| Abstract: | Atlantic salmon export plays an important role in the total Norwegian seafood export. EU countries are currently the main markets for Norwegian salmon export. China is one of the countries which are expected to have an increased demand for Norwegian salmon. Norwegian fresh salmon exporters are currently facing the trade barriers with respect to new inspection regime and high transportation costs when they export fresh salmon to China. This study is investigating whether Coolnova salmon, fresh frozen salmon using proton magnetic freezing technology, may break the trade barriers of Norwegian fresh salmon export to Mainland China. Firstly is the meaning of preferred fresh quality of Norwegian Atlantic salmon and secondly is the potential market value of the Coolnova salmon for the wholesalers and the supermarket in Hong Kong estimated. A sample of fresh chilled, Coolnova and frozen salmon fillets were tested by wholesalers and supermarket managers who gave their quality judgement recorded in a questionnaire. Different perceptions and attitudes were expressed related to both quality factors like fatness and colour influenced by the different fish feeding, sizes and fillet cuts of the tested salmon samples as well as factors related to the application of novel freezing and thawing technologies where Coolnova salmon has its advantage. The results show that freshness is a preferred product attribute of salmon characterized by appearance as a distinctive orange colour, clear white oil lines and a hard texture and smooth and juicy taste. The results indicate that Coolnova salmon after fresh-frozen and thawed, may satisfy the markets requirements for freshness and furthermore gain a cost advantage by the opportunity to move distribution from an expensive fresh airfreight to a low cost frozen sea freight. Frozen salmon can be kept in freezers for a long time without quality degradation and would thereby not be affected by the new quality inspection regime which hampers the fresh fish import to China. Coolnova salmon can thus break the trade barrier of Norwegian fresh quality salmon imposed by the Chinese government. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/3810 |
| Abstract: | The fishery sector is a significant contributor to national income as well as a source of employment for local people. The export value of Vietnamese fisheries product is around US$ 4 billion annually. The tuna fisheries have become a key contributor to Vietnamese seafood export. The main markets for Vietnamese tuna products are the European Commission (EC), United States (US) and Japan. Vietnamese fisheries are considered as small-scale and traditional, with a large number of actors. The large number of actors coupled with incoherence between the legal frameworks and fishing practices has led to an increase in illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing activities. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), IUU fishing is a global problem that is negatively affecting the environment, ecosystems, biodiversity, fish stocks and social-economic conditions of people. To deter and eliminate IUU fishing, the EC adopted the IUU regulation, which came into effect from 1st January 2010. The IUU regulation applies to all countries that have fish trade with the EC. The goals of the regulation are sustainable resource management and exploitation, while providing sustainable economic, environmental and social conditions. According to the IUU regulation, the import of fishery products into the EC is only allowed when accompanied by a certified catch certificate that ensures that the products is not a result of IUU fishing. Thus, in order to export fish to the EC, Vietnam has introduced catch certificates. Although fisheries regulations in Vietnam have improved, there are mismatches between the Vietnamese regulations and the EC’s IUU regulation. In its implementation of the IUU regulation, the Vietnam’s tuna longline fisheries is facing various problems and challenges with regards to the process of issuing catch certificates and fishing licenses, resources management and conservation, lack of an updated resource database, keeping logbooks and reporting, low education of fishers, and corruption. This thesis analyzes these problems and challenges. The study found that due to the inconsistencies between the EC’s IUU regulation and the Vietnamese regulations as well as Vietnam’s practical implementation of these regulations, there seems to be limitations to how effective the combat against IUU fishing will be. Despite the apparent implementation of EC regulations in Vietnam, IUU fishing activities still take place and IUU fish products are still being exported to the EC from Vietnam. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/3531 |
| Abstract: | Aquaculture in Ghana has over the years been little productive despite earlier claims about the high potential of the country. These claims are supported by an abundance of latent natural resources that can support large scale commercial production and the existence of a strong traditional market for fish products. A survey of consumer behavior in the local market for tilapia and fish in general was conducted in Ghana. The data were subjected to tabulation and multivariate analysis to assess the availability of market for tilapia and the determinants of its demand among different income earners. Local production according to the survey is not able to satisfy the market. Whereas low income earners and large families are avid fish consumers, it is mostly the relatively small group of high income earners that can afford tilapia at current retail prices. The performance of Ghana was measured in terms of the relative competitiveness of the value chain of tilapia in China, Egypt and the Philippines, as well as with prices on the global market. All the three countries profiled had a cost advantage and this was a result of wide differences in the cost of some factors of production or their relative scarcity in Ghana. The cost of importing fish feed, high interest rate on credit and poor production technology were some of the bottlenecks that greatly reflected on first sale prices. While a kilogram of fish feed for instance cost US$ 0.3 in Egypt and US$ 0.53 in China, the average price in Ghana is US$ 1.96. The export price of frozen tilapia fillet from China is about US$ 1 while the retail price of frozen whole tilapia in Ghana is about US$ 6.5. Tilapia from any of the countries surveyed would be more competitive to that of Ghana not only in the global market but also on the Ghanaian local market given the current price differences. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/3530 |
| Abstract: | Natural transformation is one of the three mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer by which bacteria are able to take up free DNA from the surrounding environment. In natural ecosystems, bacteria preferentially attach to surfaces, forming matrix-enclosed communities known as biofilm. Biofilm cells differ phenotypically and physiologically from their free-floating counterparts. Objective: To estimate transformation frequency in Streptococcus gordonii biofilm and compare that to transformation in a planktonic type of growth. Methods: S. gordonii challis (ATCC 35105) was grown as biofilm in appropriate liquid media. The plasmid vector pVA838 and chromosomal DNA of S. gordonii were used as donor DNA in the transformation assay. Strain-specific synthetic Competence Stimulating Peptide (CSP) was used to induce competence in S. gordonii. The biofilm was grown in polystyrene microtiter wells. Cells in the biofilm were harvested to assess the transformation frequency. Results: The transformation frequency in biofilm bacteria was found to be approximately 6-fold higher than those of planktonic counterparts. Conclusion: This result may either indicate a potential stress-related role of CSP or the fact that CSP participates in the synthesis of bacteriocin-like protein. The finding of enhanced cells in the biofilm in the presence of CSP suggests the involvement of CSP-QS system in the process of biofilm formation. Probably the most confusing finding of this present study was the dramatic increase of the OD value in the liquid culture of S. gordonii after addition of CSP in the early growth phase. This study demonstrated that S. gordonii cells were able to acquire foreign plasmid DNA much more efficiently than their planktonic counterparts in vitro. This finding suggests that biofilm growth mode may provide optimal condition for genetic transformation. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/3529 |
| Abstract: | This study examines the reasons why the European Union (EU), Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands have been unable to reach an agreement for the distribution of the Total Allowable Catch for Atlantic mackerel. Whereas the allocation previously was decided by the long-standing coastal states, the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands, changes in the mackerel’s migration pattern in a northward direction has led to Icelandic and Faroese requests for a larger portion of the resource. The “mackerel conflict” breaks out in 2010 and entails the use of sanctions as well as the setting of unilateral quotas in addition to those following from the coastal state agreement. The combined quota demands far exceed sustainable harvesting levels and will by all likelihood lead to overexploitation. The research methods were qualitative and involved the application of two-level game theory and the consideration of “win-sets” to explain the absence of co-operative management. The main finding was that the pelagic fishers effectively enjoy veto power over the outcome of the negotiations, in particular in fishery-dependent Iceland and the Faroe Islands, but to a large extent in Norway as well. Also in the EU the affected fishers have a decisive influence, although only in political terms. The parties’ many attempts at influencing each other’s positions have so far had no discernable effects and the situation begins to bear resemblance to a “tragedy of the commons”. Key words: Atlantic mackerel, European Union, Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands, TAC, quotas, conflict, two-level games, tragedy of the commons. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10037/3528 |
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