Price Links between Auction and Direct Sales of Fresh and Frozen Fish in North Norway (1997–2003)

In North Norway the dominant method of exchange for fresh and frozen fish at the ex-vessel level is by direct (contract) sale, whereby price is negotiated between fish processors and the fishermen. More recently, an auction for frozen fish has been introduced. In this paper we investigate the relationship of prices between these methods of exchange and, in particular, whether the prices develop in a stable pattern between auction and direct sale by means of a cointegration analysis. Monthly prices of size-graded cod and haddock landed in the period 1997–2003 are analysed. For most months, frozen fish sold through auctions realised the highest price, followed by direct sales of fresh and frozen, respectively. Fish sold by auction exhibits a larger monthly variation in price than fish sold directly. Prices for cod were cointegrated to a larger degree than for haddock, and the cointegration was strongest for frozen cod. The analysis also demonstrates that the auction prices for frozen cod and haddock drive the direct sale prices of similar fish, both frozen and fresh, even though the quantity sold via direct sales is greater than that of auctions. Law of one price (LOP) and weak exogeneity were present for cod and haddock.Market linkages, cointegration, auction sale, direct sale, fresh fish, frozen fish, cod, haddock, North Norway, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Q22, C32, D44,

Nordostarktische Fischbestände - Fangempfehlungen für 1998

The results of the assessments on North-east fish stocks of cod, haddock, saithe, redfish and Greenland halibut by the ICES ”Arctic Fisheries Working Group” in 1997 are presented. Whereas the stocks of cod, haddock and saithe are considered to be in fairly good conditions and within safe biological limits the assessments show the stocks of beaked redfish and Greenland halibut to be low. Assessments of cod and haddock differed from previous years, because data on cannibalism were introduced into the recruitment models

Mortality and injuries of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) that are caught by pelagic longline

By-catches of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) below legal size (44 cm total length) in the seasonal pelagic longline fisheries for haddock off the coast of Finnmark, northern Norway, are often high. The small fish are torn off the hook at the vessel side by means of a crucifier or a gaff and returned to the sea. It is generally thought that most of the discarded haddock die. An investigation to quantify this mortality was done in the season for this fishery in 1997. The undersized haddock that were torn off the longline hook were recaptured by gently catching them in a dip net as they reached the sea surface. Survival of haddock torn off by means of crucifier alone was compared to haddock torn of the hook by means of a gaff. The fish were transferred in tanks onboard a vessel to holding pens made of small meshed knotless netting floating at the surface. They were visually monitored for 7-11 days. The control group consisted of haddock fished with clean hooks without barbs and gently released by hand. At the end of the observation period the live and dead fish were examined for external damage. The experiment showed a total mortality of 39% for fish that had been torn off by means of a crucifier, and 53% mortality of fish released by means of a gaff. The mortality of the control group was 9%. The injuries of the fish were also analysed

Testing Potential Fish Fraud in Community-Supported Fisheries

The seafood industry has long been plagued by the substitution of a species under a false label. Seafood mislabeling is a major concern in the management of fish and marine species. Incorrect labels hamper the ability to estimate stock size effectively, reduce consumer choice, and represent potential health hazards. The rates of seafood fraudulence have been shown to differ across businesses and markets, and in recent years, community-supported fishery programs (CSFs) have sprung up as an alternative to fish markets and grocery stores. Using genetic analysis, I show that 17 out of 41 (41.5%) samples examined from multiple markets in New Hampshire and Maine were fraudulent. The rates of fraudulent labeling differed across species and across markets, with community-supported fishery programs having the lowest levels of fraud (3 out of 10 samples, 30%) followed by restaurants (33%), fish markets (44%), sushi restaurants (50%) and grocery stores (58%). While the different levels of fraudulence between CSFs and other markets were not found to be statistically significant (p=0.36), my findings should warrant future studies with a larger sample of CSFs to determine the extent to which CSFs can help reduce seafood fraudulence

A histopathologic evaluation of gross lesions excised from commercially important North Altantic marine fishes

Histopathologic studies of lesions found in commercially important North Atlantic marine fishes are uncommon. As part of a comprehensive Northeast Fisheries Center program ("Ocean Pulse") to evaluate environmental and resource health on the U.S. Continental Shelf from Cape Hatteras to Nova Scotia, grossly visible lesions of the gills, integument, muscle, and viscera of primarily bottom-dwelling fishes were excised and examined using light microscopy. Several gadid and pleuronectid fishes accounted for most of the lesions observed. Most pathological examinations were incidental to samples taken for age and growth determination and evaluation of predator/prey relationships. Several gadids, with either gill, heart, or spleen lesions, were sampled more intensively. Gill lesions principally affected gadids and were caused by either microsporidans or an unidentified oocyte-like cell. The majority of gastrointestinal lesions consisted of encapsulated or encysted larval worms or microsporidan-induced cysts. Few heart lesions were found. Integumental lesioos included ulcers, lymphocystis, and trematode metacercariae. Liver lesions almost always consisted of encapsulated or encysted larval helminths. Necrotic granulomata were seen in muscle and microsporidan-induced granulomata in spleen. Although not numerous, histologically interesting lesions were noted in integument, heart, liver, spleen, and muscle of several fish species. Histologic study of tissues excised from a variety of demersal and pelagic fishes from the eastern North Atlantic (France, Germany, Spain) revealed assorted integumental, renal, hepatic, and splenic lesions. Small sample size and non-random sampling precluded obtaining a meaningful quantitative estimate of the prevalence of the observed lesions in the population at risk; however, a useful census has been made of the types of lesions present in commercially important marine fishes. (PDF file contains 20 pages.