AGP Executive Report

Mangrove Recovery in Brazil: In Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay, local fishers and conservationists are pulling waste out and restoring mangroves through Projeto UÇÁ, with 18.2 hectares recovered, 64,500 seedlings planted, and 60+ species returning—showing habitat work can directly support coastal livelihoods. Food Prices Under Calamity Rules (Philippines): In Occidental Mindoro, Paluan and Sablayan imposed a DTI price freeze on basics including canned fish and other marine products, milk, coffee, noodles, and bottled water for up to 60 days while calamity conditions persist. Pelagic Shift for Guam Fishers: Guam’s Smart-FAD project is backing a tuna-focused derby and upgrading fish aggregating devices with satellite echosounder buoys to reduce pressure on declining reef species. Trade War Hits Seafood (Canada–US): Canada’s retaliatory tariffs starting Sept. 8 include 25% duties on fish and seafood, adding pressure to an already stressed sector. Climate Stress on Marine Life (Korea): South Korea reports marine heat waves are nearly four times more frequent over the past decade, raising risks for fisheries and food security. Feed Ingredient Watch: Fishmeal supply is tightening as El Niño disrupts fishing seasons, while aquaculture keeps expanding—pushing fishmeal market growth expectations toward $12.078B by 2034.

US Seafood Strategy: USDA’s Office of Seafood is shifting from launch mode to building an “America First Seafood Strategy,” gathering input from fishermen, aquaculturists, processors and policymakers to better plug seafood into USDA food policy and rural programs. CEO Shake-up in Aquaculture: Seafarms Group terminated CEO Peter Fraser “for cause,” naming Rob Dyer as interim CEO as the company continues work tied to Project Sea Dragon. Food Prices Under Disaster Rules: In the Philippines, DTI has frozen prices on key basics in Paluan and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro, including canned fish and other marine products, for up to 60 days while calamity conditions persist. Trade War Pressure on Seafood: Canada’s escalating U.S. tariff retaliation includes fish and seafood at 25%, adding uncertainty for food and beverage manufacturers. Fisheries Infrastructure Upgrade: Bequia officially launched EU-funded rehabilitation of the Bequia Fish Market, aiming to modernize infrastructure and support long-term fisheries sustainability.

Shellfish Safety Alert (Philippines): BFAR issued a red-tide advisory for Leyte, warning people not to gather, sell, or eat shellfish and Acetes/alamang after saxitoxin tested positive, with bans also maintained in parts of Eastern Samar and Biliran while confirmatory lab results are pending. Offshore Aquaculture Push (New Zealand): New Zealand plans to ease consent rules for open-ocean aquaculture beyond three nautical miles, removing some landscape and “high natural character” checks to cut barriers and support a NZ$3bn revenue target by 2035. Heat Impacts Oysters (Japan): Hiroshima oyster farmers will delay harvest for a third straight year as heatwaves slow growth and raise mortality risk, with officials taking steps to reduce losses. Illegal Fishing Crackdown (Australia): Queensland officers fined two men $14,016 after a tip led to discovery of oversized commercial nets and protected/undersized catch. Trade War Ripple (Canada–US): The US floated renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America” amid escalating tariffs, while Canada announced retaliatory duties that include fish and seafood among targeted goods. Intensive Shrimp Tech (China): A supplier roundup highlights variable-frequency paddlewheel aerators and energy-saving aquaculture equipment aimed at high-density shrimp farming.

Aquaculture Policy & Capacity: The Maldives is moving ahead with a major fisheries upgrade at Lh. Felivaru, backed by an Indian line of credit, including a 4,000-metric-tonne cold storage facility plus brine-freezing and refrigerated seawater systems to boost fish purchase, freezing, storage and processing. Fish Health Tech: WellFish Tech says it has completed an oversubscribed interim financing round for non-lethal blood sampling in Atlantic salmon, aiming to help farmers forecast mortality and health risks using physiological data. Industry Expansion Meets Backlash: Vietnam’s Navico plans a more cautious Brazil tilapia expansion after rapid growth triggered pushback from local farmers and calls for stronger import protection. Shellfish Regulation: Maryland updated its oyster aquaculture enforcement and compliance rules, including a new permit-suspension/revocation regime effective Oct. 1, 2026, alongside sanitation regulation updates tied to the NSSP guide. Trade Pressure: Canada announced retaliatory tariffs that include fish and seafood, adding uncertainty for cross-border seafood supply chains. Legal Watch: A California judge preliminarily approved a $2.25M settlement in a crab price-fixing class action involving Dungeness crab.

Aquaculture Welfare Standards: A new Rainbow Trout Operational Welfare Indicator (OWI) protocol for seawater ongrowing rolls out 33 threshold-based checks (from sea lice and fin damage to dissolved oxygen and stocking density), aiming to support routine welfare monitoring and certification schemes like RSPCA Assured and ASC. Marine Policy & Conservation: Scotland signals an inshore MPA consultation “in the coming weeks,” with a planned 16-week process covering 160+ sites and Priority Marine Features, built with long-running fishing-sector input. Food Safety & Trade Disruption: Kerala exporters say Hormuz-linked shipping disruptions have left crores in seafood and other perishable cargo stranded, with uncertainty also hitting fresh export plans. Environmental Risk to Seafood Chains: A study warns Antarctica’s warming is remobilizing legacy mercury, doubling accumulation near the Antarctic Peninsula and raising concerns for marine wildlife and the commercial fish industry. Aquaculture Business Support: Henan Chenyuan Biotech highlights overseas technical training for carp farmers, focusing on field-based guidance to cut costs and lift productivity. Illegal Fishing Crackdown: Australia’s Border Force seized a suspected illegal foreign fishing vessel in the Torres Strait, detaining the crew and finding salt used to preserve fish.

Baltic Fisheries Policy: The EU Commission has set out 2027 fishing quota proposals for the Baltic Sea, including total allowable catches and quotas for ten EU-managed fish stocks. Aquaculture & Training: New Zealand’s aquaculture skills push continues as Khyber Aquaculture partners with India’s government to train local trout farmers, while a separate report highlights aquaculture training in Cambodia that helped trainees move into paid fish-farming work. Seafood Trade & Industry Events: Seafood Expo Asia 2026 opens Sept. 2–4 in Singapore, spotlighting fresh, frozen and processed seafood innovations and new exhibitor pavilions. Invasive Species Control: Italy is releasing thousands of common octopuses in the Adriatic to help curb the blue crab invasion that’s been damaging fisheries and aquaculture livelihoods. Fishery Health & Management: Sri Lanka is strengthening shark-fishery management, focusing on better monitoring and regulation as sharks are often caught as by-catch. Workplace in Seafood: A UK fish packer won £11k after an employment tribunal found her dismissal by a fish processor was unfair, citing a lack of proper investigation.

Trade War Fallout: Canada’s dollar dipped after US-Canada talks collapsed and Washington imposed 50% tariffs on $20bn of Canadian goods, with Canada set to retaliate “dollar for dollar” on items including dairy, fishing rods and hockey sticks from Sept. 8. Aquaculture Policy & Planning: Papua New Guinea’s National Fisheries Authority backed East New Britain’s Fisheries Development Strategy 2025–2033 after a validation workshop, with provincial officials praising NFA technical and financial support. On-the-Ground Fishery Risks: A UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch report into a man-overboard death from the Sea Eagle highlights hazards for lone fishing operations, including likely entanglement with creels and the danger of cold-water incapacitation. Biosecurity Push: Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is marking National Biosecurity Week (Aug 24–30) with blue lighting of national landmarks to stress shared responsibility. Market & Sector Context: Iceland voters decide whether to restart EU talks, with fisheries and sovereignty at the center of the debate. Aquaculture Europe: Aquaculture Europe’s 50th anniversary conference heads to Ljubljana this September, framed around “Aquaculture in Global Change.”

Aquaculture Health Watch: Icelandic aquaculture saw farmed salmon mortality hit 3% in June (about 745,000 fish), with authorities citing losses tied to fish transfers and release injuries; July improved to around 1%. Disaster-Response for Fish & Farmers: The Philippines’ SINAG urged government “local production first” support after monsoon storms, calling for fast distribution of seeds and fingerlings plus fertilizer and credit—warning against using imports to plug weather-driven shortages. Feed & Trade Pressure: SINAG’s stance lands amid broader market strain as governments and industry weigh how to keep supply steady when weather hits production. Biosecurity & Disease: Australia confirmed its first H5N1 detection in a mammal—a long-nosed fur seal—highlighting how avian flu is spreading through marine ecosystems. Marine Policy: Scientists in Australia say marine parks are too concentrated in remote areas and want stronger protections across bioregions, including bans on industrial fishing and mining in protected zones. Market Context: U.S.-Canada tariff escalation is expected to raise costs on items including fishing rods and other goods, adding uncertainty for seafood-linked supply chains.

Trade War Ripple: Canada says it will retaliate “dollar for dollar” against new US 50% tariffs, with duties starting Sept. 8 on steel, electronics and other goods—hitting sectors that include dairy, fishing rods and hockey equipment—after talks collapsed between the longtime allies. Policy Meets Food Systems: In Apec talks, the US is pushing an “America First” agenda and says it will focus on opportunities for US business in agriculture and fisheries, alongside energy, transport and food security. Aquaculture Innovation: Scotland’s first onshore fish farm, Otter Ferry Seafish, is scaling halibut production on land with filtered seawater to reduce parasites and escapes, and is now seeking partnerships to keep growth “sea-to-plate” at home. Industry Pressure: At Ferguson Marine, unions warn the Scottish government’s promised funding has stalled, as the yard seeks major voluntary redundancies amid uncertainty over new vessel contracts.

Trade & Tariffs: Canada and the U.S. have failed to seal a deal, triggering new 50% U.S. tariffs on about $20B of Canadian goods and prompting Ottawa to retaliate “dollar for dollar” starting Sept. 8, with sectors named including dairy, steel, electronics—and fishing rods and hockey equipment. Aquaculture & Fisheries Policy: Sri Lanka is launching a programme to tighten management of its shark fishing industry, saying sharks are mainly taken as by-catch and that exports of legally permitted products (fins, gills, jaws, skin) must meet international conservation standards. Blue Economy & Training: A new Blue Economy Centre of Excellence in Andhra Pradesh will focus on sustainable ocean use, coastal conservation, ocean tech and skills, with links to ocean observation and research partners. Food Safety: A study in Egypt flags heavy-metal risks in commonly eaten fish sold in markets, testing mercury, arsenic, lead and cadmium across multiple species. Wildlife & Coasts: Giant Atlantic bluefin tuna have returned to Yorkshire waters after ~60 years, with researchers tagging fish off Whitby as fisheries management is credited for the comeback.

Aquaculture & Seafood Markets: Inshore fishermen in Donegal say margins are tightening as fuel, bait and shellfish prices rise, even as high-quality soft-shell crab is shipped live to China and lobster to France. Feed & Protein Debate: A new wave of “protein everywhere” products is drawing scrutiny from researchers, who warn that extra protein won’t build muscle without lifestyle changes. Regulation & Water Quality: A Washington court upheld science-based headwater stream protections, preserving forested buffers that help keep waters cool and clean for salmon and other aquatic life. Industry & Policy Pressure: South Africa’s coal and oil expansion faces fresh legal pushback over environmental impacts on children and future generations. Trade Shock: The US and Canada move into a tariff standoff, with 50% duties hitting Canadian goods and Canada promising dollar-for-dollar retaliation—raising uncertainty for seafood and other exports. Aquaculture in the Spotlight: A film teaser for Chiranjeevi’s “Kaaka” highlights the seafood and aquaculture workplace, bringing the sector into mainstream attention.

Aquaculture Training & Capacity Building: A Norwegian-funded “Samaki Poa” project in East Africa has set up five training and distribution hubs in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, helping aquaculture entrepreneurs scale sustainable seafood production and access quality fingerlings. Fisheries Management & Whale Risk: Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife rolled out two new Dungeness crab rules—electronic monitoring for commercial crab vessels and updated experimental gear permit guidelines—to cut whale entanglements. Tuna Governance Push: Businesses and environmental NGOs are urging the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission to adopt its first-ever tuna management procedures at its 24 August meeting, aiming for clearer harvest strategies for tropical tuna stocks. Lobster Food Web Insight: University of Maine researchers found baby lobster larvae preferentially feed on Calanus finmarchicus, while both the prey and larval survival appear to be declining in the Gulf of Maine—new clues for Maine lobster recovery efforts. Agri-Food Policy: Malaysia says it will expand local seed and breed production using modern biotechnology to reduce seed import dependency by 30% by 2040.

Microplastics in seafood (Ghana): CSIR-WRI reports microplastics in the guts and gills of both cage-farmed and wild fish from the Lower Volta Basin and Gulf of Guinea coastal communities, with some samples averaging about 365 particles per fish; researchers point to possible sources like boat/cage paint and PVC, plus contaminated fishmeal and plastic nets—raising fresh food-safety concerns for aquaculture and wild fisheries. Blue economy push (India): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay urged the Southern Zonal Council to put maritime growth at the center of regional planning, linking ports, coastal shipping, fisheries and marine industries to investment and jobs. Fisheries adaptation (Pacific tuna): A UNSW-led program is expanding “ships of opportunity” ocean temperature sensing on commercial tuna vessels to help Pacific fishers and managers track shifting tuna behavior as waters warm. Aquaculture-linked visitor management (Hong Kong): AFCD will run free weekend and holiday trial reservations for the Po Pin Chau section of High Island Reservoir East Dam to manage visitor flow—relevant for coastal recreation pressures near water resources.

Salmon & feed outlook: Lerøy says Q2 operational EBIT fell to NOK 574m as harvest volumes and margins softened, but it points to strong biology, lower farming costs and improved cash flow, keeping 2026 harvest guidance at 195,000 GWT and flagging expectations for firmer salmon demand and prices. Cold-water training: Khyber Aquaculture partnered with India’s Jammu & Kashmir Department of Fisheries to train trout farmers under a trout cluster program, focusing on fish health, biosecurity, water quality and proactive disease prevention. Fishmeal squeeze: IFFO reports weak fishmeal and fish oil output as El Niño disrupts fisheries, with Peru’s anchovy season largely inactive after repeated closures, threatening global marine-ingredient supply. Policy pressure on forage fish: A U.S. debate over the Atlantic menhaden fishery is getting national attention, with industry pushing back on NGO claims about environmental impacts and calling for management changes. Aquaculture support on the ground: Maine’s Aquaculture Innovation Center highlights business incubators and funding tools for new and growing aquaculture firms, including hatchery and best-practice development for scallops. School feeding push: Arkansas launched a catfish recipe contest to get locally farm-raised catfish into school lunches via the Arkansas Plate initiative.

Aquaculture Tech & Health: Hamburg-based AquaNab is pushing nanoantibody treatments delivered via feed to tackle sea lice, aiming to complete efficacy testing and move toward commercialisation as the parasite continues to hit salmon farms worldwide. Food Processing & Exports: Bangladesh Agricultural University researchers say they’ve developed modern canning tech for kuchia (eel) fish, with lab tests in India reporting results that support safe, long-shelf-life export potential. Policy & Industry Growth: Pakistan’s maritime ministry is drafting a National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy to unlock up to $10bn, including a “one-window” service model to cut red tape for investors. Fisheries Governance: Ghana has been named a Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) Implementing Country, a move meant to improve public access to marine fisheries information and strengthen stakeholder participation. Livelihoods vs Renewables: Scotland’s Fishermen’s Federation is calling for long-term compensation for fishers whose grounds are squeezed by offshore wind expansion. Local Aquaculture Capacity: Kenya says it will import about 25 million bags of maize to cover drought-driven shortfalls, underscoring pressure on food systems that also affects aquaculture feed and farm inputs.

Salmon Market Push: AquaChile says it wants about 40% of Vietnam’s frozen salmon market within 1–3 years, building on fast-growing demand and Chilean supply. Sustainability Certification: Chile’s four-year Clean Production Agreement has certified 19 salmon firms and 80 facilities, covering emissions cuts, waste recovery and circular practices. Enforcement Spotlight: Canada’s DFO seized lobster traps and arrested suspects in Nova Scotia, releasing 491 live lobsters; it also recently targeted alleged illegal cod sales outside licensed systems. Processor Restructuring: New Brunswick seafood processor Island Fishermen’s Cooperative Association filed for creditor protection to restructure after debts topped CAD 25 million. Bluefin Milestone: A 742-pound bluefin tuna was landed off Whitby for the first time in about 90 years, with a trainee onboard. Policy & Food Security: Malaysia’s agriculture ministry is urging more domestic production to cut reliance on imported inputs like fertiliser, citing lessons from recent geopolitical shocks. Marine Stewardship: New Zealand’s boat and fishing expo highlights responsible boating, sustainable fishing and marine conservation.