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February, 2006 Edition
What's Happening at the FCC
Aquatic Animal Health
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has increased its focus on fish and
seafood. The main concern is aquaculture but its initiatives will affect the wild
fisheries. FCC met in mid- January with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the
federal agency responsible in regards to OIE, to review developments and assess the
implications.
OIE has identified fish and seafood reportable pathogens and diseases. As such, it is
the obligation of CFIA to report to the OIE when any of these pathogens/diseases are
detected in fish and seafood in Canada. In addition, the OIE is in the process of
developing draft standards to be tabled in 2006, including standards on effluent
treatment of fish waste. In summary, the OIE emerging standards will have impact on
imports of live fish and seafood and whole, unprocessed fish and seafood; fish plant
effluent treatment; hatcheries; and pathogen/disease surveillance.
With respect to CFIA’s direction, it was agreed that the objectives are (i) to support
international trade in aquatic species, and (ii) to prevent the introduction and spread
of diseases. With respect to wild fish surveillance, it was agreed that wild fish
sampling would occur (i) if a disease is known or suspected in an aquaculture site
and the testing of adjacent susceptible wild species is epidemiologically sound; and
(ii) where a major trading partner (e.g. the EU) requires evidence of no disease in our
wild fish exports.
An Aquatic Animal Health Committee has been formed. FCC is on the Committee. A
meeting is planned in April. FCC will work with its Technological Committee on the
file.
Malachite Green
Malachite Green (MG) is a non-permitted anti-fungal agent. In the fall, CFIA detected
significant non-compliance regarding MG in aquaculture fin fish imports from China
and Vietnam. As a result a targeted 100% sampling of these products was
introduced in January. However, CFIA’s detection methodology is able to detect
minute traces of MG. Consequently, shipments are being rejected at levels as low
as .15 parts per billion. Apparently, the technology can detect down to parts per
trillion.
The Fisheries Council of Canada complained to Health Canada and CFIA that these
levels of detection are obviously not indications of intentional adulteration but
incidental environmental traces. We noted that MG is a non-permitted agent in most
jurisdictions. However, these jurisdictions generally have in-place workable,
reasonable action levels – USA -1ppb; EU – 2ppb; Japan – 5ppb. As such, the FCC
requested the authorities to further review the issue. At the minimum, we should
have a North American action level (i.e. 1ppb).
In response, Health Canada undertook to re-consider the situation with a view to
establishing a guideline regarding “MG adulterated product.” They have collected the
requested data from CFIA and we anticipate a decision shortly.
The Fisheries Council of Canada will be organizing a meeting with senior officials of
CFIA and Health Canada regarding the increasing move to “zero tolerances”
combined with technology that detects minute particles. We need a Canadian food
safety strategy that is not alarmist and has action levels that are reasonable, based
on risk assessment, and practical.
Nature–“Deep Sea Fishes Qualify as Endangered” Vol 439, January 2006
In January, the prestigious magazine, Nature, published an article by Memorial
University researchers which claimed that 5 deep water species (roundnose
grenadier, etc.) qualify as “critically endangered” in Canadian and North Atlantic
waters. Patrick McGuinness, as the current Chairman of the International Coalition of
Fisheries Associations, contacted Canadian, Japanese, and Spanish scientists who
have studied these species for years and who have published reports on these
species in the Journal of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries and the Northwest Atlantic
Fisheries Organization (NAFO). The conclusion of these contacts is that there is no
evidence that these species are endangered. The Nature article is wrong.
In follow up, ICFA has sent a letter to Nature regarding the article. As well, three of
the scientists contacted by ICFA have jointly sent a letter to Nature pointing out the
deficiencies in the Memorial researchers’ analysis. ICFA is in the process of
contacting targeted media in Canada, USA, Japan, and Europe that carried the
original story.
Marine Biodiversity – Dalhousie Workshop
Patrick McGuinness participated in a workshop of federal and provincial fisheries and
environment officials, environmentalists, and academics. FCC main talking points
were:
Marine protected areas may be a promising tool for fisheries management but
they are not a panacea for fisheries management problems. Their successful use
requires a case by case understanding of the impacted fisheries, their
ecosystems, and an evaluation of their potential effectiveness compared to the
suite of conservation tools available to fisheries managers.
Marine Protective Areas, together with other fishery management tools, can help
achieve broad fishery and biodiversity objectives, but their use will require careful
planning and evaluation. Mistakes will be made, and without planning, monitoring
and evaluation, we will not learn what worked, what did not, and why. If MPAs are
implemented without case by case evaluation and appropriate monitoring
programs, there is a risk of unfulfilled expectations, the creation of disincentives,
and a loss of credibility of what potentially is a valuable management tool.
In summary, the research on MPAs has not developed to the point where MPAs
could be recommended for wide spread application in an ecosystem approach to
fisheries management. In fact, there is evidence of negative or counter-productive
impacts if MPAs are designed with incomplete scientific understanding and lack of
attention to the needs of the fisheries and to existing management measures.
Key Meetings – February
Cooked & Peeled Industry Meeting, St. John’s, NL
FCC has organized a meeting with Sodepar, the St Pierre & Miquelon development
agency, regarding their proposal for duty–free access to the EU for 6,000mt of product.
United Nations Working Group on Marine Biodiversity, New York, NY
Patrick McGuinness will be participating, representing the International Coalition of
Fisheries Associations (ICFA)
Market Issues
Russian Fisheries Imports
Despite high import tariffs demand for imported fisheries products in Russia has
shown a steady increase over the last five to six years. Total fisheries imports for
2004 were 739,674 tons, a 20.8% increase over the previous year. The import value
also increased by about 60%, to $730 million. The trend appears to be continuing in
2005, with imports through September up by 27%, with the import value up by 30%
for the period.
The annual increase in Russian imports of fresh fish has been dramatic, and the
trend doesn't seem to be slowing down. While the imports of frozen fish haven't
shown the same dramatic rate of increase, they are still up for the period. Imports
totalled 434,400 tons for the period, which represented a 23% increase over the
previous year. Imports of frozen fillets (23,153 tons) were 50% higher. Main frozen
items of interest to Canada are herring (124,396 mt) and mackerel (44,386 mt.)
Negotiations with Russia upon joining the WTO are proceeding. Many of the current
high tariffs will be reduced to the 5-10% level.
Alaska Opilio
Under the new IFQ program for crab in Alaska, both the king crab and opilio fisheries
opened on October 15th. Following the traditional market trends, however, most of
the fishing activity focused on king crab. Just over 600,000 lbs of opilio were taken
before the end of the year, but most of the fleet chose to wait until after the first of the
year to target opilio.
Unlike the days of open access, however, the operating conditions have changed.
The fishery used to open on January 15th - the current fishery has basically been
open since last October.
Under the open access system, the fishery would start after the packers and
fishermen agreed to a price for the season. Under the new IFQ (individual
fishermen's quota) system, the price is still pending, with everyone more concerned
about the markets for cod, cod fillets and cod roe at this point. The opilio fishery will
remain open until May. The fleet isn't expected to target opilio in earnest at least for a
few more weeks.
As for the markets, the Japanese market remains weak and the buyers haven't been
able to give a definite price idea for this season's production at this point. Japanese
media reports that the Japanese feel that once the immediate needs of the US
market are met, that they will be able to enter firm negotiations with the packers. At
this point, they hope to be able to purchase Alaskan opilio at prices that will allow for
a Japan wholesale price of about $3.56 US/lb. They also believe that the fact that the
major packers have already committed about half of their production to the US market
should provide some room for negotiation.
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