(atuna.com) The Ecuadorian government is seeking a new trade agreement with the European Union (EU), which will extend its exemption from paying tariffs on thousands of exported items – including canned tuna.

(vasep.com.vn) The Middle East is famous for huge oil reserves and its citizens’ high standard of living. This is a large and potential market for Vietnam tuna exporters where they can operate their long-term business.

(IntraFish) In March, the commission that oversees the harvest of tuna in the Pacific Ocean is to meet to decide whether to lift a two-year-old ban on fishing in one of the strategic migratory paths of the fish, which are declining in numbers as their value skyrockets, reports Asia Sentinel.

(Bangkok Post) The SET-listed Thai Union Frozen Products Plc (TUF) is considering mergers and acquisitions in Europe and a major production expansion in Thailand to meet its revenue target.

(Seafood.com) Consumption of sashimi (raw) tunas in the countries and territories other than Japan in 2011 totaled about 150,000 tons, according to an estimate compiled based on a recent survey by OPRT. OPRT said this represented a sharp increase of 79% from 2007, when the previous survey was conducted.

(The Jet) Pacific islands are trying to reach an agreement with the United States of America to update a treaty over tuna fishing to conserve stocks.

(vasep.com.vn) According to the research results of Research Institute for Marine Fisheries (RIMF) (period of 2000-2009), stocks of skipjack tuna in Vietnam is estimated at about 800,000 MT, yellowfin tuna of 45,000 MT and bigeye tuna of 28,000 MT. Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of oceanic tuna group in Vietnam is estimated at 17 thousand MT per year.

(IntraFish) As high fuel costs and lack of supply push prices up, suppliers remain confident that demand will stay strong. Despite the high raw material costs for tuna, consumer demand remains strong enough to take on higher prices in supermarkets and restaurants.

(Philippine Information Agency) Philippine fishing vessels have been authorized to fish in the seas of Pacific Ocean, the Mindanao Development Authority said.

(Business World) Rules for Philippine fishermen who aim to resume operations in an area of the Pacific Ocean, now that a two-year ban on commercial fishing there has been partially lifted, should be out by next month, the head of a state regulator said in a forum yesterday.

(fis.com) The Fiji Tuna Association of Stakeholders believes the reintroduction of a fish levy tax has tainted the country’s international reputation and incited foreign boats to leave Fiji’s shores.

(seafood com) U.S.-based seafood distributor and sushi operator foresee increased seafood imports from Japan to the U.S., helped by booming sushi business in the U.S.

(Blogpost by Oliver Knowles) In March, just a year after the launch of a planned three-year, multi-million dollar advertising push to try and increase sales of unsustainable canned tuna in the US, the “Tuna the Wonderfish” advertising campaign – funded by US tuna companies and executed by the US industry lobby group National Fisheries Institute (NFI) – has collapsed, having already spent a staggering USD 20 million (Euros 15 million) of a planned USD 60 million budget.

(Thefishsite) The South Pacific Tuna Treaty is currently being renegotiated. Tuna is the the largest economic interest shared by the US and the Pacific Islands.

(seafood.com) European tropical tuna traders and industry members met in Brussels today to protect their economic interests, said Eurothon in a press release.