Fish Focus

UK lobster exports to France unaffected by new French minimum size rules UK lobster exporters have received welcome clarification confirming that changes to France’s domestic minimum landing size rules will not affect imports of legally caught UK lobsters.

Major new £2.2m Marina Slipway Project announced for Tarbert Harbour. This new infrastructure development, anchored on marine tourism and marine commerce, is part of the ambitious regeneration of the Argyll fishing village. Tarbert Harbour has announced details of a major new £2.2m Marina Slipway Project, which on completion will significantly boost marine tourism and marine commerce opportunities; key economic drivers to the ongoing regeneration of the Argyllshire fishing village.

SEARCULAR’s new policy roadmap for a circular economy for fishing gear. Completing the Loop: SEARCULAR’s new policy roadmap for a circular economy for fishing gear For the past three years the SEARCULAR consortium of 13 industry specialists and research organisations across Europe have collaborated with fishers, netmakers and ports to reduce marine litter generated by fishing gear at source.

Slight increase in advice for Northeast Arctic cod. Quota advice for Northeast Arctic cod, haddock, Greenland Halibut and beaked redfish now released. Author: Bente Kjøllesdal, Institute of Marine Research On Friday the Norwegian-Russian scientific working group (JRN-AFWG) for fish stocks in the Barents Sea released its quota advice for the Barents Sea stocks. Slight increase in Northeast Arctic cod advice They advise that catches for Northeast Arctic cod should not exceed 312 667 tonnes in 2027.

Bloom of Karenia mikimotoi in Rossbeigh, Kerry. An algal bloom was identified this week in Rossbeigh, Co. Kerry following reports of seawater surface discolouration observations from lifeguards and the public to Kerry County Council. Following samples received by the Marine Institute’s Phytoplankton unit, the cause of this surface water discolouration has been identified and confirmed as a bloom of the microscopic unicellular planktonic species Karenia mikimotoi.

Superbugs may spread from Svalbard. This is likely due to wastewater being released into the fjord. Author: Bente Kjøllesdal, Institute of Marine Research “Our study suggests that the Arctic microbial community could become a source for the emergence of ‘superbugs’,” says researcher Manish Prakash Victor. Marine researchers have investigated the unexplored biodiversity at the bottom of Adventfjorden in Svalbard using eDNA sequencing (metagenomics) and computational models.

Ode makes cod farming profitable for the first time. Revenue more than doubled to NOK 877 million in 2025, and Ode closed the year with a net profit of NOK 66 million — a NOK 301 million improvement from the year before. It is the first time a farmed cod company has delivered profitable annual accounts. Ode, Norway’s largest producer of farmed cod, grew revenue by 118.7% from NOK 401 million in 2024 to NOK 877 million (USD 91m / EUR 80m).

100% Fish for Profit conference programme released. The long-running and popular conference is back at IceFish 2026. The release of the Provisional Conference Programme for the upcoming 100% Fish for Profit Conference will focus attention on the innovations and collaborations that are delivering positive results in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

IceFish welcomes Irish Seafood Development Agency. IceFish is delighted to welcome the Irish Seafood Development Agency as a supporter of both the IceFish exhibition and conferences. Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) is Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency and the national body responsible for supporting the sustainable growth and development of the Irish seafood sector.

Guidance to buyers of first-sale fisheries products. The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is reminding buyers of first-sale fisheries products, including restaurants and fish shops, of their legal obligations. First-sale fisheries products are those purchased directly from a commercial fishing vessel. Members of the public may purchase up to 10kg of fisheries products per day directly from a commercial fishing vessel for their own personal consumption.