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Weekly Overview: Thai Shrimp Sector on Road to Recovery

Salmonids Crustaceans Health +6 more

ANALYSIS - In this week's news, Thailand's shrimp sector is on the road to recovery according to analysts from Thai Union Frozen Products (TUF), writes Lucy Towers, TheFishSite Editor.

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The Nation reports that although no cure to Early Mortality Syndrome exists at present, farmers are now better educated on EMS and how to prevent the disease.

TUF predicts that Thai shrimp production will be 250,000 tons in 2013 rising to 300,000 tons in 2014.

AquaBounty's Genetically Modified (GM) salmon eggs have now been cleared for production in Canada after Environment Canada decided that AquAdvantage® Salmon from AquaBounty Technologies is not harmful to the environment or human health when produced in contained facilities.

The company will, therefore, now be able to produce eggs on a commercial scale at its facility in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

“We are pleased to note that, after a rigorous examination of our hatchery facility and the Standard Operating Procedures used to produce AAS eggs, Environment Canada is satisfied that we can responsibly produce our sterile, all-female eggs on a commercial scale,” said Ron Stotish, AquaBounty CEO.

“This is a significant milestone in our efforts to make AquAdvantage Salmon available for commercial production. However, our eggs and fish will not be available for sale until they are approved by the relevant national regulatory bodies. When these approvals are in place, we look forward to demonstrating the value of AAS for a land-based and environmentally-sustainable production system.”

The annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) concluded this week in Capetown, South Africa. The meeting resulted in a the total allowable catch for bluefin tuna in the East Atlantic and the Mediterranean to remain at 13,400 tons in 2014. Spain has the largest share of this at 2,504 tons, 20 per cent of the total.

Speaking at the meeting, EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki emphasised the importance for ICCAT to continue to manage fish stocks in a way that allows for a sustainable yield for fishermen and ensures a stable flow of products to the markets.

In terms of the EU's position on bluefin tuna, Ms Damanaki stated that the precautionary approach should prevail until new advice is available on the state of the stocks.

Global conservation organisation WWF also stated that it was satisfied with the maintenance of the annual quotas for the bluefin tuna in the East Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

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