Scottish MEP Struan Stevenson is welcoming moves by the European Commission to ban Icelandic mackerel landings at European Union ports.
Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki on Tuesday confirmed she has started preparatory work to prohibit mackerel landings from Iceland in EU ports.
“This is the clearest possible indication that Commissioner Damanaki is prepared to act tough as well as talk tough. Right at the start of this dispute I said a blockade might be needed to get Iceland to see sense. I’m glad this firm action is now being pursued, as it’s clear Iceland is not prepared to drop their totally unreasonable demands,” said Stevenson. “Iceland likes to present itself as the poor wee victim of the big bad EU, but let’s not forget the facts here. Iceland has unilaterally demanded a quota of 147,000 tonnes next year, even more than their exorbitant catch in 2010, which caused such outrage and sparked the ‘mackerel war.’ This is a huge quota for a country of just 320,000 people, which only a few years ago hardly fished any mackerel at all.
“This is a shared, migratory stock that Scottish fishermen have worked hard to fish sustainably. Iceland and the Faroe Islands have shown utter contempt for this good management with their smash-and-grab tactics. Although this action is targeted at Iceland, we may hope that the Faroe Islands will also realize that their actions have consequences,” added Stevenson.
Shrimpers welcome import safety bill
The Southern Shrimp Alliance is applauding the final Senate version of the Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act, especially with respect to safety of seafood imports.
Provisions in the legislation provide a new level of federal-state partnership to allow state and local officials to act as an arm of the federal government to increase inspection and enforce safe seafood standards. Other concepts advocated by the SSA that were included in the final bill include requirements for foreign food-safety equivalence, foreign facility testing, and increased penalties for violations.
“Senator Vitter negotiated key provisions in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act that will protect consumers and help level the playing field for U.S. shrimpers,” said John Williams, SSA executive director. “There is still much work to be done to crack down on schemes to avoid U.S. food safety and trade laws and improve testing of imported seafood. The U.S. shrimp industry is thankful for leaders like Senator Vitter and Senator Landrieu who continue to address FDA’s shortcomings at every opportunity.”
King & Prince launches brand initiative
King & Prince Seafood and Marriner Marketing Communications on Tuesday announced the successful launch of a communications platform and integrated brand communications initiative.
The campaign, “Seafood. Without a catch.” reinforces the company’s commitment to delivering consistent quality seafood products. Elements include print and online advertising, sales promotions, marketing collateral, videos, packaging design, public relations, industry event and food show support, broker toolkit, new product research and more.
“Our priority has been and will always be our customers. In order to ensure we continue to deliver relevant products and perfect customer service, it was important we undertake this bold and ambitious initiative and do it right,” said Volker Kuntzsch, King & Prince president. “Marriner has been the perfect partner to help us craft our new ‘Seafood. Without a Catch.’ positioning and we are confident their expertise will help us grow our business and raise the bar for the seafood industry for the future.”
Cartoonist delivers anti-shark-finning letters to NOAA
Sherman’s Lagoon cartoonist Jim Toomey on Tuesday announced he delivered more than 3,600 individualized letters from Aquarium of the Bay visitors calling for an international ban on shark finning.
Aquarium of the Bay collected the letters, many embellished with hand-drawn artwork, in the action station of this summer's Sherman's Lagoon: Finning Isn't Funny exhibit. Toomey partnered with the Aquarium to develop the exhibit, which featured the artist's shark finning-focused comics.
“Promoting awareness of shark conservation is not an easy task. A single shark-related incident anywhere in the world will quickly become international news,” said Toomey. “Through my comic strip character, Sherman, I’ve tried to dispel the myth that sharks are pests that have no ecological value. This write-in campaign from Aquarium of the Bay is further proof that people everywhere are beginning to understand the ecological value that sharks provide to our oceans and our planet.”
