The total catch by Belgian vessels in 2008 decreased by 7% to 20 012 tonnes, compared to 21 577 tonnes in 2007. 86% of this volume was landed in Belgian ports. The average price paid in both Belgian and foreign ports was EUR 3.81/kg. The total value of the catch in both Belgian and foreign ports amounted to EUR 76.3 million (–15%). In 2009, landings decreased by 4% to 19 171 tonnes, compared to 2008. Of this amount, 80% was landed in Belgian ports (–6%). The prices for fishery products decreased to 3.56\EUR/kg. The total value of the catches decreased by 10% to EUR 68.3 million.

Canada continued in 2008 and 2009 to renew its commercial fisheries policies. A key component of this renewal is the Sustainable Fisheries Framework (SFF), which provides the basis for ensuring Canadian fisheries are conducted in a manner that supports conservation and sustainable use. The SFF incorporates existing fisheries management policies with new and evolving policies, and includes tools to monitor and assess initiatives, and identifies areas that may need improvement.

Aquaculture has evolved to become the most important driver of development in the Chilean fisheries sector. It represented 39.2% of export value in 1997, increasing over time to reach 65.5% in 2008.

Pond aquaculture is the most common production method in the Czech Republic. It is practiced in man-made water bodies situated primarily in rural areas.

In 2010, a Committee set up by the government put forward recommendations on a new regulation of aquaculture based on environmental objectives on discharge from aquaculture installations instead of limits on the use of feed. The aim is to encourage sustainable growth in aquaculture production.

The main goal of the Estonian Fisheries Strategy 2007-13 is to achieve the sustainable use of resources and to restructure the sector so as to increase the income of people dependent on fisheries. This restructuring would take into account the availability of resources and market developments, and be based on a sectoral approach with special measures for each fisheries sector.

The European Union aims at a progressive implementation of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, which contributes to efficient fishing activities within an economically viable and competitive fisheries industry, while minimising the impact of fishing on marine ecosystems.

The total commercial marine catch was 118 000 tonnes in 2007 with a value of EUR 25.2 million. This level has been stable. The catch was 112 000 tonnes in 2008 (value of EUR 23.1 million) and 118 000 tonnes in 2009 with a value in 2009 of EUR 23.8 million.

At the institutional level, it is worth noting the re-organisation of local government, within the more general framework of a vast overhaul of the State, as well as the merger of several agriculture and fisheries departments into a single body.

In 2009, the German fisheries sector experienced a reduction in landings compared to previous years. Rapidly increasing fuel prices had a negative impact on the overall results.

The increased recognition of fisheries and aquaculture in Greece is reflected by the passage of competency of the sector in October 2010 from the Ministry of Rural Development and Food to the Ministry of Marine Affairs, Islands and Fisheries.

There has been a longstanding conflict in the Icelandic fisheries management system over the distribution rent and the perceived negative influence on various regions. Nevertheless, this conflict has has in many ways secured sustainability in the management of living marine resources. The government is reviewing the fisheries management system to address these factors. A working group was created in 2009 and it submitted its conclusions in 2010. The first proposals are to be submitted in 2011. A coastal fisheries option was initiated in 2008 to address amongst other things, the negative influences on regional settlements. This option is to be implemented for May-June with a common pool quota.

In 2008, landings of fish by Irish registered vessels totalled circa 201 932 tonnes with a total value of EUR 188.3 million. In 2009, the total volume was 227 324 tonnes with a corresponding value of EUR 181.6 million.

In 2009, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Forestry implemented some 20 Adjustment Plans of Fishing Effort in order to achieve a sustainable balance between capacity and resources. The Plans were implemented within the framework of the Fisheries Operational Programme and have been defined by fleet segment and geographical sub-area. The final objective is to reduce the fleet by about 25 000 gross registered tonnes (GRT). For trawlers, an average decommissioning rate of 12.5% in GRT is planned, for demersal fisheries 5%, and 2.1% for pelagic trawling and seine fishing. The Bluefin tuna purse seine fishery will be reduced by 75% in terms of GRT by 2011.

Overall, Japan’s fishery production decreased over the years 2000, although certain sub-sectors were rather constant. Employment and capacity is continuously decreasing. The stock status of about half of the commercial species around Japan is low, while the status for the rest are at high or middle levels. While still significant and strong, domestic fish consumption has decreased.

The total fisheries production in 2009 was 3.182 million metric tonnes, a decrease of 208 113 MT (–6.1%) from 3.390 million MT in 2008. This was due to marginal decreases in production in all sectors. The value of the fisheries production in 2009 was KRW 6.9242 trillion, an increase of KRW 579.1 billion from KRW 6.345 trillion in 2008.

The fisheries sector is a very important economic contributor, as well as an important source of nutrition for the Mexican population. It supports the fisheries processing sector and is a foreign currency earner that contributes to a positive trade balance due to its high value-added products. Fishing provides an important income source for local communities and contributes to their regional economic development.

Total production value in 2008 declined slightly, due mostly to low prices for important species and high energy costs. Segments were differently affected.

The overall objective for the fisheries sector is New Zealanders’ maximising benefits from the use of fisheries within environmental limits. Achievements from 2008 and 2009 include:

In 2009, Norwegian vessels landed 2.5 million metric tonnes for a value of NOK 11.3 billion. Expect for the cod and herring stock in the North Sea, redfish, blue whiting and sandeel, the state of the most important commercial fish stocks in Norway’s EEZ is good.

The capture fishery production has shown a decreasing trend over the last decades. In 2010, however, sea catches increased by 44% over 2008 due to an increase in Baltic Sea catches (22%) and deep sea catches (109.6%).

As a member of the European Union, Portugal is resuming work on the gradual application of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, first by supporting environmentally-friendly policies that help preserve biodiversity, and second by fostering social and economic stability in coastal communities. The Common Fisheries Policy, amended in 2002, incorporated the underlying principles of this approach, attaching greater importance to the sustainable exploitation of living resources in line with informed scientific opinion and calling for precautionary measures in the management of fisheries and aquaculture.

The Slovak Republic is a landlocked country which is not active in fisheries. The Slovak Republic produces fish in aquaculture sites which produce mainly carp and trout.

In April 2008, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Ministry of the Environment was restructured into a new Ministry of the Environment, and the Rural and Marine Affairs. The General Secretariat for the Sea, which reports to the new Ministry, is the central government administration in charge of marine fisheries.

In 2009, Swedish fishing vessels landed 197 000 tonnes of marine species valued at SEK 889 million (EUR 84 million). Swedish aquaculture production is quite volatile; in 2009, production (for human consumption and for restocking purposes) amounted to 10 343 tonnes valued at SEK 280 million (EUR 26.3 million).

The Turkish fishing sector consists of an artisanal and an off-shore fishery with multi-gear and multi-species characteristics. In 2008, total production from marine capture, inland fishing and aquaculture was about 453 000 tonnes, 41 000 tonnes and 152 000 tonnes respectively. Over 90% of the total marine catch is made up of ten species (mainly small pelagic). Turkey is one of the leading European aquaculture producers.

According to ICES, out of 20 fish stocks with indicators in UK waters, the proportion of stocks at full reproductive capacity and being harvested sustainably has risen from around 10% in the early 1990s to 25% in 2007. This is likely due to a combination of EU controls on total allowable catches and effort, and the decommissioning of vessels in the United Kingdom and some other countries.

With the re-authorisation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (2007), the United States has an updated legal framework for addressing a wide variety of marine stewardship issues. The re-authorised law mandates a date-certain end to overfishing, promotes market-based management, strengthens the role of science, improves data on recreational fisheries, and includes new measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and to reduce bycatch in global fisheries.

The fishery industry of Chinese Taipei is highly diversified with a large-scale deep sea commercial fishery as well as a community-based coastal and offshore fishery.

Thailand’s aquaculture production has been increased significantly since 1988 while capture fishery production has shown a slight downward trend since 1997.