Introduction
I am very pleased to introduce our second edition of Benchmark Insights, a publication dedicated to some of the most relevant topics in aquaculture. Welfare in aquaculture is an increasingly topical issue in the sustainability of aquatic farming. Research is somewhat behind that of the terrestrial animal and is high on the agenda of scientists, NGOs, producers and consumers.
TROND WILLIKSEN CEO, BENCHMARK HOLDINGS PLC I am very pleased to introduce our second edition of Benchmark Insights, a publication dedicated to some of the most relevant topics in aquaculture. As a leader in aquaculture biotechnology our purpose is to drive sustainability in aquaculture. We do this in three ways: by being a proactive industry leader, working with our customers and partners to identify ways to help our industry grow sustainably; by being a responsible operator, looking after all aspects of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria; and by having a real impact across the value chain by providing solutions that support our customers to improve yield, quality, animal welfare and reduce environmental impact.
Good welfare implies both physical fitness and a sense of well-being. Not only is it ethically the right thing to do: good welfare has production benefits and there is a shift towards higher-welfare products amongst consumers. At Benchmark, good animal health and welfare is critical both in our operations and the development of new solutions for the industry. We have three core business areas – genetics, advanced nutrition and health – and focus on disease prevention and improving resilience through robust genetics and nutrition, as well as developing effective and high welfare treatment methods through our health solutions.
perspective and the link between good welfare and financial performance. I would like to thank all the contributors to this publication. It is a collective effort bringing together key stakeholders to share experiences, research, best practice and areas of opportunity to further the development and improvement of welfare in aquaculture. I have been in the aquaculture industry for more than 30 years and I have seen it evolve in a very significant way. We are still, however, a young industry and I am very optimistic about the collective ability of industry players to make this a sustainable growth industry whilst looking after the environment and the welfare of fish and all aquatic life.
In this magazine we have gathered insights from experts including scientists, academics, producers and investors, covering topics from history, trends and awareness, fish sentience and behaviour to genetics, nutrition, technology and management practices. We conclude with looking into an investment 03
