AGP Executive Report

Marine Farming Tribute: New Zealand’s Coromandel community mourns Gilbert James, a longtime mussel-farming organizer who helped form the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association and Aquaculture New Zealand. Aquaculture Research Boost: The University of Hawaiʻi is named a core member of NOAA’s $13.5M CIFARM consortium, aiming to expand seafood research and aquaculture markets. Crayfish Welfare Check: New Zealand’s fisheries minister Shane Jones faced animal-welfare complaints after parading a live crayfish; the ministry says it was handled and euthanized under best practice. U.S. Ocean Policy Shift: President Trump reopened parts of three Pacific marine national monuments to commercial fishing, including areas near Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa—drawing conservation criticism. Food Security Push (Canada): Prime Minister Carney launched Canada’s first National Food Security Strategy with $3B over 10 years to strengthen affordable, resilient food systems. Heat & Hydration: A summer nutrition piece highlights cooling, water-rich foods and drinks—relevant for seafood and farm-to-table planning during extreme heat.

Budget Relief for Food and Fish Inputs: Bangladesh’s 2026-27 budget proposes lower source tax on essentials, including fish, plus VAT and duty cuts aimed at easing prices for daily staples and key farm inputs. Agri & Fisheries Tax Concessions: The same budget package includes exemptions for pesticide and fertiliser raw materials, and concessionary import benefits for poultry, dairy and fish feed inputs—meant to support production and reduce costs. Aquaculture Expansion in Dry Regions: Zimbabwe’s Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme plans to scale fish farming into drier provinces like Matabeleland, citing underground water and heat for faster growth cycles. Ocean Data Funding Shock: The U.S. is set to dismantle a major deep-sea ocean monitoring system, raising concerns for weather and ocean forecasting as fishermen and scientists scramble for alternatives. Fisheries Business Pressure: New Hampshire seafood shops report rising costs and higher fish and seafood prices, while political figures face scrutiny over tariffs and energy-linked investments. Local Aquaculture/Seafood Training: Farmers in Mudzi, Zimbabwe received training on pond construction and fingerling management as part of the national aquaculture rollout.

US seafood policy: USDA announced a new Office of Seafood aimed at boosting programs and services for fishers and helping the industry stay competitive. Aquaculture & trade pressure: Thailand’s shrimp producers are taking a hit after Malaysia’s import ban, adding to rising feed and fuel costs. Food safety & aquaculture-linked monitoring: Utah removed a long-running carp consumption advisory at Utah Lake after testing found PCB levels low enough for safe eating—an environmental win tied to lake recovery efforts. Water quality & harmful blooms: Bowling Green State University researcher George Bullerjahn helped shape a global research priority plan to tackle toxic algal blooms and cyanobacteria. Illegal fishing enforcement: Cambodia reported 896 natural resource crimes from Jan–May 2026, including wildlife and fishing offenses, with cases sent to court and equipment seized. Local aquaculture-adjacent governance: Vermont reminded anglers that swimming is prohibited at state fishing access areas, citing safety and cleanup costs from open fires. Industry resilience: Aluminum supplier Novelis restarted its Oswego hot mill after fires, easing supply bottlenecks that had affected automakers and packaging demand.

Rainfall Outlook for Farmers: PAGASA flagged the rainy season’s start, but farmers say rains are still scattered and weakened by developing Super El Niño effects, risking late planting and harvest shifts into peak typhoon months. Nearshore Fisheries Protection: In the Philippines, fishers and youth groups rallied at UP Diliman to demand stricter enforcement of the 15-kilometer municipal waters rule, warning commercial encroachment threatens breeding and nursery habitats. Aquaculture & Seafood Policy: Liberia’s NaFAA chief wrapped a week in Morocco focused on fisheries safety, stock assessment cooperation, training, value addition, and landing-site development, with a July 2026 agreement expected. Animal Welfare in Salmon Farming: A salmon-sector voice argues animal welfare should be a core operating principle, not a reputational add-on, linking lower stress to better production and sustainability. Conservation Tech: Researchers in China’s Yangtze used underwater drones and an ROV to document endangered Chinese sturgeon at spawning grounds, capturing rare sightings to support recovery. Market Pulse (Pork): U.S. pork leaders say profitability is back to “about where 2023 ended,” but remains fragile amid disease, costs, and uncertainty. EU Sanctions (Fishery Mention): The EU outlined a new Russia sanctions package that includes proposed measures touching Russia’s fishery sector.

Aquaculture Investment Push (New Zealand): At Fieldays, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced $59m in government-backed commercial projects (total $143m) spanning dairy, sheep and beef, horticulture, whenua Māori and aquaculture—highlighting a $11.7m push to boost King Salmon production via open-ocean aquaculture. Seafood Supply Research (US): The University of Hawaiʻi joined NOAA’s $13.5m CIFARM consortium to strengthen America’s seafood supply and expand sustainable marine aquaculture, with UH Hilo leading the research team. Biosecurity Enforcement (New Zealand): Marlborough firm Waimana Marine Ltd was fined $24,000 for illegally moving nearly 80 tonnes of live green-lipped mussels and thousands of pacific oysters from a contained zone, violating Bonamia Ostreae controlled-area rules. Ocean Governance & Livelihoods (Philippines): World Oceans Day protests in Manila Bay targeted ongoing reclamation tied to mussel-farm demolitions, with fishers warning of displacement and environmental harm. Policy/Market Context (Bangladesh): A Tk 600b stimulus includes a Tk 20b facility for frozen shrimp and fish exports, aiming to revive a sector facing a decade of export declines.

Satellite for food and ocean monitoring: The Philippines’ President Marcos approved progress on the MULA Earth-observation satellite, now built and in UK testing, with a possible April 2027 launch; once live it’s set to support agriculture, maritime monitoring, disaster response and national security. Food security policy push: Malaysia’s food security council backed a National Food Security Act to add early warnings, automatic preparedness, and faster delivery of financial help and farm inputs during drought risks from El Niño and climate change, while also discussing cultured meat and honey authenticity controls. Aquaculture and fisheries governance: A new push at the Our Ocean Conference in Kenya (June 16–18) calls for stronger fisheries management, including ending harmful subsidies and tightening oversight of unmanaged and unregulated fishing. Marine safety and impacts: In the Philippines, BFAR7 says local jellyfish cleanups are acceptable when needed for public safety; in the Mediterranean, divers captured rare great white shark footage during ghost-net removal, highlighting ongoing gear risks. Trade and sector signals: Namibia’s April trade data shows African markets taking over half of exports, with fish among key export items.

Aquaculture at a crossroads: A new look at the sector warns that rapid growth is pushing producers toward a narrower set of species, while feed shifts from sea to land may not cut overall environmental pressure. Workforce pressure: New Zealand’s ACT is proposing a Rural Workforce Visa to create a steadier year-round labor pipeline for farms and fishing fleets, aiming to ease chronic shortages that seasonal visas don’t solve. Blue economy cooperation: Norway and ASEAN launched a project to boost sustainable aquaculture and fisheries capacity, with a focus on regional policy gaps and knowledge-sharing through 2027. Marine governance funding: The U.S. House passed legislation to reauthorize the Northwest Straits Commission for seven years, supporting habitat restoration work that also touches commercial and recreational fishing. Ocean urgency: The UN marked World Oceans Day by calling for urgent action as climate change, overfishing, pollution, and biodiversity loss push marine ecosystems past limits.

EU Trade Rules for Seafood: India secured continued EU authorization for aquaculture products, honey, eggs and animal casings beyond September 2026 under AMR-linked requirements, protecting about $1.59B in fisheries exports. Aquaculture Tech & Vessels: Norway’s Hofseth has put two new low-emission hybrid aquaculture vessels into operation with battery power and shore-power integration to cut fuel use, CO₂ and noise. Kelp Market Pressure: Alaska’s kelp farms face closures and a tougher test ahead as infrastructure funding ends, with producers warning that demand and market access haven’t kept up with capacity. World Oceans Day—Ocean Innovation: World Oceans Day coverage highlights “reimagine” themes, from China’s marine-economy push to route-planning tools aimed at reducing whale ship strikes. Coral Stress Watch: South Korea’s Jeju soft-coral “slumping” in 2024 is linked to heat plus salinity/water-quality shifts, with researchers flagging potential repeat impacts if “Super El Niño” arrives. Shrimp Season Update: Mississippi shrimpers report good early results—larger shrimp fetching up to ~$6/lb at docks despite stormy start. Blue Economy Policy: Azerbaijan amended state support so fishing enterprises can access preferential loans for aquaculture and related equipment.

Ocean Health Watch: A new UN-backed World Ocean Assessment warns the sea is under intensifying stress, stressing its role in climate stability, food supply, jobs, and health—while illegal fishing and collapsing stocks ripple into wider food systems. Reef-Friendly Diving Reality Check: Video research suggests scuba divers cause reef damage more often than assumed, with most contact accidental or unnoticed, raising concerns for already-stressed coral recovery. Marine Wildlife Trade Tech: Researchers say AI using airport CT scanning could help spot trafficked marine species like seahorses and shark fins hidden in luggage. Fisheries Management Lesson: Tuna recovery is held up as a case where quotas, enforcement, and stock assessments—plus hard diplomacy—help stocks rebound, even if oceans aren’t fully back to abundance. Aquaculture & Feed Costs: A Zimbabwe livestock farmer’s home-made silage feed model highlights how producing fodder can cut costs and improve herd health, pointing to practical ways to buffer feed price pressure. Food Prices Pressure: U.S. seafood retailers report higher fish and seafood prices tied to fuel, labor, and shipping costs, with customers staying price-conscious.

Trade Dispute: Thailand says it’s ready to take Malaysia’s June 1 suspension of imports of five Thai shrimp species to the WTO and ASEAN if talks fail, while rolling out 13 measures to protect farmers and absorb about 400 tonnes of monthly output. Ocean Policy Clash: New England fishermen are launching a campaign against offshore wind, calling it “industrializing” productive fishing grounds and warning of higher costs and displacement. Aquaculture Capacity: The Philippines’ BFAR has turned over a P1.5M tilapia hatchery project to Tinoc, aiming to boost local aquaculture production. Food Safety Push: World Food Safety Day highlights the scale of unsafe food impacts and calls for safer supply chains “everywhere.” Marine Conservation: Canada expands a Buffalo Pound Lake native grassland conservation area to help filter drinking water and protect biodiversity. Market Management: India’s Varanasi municipal body approved moving meat and fish shops to city outskirts to improve sanitation and reduce congestion.

River & water restoration: Zimbabwe has launched a nationwide emergency river rehabilitation after declaring 17 major rivers disaster zones, suspending mining and other activities for 90 days while specialist firms begin rehabilitation. Food & seafood trade: Ghana launched the $3.5bn AgriConnect Compact (2026-2030) to boost productivity, value addition, markets and resilience across agri value chains, including fisheries, aiming to improve food security for 2.99m people and create millions of jobs. Aquaculture & fisheries policy: Greece’s food and beverage sector is pushing for stronger state support to expand exports, citing high energy costs and noting inflation pressure is heavier on fresh foods like fish and meat. Marine environment & compliance: Pakistan’s World Environment Day warnings highlighted untreated industrial effluent and weak enforcement as drivers of ecological risk in major cities. Local fisheries livelihoods: In Gaza, fishermen are patching dinghies with door frames as restrictions and material bans make repairs far more expensive, while catches have fallen. Water safety & shocks: Western Australia recorded another fatal shark attack, prompting renewed warnings for ocean users. Aquaculture-adjacent business: A new ornamental fish trade centre in Chennai is set to draw hobbyists and families, reflecting growing demand for live aquatic species.

Aquaculture & Fisheries Policy: Kyrgyzstan stepped up enforcement at Lake Son-Kul, removing about 150 meters of illegal synthetic fishing nets as part of a moratorium on industrial fishing aimed at protecting ecosystems and rebuilding fish stocks. Seafood Trade & Growth: India is pushing to nearly quadruple seafood exports to $30 billion within five years, with Andhra Pradesh also backing an “aqua corridor” to strengthen seafood exports from coastal hubs. Licensing & Access: Minnesota DNR is rolling out a new electronic licensing system for anglers and hunters on June 9, with a short pause in sales during the data transition and options to carry licenses via paper, PDF, or app. Food Safety: The UK Food Standards Agency warned consumers not to eat certain frozen products from Inarah’s Frozen Food Ltd after the firm couldn’t demonstrate safe production and handling, triggering business recalls. Rural Livelihoods: Sabah’s agriculture ministry highlighted ongoing livestock, paddy irrigation, and inland fisheries support, including boats, outboard engines, and jetty upgrades for freshwater fishers.

Seafood Export Push (India): Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says India wants to nearly quadruple seafood exports from about $8.5B to $30B in five years, urging a shift toward quality, value-added products, brands, and better export infrastructure. Local Seafood Access (US): The Humboldt Dockside Market returns June 6 in Eureka, with fishermen selling fresh rockfish, lingcod, sablefish and more, plus an on-site filleting option and EBT-friendly setup. Fishing Livelihoods (Gaza): Gaza fishermen are rebuilding dinghies from reclaimed fiberglass, wood, and doorframes to keep the struggling fishing sector afloat amid shortages. Trade Snapshot (EU-Morocco): EU-Morocco goods trade hit a record €62.2B in 2025, with fisheries making up a smaller but notable slice of flows. Rural Economy (Canada): Federal, provincial and territorial leaders met in Prince Edward Island to coordinate rural development, highlighting local agriculture and aquaculture as key growth engines. Aquaculture/Environment (Maine): Eastport residents debate a proposed underwater AI data center in Passamaquoddy Bay, fearing impacts on lobsters, scallops and clams.

Aquaculture Finance: New Zealand seafood giant Sanford says Ngāi Tahu Investments will cut its stake from 19.9% to 10.3%, selling about half its holding to raise roughly NZ$64.1m (US$37.6m); Sanford runs nine aquaculture sites, five processing plants, and multiple ports, employing around 1,400 people. Seafood Trade: India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal says seafood exports rose 70% in dollar terms from 2014 to 2025, outpacing global seafood trade growth of about 12–12.5%, with a national workshop in Vizag highlighting export targets. Gaza Fisheries: Reuters reports Gaza fishermen are struggling to repair boats as Israeli restrictions make fibreglass and other materials far more expensive, while catch volumes have fallen and fishermen keep closer to shore. EU Ocean Tech: The European Commission launched OceanEye to boost EU ocean intelligence, aiming to contribute 35% of the global ocean observing system by 2035 and capture 35% of the ocean observation market. Food Safety & Water Risks: A report highlights rising concern about Vibrio bacteria along the Atlantic Coast, underscoring the need for ongoing water-quality monitoring.

Fisheries Policy & Protein Supply: Venezuela is pushing “productive graft” and popular planning to boost communal agriculture and fish production for urban protein needs, spotlighting fishermen and aquaculturists’ councils (CONPPA). Export Momentum: Japan reported record 2025 fishery exports at 423.1 billion yen (+17.2%), with scallops leading and government support aimed at overseas demand as domestic seafood intake falls. Community Fisheries Governance: Massachusetts named Shelley Edmundson, a Vineyard whelk researcher and fishermen-trust leader, as chair of its Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission. Aquaculture Research & Inputs: New Zealand research groups joined an EU ocean-microbe project to find bioactive compounds for next-gen skincare, underlining how marine science can feed high-value marine industries. Fishery Management Backlash: New Zealand orange roughy cutback plans drew sharp criticism as “too little, too late,” after stock collapse warnings. Port & Seafood Logistics: New Zealand’s Greymouth Port secured $8m for a wharf upgrade to restore shipping access and commerce. Market Signals: Thailand’s rice and rice-bran oil players are investing to expand capacity and branding, reflecting broader agrifood export competition.

Shrimp Trade Shock (Malaysia–Thailand): Malaysia has banned primary shrimp imports from Thailand for five species, citing food-safety concerns and putting Thai shrimp farmers’ livelihoods at risk while urging bilateral talks. Salmon Policy Uncertainty (B.C.): British Columbia’s salmon sector is still waiting on Ottawa’s final transition framework for shifting from open-net pens toward closed-containment by 2029, leaving companies anxious about investment and potential exits. Aquaculture Finance (Togo): The EU and Togo’s AED launched a €1m revolving fund (655m CFA francs) to help IFAD-Aquaculture graduates start fish farming, tackling the biggest barrier: access to credit. New Farm in Singapore: Singapore’s first local trout farm has started operations, targeting 1,200 tonnes this year and ramping to 3,000 tonnes by 2028 to boost local protein supply. Workforce Support (U.S. aquaculture-adjacent): Virginia’s Bay Consortium released an employer toolkit to recruit, develop, and retain skilled workers—aimed at easing talent shortages that also affect food and seafood operations. Seafood Skills (Oregon): A regional seafood butchery program is teaching students hands-on filleting and preparation to strengthen the local seafood workforce.