Måned: juni 2024
We Support the EU Commission’s Decision to Implement Third-Party Weighers
2024.6.19
On May 24, 2024, the EU Commission approved stricter controls to enhance catch reporting flexibility in specific fisheries. The Commission Implementing Regulation of May 24, 2024 (2024/1474) established rules concerning derogations from the margin of tolerance in estimating catches for unsorted landings and transshipments from small pelagic, industrial, and tropical tuna purse seine fisheries. These conditions include the use of independent third-party weighers, accredited according to ISO 17020 type A, to monitor the accuracy of each landing and transshipment.
At Marine Ingredients Denmark, we support this decision to specify conditions for accurate weighing by independent third-party weighers accredited under ISO 17020 type A. We have long advocated for these measures, believing they will ensure impartiality and create a level playing field across countries and industries.
This will ensure an arm’s length between the weighing operator and the buyer: The weighing process should not be overseen by an individual, such as an operator, who could potentially have a conflict of interest as a buyer. Instead, we recommend that the complete registration of all small pelagic bulk landings be supervised by an independent and accredited commercial third party. The Type A inspection is particularly significant as it involves an impartial agency conducting independent inspections.
We also recommend implementing uniform sampling plans for by-catch so that the sampling frequency and requirements are consistent across all European ports where unsorted catches are landed. Variations in sampling plans between countries are not sustainable.
As representatives of Danish fishmeal and fish oil producers and buyers of small pelagics in bulk, we strive for a level playing field to ensure accurate recording of all catches, monitor quota uptake, and promote sustainable fishing. We have been frontrunners in this field with our Code of Conduct regarding the handling of weighing and species control requirements for landings and deliveries to the Danish fishmeal and fish oil factories. Therefore, we welcome this decision by the EU Commission as a crucial step toward proper recording and monitoring.
Read more here or read the full regulation here (læs også gennemførelsesforordningen på dansk her).
Read more about our Code of Conduct here (in Danish).
MID byder national handlingsplan mod PFAS velkommen
2024.6.19
Et samlet Folketing har indgået en aftale om den første nationale handlingsplan mod PFAS. Planen har til formål at beskytte miljøet og befolkningen mod PFAS i dagligdagen. Der er afsat 404 mio. kr. til planen, som skal bruges til at forhindre, begrænse og rense PFAS-forurening.
Vi byder aftalen velkommen. Som repræsentanter for de danske fiskemel- og fiskeolieproducenter er vi meget optagede af at reducere miljøfremmede stoffer som PFAS i havet for at sikre folkesundheden og vi opfordrer til, at der snarest indføres et forbud mod disse stoffer, som forurener vores hav, jord og planter, og som kan måles i blodet i alle mennesker i Europa.
Der har længe primært været fokus på fisk og fiskeprodukter, men PFAS-forureningen er langt bredere. Derfor er der enighed om at udvide overvågningen til flere typer foder og fødevarer samt landbrugets pesticider, der indeholder PFAS.
På fødevareområdet vil overvågningen af PFAS i foder og fødevarer blive intensiveret med særligt fokus på de fødevarer, der udgør den største eksponeringsrisiko, og de fødevarer, hvor der i dag er begrænset viden om indholdet. Dette inkluderer grøntsager, frugt, æg, fisk, mælk og kød. Den udvidede overvågning vil hjælpe til at være på forkant med potentielle risici og implementere passende foranstaltninger efter behov. Samtidig arbejder man for at fremme flere og mere præcise EU-grænseværdier for PFAS i fødevarer og styrke forståelsen af sammenhængen mellem forekomsten i foder, dyr og fødevarer. Dette skal gøre det muligt at adressere fødevarerisici ved fund af PFAS tidligt i fødevarekæden, da kosten er en af de væsentligste kilder til befolkningens eksponering for PFAS.
Sammen med vores europæiske organisation, EFFOP, har vi indsamlet et omfattende datasæt fra 175 forskellige partier fiskemel. Vi har aktivt engageret os med journalister, politikere, forskere og offentligheden for at fremme forståelsen af PFAS-forurening. Datasættet er en grundlæggende ressource for velinformerede risikovurderinger og vil hjælpe med at udvikle strategier for at håndtere fremtidige PFAS-niveauer i foder. Vi ser frem til at fortsætte vores samarbejde med de danske myndigheder om håndteringen og monitoreringen af PFAS.
Læs hele handlingsplanen her.
FAO 2024 Report: Sustainable Aquatic Food Systems Important for Global Food Security
2024.6.14
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released its new 2024 report on The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture. Aquatic systems are now increasingly seen as essential for food and nutrition security. However, more efforts are needed to adequately feed a growing and more urbanized population. Due to their diversity and ability to provide ecosystem services and sustain healthy diets, aquatic food systems are a promising solution for enhancing global food security and nutrition, both now and for future generations.
In 2022, global fisheries and aquaculture production reached a new peak. For the first time, aquaculture production of aquatic animals surpassed capture fisheries, reaching 94.4 million tonnes, which accounted for 51 percent of the global total and 57 percent of production for human consumption.
There is a need to expand successful initiatives to reinforce the critical role of aquatic foods in ensuring global food security, nutrition, and livelihoods. Aquaculture has the potential to meet the rising global demand for aquatic foods. Future growth should focus on sustainability and prioritize the needs of regions and communities most in need. However, as the demand for aquaculture grows, so does the need for fishmeal and fish oil. These are considered among the most nutritious and digestible ingredients for farmed fish, and are the primary sources of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids EPA and DHA in animal diets.
While the production of fishmeal and fish oil has remained stable overall, demand has surged due to the rapid growth of the aquaculture industry, as well as pig and poultry farming, and the pet food and pharmaceutical industries. In 2021, over 87 percent of fishmeal was used in aquaculture, over 7 percent in pig farming, 4 percent in other uses (mainly pet food), and 1 percent in poultry farming. Similarly, about 74 percent of fish oil was used in aquaculture, 16 percent for human consumption, and 10 percent for other uses (including pet food and biofuel).
The amount of world capture fisheries production processed into fishmeal and fish oil has declined over the last few decades. However, an increasing proportion of fishmeal and fish oil is now produced from by-products of the processing industry, which reduces waste and improves resource utilization. In 2022, 34 percent of global fishmeal production and 53 percent of total fish oil production were obtained from by-products. Utilizing by-products is an opportunity for the industry, offering ecological, social, and economic benefits while ensuring consumer health and food security.
Marine Ingredients Denmark members source 30 percent of their raw materials from leftovers generated during the processing of fish intended for human consumption. Remarkably, up to 60 percent of fresh fish can be discarded as waste during the filleting process, even though these by-products contain valuable proteins and oils. Incorporating these by-products into fishmeal and fish oil production not only optimizes the use of natural resources but also contributes to the production of healthy aquaculture products. European producers play a vital role in the global blue value chain, linking fisheries and the utilization of side-streams to aquaculture and the consumption of healthy blue proteins.
Read the report here or here: FAO Report The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024
Bæredygtigt fiskeri i EU 2025 – opdatering og vores bidrag
2024.6.11
EU-Kommissionen offentliggjorde en meddelelse den 7. juni 2024 om “Bæredygtigt fiskeri i EU: Status og orientering for 2025”. Den viser, at fiskeriets generelle bæredygtighed i EU gradvist forbedres, og færre bestande er overfiskede. Men der er stadig behov for at gøre mere for at sikre, at fiskerisektoren kan klare sig godt på lang sigt og for at beskytte vigtige fiskearter i alle havområder.
I meddelelsen blev det fremhævet, at fiskebestandene i Nordsøen generelt er sunde. De seneste vurderinger viser, at bæredygtigheden i dette område forbedres. Beslutningerne som EU har truffet for at sikre bæredygtigt fiskeri, og indsatsen fra fiskerne har givet positive resultater. Men nogle vigtige arter, som er afgørende for økosystemets balance og for fiskeri, står stadig over for udfordringer.
Situationen i Østersøen er stadig bekymrende, da fiskebestandene fortsætter med at falde på grund af forskellige presfaktorer. Fire ud af ti bestande i Østersøen bliver ikke længere målrettet for fiskeri og kan kun landes som bifangst. Kommissionen tilkendegiver, at ville fortsætte med at træffe foranstaltninger for at tackle alle presfaktorer på fiskebestandene og for at forbedre økosystemerne i Østersøen. Medlemsstaterne opfordres også til at gennemføre EU-lovgivningen fuldt ud for at hjælpe med at løse denne situation.
Det er vigtigt at sikre, at der bliver korrekt rapporteret om fangster gennem landingserklæringer og salgsnoter. Disse oplysninger er afgørende for at overvåge, hvor meget kvoterne udnyttes, og for at rapportere fangstdata. Landingforpligtelsen er en vigtig del af EU’s fælles fiskeripolitik, der sigter mod at sikre bæredygtig udnyttelse af havets ressourcer og reducere spild. Nøjagtig rapportering er nødvendig for at opretholde bæredygtige fiskeripraksisser og for at sikre pålidelige videnskabelige data.
Som opkøber af små pelagiske fisk i store mængder, arbejder vi i Marine Ingredients Denmark aktivt for at sikre, at alle fangster bliver registreret korrekt. Dette hjælper med at overvåge, hvor meget af kvoterne, der bliver brugt, og fremmer bæredygtigt fiskeri. Kommissionen opfordres til at sikre, at man arbejder for lige konkurrencevilkår i fiskeriet.
Læs EU-Kommissionens meddelelse her og pressemeddelelse her.
Læs også vore Code of Conduct, der sikrer en korrekt vejning og måling udført af tredjeparter her.
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