As the Pacific races to seal a deal for its tuna stocks, Papua New Guinea has been able to secure a temporary payment of USD 45 million from the United States for the Pacific Islands Parties as a condition for revoking the termination of the US treaty…. Read more (Atuna)

New Zealand conservation organization Forest & Bird has launched the latest edition of its Best Fish Guide to help consumers choose seafood that is sustainably fished… Read more (Atuna)

The public may view the meeting materials online on the strategic vision website. Print copies are also available by contacting the strategic vision office.

WHO:       California Fish and Wildlife Strategic Vision Executive Committee

WHAT:     Meeting materials for Thurs., Feb. 16

WHERE:  Online at http://vision.ca.gov/executive_committee_meetings.html or in print by calling 916.653.7895 or sending an email to StrategicVision@resources.ca.gov

For more information about the Fish and Wildlife Strategic Vision please visit www.vision.ca.go

Safeway Inc., which sees itself as a recognized leader in embracing sustainable seafood practices, has announced that its own Safeway brand skipjack (chunk-light) canned tuna will be switching to responsibly caught skipjack using free-school purse-seine methods. The company will transition to the purse-seine method by the end of the year. Free-school tuna is caught by purse-seiners using traditional methods of spotting schools of fish using radar and sonar, while captains employ powerful binoculars to spot birds attracted by schools of tuna…. Read more (Atuna)

In recent months, leaders in the European tuna canning industry, mostly based in Galicia, Spain, have been warning the EU Community authorities about the “danger” of the agreement between the European Union and Pacific countries like Papua New Guinea. The European Parliament’s Fishery Commission has responded to the canning industry’s complaints by requesting the European Commission to draw up a report about the future impact this agreement may have on the EC industry…. Read more (Atuna)

Applications to benefit from the “Support Program for Investment in Equipment and Infrastructure” within the plan for Fishing Fleet Modernization and Rationalization Of The Fishing Effort can be submitted from January 15th to March 30th.

The Mexican National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (CONAPESCA) reported that the plan aims to streamline the activities of the largest fishing fleet, by modernizing and equipping the vessels.

This support is directed at any person or entity that has larger boats that are in the possession of a valid tuna longline fishing permit, and whose vessel shows signs of deterioration and need to be modernized and equipped.

The support may be allocated to the replacement of main engines, the procurement and installation of fuel-efficient catalysts, replacement or fixing of hull lining, rigging and deck, shaft fittings, propeller, coating, storage maintenance, installation of motor generators, condensers, cooling systems, as well as the acquisition of equipment and selective fishing gear.

The Federation will give additional support to the investments made by the producers, for 50% of the total cost of the work to be done, with the maximum contribution of MXN 1 million (USD 77,000), and the producer will provide the other 50%.

CONAPESCA explained that in the last two years, a total of MXN 7,081,545 (USD 544,000) has been awarded for the modernization of 19 larger vessels. 2012 is the support program’s third consecutive active year and invites interested fish producers to visit the Subdelegation of Fisheries for more information.