
The factory is based in Coyol de Alajuela and will be directly supplied by purse seiners. The loins produced will be later exported to the E.U. market.
The facility seems to receive supply from Venuzuelan vessels for the time being. Possibly later also Spanish vessels will supply the factory since some Spanish entrepreneurs have already showed interest in expanding their operations in Costa Rica. There are plans to expand discharge facilities in Puerto Caldera.

Skipjack price in Japan 28 year record low December 20, 00
Not only in Bangkok prices of skipjack are low. Even in Japan where usually premium prices are paid, fisherman are now faced a historically low level. At the Yaizu Port in Shizuoka, Japan’s main skipjack port, the lowest skipjack price in 28 years was recorded. Fishermen have asked the Fisheries Agency to implement an emergency import restriction measure for skipjack. They say prices at Yaizu Port will not recover until the surge in imports is controlled.
This year, skipjack landings are valued at just 42 billion yen (US$375 million), far below last year’s record of 53.5 billion yen – a 23 per cent difference. It is also a dramatic drop from 1981’s figure of 91.1 billion yen. Many believe this year has been the worst year for skipjack in 28 years in terms of volume landed and prices.

Mexican project to farm Bluefin USA, December 20, 00
In  Baja California a project to be started to farm bleufin tuna is expected to high results.The project, which will be developed by an Australian company, faced serious problems at the beginning, because Mexico regards those islands as a strategic zone to safeguard its sovereignty. However, the tuna project was finally approved after it was proven that no facilities would be built on land, and that the farm would consist of floating platforms. Also, the project was found to meet all environmental requirements.
The company will make an initial investment of USD 3 million. It plans to place bluefin tuna in a 400-hectare closed area, where the fish will be fattened. The tuna will be fed on sardine, so local sardine companies will benefit.

European Farmed fish contaminated by dioxins  Europe, December 20, 00
A recent report for the EU, prepared by experts from the Scientific Committee for Food, said fish both from farms and from the region's seas are regularly contaminated by dioxins and similar toxins. Fish oil and fish meal have the highest levels of these chemicals, the panel said. Dioxins, which are produced as a waste product by industrial plants and waste incineration, have been linked to hormone changes, cancer in animals and other severe disorders. The scientists also called for changes in the levels of dioxin considered acceptable for human consumption. This is particularly true for fish from the more polluted areas like the North Sea and the Baltic around Scandinavia.
While they have not suspended the use of fish oil or fish meal, European officials said that early next year, when the governments debate the new dioxin findings, the findings are likely to produce more pressure to reduce pollutants as fast as possible.
According to the new report, fish meal and fish oils of European origin have dioxin levels up to eight times as high as similar products from non-industrial regions, like the waters off Peru and Chile. The fish meal and fish oil also contain up to 10 times more dioxin than is found in meat and eggs. This is troubling because the fish meal is used in the diets of farmed fish and other food animals like chickens and pigs.
If stricter limits for dioxins are set next year, related legislation is expected to provoke opposition from the strong fishery lobbies in North European countries, which have a sizable fish-meal industry. Europe produces 500,000 tons of fish meal a year.

Spanish fisherman plan to block imports Europe, December 20, 00
Professional organizations of seamen and ship owners in Andalusia (southern Spain) have decided to launch starting Dec.25 a new campaign to block the passage of Moroccan products transiting Spain in their way to Europe. They threatened these actions will go on until a fisheries agreement, also involving the tuna catch in Moroccan waters, that suits their interests is concluded with Morocco. They also called the government to use "retaliation" measures, such as stiffening health control measures against products transiting the Spanish ports.

EU raises doubts about Turkish ACP status Europe, December 21, 00
The European Commission has recently send a memo, which has in the meantime reached all custom officials in the EU memberstates, which expresses the serious doubt that the European Commission has over the correct implementation and execution of the ACP conditions which are valid for Turkey. The ACP status grants the Turkish tuna industry, with Dardanel as main processor, a preferential duty of 0% for imports of canned tuna into the EU, compared to the non-preferential duty rate of 24%.
According to the Commission the serious doubt is a result of inspections conducted by EU officials, which has shown major short-comings in the administrative cooperation between the Turkish and EU authorities.
Importers within the Community are informed by the memo, that when they intend to import canned tuna from Turkey, they should take all possible measures to prevent any later claims from the community. These claims could be imposed on all imports of canned tuna which are suspected to be fraudulent to the disadvantage of the interests of the European Community.
In practice this will likely mean that most memberstates will instruct their custom officials to slap all Turkish imports with a security deposit of 24% over the CIF value of the goods.
In the past UK customs already imposed such a security deposit, but the German officials did not. This gave Turkish companies the opportunity to continue their imports into the EU via Germany. It remains to be seen what further consequences this recent memo will have on the future of canned tuna imports from Turkey.
Chart: Turkeye exports to EU Jan-Dec '99

Philippine skipjack moves to $460 M/T  Philippines, December 22, 00
Following the rising market in Bangkok, Philippine fishing companies have increased their offering prices to USd 460 per M/T for 1.8kg/up landed General Santos City. Fishing companies have reduced their volume by about 40% according to the global boat owners reduction agreement. Although most of the canneries are now closed for the holidays, still some trading has been going on. Spurred by quite a considerable booking for foodservice tuna for the States for January shipment, one packer has booked earlier this week about 1000 tins at USd 430, to be delivered first week of January 2001. This indicates that fisherman are not only raising their prices, they are also only selling short term, expecting prices to rise on the longer term.
With fisherman selling now only for short term it will be extremely hard for packers to sell long term at low levels, due to lack of coverage. Most buying is now hand to mouth, back-to-back.
Most canneries are fully relying on frozen fish supply now since boat owners have been quite successful in further developing a market for fresh tuna, which pays usually better prices. Another issue is that returns in terms of yield and recovery of the usually larger frozen fish is generally better then that on the smaller fresh fish.
During the last week prices for canned foodservice skipjack product went up by about 3%-5%, and further smaller price rises can be expected.

EU strikes Indian Ocean tuna deal with Comores Europe, December 22, 00
The EU and the Islamic Republic of the Comoros Islands have struck a three-year deal on tuna fisheries that will run till the end of February 2004. The Comoros Islands are located in the Indian Ocean, in a strategic position at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, an essential tuna fishing ground. The location is between  Mozambique and Madagascar.
The tuna agreement and the new protocol have increased the number of permitted EU vessels from 60 to 65. There will be more opportunities for longliners and fewer or tuna seiners. This means that the number of tuna piurse seiners will go down from 44 to 40 while the number of surface longliners increases from 16 to 25. Vessels from mainly Spain and France, but also from Portugal and Italy benefit from this new tuna fishing agreement.

The level of financial compensation will remain broadly similar as before at EUR 350,250 per year. The share targeted to the local fisheries sector will increase from 50 to 60 per cent of the compensation (EUR 210,150 per year). Some 60 per cent of that amount (EUR 126, 000 annually) will be used to help develop the Comoros artisanal tuna sector. The rest will be allocated to scientific and technical programmes and to strengthen administrative structures in the fisheries sector as well as monitoring and control services.
The price of fishing licences for tuna purse  seiners has gone up from EUR 1,750 for to EUR 2,250. For long-liners the cost will also increase from EUR 750 to EUR 1,000 for vessels under 150 GRT and to EUR 1,375 for those over 150 GRT.
Both the EU and the Comoros Islands have also agreed on the procedure to be followed by the local inspection authorities when they request a EU vessel to accompany them to port.

Mexican tuna industry "sacrificed"  December 22, 00
According to the vice-president of the National Chamber of the Fishing and Aquaculture Industry (Canainpesca), Alfonso Rosiñol Lliteras, the previous three Mexican governments have sacrificed Mexico´s most competitive fishing industry, the tuna industry, in the free trade agreements signed with North America (TLCAN) and the European Union (TLCUE), while the Mexican market has been kept open for products from US and European companies, which have promoted and financed commercial embargoes against Mexico via Ecuador.
Measures like these have, according to Mr. Rosiñol,  minimized the importance of the fishing industry, hindering its development and reducing its contribution to the gross national product to just one per cent. The mentioned percentage only included the value of catches and not that of the complementary activities, which are not considered in the statistics.
The catch levels recorded by the national fishing industry during the former presidential period, which concluded recently, are very similar to those recorded 18 years ago, when Mexico was governed by President José López Portillo. This shows that the industry has come to a complete standstill. Rosiñol blamed the previous governments for abandoning the fishing industry. He said the present situation had resulted from excessive bureaucracy and red tape, as well as unstructured growth of the coastal fishery and the disarticulation of catches. Finally, he concluded that the fishing activity had been subject to the regulations of an environmental agency, and that this had hindered the sector’s development.

EU President Prodi gets involved in EU-Morocco fishing negotiations Europe, December 22, 00
The President of EU Parliament Mr. Prodi, has unexpectedly decided to get involved directly into the negotiations between the EU and the Morocco governments about a new fishing agreement on December 18th in Rabat. This is quite unusual, but emphasizes the political importance of fishing agreements within the EU and the pressure of member states like Spain and Portugal on the EU Commission to come to an agreement. The lobby of fishermen is very strong, especially now most important all species of fish in the EU waters are subject to very stringent quota's, because most of the resources are heavily over-exploited and are starting to reach levels of exhaustion.
Mr. Prodi will travel together with the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Commissioner Mr. Franz Fischler. Mr. Fischler reiterated that negotiations with Morocco were quite tough. Answering some questions posed by socialist congresswoman Rosa Migueles, concerning the possible resignation of the director general of fisheries, Steffen Smidt, if an agreement with Morocco is not reached, Mr. Fischler highlighted the responsibility of the governments of the member states affected -Spain and Portugal. He affirmed that they had been constantly informed about negotiation developments and that they had even taken direct part  in the latest rounds of talks.
Mr. Fischler confirmed the Nice European Council´s willingness to extend the aid given to the fleet affected for a further three months. He also said that his next trip to Rabat would be the last attempt to reach an agreement.
If negotiations fail, the Commission will present a fleet restructuring plan, which would be discussed by the council of fisheries ministers in March 2001. Mr. Fischler said contacts had been already made with the governments of Spain and Portugal. These countries were asked to provide information concerning the effects caused by the closure of Moroccan fishing grounds and the possible EU aid to help reduce the impact of the losses.

Bangkok has a quiet week Thailand, December 22, 00
Trading of skipjack has been quiet this week so far . Negotiations in the market are within the range of USd 450 to USD 500 now, but hardly any concrete transactions reported. The tuna traders are not taking an active approach, but there are some unconfirmed rumours that one of the major processors is actively moving into the frozen skipjack market, in order to cover forward. Reasons for forward coverage is the fact that some low priced retail contracts for the USA market have been concluded which will be delivered well into 2001. With the threat of rising skipjack prices, packers would not want to run the risk of making a loss on these orders, and in the meantime want to maintain a good average price on the fish they currently already store. For the rest of this year we do not expect much activity in the market, and expect prices the stay between $ 460-$480 level for skipjack 1.8 kg/up.

Tuna boat captain murdered on board Indonesia, December 22, 00
Malaysian police in Penang have detained eight foreign crew members of a Taiwan tuna fishing boat in connection with the killing of its captain last Saturday. Four Chinese nationals, two Indonesians and two Taiwanese have been remanded for six days to help in the probe into the murder of Taiwanese boat captain Theng Mung Lai, 39. In the incident, Theng, who was sleeping in his cabin, was stabbed several times by a crew member using a sharp object. A postmortem report showed Theng's neck was almost severed.
Police told newsmen that police are looking for another suspect, a Chinese national, who had escaped by jumping into the sea during the incident. The assailant attacked Theng in his cabin, then proceeded to another cabin and attacked two Taiwanese crew members before jumping into the sea. The two Taiwanese crew members who are also suspects, have been warded at the Penang Hospital with severe injuries they sustained during a fight on board the fishing boat. Police did not find any murder weapon on the boat.

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