Reports

Landing obligation on cod heads from factory vessels

Published:

01/07/2015

Authors:

Jónas R. Viðarsson, Gunnar Þórðarson

Supported by:

AVS Fisheries Research Fund (R 104-12)

Contact

Jónas Rúnar Viðarsson

Director of Business and Development

jonas@matis.is

Landing obligation on cod heads from factory vessels

At the beginning of the 2012/13 fishing year, a regulation came into force that obliges processing vessels to bring ashore a certain proportion of cod heads that occur during fishing in Icelandic jurisdiction. The Regulation stipulates that the largest processing vessels bring ashore at least 40% heads and that medium-sized vessels land at least 30% heads, but the smallest trawlers are exempt from this Regulation. This report sets out the reasons for the enactment of the Regulation and the objectives it is intended to achieve. The effects of the regulation in the first two fishing years in which it has been in force are also examined in terms of the effect on the increased number of landed heads and what effect this has had on the fishing industry's results. It also outlines some possible ways for the companies to meet the requirements of the regulation. In short, the regulation has had a very limited effect on the number of landed heads. This is because most of the processing vessels it covers met the conditions before it came into force. There are mainly smaller freezer trawlers that do not see themselves able to bring their heads ashore, and they are in any case exempt from the regulation. There are several possibilities for increased value creation through better utilization of cod heads, but since the size, age, equipment and general operating environment of freezer trawlers are a limiting factor, there is a limited chance that the regulation will be significant for the fishing industry or society as a whole.

On September 1st 2012 a regulation came into force that obliges Icelandic fishing vessels with on-board processing to bring a shore a certain proportion of cod heads that derive from catches within Icelandic waters. It requires the largest factory vessels to bring ashore at least 40% of cod heads, medium size trawlers are to bring ashore at least 30% of cod heads, but the smallest trawlers are exempted from the regulation, but majority of Icelandic factory vessels fall with in that category. The reasons why the regulation was set and its success after two years of implementation are reviewed in this report. The effects on volume of landed cod heads, associated costs and revenues, as well as available alternatives for vessel owners to meet with the requirements of the regulation are studied and discussed. The regulation has had limited effects on the volume of landed cod heads, as most factory vessels subject to the regulation had already met with the requirements long before the regulation came into effect. It is primarily the smaller vessels that do not land significant volumes of cod heads, but they are excluded from the regulation anyhow. There are potentials for improved utilization of cod heads and cod head by-product on-board Icelandic factory vessels, but size, age, equipment and current operational environment for these vessels are limiting factors.

View report

News

A unique opportunity to promote greater food integrity

Matís encourages all interested parties to register their ideas that can contribute to increased integrity in food value chains. Matís as a formal participant in the project MatarHeilindi will not compete for the funds offered here for limited research in the field MatarHeilinda after all, that was never the intention. In accordance with the plans of the participants in the project, the collaboration is being opened up to outside parties in this way.

As an active participant in the project MatarHeilindi (e.FoodIntegrity) draws Matís' attention to the unique opportunities that are now offered to outsiders. Since the beginning of the project (at the beginning of 2014), the aim has been to allow outside parties to the project. Now it's time. Interested parties may express an interest in joining the project and use the funds available to the project to carry out research that serves the same purpose as the overall project.

Interested parties need to submit their ideas accordingly a description of the project's website until 14 August at 15:00 Icelandic time. None of the 38 parties formally involved in the project MatarHeilindi can list their ideas. This is an open approach to ideas (projects) related to Standardization and Coordination, new solutions to ensure food integrity, feasibility study on how to share information along food value chains and rapid effective methods for fraud analysis. Funding for research in the above areas is estimated at € 3 million. Support for research-related costs in projects related to feasibility studies can amount to up to € 250,000, for projects dealing with standardization and harmonization on the one hand and new solutions on the other hand, support can possibly amount to up to half a million € and for projects related to rapid solutions support can potentially amount to up to € 750,000.

The project is led by Fera, the British Food and Drug Administration. MatarHeilindi deal with food that is whole / intact or in perfect condition, ie that buyers can safely deliver the product they think they are buying. Consumers or other stakeholders in the European food value chain need to be assured of safety, reliability and quality. Integrity in the food industry is a key factor in increasing the value of the continent's bioeconomy. The integrity of European foods is constantly threatened by fraudulent labels or imitations sold to reap the benefits of its added value. The project is intended to be a focal point in international coordination in the utilization of research and development in ensuring the integrity of European food with the participation of the core group of the project. Fera oversees this aspect of the project.

Matís fulfills its role, to increase the value of food, promote food security and improve public health through development and research, by encouraging interested parties to explore the benefits of registering their ideas in a timely manner and thereby take advantage of this opportunity.

Research Group Leader Value chain and sustainability Jónas Rúnar Viðarsson is responsible for Matís' participation in the project MatarHeilindi.

News

Number of summer students at Matís

This summer, Matís employs a number of foreign and domestic summer students. Their role is diverse, from research to marketing and everything in between.

There has been a great demand for summer jobs and work-related studies at Matís, not least from abroad and especially from France, but this summer the largest group is from there. Otherwise, the students are from a number of other countries, such as Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, Hungary and more. countries.

During the week, a number of people went out to Faxaflói and Elliðaár to get samples for research.

News

Matís assists countries in the Caribbean in developing fisheries

Margeir Gissurarson, director of Matís, and Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir, director of Matís, are currently in the Caribbean, advising the governments of the region on fisheries and fish exports to the region, especially to Europe.

Matís' expertise in this project was requested. Matís' episode lasts for about five weeks in the first part of the project. Matís makes proposals for improvements for the countries that are members of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM). Later, Matís' involvement in the changes that need to be made to fisheries in this area in order for fish exports to begin in Europe can be seen.

News Caribbean News Desk and news Grenada Informer.

For more information Many and Helga.

News

Centenary of women's suffrage

Matís encourages its staff to attend celebrations for the centenary of women's suffrage and thus demonstrate their support for equality.

Matís is giving staff a holiday in the afternoon tomorrow, Friday 19 June, on the occasion of the centenary of Icelandic women's suffrage, and all employees of the company are encouraged to take part in the celebrations of this important day.  

Matís' policy on gender equality is to ensure equal status for the sexes. It is Matís' goal that all employees enjoy the same respect and have equal opportunities for career advancement, regardless of gender, nationality, position or circumstances. Equality is maintained in all decision-making involving employees, including decisions on employment, pay and retraining.

Emergency number

The Department of Microbiology is 422-5116 / 858-5116.

News

Declaration of intent for co-operation between the Marine Research Institute in Newfoundland in Canada and Matís

At the end of last week, Sveinn Margeirsson, CEO of Matís, and Glenn Blackwood, Assistant President of the Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the advancement of teaching, training and research and development in sustainable fisheries.

The declaration of intent places increased emphasis on practical research in the value chain of seafood and marine products and on further co-operation with fisheries-related industries in the two countries.

Furthermore, the declaration of intent creates a channel for students and teachers from the countries to increase co-operation that can take even more account of the needs of the industry in the two countries.

With this declaration of intent, the issues of the Marine Research Institute (MI) and Matís are strengthened externally when it comes to the sustainable growth of the blue economy.

News

The effects of synergistic compounds on our daily lives

EuroMix (European Test and Risk Assessment Strategies for Mixtures) is a new project funded by the European Research Program (H2020). EuroMix will present an experimental program to study the common effects of compounds (preparations) that we come into contact with in our daily lives, using both new and previously known toxicological tests.

The project is extremely important for modern society, as the interaction of different compounds has so far not been sufficiently studied and the EU has emphasized the need for risk assessment of preparations is necessary in the future.

Initial meeting (May 20-21 at RIVM, Bilthoven)

Experts from international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Food Safety Authority (ESFA), the European Joint Research Center (ECO) and experts who have participated in international discussions such as RISK 21 at the inaugural meeting of the project, where an overview of research carried out in Europe and from other countries was presented. The main areas of toxicology, new and advanced research methods and risk assessment of compound preparations were reviewed. The main points of the EuroMix project were presented at the inaugural meeting and placed in the context of international development and research.

Goals and steps

EuroMix aims to develop and verify an experimental program for mixtures of different substances with different sources and effects on different human life stages. Experiments will be carried out where results and experience will be presented in practical guidelines for future research plans. Since the number of preparations we come in contact with in daily life is infinite, certain key mixtures will be defined.

These key preparations will be tested and the results of the research will be used in the future for databases to assess our exposure to preparations. The usefulness of bioassays will be evaluated for preparations and the most suitable methods found will be verified and validated in comparison with animal experiments. New models for performing risk assessments for preparations will be developed and exposure assessments will be carried out. A new EuroMix model will be made available to stakeholders through a public website. The EuroMix project will provide advice to international organizations on how to use bioactivity tests as well as the use of the model for future research and risk assessment of preparations.

results

The project is expected to increase innovation in both the public and private sectors. The project will provide a solid scientific basis for evaluating the effects of preparations as well as reducing the use of experimental animals in the future. The project will also support a discussion of a co-ordinated policy on risk assessment within the EU, the Codex Alimentarius and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

International cooperation

There are 22 partners in the EuroMix project and four international parties are involved in the project. The project is part of the EU's research and innovation program, Horizon 2020, which is based on previous European research projects. EuroMix partners and the European Commission have agreed to co-finance € 8 million.

The Dutch Public Health and Environment Agency RIVM is leading the EuroMix project. Other institutions are listed in Annex 1.

For further information dr. Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir at Matís.

Links and additional material

http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/193181_en.html link to EU page

http://horizon2020projects.com/

News

Increase in value in the Icelandic fisheries sector

The Icelandic fisheries sector is important to Iceland and the Icelandic economy. Over the last 20 years or so, the value of the catch has increased significantly, at the same time as the total catch has remained virtually unchanged; we are thus utilizing every kg. earn better than ever before! 

How is this possible? This short video might shed some light on that!

Increase in value in the Icelandic fisheries sector

Peer-reviewed articles

Genome expression of Thermococcus barophilus and Thermococcus kodakarensis in response to different hydrostatic pressure conditions

Transcriptomes were analyzed for two related hyperthermophilic archaeal species, the piezophilic Thermococcus barophilus strain MP and piezosensitive Thermococcus kodakarensis strain KOD1 subjected to high hydrostatic pressures. A total of 378 genes were differentially expressed in T. barophilus cells grown at 0.1, 40 and 70 MPa, whereas 141 genes were differentially regulated in T. kodakarensis cells grown at 0.1 and 25 MPa. In T. barophilus cells grown under stress conditions (0.1 and 70 MPa), 178 upregulated genes were distributed among three clusters of orthologous groups (COG): energy production and conversion (C), inorganic ion transport and metabolism (P) and carbohydrate transport and metabolism (G), whereas 156 downregulated genes were distributed among: amino acid transport and metabolism (E), replication, recombination and repair (L) and nucleotide transport and metabolism (F). The expression of 141 genes was regulated in T. kodakarensis cells grown under stress conditions (25 MPa); 71 downregulated genes belong to three COG: energy production and conversion (C), amino acid transport and metabolism (E) and transcription (K), whereas 70 upregulated genes are associated with replication, recombination and repair (L), coenzyme transport (H) and defense mechanisms (V).

Link to article

Peer-reviewed articles

Environmental effects on arsenosugars and arsenolipids in Ectocarpus (Phaeophyta)

Seaweeds have recently been shown to contain a significant proportion of arsenic in the form of arsenolipids (AsLp). Three strains of the filamentous brown alga Ectocarpus species were grown in the laboratory with different simulations of environmental stress: control conditions (1/2 Provasoli-enriched seawater), low nitrate (30 % of the amount of nitrates in the control), low phosphate (30 % of the amount of phosphate in the control) and under oxidative stress levels (2 mM H2O2). Generally, the major AsLp was an arsenic-containing hydrocarbon, AsHC360 (50–80 %), but additionally, several arsenic-containing phospholipids (AsPL) were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS/ESI-MS). The AsLps in cultures were compared with AsLps in Ectocarpus found in its natural habitat as well as with other brown filamentous algae. The AsLp and arsenosugar profiles differed depending on the experimental conditions. Under low phosphate conditions, a significant reduction of phosphorus-containing arsenosugars was noticed, and a significant increase of phosphate-containing AsLps was found when compared with the controls. Strains grown under oxidative stress showed a significant increase in AsLps as well as clear physiological changes.

Link to article

EN