POLL: UK and German citizens (& ~90% of women) overwhelmingly reject Iceland’s commercial whaling

A new poll released today (September 9, 2014) and commissioned by leading anti-whaling organisations, Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Humane Society International (HSI), International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), OceanCare, Pro Wildlife, and Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), “indicates overwhelming public opposition in Germany and the UK to Iceland’s resumption of commercial whaling, with nine out of ten people in both countries stating they disagree with Iceland’s decision to resume whaling.”

Below is the remainder of the AWI statement, un-edited:

In 1982, with whale populations decimated by whaling, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) voted for a ban on the commercial hunting of whales, which came into effect in 1986. Despite this, Iceland resumed whaling in 2003, initially targeting minke whales as part of a “scientific” hunt.  In 2006, Iceland resumed commercial whaling for both minkes and endangered fin whales.

The 2014 hunt is currently underway, and to date, more than 100 fin and 22 minke whales have been killed this year, bringing the number of whales killed by Iceland to more than 1,000 since 2003. Iceland has also exported thousands of tonnes of whale products, almost exclusively to Japan, in defiance of a ban on international trade in whale products imposed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The results of the poll, conducted for the groups by ORC International in late July 2014, are being released prior to the 2014 annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to be held in Portorož, Slovenia, from 15th to 18th September. 

Susan Millward, Executive Director of the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) said, “We urge IWC member countries to denounce Iceland’s cruel whaling industry, and to use all diplomatic tools at their disposal to ensure that Iceland abides by both the commercial whaling moratorium and the CITES ban on trade in whale products. As the poll results clearly show, the public will support efforts to bring an end to Iceland’s undermining of international conservation measures for whales.”

Survey participants were also queried as to their concerns related to seafood purchases from Icelandic fishing companies linked to whaling.  More than four out of five people responded that they would be unlikely to purchase seafood products from these companies, including more than half of the respondents who declared themselves very unlikely to do so.  Females were even more likely than males in both countries not to buy from such companies.

“Nearly 90 per cent of females surveyed in the UK and Germany declared themselves unlikely to buy seafood from companies linked to whaling.  As women tend to do most of the food purchasing for their households, this statistic should set alarm bells ringing at Iceland’s leading fisheries company, HB Grandi, which is closely linked with fin whaling, especially as the company only recently had to report a 34 per cent decline in profits compared to 2013”, commented Chris Butler-Stroud, Chief Executive Officer at Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC).

In contrast to the liability that whaling represents to Iceland’s image, responsible whale watch tourism provides definite value to the local economy. IceWhale, the Icelandic Association of Whale Watchers, has estimated that in 2013 roughly 201,000 people took a whale watch trip in Icelandic waters, providing significant direct revenues. 

According to the ORC survey, at least 3 out of 5 adults in the UK and at least 7 out of 10 adults in Germany would be likely to take a whale-watching tour if they travelled to Iceland. However, over 85 per cent indicated that they would be unlikely to choose to eat or shop at Icelandic restaurants and supermarkets that sell whale meat.

Kitty Block, J.D., Vice President of the Humane Society International (HSI) said, “Whaling has no place in a modern world, and Iceland is out of step with the majority of nations that want to see whales fully protected. It persistently thwarts the rule of international law and undermines decisions made by international treaty bodies to protect whales from commercial slaughter and international trade.  Whales are long-lived, slow to reproduce and many populations are still recovering from the relentless hunting of previous centuries. Given all these matters, it is unconscionable that Iceland continues to kill these animals just to sell their meat to trendy restaurants and stores.”

NOTES

The 2014 Whaling Study was conducted by ORC International in the UK and Germany. An online survey was conducted July 25-30, 2014 among an Internet representative UK sample of 1,001 adults, 18 years and older, comprising 500 men and 501 women aged 18 years and older. In Germany, the online survey was conducted at the same time, among an Internet representative sample of 1,000 adults, comprising 501 men and 499 women aged 18 years and older.  Completed interviews in both cases were weighted by three variables: age, sex and geographic region so as to ensure reliable and representative samples of both countries. Full results from the survey can be found at http://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/WhalingStudyUKGermanyPPT.pdf

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) ban on commercial whaling was approved in 1982 and took effect in 1986.  Iceland, a major commercial whaling nation, left the IWC in 1991 in protest over the decision but rejoined in 2002 with a controversial and disputed reservation exempting it from the ban. It resumed so-called scientific whaling in 2003 and commercial whaling under its reservation in 2006.  From 2003 until the end of the 2013 whaling season, Iceland killed 414 fin whales and 531 minke whales.  Fin whales are categorized as “endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and both fin and minke whales are listed on Appendix 1 of CITES (with the exception of the West Greenland stock of minke whales). In addition to its reservation to the IWC ban, Iceland lodged a reservation to the Appendix I listing of most great whales when it joined CITES in 2000.

Source: AWI PR (09.09.2014)

EU researchers identify a pheromone in the urine of male tilapia fish that stimulates spawning in females; mating at the right time

The exchange of chemical signals between organisms is considered the oldest form of communication. Acting as messenger molecules, pheromones regulate social interactions between conspecifics, for example, the sexual attraction between males and females. Fish rely on pheromones to trigger social responses and to coordinate reproductive behavior in males and females. Scientists at the Marine Science Center at the University of the Algarve in Faro, Portugal, and at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, have now identified such a signal molecule in the urine of male Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus): this pheromone boosts hormone production and accelerates oocyte maturation in reproductive females. Hence, the Mozambique tilapia is one of the first fish species in which the chemical structure of a pheromone has been identified and the biological basis of its activity elucidated.(Current Biology, August 21, 2014, doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.07.049).

The social behavior of Mozambique tilapias (Oreochromis mossambicus) native to southern Africa is very complex. The strict hierarchic ranking among males is fought out in so-called courtship arenas. With their mouths, male tilapias make excavations in the sand in the middle of an arena with the aim of attracting females to spawn in these nests. At the same time, they act aggressively to keep other males away. Dominant males have been observed to urinate more often and squirt larger quantities of urine in the water during fights compared to their subordinate rivals. The urine contains pheromones that reduce aggressive behavior in other males. The compounds also lure females to the nest and modify their hormonal status by accelerating oocyte maturation. Thus the pheromones help to synchronize female spawning and external fertilization by the males and so to increase the odds of reproductive success. Tilapias also show this behavior in captivity, which makes them an ideal model system for reproducible biological assays. Tina Keller-Costa and her colleagues at the Marine Science Center at the University of the Algarve in Faro, Portugal, as well as the Biosynthesis/NMR Research Group at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, have now identified the chemical structure of the signaling molecules in tilapia males and studied their function. She collected urine samples from dominant males and purified the samples in several steps, testing them for biological activity as pheromones after each step..

Two steroids as main components in the urine

This procedure resulted in two pure substances whose chemical structures were elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Their identity was confirmed by chemical synthesis: “The two structures are stereoisomers or mirror images of a pregnane-type steroid linked to glucuronic acid,” Bernd Schneider, the head of the NMR lab in Jena, said, summarizing the results of the analysis. Both males and females showed highly sensitive responses to the odor of these two steroids. Although the two pheromone components stimulate the hormonal system of the females and trigger spawning, they are not by themselves capable of reducing aggressive behavior in rival males. The researchers thus assume that the urine of dominant males must contain additional yet-to-be identified substances that contribute to this effect in a complex mixture. Until now only very few fish pheromones have been chemically identified. “Our discovery will allow for further investigations, for example, of the mechanisms of perception and processing of these chemical signals by the brain in order to originate a response, in this case oocyte maturation and behavioral changes,” says Tina Keller-Costa, who conducted the experiments for her PhD thesis.

Ways to control invasive fish species and benefits for the aquaculture of food fish

Apart from the carp family, tilapias belong to the most important edible fish raised commercially. However, their aquaculture in many tropical and subtropical waters has led to an uncontrolled population growth and spread of the species. The use of pheromones could help optimize the aquaculture of tilapia species by increasing female fertility and reducing aggression between competing males. Pheromones could also help to control the invasive behavior of these fish, which threatens the ecological balance of many ecosystems. [AO/BS] Original Publication: Keller-Costa, T., Hubbard, P.C., Paetz, C., Nakamura, Y., da Silva, J. P., Rato, A., Barata, E. N., Schneider, B., Canario, A. V. M. (2014). Identity of a tilapia pheromone released by dominant males that primes females for reproduction. Current Biology, DOI 10.1016/j.cub.2014.07.049 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2014.07.049

 

Source: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology PR August 29, 2014   No. 9/2014 (129)

,http://www.ice.mpg.de/ext/1160.html; PDF of Press Release

Scottish salmon exports up £60 million in first 6 months of 2014; Far East on the rise, Germany doubled its imports…

Exports of Scottish salmon grew by £60 million in the first six months of the year proving that overseas demand remains high.  An additional 12,000 tonnes of Scotland’s iconic fish made its way to kitchens and dining tables around the world marking yet another outstanding period of performance for the industry, according to the latest figures released today (August 20, 2014) by the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO).

These impressive results come as an independent survey of retail and foodservice buyers voted Scottish farmed salmon the best in the world for superior taste, quality and appearance.  Scottish salmon was enjoyed in 65 countries since January with the USA leading the way.  An additional 5,000 tonnes of Scottish salmon crossed the Atlantic pushing up sales by £26 million.  This is a trend replicated in other key markets including France and China where export volumes have outstripped performance over the same period last year…

This positive news comes as industry representatives attend the Japanese Seafood Show as part of a raising awareness programme to promote quality and provenance offered by Scottish salmon to new and emerging markets.  Industry representatives will meet key buyers and suppliers and network with influential chefs.

Reflecting on the last six months’ performance, Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation said:

“This has been another strong period of growth for Scottish salmon producers and demonstrates just how important Scottish salmon has become in foreign markets and to the Scottish economy.

“Scottish salmon is renowned for high quality, firm texture and distinct flavours.  These characteristics, coupled with many health benefits and full traceability, are important attributes for a growing number of consumers.

“Industry is committed to raising the profile of Scottish salmon in new and emerging markets and I think these results are proof that we are beginning to reap the rewards.  We are developing both international markets and domestic opportunities in order to ensure long-lasting business growth.”

Far East

Since the beginning of the year, at a value of £10 million, Far East exports have increased by a quarter, taking their total value to a record £47 million.  As trade links have grown, China has become a significant consumer of Scottish salmon, increasing from virtually nothing in 2010 to be worth almost £34 million in 2014.   Singapore, the established global destination for fine dining, which played host to the World Gourmet Summit in March this year where Scottish salmon was a key ingredient, grew by 200 tonnes.  Hong Kong also saw significant growth, tripling consumption.

EU

Closer to home, exports to the European Union grew by 50% (5,000 tonnes).  Key market France grew by £20 million and Germany doubled consumption.

Landsburgh continued:

“The success of Scottish salmon is a testament to the dedication of our farmers who farm with care, passion and pride.  Producers are committed to raising salmon of the highest quality and employ the latest innovations and technologies to refine their production methods.  These results are good news for the local communities in which our salmon grow, and a boost to the wider economy of Scotland.”

Notes 

• Figures quoted relate to whole fresh salmon departing the UK
• Export data have been taken from the Business and Trade Statistics reportsSurvey information can be located at http://seafoodinternationaldigital.com/which-country-produces-the-worlds-best-farmed-salmon/

Source: SSPO PR

 

FIRST small-scale pangasius farmers achieve GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture Group Certificate

GLOBALG.A.P. announced on August 14 that the first aquaculture group certification for small-scale pangasius farmers in Vietnam. Part of the Public Private Partnership – Sustainable Pangasius Supply Chain Program (PPP-SPSP) in Tra Vinh province, the producer group Tra Vinh Cooperative is expecting strong growth in the coming years. Below is the remainder of the GLOBALG.A.P. press release, un-edited:

At the GLOBALG.A.P. workshop that took place at Vietfish on 6 August 2014, Mr. Truong The Van, the Vice Chairman of the Tra Vinh Fisheries Association, shared the challenges and benefits for small-scale producers of GLOBALG.A.P. Certification in general, and GLOBALG.A.P. Group Certification in particular. He specifically highlighted the cooperation promotion between farms. He also outlined how raising producer awareness of Good Aquaculture Practices and environmental protection benefits the aquaculture sector as a whole and consumers worldwide.

An added advantage of GLOBALG.A.P. Group Certification for small-scale producers in Vietnam in particular is that they immediately comply with the national government’s decree requiring all pangasius farming activities to be certified against sustainable certification systems by 31 December 2015.

This is a milestone in GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture Group Certification and a major step forward in the aquaculture sector. Small-scale aquaculture producers organized in groups with a shared Quality Management System can now reap the benefits of a long established and successful form of GLOBALG.A.P. Certification, one that GLOBALG.A.P. certified Fruit & Vegetable producers have benefited from for years.

“I congratulate the Tra Vinh Cooperative for pioneering GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture Group Certification in Vietnam and around the world,” said Kristian Moeller, GLOBALG.A.P. CEO. “ Almost 100,000 fruit & vegetable farmers, that’s more than 70 percent of our GLOBALG.A.P. certified producers worldwide, are organized in groups and covered under GLOBALG.A.P. Group Certification. The first group small-scale farmer certificate in aquaculture confirms that achieving our high integrity requirements for food safety and sustainability systems on farm via a group generates benefits to small-scale producers that can also be enjoyed by the aquaculture sector. The European retail markets have a particular interest in connecting to smaller producers to secure their sourcing. I am pleased to announce that the majority of our German retailers are introducing and implementing policies that require GLOBALG.A.P. Aquaculture Certification as a food safety baseline for their entire aquaculture range.”

Actively integrating small-scale farmers in local and international supply chains also aligns with GLOBALG.A.P.’s commitment to helping reduce poverty and ensure food security through Good Agriculture and Aquaculture Practices.

At this year’s 3-day SUMMIT 2014 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, GLOBALG.A.P. has dedicated an entire program session to small-scale growers, producer groups, and farmers in emerging countries. Designed as a platform for producer groups around the globe to present their success models and innovative ideas, the main focus will be on mutual learning and information exchange. The breakfast session will also include presentations showcasing cooperative models from around the world and highlighting the latest research findings and case studies of successful G.A.P. programs and schemes that successfully integrate small-scale farmers in local and international supply chains.

Learn more about the Small-Scale Farmer Session at the GLOBALG.A.P. SUMMIT 2014 here.

Learn more about Aquaculture Certification here.

For more information, please contact Valeska Weymann at weymann@globalgap.org.

About GLOBALG.A.P.


  The Global Partnership for Safe & Sustainable Agriculture

GLOBALG.A.P. is a global organization with a crucial objective: safe, sustainable agriculture worldwide. We set voluntary standards for the certification of agricultural products around the globe–and more and more producers, suppliers and buyers are harmonizing their certification standards to match.

Our Purpose GLOBALG.A.P. members create private sector incentives for agricultural and aquaculture producers worldwide to adopt safe and sustainable practices to make this world a better place to live in for our children.

Our Mission Globally connecting farmers and brand owners in the production and marketing of safe food to provide reassurance for consumers. We lay the foundation for the protection of scarce resources by the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices with a promise for a sustainable future.

About Control Union

Control Union is a global network of inspection operations and dedicated laboratories that offers a global one-stop-shop for a wide range of certification programs. Control Union understands the importance of impartiality and objectivity, and how to professionally manage cnflicts of interest. From the beginning, sustainability has been the main focus of Control Union certification services.

Source: GLOBALG.A.P PR (14.08.2014)

First blue whiting enters MSC assessment; Dutch, German, French, English, Lithuanian, Danish & Irish pelagic fishermen

A large group of Dutch, German, French, English, Lithuanian, Danish and Irish pelagic fishers has entered the first blue whiting fishery into MSC assessment, the Marine Stewardship Council announced on Wednesday (August 13). This is the third multi-national assessment of a pelagic fishery in recent months marking a growing trend of cross-border cooperation in the pelagic sector. By working together, national fishing organisations are reducing their assessment costs and collaborating to improve fishery management.

“It has been our longstanding intention to get our blue whiting fishery under MSC certification.” said Gerard van Balsfoort, president of the Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association, on behalf of all fleets concerned, “Now the stock is doing very well and the development of an effective management plan for this fishery is entering its final phase, we are confident that the MSC assessment can be concluded successfully.”

Early adopters

Camiel Derichs, MSC Director Europe welcomed the group’s move: “It is great to see these North Atlantic blue whiting fisheries enter assessment against MSC standards. Historically, the early adopters, the first to bring a new species into MSC assessment, have realized the greatest benefit from certification. These fisheries have invested a great deal in the quality of their fish and I hope that they will be successful and that their success will inspire other blue whiting fisheries to consider MSC assessment.”

Over recent years, stocks of blue whiting have risen as new management measures have taken effect in combination with strong recruitment of the stock. Between them, the companies under assessment caught 73,000 tonnes of blue whiting in 2013, which is mostly exported to Africa and China as whole frozen fish for direct human consumption or for further processing into frozen block fillets.

A versatile fish

Blue whiting is a small (30cm) white fish, related to cod. With off-white flesh, it has traditionally been used to produce fishmeal. The fleets under certification have increasingly targeted this fish for human consumption purposes only. Blue whiting for human consumption is typically used to make surimi, however, over the last 15 years, improvements in fishing techniques and freezing and storage technologies have also resulted in a growing demand for whole-frozen and frozen filleted blue whiting.

Getting involved

The assessment will be carried out by independent auditors MacAlister Elliott and Partners (MEP) and should be completed to include the catches in the 2015 fishing season, starting early in the year. Anyone with an interest in the fishery is invited to participate and MEP have already identified 40 stakeholders. Anyone who would like to participate should contact Chrissie Sieben on chrissie.sieben@macalister-elliott.com

Notes

Marine Stewardship Council: The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organisation set up to help transform the seafood market to a sustainable basis. The MSC runs the only certification and ecolabelling programme for wild-capture fisheries consistent with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards and the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation Guidelines for the Eco-labelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries.  These guidelines are based upon the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing and require that credible fishery certification and eco-labelling schemes include:

 

• Objective, third-party fishery assessment utilising scientific evidence;
• Transparent processes with built-in stakeholder consultation and objection procedures;
• Standards based on the sustainability of target species, ecosystems and management practices.

 

The MSC has regional or area offices in London, Seattle, Tokyo, Sydney, The Hague, Glasgow, Beijing, Berlin, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Halifax, Paris, Madrid, Moscow, Stockholm, Santiago, Sao Paulo, Singapore and Reykjavik.

 

In total, over 300 fisheries are engaged in the MSC programme with 238 certified and around  100 under full assessment.  Another 40 to 50 fisheries are in confidential pre-assessment. Together, fisheries already certified or in full assessment record annual catches of close to ten million metric tonnes of seafood.  This represents over eleven per cent of the annual global harvest of wild capture fisheries. Certified fisheries currently land over seven million metric tonnes of seafood annually – close to eight per cent of the total harvest from wild capture fisheries.  Worldwide, more than 20,300 seafood products, which can be traced back to the certified sustainable fisheries, bear the blue MSC ecolabel.

 

ASC Products gaining ground in Europe ; Growing in popularity in The Netherlands, gaining ground in Germany – New report

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified products are growing in recognition and popularity in the Dutch market, and gaining ground in Germany, according to a new report commissioned by the ASC; main highlights of which were released on July 24^th..

The research, undertaken by analysts GFK, looked at awareness and understanding of the ASC label and its influence on buying behaviour in both countries.

It compared the situation in early 2013, just six months after the launch in August 2012 of the ASC label, and the awareness and recognition by consumers a year later, in April 2014.

The results were positive and showed that in the short time the consumer label has been available on products in the Netherlands, 29% of all fish buyers had become familiar with it. In Germany, the recognition level had reached 22%.

“The ASC logo also provides broader reassurance and reinforces purchasing decisions and 39% of Dutch consumers felt that the logo communicated positively about the certified seafood. We were impressed to see that 58% of German fish buyers who are familiar with the ASC label, have actively sought it out in retailers,” said ASC CEO Chris Ninnes.

“There was also an increase from 5% to 16% in the number of fish buyers in the Netherlands who correctly identified the meaning of the ASC label as being related to farmed fish, and from 6% to 13% in Germany. However, we still have work to do, to ensure that more consumers understand the reassurance that our label brings to their table, in terms of responsible sourcing and use of best practice in aquaculture,” he added.

Interviewees reported that responsible use of antibiotics, prevention of pollution, regular farm audits, and animal welfare remained the most significant aspects in gaining buyers’ trust in responsibly farmed fish.

Around half of all seafood in supermarkets now comes from farmed sources, and the ASC’s certification and labelling programme for responsibly farmed seafood is helping to ensure that standards around the world are steadily improving.

“We work with partners to run an exciting and ambitious program to transform the world’s seafood markets and promote the best environmental and social aquaculture performance,” explained Ninnes. “In doing so, we aim to increase the availability of certified responsible seafood, and its compliance with our exacting standards is promoted to consumers through the ASC logo on packs.”

The ASC programme is important to fish farmers seeking to sell their products, as evidence of responsible production is required by retailers in Germany and the Netherlands. In turn, the ASC logo helps to reinforce the sustainability credentials of retailers in the eyes of the consumer.

The importance to consumers of sustainably-sourced seafood was reinforced in a recent report by Wageningen University for the Ministry of Economic Affairs, which showed that sales rose by 21% in the Netherlands last year. The ‘Monitor Sustainable Food 2013’, revealed that one in three seafood products in the Dutch retail sector now carries the MSC label for sustainably caught seafood, or the ASC logo for responsibly farmed seafood.

The Netherlands has the highest number of companies holding ASC Chain of Custody (CoC) certification, followed by Germany. A CoC audit is mandatory for all businesses handling and trading ASC certified seafood, and ensures that products are fully traceable back to source.

The Netherlands also leads the world in the number of ASC certified products on sale, with 217 different pangasius, tilapia and salmon products available. Switzerland is second in the league with 163 products, closely followed by Germany with 160. ASC certified farmed shrimp will boost this offering, when it becomes available in late 2014.

Globally, there were 1080 ASC approved products at the beginning of June 2014 and 80 certified farms.

####

About ASC

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is as an independent, not-for-profit organisation founded by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and The Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) in 2010 to manage the certification of responsible fish farming across the globe.

The ASC standards require farm performance to be measured against both environmental and social requirements. Certification is through an independent third party process and (draft) reports are uploaded to the public ASC website.

The on-pack ASC logo guarantees to consumers that the fish they purchase has been farmed with minimal impacts on the environment and on society.

The ASC standard addresses the following seven principles:

• Legal compliance (obeying the law, the legal right to be there)
• Preservation of the natural environment and biodiversity
• Preservation of the water resources and water quality
• Preservation of the diversity of species and wild populations (for example, minimising escapes that could become a threat to wild fish)
• Monitored and responsible use of animal feed and other resources
• Animal health (no unnecessary use of antibiotics and chemicals)
• Social responsibility (for example, no child labour, health and safety of employees, freedom of assembly, community relations).

For more information about ASC please visit www.asc-aqua.org

 

Source : ASC PR (24.07.2014)