China tightens regime for seafood imports, again

Tougher new Covid-related health regulations have been announced for seafood companies exporting to China. The Chinese authorities have said that much tougher requirements are justified in response to the way the pandemic is spreading in certain parts of the world. They add that all seafood exporting countries must comply. Businesses can continue to use existing…

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SSPO calls for measures to ease Channel gridlock

Perishable seafood should be fast-tracked to deal with congestion at the Channel ports, according to the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation. The SSPO is calling for Operation Brock, the emergency measures drawn up to deal with hold-ups after the end of the Brexit transition period, to be fully implemented ahead of 1 January. Cross-Channel traffic is…

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Call for Covid tests for drivers in Scotland

Seafood industry leaders and the Scottish Government have called for rapid Covid-19 testing for lorry drivers in Scotland to help clear the backlog at the Channel ports. On Wednesday it was announced that French ports would be opened again to hauliers entering the UK, but it is estimated that clearing the queues of lorries that…

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Salmon farmers call for priority as ports reopen

Scotland’s salmon farmers have today called for time-critical perishable seafood products to be given priority access to the reopened Channel crossings. They have also raised the question of compensation for losses arising from the closure. Yesterday the UK and France agreed a protocol to partially lift the travel ban, which was imposed in response to…

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UK transport links to Europe still closed

Seafood industry leaders have expressed frustration that the UK and French governments have not yet managed to agree a way to lift the travel ban imposed as a response to the new strain of Covid-19. This morning, the UK government said talks were under way to reopen the French border for travellers and hauliers. The…

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Coronavirus lorry ban hits UK seafood exporters

The port of Dover has been closed to lorries and ferry passengers following a travel ban imposed by the French government on Sunday. The ban, in response to a surge in Covid-19 cases associated with a new strain of the virus, has hit seafood exports from the UK. The ban applies to all ferry and…

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No festive cheer on salmon prices

Hopes of a rise in fresh salmon prices in the run up to Christmas have all but evaporated. Even a modest surge in exports over the past week has failed to bring any relief for fish farmers. According to Statistics Norway, the average export price for chilled salmon in week 50 was NOK 46.09 (ÂŁ3.95)…

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Labour shortage fears for Norway’s seafood sector

Employers in Norway’s fishing and seafood sector are worried about being able to get enough workers through the country’s long winter months. Businesses are hoping that the 195,000 Norwegians currently on the unemployment register or looking for work can help to fill the gap, as well as reduce the risk of Covid infected people coming…

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Seafish reports tough summer for UK producers

A number of UK shellfish aquaculture businesses continued to struggle during the period between July and September, Seafish – the public body set up to support the industry – says in a review on how the seafood sector fared during the high summer months. The report says those mainly affected were involved in export or…

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China tightens regime for seafood imports

Salmon and other seafood exporters look set to face stricter regulations when exporting to China. The authorities in Beijing have decided to issue new health certificates with tougher demands which are due to come into force from the start of 2021. According to the Norwegian Seafood Council, China is demanding that details of the entire…

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