Weekly Overview: EU Allows Non-Ruminant Processed Animal Proteins for Fish Feed

European Feed Manufacturers' Federation (FEFAC) President, Patrick Vanden Avenne stated: “This measure paves the way for our EU aquaculture producers to step up their efforts to encourage the sustainable development of EU aquaculture by creating a level playing field with seafood imports from third countries.”

Global feed company Nutreco has reported a strong year for 2012, with revenue increasing by 10.8 per cent to €5,229.1 million.

Some of the company's success was due to its 75 per cent acquisition of the leading shrimp and tilapia feed producer in Ecuador. The move took Nutreco into a global top three position for shrimp feed.

Marine Harvest has also reported a major positive market shift in quarter four of 2012, despite a huge decrease in profits compared to the year before, caused partly by low salmon prices.

Salmon prices are now starting to look up, however. Alf-Helge Aarskog, CEO of Marine Harvest commented: "I am very encouraged by the strong market outlook in Europe, with future prices above NOK 30 per kg for both 2013 and 2014. Marine Harvest is well positioned to take advantage of this as 80 per cent of our volume will be originating in Europe combined with high exposure to spot prices."

Chilean aquaculture experienced record harvests in 2012 of over one million tons, according to preliminary figures released last week by the National Fisheries and Aquaculture service, Sernapesca.

Last week was also a good week for fisheries in the EU as the European Parliament voted for an end to discards and a move towards sustainable fishing.

The European Parliament voted 502 to 137 in favour of the draft report by Ulrike Rodust, which sets out the basic regulations of the Common Fisheries Policy reform package. The basic aim of the reform package is to create sustainable fisheries, help fishing fleets to be economically viable and to promote aquaculture in the EU.

Xavier Pastor, Executive Director of Oceana in Europe, said: "The EU took a major step towards the proper management of our fishery resources. On behalf of Oceana, I thank all the representatives of European citizens for backing worldwide calls to act urgently for the health and future of our oceans."

The Council of Fisheries ministers and the European Parliament will soon start negotiations, along with the Commission, to reconcile their respective positions and reach a final agreement on the reform by June 2013

In disease news, Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) has been reported on a salmon farm in Nordland, Norway and Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia was confirmed on wrasse farms in Scotland, UK.