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Issue link: https://seafoodbusiness.epubxp.com/i/79767
Global News AMSTERDAM ASC-certified tilapia debuts O n Aug. 20, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), formally introduced the first ASC- labeled seafood product — tilapia farmed in Indonesia. Earlier this year, the or- ganization launched its first LONDON UK relaxes rules on frozen fish for sushi Te U.K. Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced that certain farmed fish, like salmon, destined to be consumed raw in dishes like sushi no longer need to be previously frozen to protect consumers from parasites. Parasites are mainly a prob- lem in certain species of wild fish and can cause illness in humans if eaten, stated the agency, which also warned that all fishery products must be inspected to remove visible parasites before being sold. Te agency also warned that cooking seafood will kill parasites, but freezing kills any that may remain undetected in products in- tended to be consumed raw or almost raw. After research commissioned by the FSA in Scotland showed there is a negligible risk of para- sites from farmed salmon, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed the available evidence on the presence of parasites in wild and farmed fish. Fol- lowing the EFSA review, the European Commission and member states reviewed the hygiene legislation and agreed on requirements in December 2011, which standard by opening the ac- creditation process for tila- pia, allowing the first ASC- certified seafood to hit the marketplace. Te Tilapia Aquacul- ture Dialogues, a process coordinated by the World allow a risk-based approach to be taken when applying the freezing requirements for fishery products. Tese re- quirements are being imple- mented in all U.K. countries. Sainsbury's: UK fish consumption rising A report from retailer Sains- bury's shows a market shift in U.K. consumer buying habits as more and more peo- ple purchase lesser-known, alternative fish species. Te "Our Future With Fish" re- port shows that sales of less- er-known fish species includ- ing pollock, sea bass, coley and tilapia are up as much as 117 percent year-over-year. In addition, the study pre- dicts that more than half of all fish sold in the U.K. will be outside the "Big 5" — cod, haddock, tuna, salmon and prawns — by 2030. Te report also shows that the population will be eating more fish, with U.K. adults set to eat 12 extra fish meals a year by 2030, increasing their weekly consumption by 17 percent, from 8 million kilograms (kg) today to 9.23 million kg. Te report found that one of the primary driv- ers for increasing U.K. fish consumption is personal well-being, with 51 percent of people stating that health concerns have encouraged them to eat more fish over 10 SeaFood Business September 2012 Wildlife Fund, finalized the standards for tilapia in De- cember 2009. Standards for pangasius and bivalves were completed in August 2010, followed by abalone in Oc- tober 2011. Standards for a few more species, including the last year. Te report iden- tified barriers to fish con- sumption, including a lack of recipe knowledge, lack of availability of fresh fish and lack of time to prepare fish from scratch. PUERTO MONTT, Chile AquaChile, BioMar invest in Costa Rica, tilapia With an investment of $15 million via parent company Grupo ACI, AquaChile joined forces with BioMar Group to install a new tilapia research center, trial facil- ity and feed plant in Costa Rica. It is the most modern facility in Central and South America, supplying aqua- culture producers across the region. BioMar is a leading feed supplier for salmon, trout, sea bass and sea bream, and Grupo ACI is one of the largest global suppliers of fresh tilapia fillets to the United States. Asked about the timing of the investment given challenging global eco- nomic conditions, Alfonso Marquez de la Plata, CEO of Empresas AquaChile, ex- plained: "Grupo ACI and BioMar defined the con- struction of the new plant more than two years ago because there is a strategic opportunity in developing new and more efficient diets salmon and freshwater trout, are still being developed. "ASC-certified products will be marked with a logo, enabling consumers to se- lect seafood that comes from farms that limit their im- pacts on the environment and communities," the group said. "Supermarkets in Eu- rope and North America will shortly have farmed fish with the ASC logo on the packag- ing, starting with tilapia." for tilapia, which is one of the fastest-growing seafood items in the world." CAMPBELL RIVER, British Columbia Mainstream Canada, Grieg sites hit with IHN virus Cermaq subsidiary Main- stream Canada in late July detected the IHN (infectious hematopoietic necrosis) virus during routine testing at one of its Tofino-area farms in British Columbia. "Unfor- tunately, our Millar Chan- nel farm has tested positive in qPCR tests for the IHN virus," says Fernando Vil- larroel, the company's man- aging director. Mainstream Canada was been monitor- ing its Clayoquot farm sites closely after the Dixon Bay farm was hit with IHN in May; the site was depopu- lated and any further actions by the company will be in cooperation with Canadian authorities. Migrating wild salmon are a likely source, according to the company. In early August, Grieg Sea- food BC Ltd. also confirmed that IHN was identified at its site in Jervis Inlet. "It is a normal part of farming to experience health challenges from time to time when pro- ducing natural food," says Stewart Hawthorn, manag- ing director. For updated NEWS, go to www.SeafoodSource.com