Aquaculture for all

Weekly Overview: Government Offers More Flexibility for Fishermen Facing Discard Ban

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ANALYSIS - In order to help UK fishermen prepare for the upcoming demersal discard ban, which will come into effect from January 2016, Fisheries Minister George Eustice has announced that there will be more freedom to bank and borrow quota and funding for new fishing gear under the 43 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

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The government’s plan to help fishermen adapt to the ban includes EMFF funding towards new fishing gear, increased quotas, more freedom to bank, borrow or swap quotas and exemptions – based on the survivability of a species once caught.

Commenting on preparations for the ban, Fisheries Minister George Eustice said: "It is essential that we ban the practice of discarding fish, but we are also committed to introducing new flexibilities to help fishermen manage their quotas and will be giving more quota to the under 10 meter fleet."

In aquaculture news, researchers in Norway have developed a fully automatic sensor to measure levels of nitrogen compounds in recirculated water.

This is the first sensor that has been developed specifically for aquaculture, with the sensitivity and accuracy that are required.

The researchers at Nofima note that the sensor is particularly valuable in recirculating aquaculture systems for the measurement of the nitrogen compound nitrite.

In other news, as the seafood industry looks for new ways to reach consumers, a new UK shopper survey commissioned by Seafish and undertaken by Kantar Worldwide, has identified that there is big potential for natural and smoked seafood products in the marketplace.

The research has provided a unique insight in to the minds of consumers when purchasing seafood, revealing the species, products and offers that could drive sales of seafood over the next few years.

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