Features
From the Editor: Bracing for impact

It is a strange time to celebrate my first issue as editor of Hatchery International. There is so much about our industry and the state of global affairs that is just filled with crisis and uncertainty. 

Some may see hatcheries as the beginning of the supply chain because that is where the life of the fish begins. But there are supporting industries before and after the fish hatchery that will be affected by the Russia-Ukraine war. 

In the May/June 2022 issue, we look at this global event from a few different angles and we ask questions about what this is going to do to our global industry. We start with our cover story on how it will affect Russia’s homefront. As Western sanctions continue to compound, supply chains are drying up, and local hatcheries and fish farms are left with few alternatives to keep their operations afloat. 

We also talk to leaders in the Western seafood market about their thoughts on more seafood sanctions against Russia. Though they stand to benefit from the import bans as consumers look to local products, they also know the weight that this foreign policy carries.

In Europe, we think about its dependence on the Russian oil and energy industry. Gas prices are rising worldwide but the continent will have to look long and hard at its government regulations to untangle Europe’s gas supply from Russia. Or will this dependence mean that the Western economy will continue to fund the war? 

In Asia, the industry braces for the impact of losing Russia as a major trade partner. Vietnam and China’s seafood market will be directly impacted; however, it remains to be seen if the Asian market is agile enough to pivot with the skyrocketing operational costs.

We are only just beginning to see the ripple effects this conflict will have on an industry supply chain that was already limping to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Still, there remains to be larger fish to fry! Our hatcheries must go on with its work, breeding strong species genetics, developing sustainable operations, producing broodstock and restoring natural populations. 

There is also the fact that our industry has an even longer battle to wage against the climate crisis. 

These are the topics that I hope to continue pursuing through this publication. And I also look to you, the experts, to bring our attention to innovations and developments. My inbox is always open at
jkodin@annexbusinessmedia.com.