15/11/12: FAO director general and EU fisheries minister meet; onshore halibut; Chinese hairy crab

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We're getting ready for what promises to be another busy and insightful day at EuroTier but that doesn't mean we're going to neglect your news needs. It's business as usual at the Aquaculturists.

English: José Graziano in Itamaraty Palace press meeting (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

• FAO Director-General, José Graziano da Silva and Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries discussed key fisheries issues at a meeting last week. Topics on the agenda included joint collaboration on aquaculture policy, management of global fisheries and EU support to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Graziano da Silva stressed the importance of the EU as a global player in fisheries and asked Damanaki for her cooperation to promote global fisheries management and governance. The FAO chief also highlighted the importance of aquaculture as a source of income and food security for small-scale farmers in many areas of the world. He confirmed FAO will participate in the EU high-level conference on aquaculture in Galicia, Spain (European aquaculture: the path for growth), to take place on 23 November 2012. Damanaki stressed the importance of FAO’s Committee on Fisheries as the global body of fisheries and aquaculture. She said the EU was fully behind the development of a global record of fishing vessels, an FAO initiative. Read more...

• Can you grow Atlantic halibut to market size onshore? Paul Merlin, president of Canaqua Seafoods, Canada, certainly thinks it's possible. Merlin has secured a $496,584 loan from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency for his project. The money comes on top of Merlin's initial $2.9 million investment and a $1.2-million federal grant in 2010. The site has eight, 15-metre recirculation tanks and is expected to open in March. Let's hope it works. Read more...

• Guanghe Aquaculture eyes the Chinese hairy crab market. The company, which specialises in breeds for aquatic species and aquafeed products, has experienced rapid growth over the last decade thanks to its high-end technology. Now chairman, Li Xiaodong wants to expand operations by introducing its own brand of crab products. Crab is a famous delicacy in Shanghai cuisine, which sell for hundreds of yuan for a small one. Read more...