Fish Farmer Magazine June 2016

Fish Farmer VOLUME 39

Serving worldwide aquaculture since 1977

NUMBER 06

JUNE 2016

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HIGHLAND HIGHLIGHTS

INDUSTRY CHEERLEADER

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

SAFETY AT SEA

Reports from Aquaculture UK in Aviemore

SSPO’s new chairman on ambition and growth

Scottish Sea Farms scoops top food award

How to handle occupational hazards

June Cover.indd 1

06/06/2016 10:26:31

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03/06/2016 11:47:07

Contents 4-13 News

What’s happening in aquaculture in the UK and around the world

14-15 Shellfish

JENNY HJUL – EDITOR

Head of steam

A

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com www.fishupdate.com

Meet the team

Contact us

Editorial Advisory Board: Steve Bracken, Scott Landsburgh, Hervé Migaud, Patrick Smith and Jim Treasurer Editor: Jenny Hjul Designer: Andrew Balahura Advertising Manager: William Dowds wdowds@fishupdate.com Advertising Executive: Dave Edler dedler@fishupdate.com Publisher: Alister Bennett

Tel: +44(0) 131 551 1000 Fax: +44(0) 131 551 7901 email: jhjul@fishupdate.com

Cover: Exhibitors at Aquaculture UK in Aviemore. Pictures by Angus Blackburn Printed in Great Britain for the proprietors Wyvex Media Ltd by Headley Brothers Ltd, Ashford, Kent ISSN 0262-9615

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Welcome - June.indd 3

34-41 Aquaculture UK Show highlights

42-45 Aquaculture UK

Post-smolt production

Conference insights

previous editor of Fish Farmer asked a pertinent question more than 20 years ago about the relevance of trade shows and conferences. You can read an edited version of Stuart Banks’ thoughts in our archive feature, but it was interesting to see the debate that followed.

Back then, Scotland’s main event was held every year and some felt that was too much, a view that prevailed in the end. But there was a consensus among the letter writers (where is this vanishing breed now?) that shows were ‘vital’ as a shop window and ‘interchange’.

Having recently returned from Aquaculture UK in Aviemore, it’s hard to disagree. The industry still seems very much in favour of gathering under one roof (or tent in this case) to see the latest products on the market, hear about scientific advances and, perhaps most importantly, to make and renew contacts.

If there was a dominant theme this year - both in the official seminar programme and in many conversations on the trade show floor - it was, unsurprisingly, how salmon production can grow.

From those involved in the group developing a vision for 2030, to the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre’s proposal for a centre of excellence, the sector is creating a head of steam in 2016.

Adding her voice to this is the SSPO’s new chairman, Anne MacColl, who talked to Fish Farmer for this month’s issue.

There are great hopes that the new minister responsible for aquaculture, Fergus Ewing, will also throw his weight and experience behind expansion. All here wish him well in his new role.

Fish Farmer is now on Facebook and Twitter

Contents – Editor’s Welcome

Head Office: Special Publications, Fettes Park, 496 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH5 2DL

16 SSPO

Brave new world

17-19 SSPO - Anne MacColl Speaking out

20-21 SSPO - Gill health Workshop report

Temperature control

48-51 Safety Life lines

52-53 China Soy source

22-23 British Columbia

59 Archive

24-25 Ardtoe upgrade

60 Processing news

26 Edinburgh fixture

62 Market & retail news

Export growth

New era

Save the date

Tough season

Buckie triumph

Quality counts

28-29 Industry pioneer MSD’s Chris Gould

Subscriptions

63-65 Aqua Source Directory

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46-47 Water quality

Find all you need for the industry

32-33 Aquaculture UK Introduction

66 Opinion

By Nick Joy

3

06/06/2016 10:31:05

United Kingdom News

NEWS...

Scottish Sea Farms ‘business of the year’ SCOTTISH Sea Farms took the top award of the year in the food and drink industry when it won ‘Business of the Year’ at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards at Edinburgh’s International Conference Centre on June 2.

The company also won the innovation award.

Jim Gallagher, managing director of Scottish Sea Farms, said: ‘These two awards are a wonderful accolade for Scottish Sea Farms,

Above: Host Simon Rimmer, SSF’s Celine Kimpflin and Jim Gallagher, and sponsor Alastair Christmas

our product and our entire workforce. Our employees work extremely hard, in often

challenging conditions in the highlands and islands of Scotland, to produce our quality

salmon.

‘We are continually investing in our business with new equipment and services being commissioned from Scottish suppliers and we also contribute directly to the commu-

nities in which we work with our Heart of the Community Trust, which has distributed in excess of half a million pounds to date.’

The innovation category recognised Scottish Sea Farms’ pioneering activity in the development of cleaner fish. It has been instrumental in a collaboration with Marine Harvest Scotland, the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture and feed manufacturer BioMar, partly funded by the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre.

This work has resulted in significant benefits in terms of production

efficiency, job creation, fish welfare and reduced environmental footprint.

Also at the awards, Loch Fyne Oysters scooped the prize for Investing in People, and Associated Seafoods was awarded the prize for export business of the year.

Meanwhile, Mara Seaweed of Edinburgh won the award in the Soups, Preservatives and Accompaniments category for its Shony Flakes, and John Ross Jr won the Fish and Seafood award.

The awards recognise leading businesses and individuals in Scotland.

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UK news.indd 4

SCOTTISH Sea Farms has attracted employees from across the UK to the company’s operations in Orkney.

A salmon farm in Eday, in the north of Orkney, has now completed a major expansion site from six to 12 cages, creating a further five jobs and significantly increasing production levels.

Eday site manager Phil Boardman, said: ‘With a local population of less than 140, five new skilled jobs have been welcomed by the local community.

‘We specifically targeted those who were seeking a lifestyle change and the result is a great range of people from different and diverse backgrounds.’

The new recruits include Nick Power from Sutton, who had been working as an emergency medical technician and also as a security guard; Ian Lucas, a cabinet maker/ French polisher; Amanda Fergu-

Above: The new recruits, from left to right: Clifton Praamsma, Amanda Ferguson, Ian Lucas and Nick Power

son, who is currently studying for her Masters degree in sustainable aquaculture; and Clifton Praamsma, who was an engineer in the South African navy.

Expansion of the site was granted planning permission in September 2014 and Eday is now the largest Scottish Sea Farms site in Orkney.

To farm is expected to produce around 2,800 tonnes of salmon over the next 22 months, for sale in the UK market.

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

06/06/2016 10:33:19

All the latest industry news from the UK

Industry welcomes new minister

Above: Fergus Ewing

SCOTLAND’S salmon farming sector has welcomed the appointment of Fergus Ewing as Minister for the Rural Economy.

Ewing, formerly in charge of energy, will head up the reorganised department, with Roseanna Cunningham taking over the separate environment brief.

Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation, said: ‘The SSPO warmly welcomes him to the portfolio, looks forward to working closely with him and seeks an early opportunity to meet with him.

‘We hope to invite him to some salmon farms during his summer tour schedule to see for himself the significant recent investment we have made.’

Marine Harvest plans Rum site PLANS to site a salmon farm off the Isle of Rum, creating 10 new jobs, have been unveiled by Marine Harvest Scotland.

The farm would be one of the next generation of ‘open sea’ farms being developed by the company to meet continuing demand for Scottish salmon.

Since 2009 Marine Harvest has opened new farms off Barra, the Isle of Muck and Colonsay.

Ben Hadfield, managing director for Marine Harvest Scotland, said: ‘Demand for our product continues to grow and farmed salmon is one of Scotland’s top exports.

‘We have been successful in developing these open sea farms and this has created jobs in some of the most fragile rural economies in Scotland.

‘Discussions with the local community on Rum so far have been very positive and we are delighted that they support our plans.’

Marine Harvest Scotland has submitted details to the council asking for their initial views on the project and what work will be required to prepare a full planning application.

Known as a Scoping Request, this starts the planning process and is followed by a public consultation programme.

Marine Harvest has already held an information open day on the island and has been discussing the plans with the Isle of Rum Community Trust, the Isle of Rum Community Association and local commercial fishermen.

Our aim is to create a thriving and sustainable industry with a long-term future

harvested volumes of 6,741 tonnes (Q1 2014: 6,261 tonnes).

Harvest volumes compared favourably both year on year and with the previous quarter, when weather conditions and routine maintenance

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

UK news.indd 5

Local people, members of the Community Trust and representatives from Scottish Natural Heritage have also visited the Marine Harvest farm on neighbouring Muck to find out more about how it operates.

The salmon farm on Muck has created 10 new jobs, with new homes built to accommodate some of the farm staff.

If the application for the Rum farm is successful 10 more jobs would be created, including a farm manager and two assistant farm managers, and Marine Harvest plans to build new homes and a shore base at Kinloch.

‘Our aim is to create a thriving and sustainable industry with a long term future and this new farm will make a significant contribution,’ said Hadfield.

‘Working with the local community is key to successfully developing a project such as this and we look forward to continuing to discuss the plans with them and hearing their views.’

SUPPORT FOR PLANS

SSC reports strong start to 2016 THE Scottish Salmon Company has reported a strong start to 2016, saying the majority of its sites delivered increased harvests.

Revenues were £29.1 million (up from £27.3 million in Q1 2015) on

Above: Continuing demand

impacted on harvesting.

The company said the results were helped by a combination of more positive exchange rates, with the Norwegian krone strengthening, and encouraging market conditions, with industry prices continuing to rise in response to growing consumer demand and lower output from Chile.

Investment in growing export markets has continued with a presence at key trade shows – Seafood Expo Global in Brussels and Seafood Expo North America.

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5

06/06/2016 10:34:17

United Kingdom News

Offshore mussels thrive with bespoke floats A NEW mussel farm flotation system for use in exposed sea sites is now in successful operation and already helping to produce high quality, fast growing mussels.

Jointly developed

by Offshore Shellfish (OSL) and Fusion Marine, the system has been put to use at OSL’s farm in Lyme Bay. It is the first company in Europe to install a large scale, rope grown mussel farm in fully offshore conditions.

Above: Fusion Marine floats Situated between three to six miles off managing director the coast of South John Holmyard came Devon, one of the up with an initial float key challenges for the design concept working farm was to develop in a vertical position, as a flotation system opposed to the tradithat could cope with tional horizontal-axis the rigours of severe barrel floats normally winter storms. used to suspend mussel With this mind, OSL ropes.

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UK news.indd 6

He then sought the help of Fusion Marine to refine his ideas and turn them into reality.

Holmyard said: ‘We had worked with Fusion Marine before and trusted them to translate our ideas into a durable float of a spe-

cific shape and size that would ride the waves and reduce movement on the mussel lines ensuring that the crop does not fall off.’

Manufactured from high density polyethylene (HDPE), the 250 litre floats feature an injection moulded end – with robust connections that are butt fused on to a length of large diameter HDPE pipe to create the float.

This creates a set of strong rope connection points that allow secure and standardised attachment of the float to the headlines.

By working in the

vertical axis, the floats exhibit a more gentle motion than is experienced with barrel floats, as waves pass over the headlines.

The robustness of the floats means they can be allowed to submerge if required, which ensures that extreme forces aren’t transferred to the ropes, thereby preventing mussels from becoming dislodged.

The end result is better growing conditions and increased harvests, as well as protection of the overall integrity of the farm.

‘During extensive trials, we have been thrilled with the performance of the flotation system,’ said Holmyard.

‘Initially, the floats were not the simplest to use, but we have been learning how they work during two years of trial and sometimes error, and have now perfected the design.

‘These floats now do exactly the job they were designed to do, and are doing it very well. I don’t believe the farm would have survived the past two winters’ storms with-

out them.’

Rhuaraidh Edwards, technical sales engineer for Fusion Marine, said: ‘We have worked closely with OSL to develop this robust and versatile flotation system for demanding offshore sites.

‘The floats have a unique spliced loop attachment system, which ensures that each rope can be quickly and easily attached in the same way and at the same depth, with no knots to tie and nothing to work loose.

‘This, combined with the vertical axis design, ensures the farm can cope with harsh offshore sea conditions.

‘Throughout the development process we have been impressed

by John Holmyard’s pioneering spirit for new aquaculture innovation and we continue to work closely with him.’

The offshore mussel farm is currently in its build-out phase with 700 floats supplied already. Completion will be in four years’ time, when it is expected to produce up to 10,000 tonnes of mussels per year.

Pontoons made from recycled pipes More than a kilometre of flotation pipe from old salmon pens has been used by Marine Harvest Scotland over the past four years to build marine access pontoons for its farms sites.

The recent delivery

by Fusion Marine of a 121m pontoon for the Maclean’s Nose seawater production site at Kilchoan is the fourth pontoon manufactured for Marine Harvest Scotland in this way.

Utilising material from pens decommissioned to make way for the new generation Triton containment system, the process is environmentally friendly and cost efficient.

Around 1.3km of

salvaged polyethylene (HDPE) pipe weighing 22 tonnes has been used for the manufacture of pontoons for sites at Kingairloch, Loch Hourn, Muck, and most recently at Kilchoan.

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

06/06/2016 10:35:44

All the latest industry news from the UK

Ultrasound deployed in sea lice battle THE potential of using ultrasound to delouse farmed salmon is being explored in a new research project with the hope, ultimately, of increasing harvest volumes.

The six-month initiative is SAIC’s (the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre) first ‘rapid response’ project.

It brings together industry partner Pulcea with the University of Dundee and the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling.

The research will investigate the efficacy of ultrasound in targeting and dislodging naturally occurring sea lice in a non-invasive and non-harmful way.

Heather Jones, CEO of SAIC, said: ‘This innovative new project is precisely the kind of initiative that our Rapid Response scheme was set up to support.

‘It is small-scale at this stage but, if successful, could have a significant positive impact on the aquaculture industry, not just in Scotland but around the world.’

Awarded grant funding of

£39,467 by SAIC, the project seeks to quickly determine the ability of ultrasound to delouse salmon in a way that neither harms the host fish nor the environment.

Dr Paul Campbell, reader of physics at Dundee, said: ‘We’re taking a technique that’s proven successful in human medicine and we’re carefully re-engineering it to explore its effectiveness in advancing fish health.’

If the preliminary results are positive, the industry-academia partnership intends to upscale the ultrasound based treatment to a comprehensive marine engineering solution with global reach.

Ian Armstrong, managing director of Pulcea, said: ‘As sea lice continue to evolve, so too must the industry’s response if we’re to maximise fish welfare, minimise loss and increase the volume of farmed salmon.

‘This project could be another important step towards that, potentially delivering a commercially viable new sea lice treatment that complements the range of controls

Above: Rapid response

already available.’

Maximising harvest volumes is just one of the anticipated outcomes of the project.

‘As we progress further into our research, we hope to make a number of other discoveries that will

benefit fish health and welfare,’ said Armstrong.

‘These, in turn, could help to unlock the industry’s growth potential and deliver real economic benefit to Scottish aquaculture and beyond.’

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06/06/2016 10:36:08

European News

NEWS...

Brussels show ‘tremendously successful’ MORE than 22,160 buyers and sellers from around 143 countries attended Seafood Expo Global in Brussels in April, the organisers have disclosed.

The expo featured the stands of 1,664 exhibiting companies from 80 countries covering 35,862 square meters of combined exhibit space, including 73 national and regional pavilions.

Last year, there were more than 26,000 trade visitors.

Above: Liz Plizga

‘Seafood Expo Global/ Seafood Processing Global was tremendously successful this year in light of what happened in Brussels a few weeks prior to the exposition,’ said Liz Plizga, group vice president for Diversified Communications.

‘As we anticipated in these circumstances, we saw some impact on the level of participation, though the event offered a safe environment, bringing together serious buyers

and suppliers from around the world to conduct business.

Key buyers who attended included: Aldi (Italy, Spain); Alibaba. com (China); Carrefour (Belgium, France, Italy); Compass Group (United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, France); Coop (Switzerland, Italy, Denmark); Costco (France, United Kingdom); DO & CO (United Kingdom, Turkey, Austria); E.Leclerc (France, Reunion); Subway

(United States); Gate Gourmet (United Kingdom); JD.com (China); Lidl (Italy, Germany, United Kingdom); Marks & Spencer (United Kingdom); Mercadona (Spain); Metro (United States, etc); Monoprix (France); Morrisons (United Kingdom); Picard (France); REWE (Hong Kong, Germany, Austria); Sainsbury’s (United Kingdom); Sodexo (United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy).

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European News.indd 8

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

06/06/2016 10:44:08

All the latest industry news from Europe

Marine Harvest in shipping joint venture MARINE Harvest and Deep Sea Supply have established a shipping joint venture to build, own and operate aquaculture vessels.

The two companies believe that through the fifty-fifty owned joint venture there is significant room for efficiency improvements in the market, ranging from reduction in newbuilding costs to more cost-efficient operations.

Marine Harvest charters 44 vessels with a combined cost of approximately EUR 100 million per year, more than any other company in the industry.

The joint venture expects to enter into contracts for the construction of aquaculture vessels which will be chartered by Marine Harvest upon delivery.

Current discussions indicate a substantial reduction in newbuilding cost compared to

BioMar launches algae feed

Above: Efficiency improvements

solutions provided by alternative aquaculture providers.

The new group will be Marine Harvest’s preferred provider of aquaculture vessels.

The intention is to also compete for external contracts.

Norwegian shipping magnate John Fredriksen is a major shareholder in Marine Harvest and in Deep Sea Supply, which has been affected recently

by the slump in the oil sector. Deep Sea Supply is a leading owner and operator of supply vessels.

It will cover all necessary management services for the joint venture, including technical management, ship management and other corporate services.

The aquaculture shipping industry is fragmented and characterised by lack

of competition. Under the new deal, Marine Harvest and Deep Sea Supply aim to consolidate the industry to achieve economies of scale.

This could include taking advantage of the current imbalance in the offshore service vessel market by converting surplus offshore vessels into aquaculture vessels if project economics are favourable.

Aquaculture value increases in Ireland THERE was a strong recovery in fish and shellfish farming production in Ireland last year, according to the latest Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) figures.

BIM chief executive Tara McCarthy highlighted the statistics at the IFA (Irish Farmers’

Association) organised national shellfish conference in Athlone, Co Westmeath, reported the Irish Examiner.

These revealed that the industry increased in value by €34 million in 2015 to a first point of sale figure of almost €150 million.

Above: Tara McCarthy

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

European News.indd 9

Overall production volumes rose by more than 25 per cent to 40,140 tonnes, with employment stabilising at 1,840.

McCarthy said the market for Irish oysters in Hong Kong and China was actively targeted in a collective manner by Irish producers, with the assistance of BIM. Irish oysters have received a warm welcome, commanding a premium price in the Chinese and Hong Kong markets and are now the highest priced in this region.

Last year, oyster farming employed 775 people in coastal areas. Over 90 per cent

of Irish oysters are exported, the majority going to France.

However, 2015 saw 10 per cent of Irish oyster exports going to Hong Kong and China.

The shellfish conference followed a recent prediction by agri-food economist professor Alan Renwick that a further increase of €6 million and an extra 77 jobs can be produced with every 10 per cent increase in production.

A poll carried out last year found a significant increase in local residents being happy to see aquaculture in their own locality. The figure was up from 27 per cent (2008) to 49 per cent (2015).

THE BioMar Group is launching a fish feed containing marine fatty acids from microalgae. Over time, the algae ingredient will ease the pressure on marine resources and help ensure that the availability of omega-3 will no longer restrict development.

The new algae ingredient being delivered to BioMar has been developed by TerraVia and Bunge and is produced at their joint venture renewable oils manufacturing plant in Brazil.

The launch of feed containing microalgae offers the industry new opportunities for sustainable development. Annual production of fish oil rich in omega-3 is less than one million tonnes.

The global supply of omega-3 sourced from fisheries is not expected to increase. The BioMar Group therefore regards the algae ingredient as a game changer that will be of vital importance to the future development of the fish farming industry.

BioMar’s vice president North Sea, Jan Sverre Røsstad, said: ‘Current sustainable and certified sources of omega-3 are limited in terms of volume, be it fish meal and oil or krill meal, which BioMar was a prime mover in introducing into aquaculture.

‘We are very excited that our collaboration with TerraVia and Bunge has put us in a position to draw on yet another sustainable source of omega-3.

‘Our hope is that this move on our part can contribute to the continued growth of our industry.’

The BioMar Group recently published a new purpose statement and launched a new corporate strategy at the beginning of June.

Carlos Diaz, CEO of the BioMar Group, said: ‘The collaboration with TerraVia and Bunge goes very well in line with our new strategy as a focused aquaculture feed supplier and it will, for sure, be an important step for continuing the development of sustainable aquaculture worldwide.’

Above: Jan Sverre Røsstad

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06/06/2016 10:44:30

European News

AKVA boss Damen designs workboat to meet demand to move to SalMar

Above: Trond Williksen

THE CEO of equipment supplier AKVA, Trond Williksen, has announced he will leave his post to join leading Norwegian fish farmer SalMar. Williksen, 52, will continue at AKVA for the rest of this year, before taking up his new role as CEO of SalMar. Williksen’s resignation comes after nearly six years as AKVA CEO. The group’s board said it regrets his decision to leave the company, but is grateful for his services and will now focus on recruiting a new CEO to develop the company further.

Before joining AKVA, Williksen was the executive vice president for harvesting in Aker Seafoods, where he also severed as the managing director of Aker Ocean Harvest.

During his 20-year career in fisheries and aquaculture, he has also served as the managing director of the Norwegian Fish Farmers’ Association.

AKVA’s headquarters are in Norway and the company has offices in Inverness in Scotland, Chile, Denmark, Iceland, Canada, Turkey and Australia.

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European News.indd 10

WORK is due to start shortly on the first of a new class of Damen utility vessels, the result of consultations with aquaculture customers in the UK and Norway.

Damen said it was important that the length of the new vessel was no more than 24m and, for UK customers in particular, that it fits within the 200 gross tonnage limit.

Feedback indicated that within that length, maximum possible protected deck space

comfortable accommodation for up to six crew,’ said Lodewijk van Os, product director.

It is ideal for aquaculture, he said,

with easy access to the waterline amidships via steps and a three-metre opening in the bulwark, and the capability of mounting dedicated equipment including up to two cranes.

‘In fact, the deck is pretty much ready for anything: A-frames, winches, davits for rescue boats, task-specific containers and many other types of equipment can be quickly added and removed as the vessel receives new assignments.’

NOK 11.5 per kg a year ago. Leroy harvested 38,200 tonnes of gutted weight salmon and trout during the period, an increase of 3,200 tonnes in 2015.

The profit figure before tax and fair value adjustment rose from NOK 390 million last year to NOK 592 million in the first three months of 2016.

Leroy CEO Henning Beltestad said the operating profit for this quarter was the highest in the group’s history: ‘We are satisfied with the earnings level but we see many areas where we can improve.’

The company has spoken of record prices for salmon and rising prices for trout.

Above: Damen workboat

and good seakeeping were top priorities, along with ample accommodation.

The Utility Vessel 2410 delivers all these requirements,

said the firm.

‘With the wide beam of 9.5m and minimal superstructure, this vessel provides 120m² of unobstructed deck space, yet still has

Leroy’s first quarter profits soar

LEROY, the big Norwegian seafood exporter and the world’s second largest producer of Atlantic salmon, has

announced a 45 per cent increase in operating profits for the first quarter of this year.

The figure, before fair

value adjustment, went up from 404 million Norwegian kroners (NOK) to NOK 584 million.

The company, part owner of Scottish Sea Farms, said it had benefited from the higher price of seafood, and salmon in particular.

The operating profit per kg (before fair value adjustment of biomass) was NOK 15.3, up from

First Icelandic farmer ASC certified ARCTIC Fish has become the first aquaculture producer to achieve Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification in Iceland.

The Dyrafjordur and Önundafjordur farms, both part of Arctic Fish’s sea farm operations on the Westfjords, a large peninsula in north western Iceland, are certified to produce ASC rainbow trout. The on-site assessment was conducted by SCS Global Services, an independent, third-party certification company.

‘Iceland is still a small player in sea farming on an international scale, with only 4,000 tonnes harvested last year of salmon and trout; this is expected to more than double this year, mainly from the Westfjords,’ said Sigurður Pétursson, Arctic Fish CEO. ‘There is good potential for future growth and a good environment in Iceland for sustainable and

eco-friendly farming methods. ASC certification helps our small farming operation to get international recognition which we expect to assist us in the marketing of our nice products.

‘We are very pleased to have the ASC certification and I am proud of my staff for all the preparation and work they have put into the certification process.’

Chris Ninnes, CEO of the ASC, said: ‘It is a pleasure to welcome Arctic Fish to the ASC programme.

‘The certification of the first farm in Iceland is a great example of how producers are meeting the increased market demand for ASC certified products around the world.

‘Aquaculture is the fastest growing sector of food production and is integral to global food security.

‘As demand for farmed fish continues to rise, it is increasingly important that producers operate at a level that minimises impacts to the environment, provides fair and proper conditions for those who work on the farms, and that is considerate of the people in the communities where the farms are situated.

‘By becoming ASC certified, Arctic Fish has committed to doing just that. This achievement sets them apart as leaders in their country and in the larger effort to improve the industry.’

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

06/06/2016 10:46:19

All the latest industry news from Europe

Marine Harvest reports strong start MARINE Harvest has reported an operational EBIT of EUR 112 million in the first quarter of 2016, compared to EUR 95 million in the corresponding quarter of 2015.

‘Driven by record high prices in Europe and Asia, and improving markets in the Americas, this is one of our strongest quarters ever,’ said CEO Alf-Helge Aarskog.

‘I am also pleased to see a reduction of the

production costs in Canada, and the good contribution from Region North and Region West in Norway.’

However, the company’s operational EBIT in the quarter has been negatively impacted by its operations in Chile.

‘The operational EBIT for Consumer Products has also been negatively impacted by losses at the Rosyth plant in Scotland. We have taken actions to improve efficiency and

yield,’ said Aarskog.

The algal bloom in Chile has caused severe problems for the whole industry in Chile. Marine Harvest has initiated a restructuring process to cut costs and become more competitive.

‘Marine Harvest will continue to advocate for stronger regulations of the fish farming industry in Chile as well as continued consolidation,’ said Aarskog.

‘This should enable the transformation of Chilean fish farming into a sustainable industry with improved biology, sound financial results and safe jobs.’

Operational revenues for the group were EUR 810 million in the first quarter of 2016, an all-time high for a first quarter in Marine Harvest.

‘Only fair’ MH should get more licences MARINE Harvest has applied for 28 development licences so far this year and says it will probably apply for more.

‘We have 25 per cent of the licences in Norway,’ Alf-Helge Aarskog, CEO of Marine Harvest, reportedly said.

‘And it is only fair that we should get 25 per cent of development licences also – or

perhaps more than that when we look at how much we spend on R&D. ‘There will be more applications…we need to arrive at new ways to breed fish in the future.

We will work with a lot of different concepts.’

The company is already developing technology for ‘eggs’, ‘donuts’ and Beck offshore cages.

Above: New ways to breed fish

Bakkafrost delivers solid results THE Bakkafrost fish farming group has continued its strong growth trend, delivering a total operating EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) of 253.6 million Danish kroners (DKK) during the first quarter of this year, an increase of DKK 18.6 million on 2015.

The Faroese company said harvested volumes were 10,934 tonnes gutted weight, compared with 9,726 tonnes in Q1 last year.

The combined farming and VAP segments made an operational EBIT of DKK 236.0 million. The farming segment made an operational EBIT of DKK 260.8 million, and the increased salmon spot prices had a positive

effect on the farming segment.

The high salmon spot prices affected the VAP segment negatively, and the VAP segment made an operational EBIT of DKK -24.8 million. The EBITDA for the feed and fish oil/fishmeal (FOF) segment was DKK 69.0 million.

The farming segment delivered an operational EBIT of DKK 261 million, which corresponds to NOK 30.45 per kg.

Bakkafrost CEO Regin Jacobsen said: ‘The expected decrease in supply of farmed salmon in 2016 and the stable increasing demand has resulted in high price increase for the past months.

‘The first quarter was

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European News.indd 11

overall satisfying for Bakkafrost, but when the salmon price increases sharply during a short period, the circumstances for the VAP segment become difficult.

‘The next six months will be an exciting time for Bakkafrost, as two of the major invest-

ments – the hatchery at Viðareiði and the combined harvest/VAP factory at Glyvrar – will be completed.

‘These investments play an important role in strengthening the competitiveness of the company and will improve Bakkafrost’s contingency plan, as

well as the salmon farming in the Faroe Islands in general, significantly.’

Bakkafrost released 1.9 million smolts in Q1, compared to 2.2 million smolts in Q1 2015. Havsbrún’s sourcing of raw material continued to be good, with 71,568

tonnes purchased.

Bakkafrost’s net interest bearing debt was DKK 218 million at the end of Q1 2016, compared with DKK 392 million at yearend 2015. Bakkafrost had undrawn credit facilities of approximately DKK 1,074 million.

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06/06/2016 10:46:46

World News

NEWS...

GM salmon approved for sale in Canada

stores, but already the decision is being challenged by THE first genetically a group of environmodified food animal mental, consumer, has been approved for and commercial and sale in Canada, with recreational fishing AquaBounty’s salmon organisations. getting the official AquAdvantage salmgo ahead from Health on was developed by Canada and the Cana- Massachusetts based dian Food Inspection AquaBounty TechnolAgency last month. ogies. The fish grow AquaBounty said it twice as fast as conwill be at least a year ventionally farmed before the salmon Atlantic salmon will be available in because of the addi-

tion of genes from a Chinook salmon and an eel known as an ocean pout.

‘GM foods are becoming more common every day and are part of the regular diets of Canadians,’ said Health Canada.

‘GM foods that have been approved by Health Canada have been consumed in Canada for many years, and are safe and nutritious.

‘Changes to the genes of plants and animals can improve food quality and production — for instance, by reducing the need for pesticides, making crops resistant to drought, preventing bruising, or allowing foods

Huon targets Vietnam middle classes VIETNAM is being courted by a major Tasmanian salmon producer in a bid to tap into its burgeoning highend tourist and local middle-class markets, according to a report last month in the Mercury.

Hobart Sai Gon Trading co-director Robert Joseph said a recent tasting of Huon Aquaculture salmon in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s largest city, had been a resounding success. Tasmanian produce was showcased to 30 chefs, restaurateurs and five-star hoteliers.

‘It is virtually impossible to get fresh Tasmanian salmon in Vietnam. We know that the Tasmanian brand is being increasingly recognised and respected overseas as a reflection of our established clean, fresh and safe produce,’

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World News.indd 12

to be grown more quickly.’

All genetically modified foods previously approved have been crops.

The Canadian scientific reviews included an investigation by Fisheries and Oceans Canada into the environmental and indirect human health risks associated with AquaBounty’s egg production plant in Bay Fortune, Prince Edward Island.

That assessment, done in 2013, led Environment Canada to approve the genetically modified eggs for commercial production later that year. Those eggs are grown into adult fish at an AquaBounty facility in Panama.

Health Canada will not require AquAdvantage salmon to be labelled as genetically modified.

Chile farmers face soaring insurance costs SALMON farmers in Chile will be hit by higher insurance premiums after the devastation caused by the recent algal bloom. Premiums are expected to rise 50 to 60 per cent, according to Dagfinn Ulriksen, head of aquaculture at Aon Norway, which brokers most of the insurance for fish farmers worldwide.

Losses covered by insurance are expected to be about $100 million, the highest on record, Ulriksen told the Financial Times. And uninsured losses could reach another $100 million.

Marine Harvest, Chile’s leading producer, was insured but AquaChile said it was not.

These costs come on top of a drop in production estimated at 20 to 25 per cent, following the death of some 25 million fish in the toxic tide that hit parts of Chile at the beginning of the year.

Chilean salmon prices have risen sharply, by more than two-thirds since the start of the year, coinciding with a rise in Norwegian prices.

Macduff Shellfish lifts Clearwater sales

Above: Robert Joseph

Joseph said.‘This event was a natural progression to build on that growing reputation.’

Australian trade commissioner to Vietnam Yvonne Chan said the ability to export premium Tasmanian products to the South-East Asian market was increasingly important.

INCREASED volumes and higher prices have given first quarter sales a boost at the big Canadian company Clearwater Seafoods.

Sales for the three month period soared by 54 per cent to $116.2 million. The company said volume growth was due both to its acquisition last October of Macduff Shellfish Group— which expanded

Clearwater’s access to supply by more than 15 million pounds or 20 per cent - as well as higher Canadian scallop

volumes due to better harvesting conditions.

Clearwater is also expecting a strong performance for the remainder of this year.

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

06/06/2016 10:48:34

All the latest industry news from around the world

Protest grows over Tasmanian salmon farm

Above: Okehampton Bay

OPPOSITION is growing to a proposed salmon farm in Okehampton Bay on Tasmania’s east coast, with an online petition attracting almost 1,000 signatures, the Mercury reported Tassal plans to install 28 new pens holding

Hatching plans in Australia

800,000 fish at Okehampton Bay near Triabunna within two years.

Marine Protection Tasmania president and Orford resident Grant Robinson said the installation of the pens next to World Heritage listed Maria Island National Park would hurt tourist businesses.

But Primary Industries and Water Minister Jeremy Rockliff said research and monitoring would manage water quality and emissions at the site.

‘Once farming commences at Okehampton Bay the sediment under cages and outside the lease area will be monitored,’ he said.

Glamorgan Spring Bay Mayor Michael Kent has said a fish farm planned for Triabunna would create 15 to 20 jobs.

The fish farming industry is worth $500 million a year and employs 1,600 Tasmanians.

THE government of Western Australia is investing $3.6 million in aquaculture seafood consumption projects as part of is especially prevalent a larger investment among people youngin other industries er than 40, who are to maximise natural increasingly replacing Eiffel Tower Burj Khalifa in the advantages the country’s once 324 m 828 m area. most common food A multi-species with meat, the report hatchery will be Above: Sushi says.

Japan’s young fight shy of fish JAPAN’S seafood consumption has declined sharply among the younger generation, according to a government report.

The report reveals that the total per capita marine food

consumption in the year through March 2016 had declined to 27.3 kilograms, 30 per cent down from a peak of 40.2 kilograms a few years ago.

The decreasing

established in Albany with a $2.3 million investment over the next four years.

A further $1.3 million will be invested in the next two years to develop new aqAll delivered Steinsvik Barges uaculture zones,stacked the 1800revealed m government in its state budget report for 2016/2017.

Every 3rd farmed salmon in the world is documented in Mercatus

Did you know Mercatus is in use daily on 600 sites around the world?

Half of these sites are in Norway, the rest is spread over 5 continents and 9 different countries. 65 different companies use the software, and these vary from some of the biggest to some of the smallest salmon producers. Mercatus started as a separate company 15 years ago, and has been run by Ocea, and now Steinsvik.

Our experience in both fish farming and software development makes us the natural choice for fish farmers around the world.

steinsvik.no

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

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06/06/2016 10:48:54

ring it more upsecure an extensive interview with Scotland’s recently apl columns from pointed Minister for the Environment, Paul Wheelhouse. est aquaculture Looking further afield there are also interesting insights – ASSG SG and SSPOTrade – to Associations into oyster growing around the globe and also an t topics of theSAGB day – Annual overview of the Hungarian aquaculture industry, which is conference ors respectively. beginning to evolve from production of carps to higher d we hope you’ll value predatory fish. We hope you enjoy all the changes. FF

has 0 years of the stry. Now ournalist, er food magazine.

ry Board

s

ons culture

BY JANET H BROWN

Rob Fletcher News Editor

Paul Wheelhouse is Scotland’s Minister for the Environment and Climate Change and is an MSP for the South of Scotland.

Janet Brown works to support and promote all aspects of sustainable shellfish culture and restoration via The Shellfish Team and edits The Grower.

Insight intoside the of EUthe pond The other

Much to digest from wide variety of shellfish interests Can the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers learn anything from the 8 seem a little sparse, but nevertheless interest. is somethingEast different aboutShellfish the wayhere America’s Coast Growers Association is oforganised?

While Ian Duncan, the keynote speaker on the first day, was osten-

T D

shellfish conference held each year in sibly talking on fisheries, his insights into the working of the EU, from Fishmongers’ Hall. The setting is so out his vantage point as a Conservative MEP and member of both the of the ordinary that all new speakers fisheries committee and substantial the environment weretofascinattend to make reference to the grandeur of r Robert B Rheault – more commonly federalcommittee, research grants address critical industry research ing. the surroundings. known as ‘Skid’ Rheault (Rheault being priorities.

Not least his description of how ‘a man withgrown a frying But that uniformity wasordefinitely pronounced ‘row’) Bob – setconfined up the How has the ECSGA andpan’ is itcould still growing? instigate change more rapidly than any number of highly paid to those fewShellfish sentences of each presentaEastfirst Coast Growers Association We grow in membership by about 10lobby to 20 per cent a year and we ols groups. tion; the in programme wasbeen extremely varied.

(ECSGA) 2004 and has its executive had a sharp increase this past year, but we still only have a small fracInterestingly, many of the saw this speakingOfeither for or 1,300 farms on the The Shellfish of Great Britain director for six Association years. tionaudience of the industry as as members. the estimated d against the Brexiteers - clearly it could onabout one’s 15 own (SAGB) is a broad churchinof Skid became involved thefishermen, idea of anproasEast Coast, we depend only have perviewcent. The nature of the industry point. cessors, and aquaculturists sociationmarketers because he had been working- and as an is such that many farmers are very small, part-time operations who Duncan personified thewon’t recommendation from Healey that and all several of these believe probably roughly in that order of precedence. oyster farmer in a state without an aquaculpay dues. There areDenis few large farms, politicians should have athey hinterland, coming as he did from a backSo forindustry shellfishataquaculture thingsIsland. can often ture the time – Rhode don’t need to join an association. They can hire their own lobbyist. ground in academic geology, with BP, as well rectory ‘I had to be very active on the state level to What are thecommercial main issueswork facing ECSGA? as work in the European parliament and a period as get things going,’ he said. ‘I established a state We spend a lot of time and energy secretary dealing with shellfish sanitation to the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation - definitely a politician growers’ association with a few allies, started issues.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus control seems to dominate much of my asurer, Steve Bracken, Herve Miguad, Sunil Kadri and Ken Hughes with a hinterland. writing an industry newsletter and sent it to all time.

We are also trying to rectify the trade war with the EU so we can n: Andrew Balahura If there was a theme the conference it would be future the state legislators, brought in guest speakers restoretosome of the lucrative connections we had in EU markets five wds wdowds@fishupdate.com Publisher: Alister Bennett challenges and opportunities the shellfish which from other states where things were going years ago. Weinare trying to getindustry, acknowledgement for the ecosystem Fax: +44 (0)well 131and 551where 7901 e-mail: editor@fi shfarmer-magazine.com were set out in the first talk, the Drummond lecture given nary a negative word was services we provide through nutrient creditby trading, and we are conMike Berthet. stantly working to improve water quality and expand harvest areas. .com www.fiheard. shupdate.com Eventually we got some traction and This provided aAre good overview, highlighting the new species regulations thatEH5 were2DL holding back ettes Park, 496fixed Ferrythe Road, Edinburgh there different chapters in the ECSGA or are members mainly becoming available, such as wild caught slipper lobster from industry.’ er’, P.O. Box 1, the Crannog Lane, Lochavullin Industrial Estate, Oban, Argyll, PA34 4HB oyster folk?

South-East Asia and tropical from East 40 per cent oyster farms Wefarmed represent aboutmarine 60 per shrimp cent clam farms, 0) 1631 568001This led on to a larger consortium, with a Anglia (this is not a misprint), which could increase competitop right: number of growers getting together at various Clockwise from and there is a nascent mussel industry. f world £95 including postage. All Air Mail. tion while also drawing attention to some of the problems, ECSGA meeting; oyster; meetings and the idea of establishing an East I have heard you talk at conferences about the importance of lobbyietors Wyvex Coast MediaShellfish Ltd by Headley Brothers Ltd., Ashford, Kent ISSN 0262-9615 disease being one of the major threats in aquaculture.

Dr Robert B Rheault.

Growers Association was baning – what do you advise?

Consumer education, particularly in to relation aquaculture, died about. They had seen how well organised It is really important ensuretothat the regulators don’t put you out of seemed to be an important takeaway message as wellprocess as the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association business. If you are not involved of writing the regula3 in the m certification – the twothen probably closely connected.

(PCSGA) had become, how effective they could tions, the law of unintended consequences dictates that they will Maybe one ofprobably the crucial talks all sectors was when the You need to participate be in meetings with regulators, how they hurt youfor if you don’t protect yourself. new chief executive of Seafish introduced himself.

Marcus focused government research dollars toward in the scientific research, the public outreach and the education of your Coleman was appointed January this yearthe so this wasinalso key problems – they wanted that. legislators.inBy demonstrating growth greenClockwise jobs, the sustainable from left: Ian 08/02/2013 11:24:01 an opportunityseafood to review his first 100 While setting up the ECSGA, Skid continued Duncan MEP and production anddays. the ecosystem benefits, we can enlist the SAGB help What was unusual in this was thethe initial emphasis his or if we director to run his own company, farming and marof politicians when regulators get on crazy, have David a needJarrad; of rebackground (hinterland?), which covered a wide is range Miketask.

Berthet; keting oysters trading as Moonstone Oysters search dollars.

Educating thesuch legislators a constant ThereGeorge is huge of companies that it prompted the question, ‘How long will Foot; Marcus Coleman; working out of Narragansett, Rhode Island, turnover and they know nothing about your industry. If you don’t have you be staying time with to Seafish?’ and he is still an adjunct faculty member in do it then you need to pay someone to doJustyn it for Jones. you. This is why But there canbusy be no doubt that experience in of fields asassociations. the University of Rhode Island’s Department professionals are members trade diverse as communications, business and engineering can of Fisheries and Aquaculture. He established Is export a major interest for your growers? only be an advantage in bringing fresh thinking into Seafish the East Coast Shellfish Research Institute We are experiencing an explosion in the market for oysters right and its activities. and has been successful in attracting several now, so there is not a lot of surplus production to send overseas, but Coleman’s policies include a flat management structure and he is clearly very approachable. One of his stated

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06/03/2015 10:29:56

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06/06/2016 10:54:02

Insight into the EU

aims is to get young people into the seafood industry and this policy seemed to brook no argument, looking around the hall at the grey heads making the bulk of the audience!

Conferences are a great opportunity for networking, meeting people and mainly (the clue is in the name) conferring. While giving an informative talk is essential, speakers buzzing off straight afterwards are essentially reneging on the unspoken contract.

Delegates pay for the opportunity both to hear the talks but also to interact with the participants. So while Michiel Fransen gave an interesting talk on the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, he left many disappointed people who would have liked to discuss the topic further – or even, as in my case, take a photograph.

It was left to the one person in the audience who actually was certified by the ASC to give much of the essential information on the process.

I certainly did not know that IKEA was the biggest buyer of salmon and that it insists it has to be from a certified source, and the

Delegates pay to “ hear the talks but also to interact with the participants

”

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ASSG.indd 15

message was being repeated from the earlier talk that certification will be increasingly important.

David Jarrad provided an update on what was happening in the world of EU representation, speaking with some authority as president elect of EMPA, the European Mollusc Producers’ Association, and the formation of the Aquaculture Advisory Council.

The two concluding talks dealt with topics off the beaten track, which is often one of the signs of a fruitful conference.

George Foot drew timely attention to the serious problem of micro-plastics which are not filtered out by sewage systems, and are a threat to filter feeders that can then accumulate them and pass them unwittingly up through the food chain with as yet unknown consequences.

The main source seems to be micro-abrasives from exfoliators, used in the quest for beauty. Foot and his colleagues are seeking

to turn the problem on its head by using waste from shellfish to provide the naturally degradable abrasive material for a fully sustainable substitute product.

These will be marketed under the trade name Cove, using a scallop shell as logo.

They are seeking support for this.

Similarly, film maker Justyn Jones had sought support from crowd funding and the shellfish industry to make a film presenting the environmental credentials of shellfish aquaculture in a competition.

Unfortunately, he was just pipped to the prize but is still keen to pursue the subject. He showed clips from John Holmyard’s Offshore Shellfish and the North Menai Strait MSC certified mussel fishery, and talked of maybe following these with the plans to develop a mussel hatchery in Shetland.

You can see the film - The Musselman - at smallworldtv.co.uk/musselman-new-shortfilm/ FF

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06/06/2016 10:54:26

Trade Associations – SSPO

Trade Associations – SSPO

BY PROFESSOR PHIL THOMAS

Brave new Underpinning world of public provenance science?

Do we think enough about what gives the Brussels lead to greater industry initiatives its edge incould key markets? scrutiny of policy making

IT

t may not be politically correct to say so at present butdays farmed Atlanti c salmon he closing of May saw two signal would not have become Scotland’s leading food initiatives coming from Brussels. The first export withoutinthe positive was contained EUCrown CouncilEstate’s paper 9526/16 engagement withonaquaculture development on the transiti towards an ‘open science’ back in the 1980s. system as part of the European Research Area Now, aquaculture Roadmap 2015-2020. is a significant part of the agency’s marine leasing portf is reguThe key point of note in this wasolio theand agreement larly celebrated by the Crown Estate’s Scottish to make all government funded research publicly Marine Aquaculture Awards event.

This year’s accessible. event in Edinburgh on the 11 June was the This might seem a slightly arcane proposal. usual highly successful showcase for Scottithe sh However, if properly adopted, it will transform aquaculture and a rare opportunity for indusoperation of EU science. tryearly to join together to mark success.

As as 2020, organisati ons,itsbusinesses, The Crown Estate is presently independent scientists and ordinaryat citithe zenscentre may of further devoluti on discussions between have free access to many published scienti fic the UK government andaccessible Scottish government.

The papers which are now only on a costly long-term future of key Scotti sh functi ons recharged basis. mainsonally, unclear professional experti sealcould Additi theand proposals have the potenti to be squandered the process of organisati allow research dataingathered and published for onal change. one purpose to be independently re-analysed, Both theorCrown Estate’s corefor experti and data-mined otherwise re-used otherse correthe Marine Aquaculture Awards are imporsponding studies or for wholly different purposes. tant introduces in maintaining the disti nctive coherence That a concept of accessibility to of Scotland’s aquaculture and it would publicly funded research data which has far be a tragedyimplicati if they ons became casualti es of political reaching both for entrepreneurial change. companies and for citizen science and science This year’s Awards event was hosted by democracy. actress, writer and Caulfi eld, acan At a stroke, scienti fic comedian data will beJolegiti mately inspired choice by whoever made the booking. cessible to a far wider community of interest than was very funnyinand entertainingresearch and kept is She currently reflected the government the proceedings going es with a swing. once laboratories and universiti forming the Only present did she stray, when she wondered what ‘proveresearch community. nance actually meant’.

The second initiati ve, less far reaching but of In a room full whose high relevance to fiof shfolk farmers, waslivelihoods the publication of the Commission Staff Working Document 12 SWD (2016) 178 ‘On the application of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) in relation

SSPO.indd 12

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should “beWeorgan-

ising our training and Decisions educati on on provisions aquaculture much development better should be properly evidence based

“

”

”

depend on the provenance of their products she quickly sensed an audience response and moved to safer comedic material: there are some things you just don’t joke about!

However, her remark left me asking myself whether we think enough about the underpinning of the provenance of Scottish farmed fish – and for me that’s farmed salmon.

There is no doubt that Scottish provenance is important to our indus– it gives us the edge in all our key markets. totry Aquaculture’.

Provenance bepresented defined inlitt various most people will In a sense, thiscan paper le new.ways But itsbut main purpose was to agree that it goes beyond the appearance and sensory qualiti es of the final offer guidance on the application of the directives in EU aquaculture develproduct: fl avour, texture, visual presentati on and product consistency opment, and it was very well targeted. are factors in consumer appealwill but is about Thealways paper’skey clear, common sense approach beprovenance widely welcomed by much more. planners, regulators and fish farmers, all of whom are sometimes confronted It reflects a wider concept quality assurance, including: by ‘issues of interpretati on’. Andofit’sconsumer encouraging to see the Commission the place where the fi sh is grown and processed; the professional addressing some of these problems. integrity of the producti and processing methods; and the quality, Underpinning much of theonpaper is a simple emphasis that decisions on aqcommitment and care of the people involved – the professional skills, uaculture development should be properly evidence based and made within se, passioncontext. and dedication of the producers themselves. a experti risk management In Scotland our ‘place producti on’ gives a huge advanAnd this is where the twoof separate Brussels initius atives havenatural an important tage because fish in the pristine coastal waters of in some juxtapositi on. Oftwe engrow aquaculture developments, salmon farming partiof cular, thebogged most beauti fulwild andfiwild scenicon areas ofons thebased world,onand ourinadbrand is get down by sh interacti questi a very protected by its PGI status. equate catch-as-catch-can application of the ‘known science’ or on policy Likewise, on of the guidance saidadopti to be based on it.Scottish Finfish Code of Good Practice allied withany thecriti industry’s deep commitment to a range of independent However, cal analysis of the ‘known science’ being used shows farm quality assurance programmes, including the RSPCA fish welfare that it is selective and falls far short of a robust and rigorous analysis of the scheme, builds base. on the underlying strength of our statutory regulatory relevant research systems production systems.

There aretoa assure numberour of examples of this published by Scottish government Finally, skills, and experti se, Scotti passion and dedicatiitself. on of our farmers bodies andthe agencies, by the sh government can be demonstrated in abundance day in and day outcompanies, – and theyindewere The ‘open science’ policy offers the prospect of individual showcased by the recent awards event. pendent scientists and citizens gaining free access to the published research However, wholly objectidata. ve and forward looking, it is this third papers and tobeing the related research area of provenance the Scottish industry greatestthe scope This will allow them towhere be bett er informed to questihas on whether pub-for systemati c development.

That is not to say that our industry’s skills lished conclusions of a research paper are justified or whether alternative and professional experti interpretati ons might apply.se are not of the highest calibre, but it is to recognise that our vocati onal of educati andownership training structures, This heralds a brave new world publiconal science which couldand empower the wider community to engage in a more rigorous scrutiny both www.fishfarmer-magazine.com of public science and of related public policy making.

Roll on the day!

Professor Phil Thomas is former chairman of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation. FF 03/07/2015 14:31:33

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

06/06/2016 11:03:14

SSPO – Anne MacColl

Salmon’s champion

New voice of the industry talks about ambition and growth

T

he recently appointed chairman of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation might be new in the role but she is well acquainted with the value of salmon to Scotland’s economy.

In her previous job as chief executive of Scottish Development International, Anne MacColl said she talked about salmon, along with whisky, on all her overseas trips, as an ambassador for this country’s exports, and is aware of the uniqueness of the product.

Now all her attention is on salmon and she plans to ‘blow away the myths and misinformation’ surrounding the industry and provide it with a strong and confident voice. And she is in no doubt where her first priority lies.

‘The biggest challenge the industry has is growing to meet market demands,’ she said.

‘The demand globally is growing at about eight per cent and is set to continue in that vein.

‘The share of Scottish salmon globally is about seven per cent, but it used to be 12 per cent, so what do we do to get back up there and become as globally competitive as we were, if not more globally competitive?’

She believes ambition is the key. Scotland should be proud of its record in aquaculture to date and proud of the way it delivers its product to market, as well as of its acclaimed academic and scientific background.

‘There are great opportunities to increase production and develop exports and great opportunities to utilise the expertise we have in Scotland to help develop aquaculture in other countries.

‘We have to see it as part of the global aquaculture industry, which is going to become even more important as we try to feed the world. It’s the most sustainable and efficient way of putting food on the table.’

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Anne - Interview.indd 17

Above: Anne MacColl

Will placing salmon farming in a more international context help improve perceptions of the industry, even among its most vocal opponents?

MacColl said the SSPO should not give credence to persistent critics – ‘there is no credible evidence for what some of the fishing interests are claiming’.

‘We shouldn’t give it the oxygen of publicity; the more you rebut directly the more oxygen you give them and you get into a tit for tat argument.

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06/06/2016 11:15:49

SSPO – Anne MacColl

‘What we do have evidence of is the value of salmon farming in terms of exports and jobs created. Salmon is by far the biggest food export we have, not just in Scotland but for the UK.’ She quotes the latest FDI (foreign direct investment) figures that show record investment in Scotland in 2015, with companies such as Marine Harvest investing £260 million in our economy last year - a ‘multi-million global company that could invest in lots of different parts of the world and they are putting all this money into Scotland’.

Apart from the employment the industry creates in rural communities, there are thousands of jobs in the Central Belt that depend on salmon, in processing, on the equipment side, and in transport – ‘it touches many different industries in Scotland’.

She said she would like to bring ‘a fresh approach’ and be at the sector’s service, but first, reform is needed.

Given the ‘iconic’ export value of farmed salmon and its huge worth to the Scottish economy, does she find it remarkable that the industry has been up against a government brick wall?

MacColl said the SSPO has started discussions on both a national and local government level to explain what needs to be done to increase production and is hoping to create ‘a head of steam’.

She welcomes the appointment of Fergus Ewing as the new minister overseeing aquaculture, and also the change in the ministerial remit – to Rural Economy and Connectivity - a change championed by the industry.

‘I think we’ve been active for some time to try and ensure that aquaculture sits as part of the economic benefit for Scotland. We’re encouraged that we’ve had some success in

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securing aquaculture as part of the food and drink industry.’

She said she hopes the government will now bring a focus to the need for planning reform and ‘understand that the economics behind market demand and growth are very clear’.

It helps, too, that she has worked with Ewing before and found him to understand global business.

‘Fergus has a vast amount of experience in business economics, and has worked to support Scottish industry internationally, so understands the salmon sector…it’s the ‘right direction of travel.’

MacColl was born in Ballachulish and has family on the west coast. Her mother is from Barra and her grandmother followed the herring as a young girl. She sees the fishing industry, both farming and catching, as ‘a deep rooted part of Scottish culture’.

In her visits to farms – on the west coast and in Shetland – she has been struck by the devotion of the people she meets, not just to their own sector but to Scotland’s valuable environment resources.

‘From all the conversations I’ve had so far with people in the industry I have no doubt about the professionalism, the passion, the care they take with the environment. Many of them are fishermen in their spare time and come from generations of fishermen.

‘We share an environmental eco-system and everyone who has an interest in that should work collaboratively to achieve success for everyone,’ she said, highlighting the restocking of Loch Carron as an example of the way forward.

She doesn’t think Scotland lacks the vision of the Norwegians, but thinks vision, and ambition, should come from the industry, rather than government.

‘It is for the industry to take forward what it sees as best and for the government authorities to make that happen so we need to have the right balance.

‘It’s difficult to cut and paste what happens in one country. We need to be more sophisticated in the way we take ideas from other countries and develop them in a way that’s best for Scotland.

‘I’m working on a clarity of vision that takes the industry well beyond 2020 to 2030 and 2050.’

She is on the board of the new working group co-chaired by Stewart Graham of Gael Force and Dennis Overton of Aquascot, which is all about finding that vision for Scottish aquaculture and doubling production by 2030.

The SSPO is very supportive of the group, said MacColl, and wants to make sure producers ‘have an overall vision that is practical as well as strategic and aspirational and works for the whole of the supply chain.’

Everyone in the 2030 group has ‘a real will to collaborate’, and it is good to listen to other players and hear what they are saying.

‘Of course there are different views and it wouldn’t be an industry without those, but what we need to get is a collective vision that will feed in to Scotland Food and Drink’s overall vision for 2030.

‘I hope the government will listen, I hope they see the commitment from the group, the genuine will to work together to unlock the challenges and grow bigger, better and faster.

‘The global competition is not going to stand still; we have to be ambitious. We can’t continue to lose market share, it doesn’t make sense.

‘There are only a handful of countries in the world that produce farmed Atlantic salmon, it’s a fairly unique product and Scotland is a fairly unique country.’ FF

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

06/06/2016 11:18:01

Salmon’s champion

We can’t continue to “lose market share, it doesn’t make sense ”

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06/06/2016 11:18:31

SSPO – workshop

Spotlight on gill health Technical topics targeted at helping farmers

A

one-day workshop focusing on gill health discussed the latest strategies to deal with this major challenge, with farmers and scientists from Scotland, Ireland and Norway attending.

Around 85 people gathered at the event, organised by the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation and held for the benefit of its members, in Inverness last month.

Attendees were able to share their experiences and expertise in, among other things, freshwater treatment, plankton, functional feeds and bio-fouling.

Delegates included representatives from producers, equipment manufacturers, feed companies, pharmaceutical groups, as well as vets and researchers.

Dr Iain Berrill, the SSPO’s research and data manager, said the technical workshop followed on from a recent cleaner fish event, and was guided by the industry and targeted at helping people on the ground.

‘There is a lot of really important work going on out there to manage and enhance gill health and we are keen to promote this, while helping to

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generate discussion between industry representatives through knowledge exchange.

‘Each topic was followed by a questions and answers session to stimulate discussion across the group, which may even lead to potential new research opportunities that could bring Above: Gill health focus. significant benefits to the Scottish industry in Opposite from top: Industry the long term.’ meets in Inverness; The initial focus of the workshop was on SSC’s Abby Irish; Hamish monitoring, with Hamish Rodger of the Fish Vet Rodger (centre) of Fish Vet Group.

Group giving a presentation with what he called Pictures: David Sandison his ‘ten things you should do to monitor and help manage gill health’.

This was followed by a talk from Mona Gjessing from the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, who discussed her ongoing investigations into salmon gill virus.

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06/06/2016 11:20:27

Highlight on gill health potential risks of Karenia blooms.

Anna Kintner, a PhD student from the University of St Andrews, then presented her findings on the challenges of jellyfish.

‘Our guys are fairly aware that jellyfish are a challenge, but being able to have a jellyfish expert there giving a bit more insight into the lifecycle, makes people more aware of how they might manage challenges on the farm,’ said Dr Berrill.

Nina Blöcher, from Sintef in Norway, outlined a new project looking at bio fouling, net washing, and how they may or may not relate to gill health.

Dr Berrill said this was useful as Blöcher was able to pick up contacts at the workshop and will hopefully expand the remit of her project to Scotland.

‘It is an area where we felt there is room for some better understanding and we would be keen to be involved, in the absence of a project here,’ he said.

After hearing about monitoring and seeing what is in the water, the meeting started looking more at mitigation, with two talks on functional feeds, one from Skretting and one from EWOS. Then there was a discussion around treatment options with regard to the use of freshwater or peroxide.

‘Generally speaking, until recently, we’ve not been using freshwater as a strategy against AGD but we had Abdon Ryan from Marine Harvest in Ireland give us some insight into their experience,’ said Dr Berrill.

‘They use freshwater much more extensively than we do for a number of reasons: their ability to get access to freshwater is better and they have a smaller industry so their requirements for freshwater are less.

‘Our industry’s access to the required amounts of freshwater is a challenge because it is not easy to extract large quantities of water at short Water quality was covered in a number of the notice.’ presentations, including one by SSPO member He said new technology using freshwater - in Abby Irish, head of biology at the Scottish Salm- wellboats for example - provided opportunities on Company. for improving gill health.

Berrill said Irish ‘gave an excellent talk on After the treatment session there was a roundplankton and how you can use it as a bio monup by Catherine Collins from Marine Scotland itor to better understand not just gills but how of all the current research relevant to gill health. the water and water quality can change’.

There are 16 projects in Scotland, ranging from ‘This was really useful because she spoke about relatively modest initiatives conducted through the different components of plankton, how some SARF right up to big European projects, of which of those are a challenge for gill health but how gill health is one component. some are good indicators of how things will Does the industry feel that the research is change, and a measure of the water quality.’ more applied now?

The SSPO’s technical executive Jamie Smith ‘We can always ask for improvement in how gave an update on the satellite monitoring research is taken from a fundamental stage into service, run by Plymouth Marine Laboratory and more applied activity by more applied researchused by some SSPO members, that shows the ers but I think we’re progressing in that area,’ said Dr Berrill.

‘There is a lot of work going on and also there are the in-house projects that companies are doing – things like the freshwater treatments that individual producers are trialling to see what works best.

‘Abdon Ryan said they undertook a number of small trials before their first freshwater treat-

We factor in plenty of “ time for breaks and there

is a lot of networking outwith the formal talks

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”

ments. There’s always this development activity that goes on at a farm, which is not something we always capture in detail unless we hold these industry workshops.

‘But the benefit of the meeting format we use is that we factor in plenty of time for breaks and there is a lot of networking outwith the formal talks. The meeting in Inverness finished at 5pm and at 6pm there were still people catching up. A lot of people also came the night before and networked in the hotel before the meeting started.’

He said the structure of the day is very much led by the SSPO’s members. The company health managers meet about four times a year and they put together a draft format on what they want to talk about.

‘This meeting was tailored towards helping the health professionals on the ground, just like the previous meeting on cleaner fish. ‘ A Gill Health Initiative meeting will follow the workshop, this time bringing together researchers and academics. It will be a multi-nation meeting with experts attending from as far afield as Australia - Barbara Nowak from the University of Tasmania and Mat Cooke and Richard Taylor, AGD experts at CSIRO (the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) – as well as representatives from salmon farming companies.

Dr Berrill said the May 17 workshop was primarily about raising the profile of gill health, ‘making people more aware and giving them access to information that they can then go and follow up afterwards’. FF

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06/06/2016 11:20:54

Canada – British Columbia

Going west

Record Asian exports ‘tip of the iceberg’ for BC salmon farmers

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new federal government, a new fisheries minister and a set of very encouraging export figures have all made the prospects for aquaculture in British Columbia look very bright half way through 2016.

The export boom – announced last month – saw a new record set for farmed salmon, with an increase in volume exported of 140 per cent since the previous high in 2012.

The British Columbia Salmon Farmers’ Association (BCSFA), which exports around 70 per cent of production, said the significance of the 2015 figures was the diversity of the countries BC is now trading with, and the year on year increase in that trade.

‘It really highlights for our regulators here in Canada that there is a great opportunity to sell more fish and there is a clear demand in emerging markets,’ said BCSFA executive director Jeremy Dunn. ‘If we had the opportunity to grow more fish, we know where we’d sell it.’

The market in Asia has opened up in particular, with exports now going to China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.

BCSFA has 41 members but only six of those actually grow fish – the rest are feed companies and service and supply companies.

The two largest BC salmon farmers, Marine Harvest and Cermaq, have had greater Asian strategies over the last couple of years, said Dunn, and Cermaq being purchased by Mitsubishi has ‘opened up some new avenues for trade for them in parts of Asia’.

‘Through our membership in the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, our industry did have positions in key exhibitions in Asia.

‘The BC Ministry of International Trade is also involved in promoting seafood in Asia and through meetings as well as through trade expositions.’

A new trade deal with South Korea will soon come into force ‘so you’re starting to see the real tip of the iceberg there’, while the market in Vietnam is growing too, and there is rapid growth in China and Taiwan.

‘Not all the export markets are in Asia but primarily in BC our planes fly west rather than east,’ said Dunn.

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BC Salmon.indd 22

“hadIf we the

opportunity to grow more fish we know where we’d sell it

”

Above: Jeremy Dunn, BCSFA executive director

‘BC and Canada have a very strong history of trading with Asia and we are well positioned from a geographic perspective to get into those coastal cities.’

Dunn said the challenge now was to make sure production keeps up with those markets. He believes the new federal fisheries minister, appointed by the Trudeau government after the winter election, is broadly supportive.

Hunter Tootoo spent his first few months in office travelling the country and learning about fisheries, including aquaculture. He signalled his commitment to the marine economy last month with a multi-million dollar investment in research and scientists.

‘We hosted him on a tour of a salmon farm in British Columbia on December 18, which was within a month of him being elected,’ said Dunn.

‘The next month he was on farms and in research facilities on the east coast of Canada and he is focusing on the wild fisheries as well.

‘He has certainly taken the time to do his homework and learn the sector.

I think he comes from a very unique position as a federal fisheries minister, the first from Ninivet, from our northern coast, and he comes from an Innuit background where the ocean is the most important piece of the economy.

‘That’s a real important factor for our members in rural coastal communities that the ocean environment is looked upon as the key part of the economy of the future.

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

06/06/2016 11:22:06

Going west ‘There’s employment for coastal communities and very strong wild resources on all three of Canada’s coasts but he recognises, as do many, that if we are to grow our seafood business, the vast majority of that growth is going to be through aquaculture.’

National regulations came into force recently in Canada and fish farmers are still in their first year of working under the new regime.

‘It’s important for aquaculture in Canada to have new sites identified and a bold vision for the future, a future that would talk about the ability to grow more products that are desired, more species, and for our members that would be more salmon, primarily Atlantic, in more sites that are well suited to growing healthy quality fish,’ said Dunn.

He said Cermaq, Marine Harvest and Grieg are all trying to identify new locations to farm, which in BC entails working with the First Nations. There are currently 19 agreements in place in the province, negotiated by individual companies and First Nation representatives.

‘If you’re performing an economic activity in their territory it’s incumbent upon you as a company to not only consult with the First Nations but also to work out an impact benefits agreement and a protocol with the Nation to ensure they have an opportunity to share those benefits.’

Despite the imperative to grow the industry, Dunn said expansion will be relatively limited.

‘We’re currently at 75,000 tonnes; I think in the next three years production plans would see us getting north of 80, somewhere between 8085,000 tonnes; 85,000 would be the far reaches.

‘We’ve got the same coastline as Norway so we’re growing 75,000 tonnes in the same space as they’re growing almost 1.3 million tonnes.

‘There’s no desire to ever get anywhere close to that but we know there’s an opportunity to find new great sites to grow fish and we know there’s an opportunity for others in aquaculture in other species, including shellfish.’

Is there an interest in going further offshore as in Norway?

‘We’re actively watching those developments in Norway. We have a much different coastline and a much different storm profile – it would certainly be harder to go into more exposed sites,’ said Dunn.

‘It’s early days in those conversations but if there’s a willingness of the Nations to participate then there would be a great opportunity to farm salmon.’

Biological issues challenging production include the summer’s harmful algal blooms – ‘the biggest problem affecting the total biomass in any year’ said Dunn – but they have to contend with sea lice too.

Hydrogen peroxide has been in use for about two years on a limited basis but is uncommon compared to Norway.

‘We’ve been using SLICE in BC as the only mitigation for sea lice since it came on the market,’ said Dunn. ‘Now our members are working on a more integrated pest management approach to use multiple products, but really the focus is on trying to move to a regime that would see more non

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BC Salmon.indd 23

medicinal mitigation measures used.’

So the measures being trialled in Norway and Scotland are of great interest and last month the BCSFA announced it would invest in a project to determine if kelp perch or pile perch are effective in picking sea lice from salmon.

‘We’ve got a research project that we’ve just funded with the Vancouver Aquarium looking into a Pacific cleaner fish that shows some early signs of being able to pick the sea lice. It’s encouraging but it’s very early days,’ said Dunn.

‘And then if that works we’ll see if this is a fish that can be cultured. There’s a lot of ifs but we’re encouraged that we’ve got the right research team on it and are hopeful that we can get there.

‘We’ve seen the success of the cleaner fish in the Atlantic Ocean and it’s encouraging that there might be a chance to do that here.’

Dunn said this year is already looking good for exports.

‘While the US is our primary trading partner, we’ve had an environment of a relatively low Canadian dollar for the first number of months of 2016, so that’s giving us a competitive place in the market.

‘We’re also seeing companies at this point that have seen strong volumes being harvested so our markets are in a good place, and when I ask the companies where their trajectories are at the moment they say they look slightly better than the last year.

‘We are just entering the warm months here and the algal season so we’ll just have to see how all of that plays out.

‘The most encouraging thing for us from an association and an industry perspective is the fact that we’re into these countries, we’re starting active trade and we know there’s a lot of room to be able to grow that trade.’ FF

BC salmon farmers welcome public

For the 10th year in a row, the BCSFA is offering farm tours this summer to members of the public. Participants will have the opportunity to visit a salmon farm during the four-hour trips and learn more about how the industry works.

‘Tours offer a valuable inside look into sustainable salmon farming operations, and give participants a chance to connect with farmers who take pride in growing the world’s best fish,’ said David Minato, regulatory affairs and community manager for the BCSFA. People want to visit a salmon farm for many different reasons. While some want to learn more about the industry, others see it as a unique and exciting experience – one that provides a great opportunity to spend the day out on the ocean.

‘We have toured hundreds of local and international participants over the last 10 years, and are excited to continue sharing the story of the salmon farming industry in BC,’ said Minato.

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06/06/2016 11:22:26

Research – Ardtoe

Atack leaves for new adventure Ardtoe marks the past and ushers in the future

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AI Aquaculture managing director Dr Tim Atack has left the centre to take up a new job farming sea bass and sea bream in Cyprus.

Taking over as acting managing director is veterinarian Marie-Clare Russell, who has been working for the last year at the Ardtoe marine research facility as a consultant, helping Atack on a major upgrade to the site.

Jim Treasurer, Atack’s long-time collaborator at Ardtoe, said his colleague ‘wanted one more aquaculture adventure’.

‘He’s working with one of his old friends who is expanding his sea bass and sea bream farm. He worked there before so he knows it very well…he thought it was time for a change.’

Atack, who left last month, had been at Ardtoe for 12 years, and along with Treasurer took over the running of the centre for seven years, until it was bought by Benchmark Holdings in 2014.

Internationally renowned, Ardtoe has been instrumental in the development of the aquaculture industry and celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. It marked the milestone with an open day and ceilidh in May. Russell has had a lengthy association with aquaculture and salmon farming, too, said Treasurer. Her husband, John Russell, runs Glenarm Organic Salmon in Northern Ireland.

She will be overseeing three sites for Ardtoe, all focused on lumpfish production, because of the demand from the salmon industry in Norway and Scotland to counter sea lice infections.

One site, in Aultbea on Loch Ewe, was formerly owned by Marine Scotland and has been renovated by Ardtoe’s team, who have a long-

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Ardtoe Workshop.indd 24

Top: Former hatchery supervisor John Dye looking at the display; Malcolm Gillespie, former site manager for Seafish, is in the foreground. Above: Dr Tim Atack Above Right: Jim Treasurer (third right) at SSF. Right: Refurbishment at Ardtoe.

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06/06/2016 11:31:48

Atack leaves for new adventure

term lease. It has both marine facilities and a good freshwater supply as well so it’s quite a flexible site, said Treasurer.

It was due to open last month with the arrival of the first lumpfish eggs. Another new site in Shetland is due to open at the end of this year. It was the old cod site that was taken down after the cod farming collapsed.

Treasurer said the centre at Ardtoe has basically been rebuilt; the new facility is now up and waiting to be kitted out, mainly by Sterner Aquaculture. It should be completed within the next couple of months.

Ardtoe’s work in feed trials, general hatchery production, shellfish production, selective breeding, and research into cleaner fish will continue at the refurbished site.

Treasurer said the open day attracted ‘all the former boys’. There was a big turnout, ‘including the local community, many of whom worked at Ardtoe over the years, and a lot of people in the industry came back’.

‘We had a lot of old photographs from 50 years back, and cine film of aquaculture from 50 years ago, and then a ceilidh in the village hall with more than 100 people.’

Ardtoe was an early pioneer of wrasse farming and before then – 30 to 40 years ago - it also farmed turbot, plaice, halibut, lobster, and shellfish.

Treasurer said the cine films, which had captured some of those early years, were brought back specially to mark the 50th anniversary. FF

was a big turnout, including “theThere local community, many of whom worked here ”

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Ardtoe Workshop.indd 25

Aviemore workshop features Smart tagging system FAI Aquaculture hosted a workshop at Aquaculture UK 2016 presenting a new tagging system being developed for fresh fish transport, from harvest to processing and onward to retailers.

The core product is an electronic label based on an electronic device, which is printed on to a thin and flexible label that is attached to individual food packages.

It has been created by SmartFish, a collaboration project between researchers and companies from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Scotland, supported by the Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme.

Details of the platform concept (University of Iceland), the tagging system and capabilities (Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Finland), relation to product quality and a traceability information system (Nofima, Norway), and consumer acceptance surveys (Faifarms, Scotland) were presented at the workshop.

The main items being logged continuously are temperature, location and time. Fish can be monitored using this technology from harvest or capture until served at the dinner table. The system is interactive and will enable remedial action to be taken in the event of temperature increasing above the normal range.

There was wide discussion during the workshop regarding best use of the technology and it was agreed that consultation should take place with retailers. A virtual demonstration was given to show how the system works. This was followed by a visit to the South Shian processing plant of Scottish Sea Farms which, along with Pinneys of Scotland, is an associate partner of SmartFish and is helping assist trials.

For further information see www.smart-fish.eu and https://www. facebook.com/SmartFishProject.

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06/06/2016 11:32:20

Aquaculture Europe 2016 – Edinburgh

CAPITAL conference Excitement building as Scotland gets set to host leading industry forum

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dinburgh is preparing to host a major gathering of industry leaders and thinkers at Aquaculture Europe 2016, which takes place in the Scottish capital in September.

The plenary speakers will include Anne MacColl, the recently appointed chair of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation. There will also be the culmination of a national schools engagement programme led by Nicki Holmyard from Seafood Scotland.

The theme of the three-day conference – being held in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) from September 20-23 – is ‘food for thought’.

Speakers and panels drawn from across the industry will look at the opportunities for expansion and the obstacles to growth in Europe.

Organised by the European Aquaculture Society, the event includes a trade exhibition, which has attracted a record number of companies.

There will be nearly 100 stands from all over Europe, as well as from China and the US. The conference will run between six and eight parallel conference sessions over the three days, covering a wide range of issues, from cleaner fish research, to algae production, and from new sources of protein in fish feed to mitigation of deformity.

Submissions came from more than 40 countries and the presentations will include about 200 posters as well as over 300 oral presentations.

Organic aquaculture; consumer demands, labelling and certification; governance, policy and strategic planning; production of copepods as live feeds; selective breeding; and recent advances in digestive physiology are among the many subjects on the agenda.

As this is the 40th anniversary of the EAS, all past presidents have been invited, and about 17 are expected to attend, joining the new president, Bjorn Myrseth, in Edinburgh. They will help chair the conference sessions and add their expertise to the various debates.

This year’s conference sees a particularly high commercial industry interaction with multiple parallel industry forum events running on all three days.

These will give participants the chance to pitch their research to as wide an audience as possible, while also gaining valuable opportunity to listen to, and talk with, commercial stakeholders from across Europe to prioritise

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Above: Edinburgh city centre

research direction for the coming years.

Industry meetings taking place during the conference will include the AGMs of national trade associations such as the British Trout Association.

The European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATIP), the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), and Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council and Natural Environment Research Council (BBSRC/NERC) will also hold special meetings at the conference centre.

For more information about Aquaculture Europe 2016 visit www.easonline.org FF

will have the chance “to Participants pitch their research to as wide an audience as possible ”

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

06/06/2016 11:35:07

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03/06/2016 11:55:44

Industry pioneer – Chris Gould

Good as Gould MSD’s technical man makes ‘clever science’ work on farms

D

uring a seminar at Aquaculture UK in Aviemore last month, MSD’s Dr Chris Gould was introduced by his colleague Dafydd Morris as a rugby playing 50-year-old.

Gould does in fact still play rugby – for his local team in a village outside Northampton – but he has not yet reached his half century.

‘I’m 47 and I’ll get him back for that later,’ said the affable technical expert of the pharmaceutical group, who nevertheless qualifies as a veteran in the industry.

Gould is MSD Animal Health’s manager of global technical services and will be well known to fish farmers, not just in the UK, but in all the countries where salmon and trout is cultivated.

His talk at the MSD seminar was about the reduction in virus shedding following vaccination – a complicated study which he managed to explain for the benefit of any laymen in the audience.

That has been a major part of his role over the years, ‘translating some of that clever science into a meaningful message for people on the farms’.

MSD has excellent people working in R&D at the company’s two research centres, in Bergen and Singapore, but Gould said his focus is on the farmers.

‘I consider myself to be an implementologist – I’m not sure if that’s a proper word – taking products out of R&D and helping to make them work on the farms.’

This task takes him to wherever in the world salmon is farmed and he was preparing for a trip to Chile soon after the Aviemore show.

If he is ideally suited to his travelling lifestyle it’s perhaps because he started young. Born in Exeter, his family moved around for his father’s

My “ favourite

part of the job has always been helping farmers with their problems and trying to offer solutions

”

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Industry Pioneer - june.indd 28

job as a commercial pilot. They lived for a while in Northern Ireland, before settling in the Middle East and Gould was sent to boarding school in Hampshire aged ten.

He then spent ‘as many years at university as I possibly could’ and collected degrees, but there was no career planning.

‘I started with a zoology degree at University College London and finished it in the late eighties, which coincided with zoology being the most highly unemployable degree for graduates.’

He came out not knowing what he wanted to do so spent a couple of summers working in the south of France, in the Ardeche, teaching kids how to kayak.

‘Then I thought I should do something with my education. I had always been more interested in the fish side of things, both through the zoology course and because I used to do a lot of fishing as a kid.’

He applied for an MSC in marine and fisheries science at Aberdeen University. Around that time, the small vaccine firm AVL (Aquaculture Vaccines Ltd) was setting up a PhD to study proliferative kidney disease – a big problem in freshwater trout.

‘All the field work was going to be based down in the south, in the Test Valley in Hampshire, and all the lab work was in Aberdeen. So for my three month MSC project I did a little study of PKD, really to see if the logistics of that PhD would work.

‘During the process of doing that I got quite interested so applied for the PhD and got it.

For five years I worked on the trout farms in the south and then spent the winters in the university in Aberdeen doing all the lab analysis. Towards the end of the PhD I got a call from AVL asking if I wanted a job.’

Led by Patrick Smith, AVL was the pioneer of trout vaccines in Europe, taking ERM (Enteric Redmouth Disease) vaccines developed in the US and securing the rights in Europe.

‘Patrick was a one man band for a while and then Robin Wardle joined in 1985, and then they started to develop vaccines for salmon too.’

Gould came on board in 1995, initially as field trials manager. AVL was based in Saffron Walden and he was living in his parents’ house in Basingstoke while they were still in the

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06/06/2016 11:38:18

Good as Gould

Left: Chris Gould. Above: Trout

Middle East.

AVL had just developed the ERM oral vaccine which went on to become the first registered oral vaccine for fish in Europe.

‘My job was to take it from the lab, where they’d demonstrated that it worked, and get it on to the farms and make it work there.’

The venture was ‘very successful’, said Gould, and they were able to reduce the level of disease. The company subsequently pioneered many of the fish health solutions that are now used throughout the industry.

Gould provided the technical back-up service but his role soon expanded until he was responsible for the whole of the trout business in Europe.

‘We split the business into species so Robin was looking after the salmon and I was looking after the trout and we had a lady in Italy who was looking after sea bass and sea bream.’

He travelled a lot – mainly to France, Spain, Denmark, Italy and Germany, as well as within the UK –which suited him down to the ground.

‘I would struggle to be stuck in an office every day. I need to get out and see different places and different people. My favourite part of the job has always been being on the farms, talking to the farmers, helping them with their problems and trying to offer solutions.’

In the early days, he was driving 65,000 miles a year but now he spends more time in the air as his role has become increasingly global with the takeover of AVL by bigger companies.

In 2002, Schering-Plough acquired AVL and its people and products.

Gould became part of their global aquaculture team, working on the

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Industry Pioneer - june.indd 29

technical side, first with trout and then with salmon.

And when Schering-Plough bought Intervet, about five years later, he became the salmonid technical director for the global team.

‘We’d gone from a company that initially only had a few salmon and trout vaccines, to Schering and then Intervet with all those vaccines. I was working much more by then on the salmon side of things, going down to Chile and to Norway and Canada.’

MSD purchased the group in 2009 and Gould, who had for a while been involved in sales too, has remained in more or less the same technical role – it’s just grown bigger, he said.

Now, 90 to 95 per cent of his work is with salmon and over the past few years much of that has been sea lice management.

‘SLICE [medicated feed containing emamectin benzoate] is our product so I’ve been doing a lot of work to try and optimise its use, and a lot of work more generally on sea lice and management control.

‘I think that will change somewhat. Sea lice are never going to go away from the industry and dealing with them is always going to be a

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Industry pioneer – Chris Gould

large part of the job, but increasingly there will be more on the biological side.

‘There are increasing problems with the available pharmaceuticals in terms of lice developing intolerance to various products in various parts of the world.

‘That means we have to think very carefully about what products we’re using and where, and also it makes the use of biological methods like cleaner fish more important.’

However, while he thinks it’s a worthy goal among some in the industry to be pharmaceutical free, he is not sure that will be achieved in the short-term –‘maybe in the long term’.

‘It would be very unusual for any one farm to use one solution only – biological, pharmaceutical or mechanical. You really need a combination of all those things. And you will certainly for the foreseeable future It is not easy to

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Top: Trout farm; Above left and opposite:: MSD vaccination team; Above right: Salmon farm.

develop a single vaccine for this purpose.’

Why is that so hard?

‘It’s not impossible but parasite vaccines are very difficult, a lot harder to create than either viral or bacterial vaccines. They are big animals that often go through a lot of life cycle stages. But every company involved in aquaculture is more than likely to have a team working on this.’

Since last year Gould has been more involved in introducing MSD Animal Health’s new multivalent vaccines, Aquavac PD7 in Norway and PD3 in the UK, to the market.

‘The uptake has been really good so there will be a lot more work supporting those vaccines. The sea lice thing is always going to be there but the PD3 and PD7 will be more part of the work load.

‘We didn’t have any multivalents that people needed before so now our guys in Norway and in the UK are getting a lot more requests to talk to the salmon companies about vaccines.’

He said not all the farmers are using it in the UK, ‘but there has been a big shift towards PD3, and PD7 actually, in Shetland’.

Although PD7 only has full registration in Norway it is being used in

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Good as Gould

the UK under an SIC (special import certificate).

‘They need it in Shetland because they are seeing problems with some of the bacterial diseases that PD7 protects against and PD3 doesn’t,’ he said.

‘In the last year or so there’s been an apparent increase in cases of Vibrio Salmonicida (cold winter vibriosis) and Moritella Viscosa (winter wounds).’

He admits they thought PD3 would provide the necessary vaccine range needed in Scotland.

‘The disease landscape changes – you see shifts and different diseases coming in. It never stays the same.’

Is that why he enjoys his work?

‘Well, I’ve been doing it for more than 20 years so I’m either enjoying it or I’m incredibly unimaginative,’ he said.

‘Of course, every job has its frustrations but, apart from winning the lottery and not doing anything at all, I can’t think of any other job I want to do.

‘It’s not a nine to five job but you are motivat-

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Industry Pioneer - june.indd 31

The disease landscape changes – you see “shifts and different diseases coming in ”

ed by helping the farmer keep his fish alive and that may mean long days, but I’m not a special case. We all work long hours and wouldn’t do it if we didn’t enjoy what we were doing.’

Gould acknowledges the professionalism of the industry today and the evolution that has taken place since he first started in aquaculture.

He won’ take any credit for this except to

say he may have ‘brought some value to some farmers in controlling their disease problems’.

‘The way they farm has changed hugely over the years, the disease control is better because there’s a much bigger range of vaccines, there are more tools to control sea lice, and production methods and technologies are much better.

‘It’s a very impressive industry.’ FF

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06/06/2016 11:39:40

Aviemore – Introduction

First resort Industry gathers in the Highlands for the UK’s biggest fish farming showcase

T

he aquaculture industry descended on the resort town of Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands at the end of May for what has become the biggest and busiest gathering for the sector in the UK. A record number of exhibitors – just over 130 - took stands and there were more than 1,400 participants over the two-day event.

This was the tenth year of Aquaculture UK but the first show for the new organisers, 5M Publishing (part of the Benchmark Group), which took over from David Mack after the 2014 exhibition.

Matt Colvan, director of 5M, said he was pleased to see so many farmers out in force, even though they don’t take stands at the show.

‘This ground breaking exhibition is recognised as the essential place to launch and promote new products, meet new customers, establish relationships with buyers and suppliers, and network with everyone from industry leaders to academics, hands-on researchers, government agencies and international journalists,’ he said.

The two-day seminar programme this year was bigger than before, thanks to the addition of an extra conference tent, and a wide range of industry experts covered topics from fish health and biosecurity to aquaculture equipment and technology.

The opening day featured seminars on the latest in breeding salmon with resistance to economically important diseases, seaweed farming technology and advances in fish health, biosecurity and sea lice control.

Ronnie Soutar of Aqualife gave an expert overview at the MSD seminar of the challenges and solutions for fish health; Fish Farmer’s columnist Nick Joy delivered his own views

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on the state of the industry; and Ivar Warrer-Hansen of Inter Aqua Advance offered insights into post-smolt production in recirculation systems.

‘The focus is on making sure the discussions at the conference reflect the most important issues that are relevant and current for the industry,’ said Colvan.

The Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre, one of the show’s main sponsors, held an interactive poll on the trade show floor to gather opinions on a new centre of excellence for the industry.

On the final afternoon of the show delegates congregated in tent one to share their thoughts on the initiative, which is being spearheaded by former Marine Harvest managing director Alan Sutherland.

As well as the seminar sessions, the trade show offered companies the chance to demonstrate their latest products and expertise with those working in the industry.

David Thorburn, general manager of AKVA Group Scotland, said: ‘The exhibition was extremely well organised and very well attended.

‘As a Scottish supplier we are proud to show our continuing support for our local exhibition and industry.

‘The event was a great success for us and the future looks good with the event looking to grow and expand.’

The new managing director of Marine Harvest, Ben Hadfield, was also at the show, as were leading figures from many other big players in the industry, including EWOS CEO Einar Wathne and the company’s Douglas Low, who has just stepped down as Scottish managing director and is looking forward to retirement later this year.

Dawnfresh chairman Alastair Salvesen was at the exhibition and also at the gala dinner, which was held in the Macdonald Highland Resort’s conference centre and attracted more than 600 guests.

Otter Ferry’s Alastair Barge dropped by the Fish Farmer stand and reminded us that his company will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year.

And the new chairman of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation, Anne MacColl, appeared on day two and took the opportunity to meet up with key people in the sector.

Fish Farmer would like to say a big thank you to all those, including many readers, who visited our stand, and also to MSD for their mint green ice cream, in bountiful supply throughout the show, and to Skretting for keeping the coffee flowing.

Matt Colvan said plans are already in the making for Aquaculture UK 2018. FF

Image: Osprey hunting for fish, taken near Aviemore

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First resort

“

The event was a great success for us and the future looks good

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Aviemore - Intro.indd 33

�

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06/06/2016 11:42:19

Aquaculture UK 2016

Big move for Mohn’s Mal

M

al Scott, the driving force behind Mohn Aqua for the past 11 years, is leaving to take up a new job at AKVA, as operations manager.

Joining him at the Inverness based supplier will be his son Martin. Both had decided to leave their roles at Forres based Mohn Aqua after the firm was bought by Gael Force earlier this year.

‘I thought I’d gone as far as I could,’ said Mal. ‘I was humbled to receive four

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Below: Mal Scott

offers of employment following my resignation from Mohn Aqua.

‘The interest and commitment that AKVA showed to both Martin and myself cemented the decision to make the move.’

Mal said the past few years at Mohn Aqua have been difficult, as he tried to rebuild the company’s share of the Scottish market when he took over at the helm four years ago.

‘HIE (Highlands and Islands Enterprise) were wonderful and I couldn’t have survived without them,’ he said. The Board provided not just financial support and strategy development but gave him a business mentor too.

‘We’d had a close team of 15 people but no proper business structures.’

Mohn Aqua has a well established name in the industry but the firm had been facing an uncertain future without further investment. Gael Force plans to invest in product development, production, sales and servicing support of the product range, which includes underwater cameras, sensors and acoustic deterrent devices.

Mal said Mohn Aqua’s research and development expertise and its technology are a good fit with Gael Force, but it’s the right time for him to move on.

‘It’s been a really good 11 years and I’ll miss my colleagues, but I’m looking forward to a new challenge.’

AKVA is growing fast in the UK, he said, and has opened a new site in Inverness. He will be operations manager at the existing facility, looking after the UK business, while David Thorburn, general manager of AKVA in Scotland, will take on more of the growing business in Europe.

‘Norway has released a lot of the European side to Scotland so David’s role there is increasing – supplying markets in Turkey, Greece and Spain, as well as in Iran and China.’

There are now around 50 staff in Inverness, including his son, who has already started as a service coordinator.

Mal, though, plans to take a short sabbatical before starting at AKVA in July. He is heading off to Scotland’s west coast for a month with his wife in their motor home for ‘wild camping on the beautiful beaches’.

Although holidaying in his professional stamping ground, he said he wouldn’t be anywhere else- ‘I’m obviously in the right job.’

He still has a shareholding interest in Mohn Technology, which was not acquired by Gael Force, and is hoping a new lice detection camera, currently being tested at a Marine Harvest site, will be on the market by the end of this year. FF

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06/06/2016 11:45:25

Aquaculture UK 2016

Injection of confidence

Left: MSD’s Camilla Macdonald (just seen), Campbell Morrison, and Chris Gould

S

ales of MSD Animal Health’s new compound vaccine Aquavac PD7 have taken off, said the company’s CEO in Norway, Johan Kvalheim.

Some 60 million doses were sold in 2015 although it was only launched in the summer. This represents 60 per cent of the market in the south of Norway, where the product has been targeted to combat SAV3 (the salmonid alphavirus that

causes pancreas disease).

‘In 2016, we will have 80 to 90 per cent of the market in the south,’ said Kvalheim. Farmers in the region who have used the vaccine so far are happy because there are so few side effects with one injection, and they are seeing the results of better fish welfare.

Aquavac PD7 protects against the seven main pathogens affecting salmon, including pancreas

disease—one of the most costly diseases in the salmon industry— furunculosis and infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN). A three-in-one vaccine, PD3, was launched for the UK market last year.

Kvalheim said the next target for PD7 is in mid-Norway, where SAV2 is endemic. Mortality rates here are not as high as in the SAV3 zone, but the impact on growth is significant. He believes this market is about to take off too. FF

TEAMING UP FOR TROUT HEALTH MSD Animal Health has teamed up with Europharma UK in an exclusive deal to provide the best service in the distribution of its trout health products.

Nikos Steiropoulos of Europharma UK said: ‘We are excited about working in partnership with MSD Animal Health in the distribution of their trout health products, to ensure the best service to customers.

‘This new partnership will give our customers the benefit of our experience and specialist knowledge, developed over many years supporting the aquaculture industry, and will help producers achieve sustainable and profitable production.’

Europharma brings a wealth of experience to the market, including its Fishguardprogramme, a 360 degree ‘veterinary husbandry’ approach that combines veterinary medicine and animal husbandry.

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Aviemore.indd 35

Company staff will be on hand to offer bespoke advice and experience in key fields such as nutrition, water quality, recirculation, breeding and fish biology, to ensure the smoothest transition for the new distribution method.

Dafydd Morris, business manager of aquaculture at MSD, said: ‘Operating as our exclusive wholesaler, Europharma brings a wealth of experience to the market, including on site aquaculture veterinary support who can advise and support the growth of the service where required.’

In advance of the new service going live, customer workshops were held across the UK, offering the trout industry, from vets to producers, the opportunity to meet with representatives of MSD and Europharma to discuss how to make best use of the opportuAbove: Nikos Steiropoulos and Dafydd Morris nities this change will bring.

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06/06/2016 11:45:44

Aquaculture UK 2016

Fighting ‘mythco n ‘We need to take our gloves off a bit’

Wise firms get

Knowledge

S

ince Aqua Knowledge was set up as a separate outlet of parent Morenot in February it has secured two big farming clients in the UK, Marine Harvest and Scottish Sea Farms, for its database service MMCD (Morenot Main Component Database).

The system’s software helps farmers in the day to day running of their farms, allowing them to keep track of their technical equipment, as well as inspection intervals for nets, moorings and cages.

Overall, more than 300 sites use MMCD for stock control, reporting, daily maintenance and the other routine demands of farm management.

Carla Macvicar, database administrator, said the service is tailored to Scottish farms and regulations, and interest in the system has increased following the introduction of the Scottish Technical Standard last year.

Although the deadline for compliance with the standard is not until 2020, Aqua Knowledge’s CEO, Yngve Askeland, said it takes a few years to get updated so the ‘wisest firms have already started’.

He said the Scottish standard is stricter in some aspects and ‘better’ than the Norwegian version which is older, having been launched in 2003 and then revised in 2009.

‘The Scots have seen how it works in Norway and improved on it,’ he said.

For example, the way current speeds are measured is better in the Scottish standard.

The big companies knew about the Aqua Knowledge system, which was developed in January 2015, and came on board once the standard was published.

Other farmers are now looking at it too and hopefully will follow suit, said Macvicar. FF

Above: Fish Farmer’s William Dowds visits Morenot

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Aviemore.indd 36

T

wo leading industry experts addressed issues such as public perceptions of salmon farming, how a bad press can influence development and how statistics have been manipulated by the sector’s critics.

Nick Joy, co-founder and former managing director of Loch Duart – and Fish Farmer’s columnist- told a packed tent one in Aviemore that rural business is in jeopardy.

‘We need systems underpinning food production that make sense,’ he said, adding that one-size-fits-all regulations are illogical.

‘Mythconceptions’ about salmon farming are spread by campaigners who make the evidence fit the theory and then put pressure on the government agencies to create more regulations.

These agencies have more to gain by saying ‘no’ to farm applications, with the result that the sector doesn’t grow.

A way to get round this, Joy suggested, was to locate the regulators in the communities they serve.

Scientists, too, need to move back into the community and science needs to be separated from management. If the people who made the decisions had to face the people they said ‘no’ to, the outcome might be different.

Joy, who had hoped the new fisheries minister would be at the conference, said he would like to tell him: ‘Let’s look at the planning system, and make it more local, more community based, and try to get it down to a

“

Digging up fields for potatoes is okay but putting fish in water isn’t

”

Above: Busy show floor Below: Nick Joy

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06/06/2016 11:49:57

Aquaculture UK 2016

o nceptions’ level where one person can understand it…Currently, we’re at chaos.’

He also said the industry should be less afraid of getting its message out to the public, ‘be more open about our mistakes and talk more about what our intentions are’.

‘We have to take our gloves off a bit.’

He questioned why agriculture was more acceptable than aquaculture – ‘digging up fields for potatoes is okay but putting fish in water isn’t’.

‘We have to stop thinking of things as pristine – the sea isn’t pristine. It’s a classic Luddite position.’

Later, Dr Martin Jaffa said his detailed research of Scottish river systems showed there was no correlation between sea lice from fish farms and the decline of wild catches.

Angling organisations such as Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland and environmental lobbysists would have us believe that sea lice are the scourge of wild salmon, but a closer look at catch data going back to the 1950s paints a very different picture.

In some east coast rivers, for example, catches had decreased, while in some west coast systems, such as the River Lochy, there had been a big revival in wild catches, despite being next to major fish farms hubs.

There was conflicting evidence of trout numbers declining in the same rivers where salmon stocks showed an increase. Why, asked Dr Jaffa, would the sea lice from nearby farms affect the trout but not the salmon?

He suggested there must be alternative explanations for dwindling wild catches but said it was easier to blame the arrival of fish farms.

In some fisheries, such as the Clayburn on Harris in the Outer Hebrides, the stocks collapsed four years before the arrival of salmon farms in the area, according to the data.

And numbers of sea trout have been in decline since the 1950s, so what we are seeing is a continuation of an existing trend, and nothing to do with salmon farming. In fact, 50 per cent of west coast rivers are showing some form of increase in wild catches over the period of more than 60 years that Dr Jaffa investigated.

Nick Joy: Page 66 Dr Martin Jaffa: wwwcallandermcdowell. co.uk FF

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Vision for growth

Stewart Graham, managing director of Gael Force, was out and about on the exhibition floor, explaining plans for the new Vision 2030 group he is heading.

Along with Dennis Overton, chairman of Aquacscot, and a committee of industry leaders, Graham will be taking views from various stakeholders in the sector in the months ahead.

This will be the first industry led strategy, which has the main aim of doubling production in the UK by 2030.

Once evidence has been gathered from industry sources, a draft report will be prepared, hopefully by August. Then, said Graham, there will be a workshop in early September to discuss its recommendations.

The report will feed into Scotland Food

and Drink’s overall industry strategy for 2017-2030.

The aquaculture strategy will cover the entire supply chain, including farming, equipment supply, infrastructure, processing, research and innovation, the role of the public sector and marketing, according to the group.

Increasing production capacity will depend on reviewing the regulatory and planning process, and Graham acknowledged that previous consenting reviews had gathered dust on ministerial shelves.

He is encouraged, though, by the recent appointment of Fergus Ewing to the aquaculture brief and said the group will be asking the government what it can do to easily unlock obstacles to growth and streamline planning bodies.

Drumming up business

Aviemore regular Aubert Faivre brought a range of his drum filters, fish graders, counters and pumps from his

base in Baume-lesDames in the east of France.

A world leader in the manufacture of machines for the

aquaculture industry, Faivre has been developing its products for 50 years, after Claude Faivre invented the first automatic calibrator for trout.

Claude’s sons, sales manager Aubert and his brother Frederic, co-manager of

production, were in Aviemore to discuss Faivre’s filtration and grading systems on their busy stand.

The company has a high profile presence in the international market, attending key shows around the world. It has completed projects in more than 40 countries and has a network of global dealers to be closer to its customers.

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Aquaculture UK 2016

Boat is roaming lice buster

S

ince Steinsvik’s Thermolicer came on to the market last year it has been deployed on a number of farms as an alternative to chemicals or drugs.

Fitted on to barges or boats, the system works by exploiting the low tolerance of sea lice to changes in temperature, and can remove on average 95 per cent of lice, according to the company.

The fish are crowded and pumped into the Thermolicer machine and bathed briefly in lukewarm water. The lice die and fall off the fish, after which they are collected and destroyed.

Developed over the past nine years, Thermolicer has won approval from the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, as well as from salmon farmers, with 30 machines sold and an estimated 400,000 tonnes of fish deloused in the past year.

Now another enterprising Norwegian is taking the concept a step further, installing the machine on to his own boat, which he plans to charter out to farms.

Svein Simonsen, managing director of Finnmark wellboat company Barents Management, bought his 42.8m boat – renamed Simon TBN - in Scotland and is currently fitting it with a twin Thermolicer system, which he plans to operate in Scottish waters.

‘We are just doing the installation now and it’s going to be ready in July,’ said Simonsen, who has a background in the oil industry.

The idea is to tour Scottish sites with the one boat and then add more vessels to meet demand if necessary.

As Tore Laastad, sales manager of Steinsvik’s Thermolicer, said, normally

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It will be “especially

useful for smaller companies

”

Above: Svein Simonsen

the bigger fish farmers buy the machines but Simonsen’s venture is an independent operation – and ‘it’s free to roam the world!’

It can operate in the UK, the Faroes, and Canada but the concept is being tested in Norway this summer, where Simonsen has already secured a contract with Greig Seafood.

Flexibility is key to the project, though, so he can move the boat to other sites and is targeting the Scottish market.

In the first half of the year in particular, when there are low lice levels in the north of Norway, the boat will have spare capacity and be able to visit farms in other areas.

It will be especially useful for smaller companies which can’t necessarily afford to buy their own Thermolicers, said Simonsen.

A lot of companies have already expressed an interest in the ‘cost effective and environmentally friendly’ service he is offering, and a second boat is being built.

He has sunk his own money into the project and admits he has taken ‘a big chance’ but, based on feedback to date, he is confident of success. FF

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06/06/2016 14:16:29

Aquaculture UK 2016

IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

F

ormer Marine Harvest managing director Alan Sutherland was in Aviemore to begin canvassing opinions on establishing an Aquaculture Centre of Excellence.

An initiative of the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), the scoping study will gather views from across the industry over the next four to six weeks, culminating in a report, to be published in the summer.

Sutherland (pictured), who has been involved in fish farming for more than 30 years including 19 years at Marine Harvest, said he had identified more than 300 individuals so far to talk to and will make sure the report is seen as objective.

‘I want to make sure everyone has a voice – I don’t want to exclude anyone so the report is not time constrained but the target is July,’ he said.

Feedback so far had been mostly positive, although there was much still to discuss – even whether the centre should have its own bespoke building or be more of a network of existing facilities.

To start the debate, SAIC hosted a series of ‘Aquavation’ sessions at the show, inviting delegates from industry, academia, the retail sector, government and the press to submit ideas and help shape the new centre and decide what its priorities should be.

Among those attending were Dr Francis Murray from Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture, Alex Adrian from the Crown Estates and Charlotte Maddocks, Tesco’s aquaculture manager.

Conversations covered a range of issues - from using the centre to advance technology, such as offshore structures, to kick-starting aquaculture related businesses - and ideas submitted will be taken into account when the final report is collated.

SAIC’s Jason Cleavermsith said the idea of a centre of excellence emerged from industry frustration over a lack of growth.

Sutherland said the salmon industry contributes £1.4 billion to the Scottish economy but ‘there is potential to do a lot more’.

‘The government has set targets for growth for finfish of 210,000 tonnes by 2020 and for shellfish of 13,000 tonnes, but from where I’m standing that’s not happening.

‘The volume in the salmon sector has been stagnating over the last five years. Five years ago we were producing 10 per cent of global production; today it’s seven per cent – something is not right somewhere if other aquaculture nations are overtaking us.’

The demand for Scottish aquaculture is strong so the market is not the problem, he said.

‘Other aquaculture nations have established research and development facilities and centres of excellence and is this something Scotland should consider, given that we don’t have one?’

Sutherland, who was on the board of SAIC when he was at Marine Harvest, said the notion of a centre of excellence had been mooted when the organisation was set up in 2014.

He said he had talked to 30 people on the first day of the Aviemore show and SAIC was open minded about what form the centre should take and, indeed, whether Scotland needed or wanted such an institution.

‘One of the key questions is whether Scottish industry is prepared to support and invest in such a centre.’ FF

Student scoops trip to Canada in Elanco contest

E

Above: Ana Herrero gives her winning presentation

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Aviemore.indd 39

lanco Animal Health’s Young Scientist Award was presented to Ana Herrero, from the Moredun Research Institute (near Edinburgh), during the gala dinner on the first night of Aquaculture UK. She was chosen from six finalists, who were all invited to the exhibition and conference to give 30-minute presentations.

Herrero’s talk was on ‘Comparing different histological methods to detect Desmozoon lepeophtherii in the gills of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)’.

As part of her prize she will go on an expenses paid trip this summer to the internationally acclaimed Elanco Animal Health Centre of Excellence for Research and Development in Aquaculture, based in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

While in Canada, Herrero will meet leading

Elanco scientists and have the opportunity to learn about fish vaccines, novel pharmaceutical developments and revolutionary new technologies in fish health.

Carlos Kuada, global head of Elanco’s Aqua Business, said: ‘Elanco has a rich history of aquaculture innovation and we are proud to extend our research in the field of aquaculture beyond our own internal operations. We believe that encouraging young, talented scientists is pivotal to building the future of our industry.’

Previous winner Marie Smedley explained how entering the competition gave her the chance to communicate her research to a wider audience in the aquaculture domain.

‘The competition is an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their research to commercial stakeholders.’

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06/06/2016 11:53:05

y to see tallation e to the

uch incie Faroe her time ned.”

farming egularly second e wave uipment

Aquaculture UK 2016

Tough cages, tough environment From left: Bogi Nón, sales and marketing manager, Signar Poulsen, manager aquaculture, Torkil Thomsen, sales aquaculture

I

f they work in the Faroes, then they’ll stand up to practically anything.

That’s the thinking behind Vonin’s aquaculture cages.

The Faroe Islands are a fantastic place to rear salmon but it’s still one of the toughest environments in the world to anchor cages.

Vonin, which reported a steady stream of visitors to its stand, has only recently started producing its own cages, adding these to its existing product range to supply complete salmon cage packages.

The brackets that hold the tubes of the cage rings together presented a few challenges and Vónin used a computer aided design to identify weak points and achieve the optimum strength in the HDPE100 injection moulded brackets.

‘These had to be as strong as possible, with no compromises,’ said Vónin’s Bogi Nón, who was at his first Aviemore exhibition.

‘The neck of the bracket tends to be the weak point where failures can occur, so it was important to get these right.’

The first of the new Vónin cages,space which were supplied to the Faroes’ is sheltered sea areas is very is concerned, the ability to withstand biggest issalmon producer Bakkafrost, have had a full year in the firing line limited.” the elements a standard requirement “So therethe is much focus fl on whether in Faroese farming. of thefish islands’ winter storms. They passed test with ying colours our made standard will mum be robust Today aquaculture installation were afterevery some minor adjustments toequipment ensure opti perforenough for use offshore. Well, I’d say in the Faroes uses equipment from mance. that some of the farms are already halfVónin Aquaculture, Mr. Poulsen said.

Bakkafrost ordered eight cages but specifi design using way also offshore and ed theyaare certainly not steel “Our products range from complete distance bars between the brackets, allowing the the cage tube itself having issues with equipment.

Butto move solutions to component parts, everything the rule thumbeff is,ecti the further out you fromfreely cage nets, plastic to moorinside thecages, brackets.

This made theofcages vely self-cleaning, the more hostile the environment is ing systems and accessories.” but with the downside of a more go complex construction and requiring the going to be.” distance bars to be extremely strong.

Going offshore ‘Thereis were problems “Everybody talking some about taking fish to overcome and Bakkafrost got its cages in farms further out to sea,” he added.

“In two deliveries,’ said Bogi Nón. the Faroe Islands I’m afraid we don’t ‘There were a few challenges to start with to get the details right, but have much choice as the available these were all dealt with and there were no problems at all with the

40

“

They have had a full year in the firing line of winter storms

”

Above: Vonin cage. Inset: Bogi Non (left)

second part of the delivery.

‘Those cages have now been out for a whole year, with a full Faroese winter’s use behind them in a demanding location.’

Icelandic company Dýrfiskur, based in the Westfjords of Iceland, has also come to Vónin for cages, but ordered the more basic variant without distance bars and with the brackets fixed direct to the rings.

The four cages and six sinker tubes supplied to Dýrfiskur for its rainbow trout farming operation have performed very well, with no complaints from the users, said Vonin.

The cages are anchored in a location on the southern side of Dýrafjörður in the north-west of Iceland where they are required to cope with heavy swells and strong currents.

The design includes steel wire filled sinker tubes weighing up to 70kg/m that help maintain the shape of the net in the water, even in heavy weather or with a strong current flowing.

This holds the meshes open, allowing a better water through the cage, with the result of producing fish in better health and with less stress.

Vonin cages are made in 2x450mm (100160m circumference) or 3x450mm (120-200m circumference) sizes, with mooring brackets, bird net brackets and sinker tube brackets fitted as standard. FF

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06/06/2016 11:56:31

Aquaculture UK 2016

Whisky bravo!

A

research project that emerged from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh could provide a sustainable source of salmon feed, using by-products of malt whisky.

Horizon Proteins is the spin out firm that has developed the concept, the result of pioneering work at the university by Dr Aboubakry Diallo and Dr Nik Willoughby.

The project, which recovers and re-uses protein from pot ale left over from the whisky making process, attracted a £575,000 award from Scottish Enterprise and hopes to achieve a £5 million a year turnover once production is upscaled.

Diallo told an audience in Aviemore that Horizon utilises the leftover protein from the malted barley used in making malt whisky.

Diallo said that this has a protein content of 90 to 95 per cent, comparing very favourably to soybean, which has about 50 per cent protein, and fishmeal, at 69 per cent.

It is not commercially viable to grow barley just to feed fish, but extracting protein from a by-product of the huge whisky sector makes financial sense. Some 255 million litres of malt whisky are produced every year in Scotland.

‘Barley protein concentrates could be a valuable new feed in aquaculture. It is produced locally [currently, 60 to 90 per cent of feed ingredients are imported] and there is a secure supply.’

After validating the lab process in 2013/14, trials were concluded in 2015. Now there is a pilot plant installed at one of Diageo’s distilleries in Speyside. Full scale production will be operational in the second quarter of 2017 in an as yet undis-

Above: Barley protein by-product

closed distillery, with the first protein sales shortly afterwards, said Diallo.

The product will be marketed as Pot Ale Aquaculture (PAQ) protein.

He said they can apply the same technology in the American bourbon industry, and with the by-products of cereal processing and grass.

Asked whether he could also apply his method to the brewing industry, Diallo said the current patent for the process is valid for distilling only but ‘we are working on it’. The flexibility of the process allows it to be adapted for other by-product streams.

He said the technology is cost efficient and a low energy process – ‘if it wasn’t a financially viable business model for us and for the customer, we wouldn’t be doing it. We have to compete.

‘We are bringing something to the feed market so people won’t have to go to South America,’ he said. FF

Ace firm wins innovation award SCOTTISH company Ace Aquactec was awarded an Aquaculture Innovation Award at the gala dinner on the first

night of the show.

The Dingwall based company has pioneered a range of cutting edge equipment, from seal deterrents to

Above: Heather Jones with Nathan Pyne-Carter

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Aviemore.indd 41

processing systems.

Its Universal Scrammer 3 (US3), a complete deterrent system tailored to individual sites, is used by many of Scot-

land’s biggest salmon farmers, as well as by companies around the world.

Ace Aquatec’s Nathan Pyne-Carter picked up the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) sponsored award from CEO Heather Jones.

The innovation prize for the best small company went to Deep Trekker, for its underwater mini remotely operated vehicles, which are finding a growing market in the aquaculture sector.

Manning the stand for the company was Cody Warner, in charge of Business Development in Ontario,

Canada, while Deep Trekker’s UK distributor, Planet Ocean, was also represented in the shape of their commercial manager Graham Sloane.

Warner said: ‘The Deep Trekker is the most portable device on the market. It’s battery powered so it doesn’t need a generator to be running on site and you can launch it from anywhere.

‘It has a patented pitching system and is the only ROV that only has horizontal thrusters, which give it 360 degree rather than 90 degree motion.

‘It also has an innovative magnetic coupling

which requires no maintenance and never needs to be replaced.’

Sloane was delighted that their stand had scooped an award: ‘Winning an award at the show was a fantastic accolade for us.

‘It’s always nice to be given praise for something that we spent a long time putting together.

‘It was a real team effort from Deep Trekker/ Planet Ocean and the show’s event crew.’

SAIC CEO Heather Jones said: ‘Day in, day out, we’re seeing and hearing about an increasing number of innovative initiatives by industry.’

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06/06/2016 11:57:20

Aquaculture UK 2016 – Post-smolt production

Separate box at end

[Aquaculture UK 2016]

Transfer tips [Transfer tips]

[Huge potential benefits in reducing open sea phase]

Aviemore seminar hears of potential benefi ts lice in reducing open sea phase [‘We weaken the opportunities available to the to reproduce’]

BY IVAR WARRER-HANSEN AND SIMON DUNN

By Ivar Warrer-Hansen and Simon Dunn

S

almon spend a long time in sea cages before they reach harvest months of the year where temperatures are 6 oC or below. size. The further north one gets in the latitudes where salmon is There are even areas further north in Finmark where temperatures get farmed, the longer it takes. close to zero. It is important in these areas to avoid having fish in the sea Salmon spend a long time in sea cages before they reach harvest size. The further north one gets in the In Table 1, average minimum, maximum and average annual sea for a second winter. latitudes where salmon is most farmed, the longer it takes.Post smolt transfer to sea will shorten the life cycle and make producwater temperatures are shown for the northerly to the most southerly areas where salmon farming is carried out in Europe. tion much more economical and flexible in these regions.

Unsurprisingly, there is great variation between temperatures in the However, there will be both economic and biological advantages in post Inerent Table 1, farming average minimum, maximum and average seatransfer water temperatures shown for the most diff salmon regions in Europe. Summer temperatures in the smolt in all salmon producing are regions. south of Norway and Ireland are the highest and, in some summers, they If we look at an area where the average temperature over the year is northerly to the most southerly areas where salmonaround farming is carried out in Europe. are even too high for comfort.

10 oC, for instance as shown in the Table 1 for Bergen and the Isle Tromsoe, and the rest of the north of Norway, have very cold winters of Lewis, then the growth from a 100 gram smolt to 500 and 1,000 grams with water temperatures down to 4 oC. In fact, in Tromsoe, there are five takes 132 and 210 days respectively (see Figure 1).

o

Sea water temperatures C Area Av. maximum Av. minimum Annual average Tromsoe, Norway - North 11.3 4.1 7.30 Bergen, Norway - South 15.6 4.8 9.95 Isle of Lewis, Scotland 13.4 7.6 10.44 Clifden, Ireland 15.3 9.3 12.02 Table 1. Average maximum, average minimum and annual average temperatures for different salmon 42 www.fishfarmer-magazine.com farming regions in Europe.

06/06/2016 12:00:24 Unsurprisingly, there is great variation between temperatures in the different salmon farming regions in

Aqua UK Ivar.indd 42

o If we look at an area where the average temperature over the year is around 10 C, for instance as shown in the Table 1 for Bergen and the Isle of Lewis, then the growth from a 100 gram smolt to 500 and 1,000 grams takes 132 and 210 days respectively (see Figure 1).

Transfer tips

This means that if we, for instance, transferred a 500 gram post smolt to sea instead of a typical 100 gram smolt, we save 132 days at sea (see Figure 2).

We “ weaken the

opportunities available to the lice to reproduce

”

The saving in production time in relation to the salmon growth cycle to market size fish of 5k shown in Table 2.

Opposite: Table 1. Average Transfer size for smolt/post smolt 100 g 500 g 1000 g maximum, average Time in sea (5 kg) 525 days 393 days 315 days minimum and annual average temperatures Time saved 132 days 210 days for different salmonThe saving in production time in relation to the salmon growth cycle to market size fish of 5kg will be as Potential extra production time at sea 25% 40% farming regions in shown in Table 2.

Table 2. Potential extra production time at sea with same cage capacity Europe. Top right: Figure extra production in all cases, but does indicate the potential.

1. Post smolt growth at This means that if we, for instance, transaverage 10 oC to 500 Togproduce a post of, say, from 100ggram to 500 gram in a recircuferred a 500 gram post smolt to sea instead of a Transfer size for smolt/post smolt 500smolt gis potential 1000 From Table it sea can100 be that there formore extra production time at itsea of 25 and gram and 1,000 grams. latiseen on aquaculture system (RAS) will be expensive than producing typical 100 gram smolt, we save 132 days2 at sea (5 kg) 525 days 393 days 315 days Centre: Figure 2. PostTime in the same in the sea.gram post smolt respectively. This doesn’t necessa with the transfer of aat500 gramsize and 1,000 (see Figure 2). smolt transfer at 500 take an example of a salmon farm that with standard sized smolt Time saved -If we 132 days 210 days The saving in production25 time in40 relati oncent to extra or per production in all cases, but does indicate the potential. grams versus 100 gram transfer produces 10,000 tonnes per annum and we assume that an extra the salmon growth cycle to market size fi sh of Potential extra production time at sea 25% 40% - saving 132 days. Right: 25 per cent of salmon can be produced with transfer of post smolt of 500 5kg will be as shown in Table 2.

Table 2. Potential extra Table 2.From Potential time withthis same cage capacity will generate extra revenue and profit as shown in Table 3.

Table 2 itextra can beproduction seen that there is at seagram, production time at sea To produce a post smolt of, say, from 500 gram, inextra a recirculation As can be seen from100 Tablegram 3 andto assuming that an 25 per cent aquaculture sy with same cage capacity potential for extra production time at sea of 25

will beofmore thanonproducing it atthe same sizeofin500 the sea.post smolt to sea, producti is possible with transfer 40 per transfer a 500expensive From and Table 2 itcent canwith be the seen that there isgram potential for extra production time at seagram of 25 and 40 per cent quite significant extra earnings are possible. and 1,000 gram post smolt respectively. This with the transfer of aequate 500 Ifgram and 1,000 post smolt This doesn’t necessarily equate to we of athe salmon farm that with standard smolt transfer 10,0 transferrespectively. of post smolt there will be a sized number of other indirectproduces doesn’t necessarily to 25take or 40an perexample centgramWith 25 or 40 per cent extra production in we all cases, but does indicate the cent potential. annum and assume that an extra 25 per of salmon can be produced with transfer of 43 www.fishfarmer-magazine.com 500 gram, this will generate extra revenue and profit as shown in Table 3.

Aqua UK Ivar.indd 43

2 million post smolt: tonnes net productionsystem (RAS) To produce a post smolt of, say, from 100 gram100-482g to 500 gram, in a 764 recirculation aquaculture 06/06/2016 12:00:41 OPERATIONAL RAS will be more expensive than producing itCOSTS at same size in the sea.

SE

This means that if we, for instance, transferred a 500 gram post smolt to sea instead of a typical 100 gram smolt, we save 132 days at sea (see Figure 2).

Aquaculture UK 2016 – Post-smolt production 2 million post smolt: 100-482g OPERATIONAL COSTS Feed Power Oxygen Labour Managers Maintenance Chemicals Waste Misc.

TOTAL DIRECT OPERATONAL COSTS DIRECT OPERATIONAL COSTS/KG RAS investment Depreciation @ 20 years Financial costs @ 15 years, 4% Total Production Cost/kg Total Production Cost Additional cost of RAS production Production at sea Extra production with RAS Extra sales 2.225 tonnes HOG @ €5,50 Production costs €3,2/kg HOG, Oslo NET EXTRA PROFIT EXCLUDING RAS EXTRA COST NET EXTRA PROFIT INCLUDING RAS COST

764 tonnes net production 764 tonnes @ 1.300 EUR/tonne 163 Kw @ 0,12 EUR/kWh 458.400 kg @ 0,12 EUR/kg 3 people @ 50.000 EUR 1 @ 60.000

RAS EUR 993.200

EUR 171.345 EUR 55.008 Within RAS developm EUR 150.000 EUR 50.000 conditions.

EUR 60.000 EUR 75.000 EUR 18.750 EUR 30.000 (N/A – sea lice) research has sho EUR 40.000 Later EUR 80.000 EUR 20.000 oxygen is present at lo EUR 1.654.553 EUR 1.081.950 EUR 2,17

EUR 5.000.000 EUR 250.000 EUR 449.705,50

44

Aqua UK Ivar.indd 44

EUR 1,42

One should hence avo far as preventing any

excluding depreciation and financing costs

EUR 5.117.500 EUR 4.843.154

benefits. There are high survival rates with post smolt.

However, the most significant benefit is in relation to sea lice infestations. potential Research in connection with from 1kg post smolt conducted by scientists Table 3. Hypothetical extra profit additional production of at Uni Research in Bergen, Norway, concluded: ‘The open sea phase is at sea do not include costs forbytreating against sea lice infestations. reduced by half keeping the fish in a closed system until they weigh

Above: Table 3.

Hypothetical potential extra profit from additional production of 2,500 tonnes. Costs of production at sea do not include costs for treating against sea lice infestations.

Right: Salmon smolt

sludge present.

EUR 0,33 EUR 0,08 The paradox is that th EUR 0,59 EUR 0,15 theEUR greater the proble EUR 3,08 1,65 EUR 2.354.259 EUR 1.256.876

For 2 mio. post smolt EUR 1.097.382,73 (2 mio post smolt) 10.000 tons HO 2.500 tons HO EUR 12.237.500 HOG EUR 7.120.000

SRB activity relies on SEA CAGES beEUR from decaying sea 993.200

up to one kilo. Salmon lice consequently only have half the time they need to complete their life cycles.’

2,500 tonnes. Costs of production Sigurd Handelland, of Uni Research, said: ‘We weaken the opportunities available to the lice to reproduce and also reduce the contact risk time.’

The reduction of a sea lice problem will obviously be related to the size of post smolt transferred, but one can assume that post smolt in general will be beneficial and may well entail savings for the industry.

Ivar Warrer-Hansen and Simon Dunn are senior advisor and sales director respectively of Inter Aqua Advance A/S. FF

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06/06/2016 12:01:07

Aquaculture UK 2016 – Transfer tips

Criteria of post-smolt production in recirculation aquaculture systems

ies on a carbon source. In nature it will mostly be bottom sediments, but we also know ng seaweed on a shoreline, for instance – the characteristic smell of hydrogen sulphid

velopments, it was originally assumed that SRB activity only took Not just with reduced nitrification, sulphideplace under anaerob roduction of post smolt in RAS will be car-

P

ried out in saltwater in salinities between 12 to 34 parts per thousand.

With saltwater RAS and with modern RAS developments in general, there are a number of criteria that must be adhered to:

also inhibits fish growth, even for some species at concentrations that lie below the analytical detection level.

This is probably the reason for many unexplained incidents in saltwater RAS over the years. In a worst case scenario, it can cause fish mortality. There have already been incidents of that in Norway this year in post smolt RAS with stationary submerged filters.

SRB activity relies on a carbon source. In nature it will mostly be bottom sediments, but we also know it can be from decaying seaweed on a shoreline, for instance – the characteristic smell of hydrogen sulphide.

Within RAS developments, it was originally assumed that SRB activity only took place under anaerobic conditions.

Later research has shown, however, that SRB can change from anaerobic to aerobic metabolism when oxygen is present at lower levels, which explains the risk in aquaculture systems where there is also some sludge present.

The paradox is that the better submerged stationary filters are at removing solids, and especially fine solids, the greater the problem in relation SRB activity is.

One should hence avoid sludge entrapment in bio filters, avoid other types of sediment traps or even go as far as preventing any settlement in a saltwater RAS for salmonids. FF

has shown, however, that SRB can change from anaerobic to aerobic metabolism whe Requirements for a post smolt system design: - Operational stability and safety is essential ent at lower levels, which explains the risk in aquaculture systems where there is also s – the sea cages rely more than ever on this supply as it will be difficult and expensive to . replace if one has losses;

One “ should that the better submerged stationary filters are at removing solids, and especially fine - Saltwater resistant components; - RAS concept must be as risk free as a saltwater RAS – that is, no bio filters that entrap sludge, and stationary filters to avoid sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) activity; - Full CO2 and N2 control; - Low capital as well as operational costs; - Waste management and end of pipe treatments

e problem in relation SRB activityavoid is. sludge

entrapment in bio filters nce avoid sludge entrapment filters, avoid other types of sediment traps or even Of the above mentioned criteria, the bio filterin bio concept needs special mention. Saltwater con-

”

tains naturally high concentrations of sulphate. ng any settlement in a saltwater RAS for salmonids.

Oceanic water contains around 2,700 mg/l of sulphate SO4-.

This can be a problem in RAS with bio filters that in addition to nitrification are also used for solids entrapment - that is, submerged stationary filters.

These types of filters are indeed very good at entrapping solids, and that is, as a paradox, the problem. In between back washing, there will inevitably be pockets where oxygen levels are lowered with real risk of sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) activity.

This means risk of hydrogen sulphide formation which will hamper normal bio filter function.

SO42- + CH3COOH + 2 H+ → HS- + 2 HCO3- + 3 H+

Figure 3: Modern saltwater RAS based on MBBR (courtesy of Inter Aqua Advance A/S)

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Aqua UK Ivar.indd 45

45

06/06/2016 12:01:30

Water quality – Aggreko

The heat is on

How to ensure ambient temperatures and maintain productivity

M

aintaining accurate and stable water temperatures can be a significant technical challenge for remote fish farms, particularly during seasonal changes.

Ensuring the optimum environment for fish throughout their lifecycle is paramount, and depends on a reliable power supply and temperature control technologies that provide innovative, cost effective solutions to ensure business continuity, boost quality and increase process efficiency and productivity.

Controlling water temperature Responsive temperature control technologies can help alleviate ambient seasonal temperature changes that affect the water from rivers and lakes that feeds into a farm’s or hatchery’s tanks.

In summer, when river or lake water may be too warm to supply tanks, cooling is required to ensure eggs do not hatch, or fish do not grow too quickly as this can inadvertently increase mortality rates.

In winter, lower water temperature can cause the spawning and hatching process to slow down, so heating is required to improve stock growth.

Five typical solutions to assist tank water regulation and control 1. Tank water heating Glasgow based Aggreko recently worked with a Scottish fish farmer to design and implement a temporary heating solution that improved process productivity for its freshwater hatchery.

Aggreko provides turnkey rental power and temperature control solutions to fish farms and hatcheries across the UK and Scandinavia- both on and offshore.

During the cold winter months, the freshwater supply from a nearby river was heated up by passing it through shell and plate heat exchangers before it entered the site’s hatchery tanks, where salmon eggs are grown and hatched.

The 1.5 MW heating solution, consisting of diesel boilers and heat exchangers, was specified by Aggreko to raise the water temperature to around 14°C and continuously maintain this threshold.

To increase energy efficiency, Aggreko added a heat recovery system using an additional heat

exchanger. By recycling the recovered heat from water leaving the tanks, three 250 kW boilers could be used instead of four, thereby saving money.

Further boilers were kept on standby to meet any increase in ambient temperature, while a 125 kVA diesel generator provided power to the pumps and controls.

Tank heating is also effective at managing infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN), which is a viral disease present in the egg. By the time the fry start to grow, this disease can quickly wipe out an entire tank. Heating a tank’s water to a stable temperature, by circulating the water though a hot water boiler Top: Hatchery cooling and buffer tank, will help the fish use their immune system to fight infection. and critical temperature However, accurate temperature control is critical, for if slightly higher temcontrol peratures are reached, the fish may not survive.

Below and right: Tank water heating and bio media sterilisation

2. Hatchery cooling If the water temperature in hatchery tanks is too high, there is an increased risk of process failure that could result in an entire stock being lost.

Temporary cooling requires chillers, pumps and heat exchangers to reduce and control the water temperature during incubation, hatching and spawning, encouraging the optimum growth rate, regardless of ambient temperature.

3. Critical temperature control Many hatcheries have predetermined dates for demand stock levels and achieve these by adjusting the ‘degree days’ timescale – varying the tank’s water temperature up or down to increase or decrease hatching or growth rates.

Using digital temperature controls, Aggreko can regulate its boilers or chillers to ensure the optimum set point of the water passing through the heat exchangers is stable to within 1°C. 4. Sea water cooling A more innovative and cost effective cooling/heating solution is to acquire ‘free’ energy from the sea to replace or subsidise the heating or cooling generated by boilers or chillers respectively.

This solution requires passing the sea water through a titanium heat exchanger to transfer energy to either cool or heat the water feeding the tanks.

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06/06/2016 12:03:18

The heat is on

Temporary mobile generators are often the best “solution for these geographically remote sites ”

5. Bio media sterilisation Traditionally, chemical sterilisation has been used to remove bacteria and other harmful substances from biomass towers. A more eco-friendly alternative used by biomass towers in Scotland is to raise the water temperature by heating it in hot water boilers for a specified period of time (as dictated by the site) to kill off the harmful bacteria.

Providing critical site power Electrical power is essential for operating a fish farm or hatchery. Each site’s life support systems, including important temperature control systems and recirculation water pumps, depend on power to keep them operational.

If the power fails then these processes fail, with a resulting loss in production and revenue. As many sites are located in remote areas where a reliable power supply is not a given, the need for back-up or standby power generators is often essential.

Many sites find it most economical to hire a temporary generator, so they can scale their power requirements as needed and pass the associated routine maintenance, servicing and re-fuelling responsibility to the hire specialist.

A Scottish highlands salmon hatchery chose to hire back-up power when its incumbent 300 kVA generator became insufficient to support during regular power failures.

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Agrekko.indd 47

Aggreko replaced it with a 500 kVA hired generator and an automatic changeover panel to ensure that the generator instantly activated if mains power failed.

Temporary generation can meet top-up power requirements during peak levels of productivity, or when the existing electrical mains supply is already operating at its maximum capacity.

Often network upgrades can take time, sometimes they’re not technically feasible or financially viable, and so there is a reliance on standby power.

Temporary mobile generators are often the best solution for these geographically remote sites and certain inaccessible activities, such as platform barges, fish feeders and welfare facilities.

When a Scottish salmon company was experiencing unpredictable power failures at its remote highlands production site because the existing grid supply was too small, Aggreko implemented a cost-saving power scheme to provide off-grid continuous power.

Using a load-on-demand set-up, two 500 kVA generators were synchronised to operate together during peak periods of power demand, then, when the load dropped such as at night, one would switch off. This achieved a fuel saving of approximately £1,000 per week.

Other scenarios where temporary power may be required to ensure reliability of supply, include the process of reservoir top-up. FF

Crucial cooling solution for hatchery COOKE Aquaculture Scotland’s salmon hatchery in Furnace, Argyll, uses a water recirculation unit supplied with freshwater to feed its tanks where the fish are grown. The temperature of this water is critical to the salmon farming process. A few degrees too warm and the fish grow too quickly, too cold and they don’t grow fast enough.

Finding the exact equilibrium can be challenging during seasonal temperature changes.

When the ambient temperature rose during the summer months, this consequently increased the temperature of the water within the large tanks.

Cooke contacted Aggreko to provide an immediate temperature control solution that could quickly cool the water back to the exact temperature for the specific phase of the fish growth cycle.

The Aggreko team surveyed the site and installed a bespoke temperature control solution. This involved cooling the water from a slipstream of the recirculation water system.

The water in the slipstream was pumped through heat exchangers, where coolant (cooled by chillers) absorbed the excess heat and cooled down the water. This reduced the temperature of the slipstream water a number of degrees lower than required.

When this was fed back into the tanks it mixed with the warmer tank water to produce the target temperature. By simply cooling only the slipstream water and not the full tank capacity, this meant the target temperature could be reached more effectively.

It also meant that less cooling kW and power kVA was needed overall, ensuring a cost-effective solution.

This bespoke solution included 600 KW of cooling, three heat exchangers, pumps, hoses, buffer tanks and ancillaries, all powered by 520 kVA of power generation. This was adequate to cool more than 100,000 litres of water in four tanks.

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06/06/2016 12:03:42

Health and safety – Marine Harvest

Asset protection Reducing workplace incidents is priority, says Marine Harvest safety manager

F

ish farmers have to comply with several health and safety regulations, from the general criteria covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 to MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) guidelines, to an individual company’s own rules.

As the industry grows, so does the focus on safety at work. For a company the size of Marine Harvest Scotland, with nearly 600 employees, a rigorous health and safety regime is considered essential – ‘to our employees, their families, the community and our customers’.

‘Marine Harvest requires that safety should not be compromised for any other business priority,’ says the company.

Billy Glen, health and safety manager of Marine Harvest for the past six years, heads a team of three, all working full-time to maintain a safe working environment.

With the increase in the number of sites, and personnel, Glen has taken over most of the training in-house.

‘The disciplines we cover include manual handling, chemical handling, confined space entry, general health and safety awareness, winching operations, and fork trucks,’ he said.

The company is also embarking on a project it first undertook in 2012 called ‘Brain safe’, designed by a group of Australian psychologists.

‘It’s a new way of looking at health and safety,’ said Glen. ‘Rather than having targets, they look at health and safety as a currency.

‘What would be the impact if you had an incident at work, not only to yourself but to your family, your colleagues, and your kids?’

All employees did the course in 2012 and now there is a condensed version which everyone will go through.

Its tenets, said Glen, are ‘be safe, be aware, be responsible, be vocal - it’s inclusive, it gets everyone to think and talk about health and safety in a better way’.

The aim of such a programme is obviously to reduce workplace incidents but Marine Harvest has a good record in Scotland.

Last year there were just four lost time inci-

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Safety - MH.indd 48

“

It’s not all to do with just growing fish, we take the welfare of our employees very seriously

”

RIght: Billy Glen

dents, but this would class as a bad year, said Glen.

‘Somebody got their hand caught in a feed hopper and that led to the tips of his fingers being amputated. We had some manual handling injuries, repetitive strain injuries and so on.’

The company has a full-time occupational health nurse and employees are screened prior to employment.

‘If we nip things in the bud then we avoid problems that could last for months and months,’ said Glen.

The sickness level is about 1.6 per cent, which is ‘quite good for that

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06/06/2016 12:06:20

Asset protection

SAFETY FIRST

He joined Marine Harvest initially as the auvolume of people and considering the kind of Are there any precedents for such training issues formation of environment the Scottish ditorand forthe quality and and stepped work FF: they do’. guidelines? technical standards. In relation to this we have into the health and safety role when it became MostYes. of the issues seem related to the physiThe Norwegians have drawn up the helped to organise eight best practice workNYTEKof standard.

Two of the ICWG members shops forvacant. farm managers and workers in Argyll, cal nature the work. have been out to meet Norwegian government Lochaber, the Western Isles, Orkney and Shet‘I’d always been keen on health and safety ‘If you look at the trends thelearned. last 30 years representatives to see what for can be land. These were inspired by the conclusions of was responsible for safety in the paper However, while we can obviously learn from the report on escapes, as was drawn up the number one is always manual handling orthe SARFand experience, we are determined to

by Mark Taylor, and were co-ordinated by the mill as part of the senior management team. repetiNorwegian ti ve strain injuries.

Despite a lot of autodraw up a bespoke standard that is specifically SSPO. Meanwhile equipment suppliers helped paper were very dangermatedfit equipment now, therather guysthan areshoestill lifting for purpose in Scotland, to facilitate‘The some big of the events machines by pointing out horning in a model from abroad. potentially poor ways handling materials, in drummed into ous and a ofsafety culture was and lowering nets. order to help prevent accidents in the future. you right from the beginning.

‘TheFF: actual lost any time of thispitfalls is verycaused low be- The workshops aim to highlight to farm staff at Whereas with Are there potential the main issues surrounding escapes producing such I think it was a different percepcausebywe get them tostandards? go to osteopaths (freeall levelsaquaculture and why it is so important to prevent them.

As the Norwegians have given producers six tion. of charge) and so on before it becomes years’ leeway before the standards become a FF: Has this helped to inspire further compulsory their exact effect is still uncertain ‘A few years ago the equipment used comproblem.’ but, while the standards must be set at a high initiatives? pared to what they’ve gothas now would be a lot Although been cases of drowning level, wethere clearly have don’t want to put any producYes. As well as these workshops LANTRA out of business by making the are regulations the National Occupational Standards dangerous. at fishersfarms in the past, there so many updated less too onerous. Therefore it is vital that we give which now address containment across the everything is getti ng bigger and safeguards in fish place now that such events Scotland’s farmers a chance to adapt.

It is are standards. ‘Now There have also been some impresalso crucial to involve industry in the process sive in-house training heavier; a schemes cut or aorganised brokenbyarm would be much mercifully rare, he said. from the start – which we are doing. producers such as the Scottish Salmon Comnow if you’re using two tonne capstans ‘Nobody is allowed anywhere near water pany andworse Marine Harvest, while Scottish Sea What progress has been aides made to initiative on the way. These andanten tonne cranes andare big workboats. If unlessFF:they’ve got buoyancy ondate? or Farms have Our main areas of progress have related to for anyone who is involved in fish was to go wrong it would be a lot lifejackets, and we’ve got a minimum of twoessentialanything www.fishfarmer-magazine.com more serious.’ persons over water rule.’

He believes the industry has embraced The HSE guidelines for aquaculture also stiphealth and safety and has a good working ulate that the two people must have constant access to a moored boat or life raft, so nobody relationship with the HSE and MCA. Regular meetings between these bodies and should ever be left stranded out on a cage.

Glen said when a health and safety executive the industry keep farmers up to date with maritime safety and provide an opportunity visited one of Marine Harvest’s sites recently for them to share their experiences. she ‘just couldn’t believe the facilities we’ve The next workshop will be on Harris in the got’.

Western Isles on July 20 and Glen and health ‘We’ve got barges we’re spending £1.4 and safety managers from other companies million on; they are like four star hotels, phenomenal. It’s really unbelievably quick how will deliver talks on subjects such as manual handling, cold shock, fork truck training, winch the industry is progressing, even for the short operation, working with cranes, confined period of time I’ve been in it. space entry, and general working over water ‘It’s not all to do with just growing fish, we health and safety awareness. take the welfare of our employees very seriMore than 120 people attended a similar ously. They are your number one asset so you try to look after them as best you possibly can.’ health and safety day last year, said Glen, from across the sector and it went down very well.

Glen had worked in the paper industry since ‘It’s usually the HSE that arranges it and we 1978 until the mill in Fort William was closed.

‘I drove past the fish factory for 20 odd years give our time, but it’s good for us too because and didn’t really know what was going on until it gets the message out to the industry as a whole.’ FF I started working here!’

Marine Harvest’s Code of Conduct includes the following safety management principles: • All sites shall establish annual safety targets with action plans (what, who, when) • All sites shall have high standards of housekeeping • All managers shall carry out safety walks (walk – observe – communicate) • All employees shall participate in safety meetings on a regular basis • The use of personal protective equipment and life jackets shall be specified for employees, contractors and visitors • A risk assessment with respect to safety shall be made for all jobs, equipment, and potentially hazardous materials, with an annual review made of those considered most critical • A work permit system shall be in place, to include lock-out tag-out procedures and to safeguard work in confined spaces • An approval system for contractors shall be in place • All accidents and near-misses shall be reported and investigated, to include rootcause analysis, and with the subsequent implementation of corrective actions within the planned time • An emergency response plan shall be in place and tested at least once every year • All Business Units shall have a safety committee, to include site managers and other members, to reflect a safety focus throughout the organisation • A programme for systematic and regular safety training shall be in place

IT IS VITAL WE GIVE FARMERS A CHANCE TO WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR ADAPT TO • Passivity in relation to safety – thinking that a safety issue might be too small to be THE NEW a priority, or that a safety issue is ‘someone else’s’ responsibility STANDARDS

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Safety - MH.indd 49

•13Aspects of the environment (equipment, tools, housekeeping, and so on) or work practices that represent safety risks or can be improved and made safer

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06/06/2016 12:06:41

Health and safety – Hvalpsund

New line may save lives

Danish firm address occupational hazards of aquaculture

T

he idea of introducing a safety lifeline to its range of products for the aquaculture industry was discussed by Hvalpsund Net during a marketing meeting, said the firm’s Ryan Poulsen.

‘We sat and talked about safety on cages. It’s really dangerous working on these pens and we do tend to see some accidents.

‘We wanted to provide a safer workplace for people. Our pens have the widest walkways on the market so we wanted to make them even safer,’ he said.

Hvalpsund has anti-slip walkways and toe-stoppers, to meet the strictest health and safety requirements, but Poulsen said they felt they could go further.

‘What would happen if someone fell into the water and was hit by a pen or by a boat? Or if they had a heart attack out on the pen and were working alone? We felt it was an issue.

‘Every year someone is getting killed on a pen – you never hear about it but I’ve heard that since the late eighties around 31 people have been killed in Norway in pen related accidents.

‘So it’s a major problem and something that needs to be addressed. A lot of people work on the pens in really rough conditions and they

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Above: David Brown of Cooke Aquaculture, and Hvalpsund’s Ryan Poulsen and Torben Henriksen at Aviemore

don’t have any safety other than life vests.’

Poulsen said a pen is not really considered a workplace – ‘if it were it would need to have all the same safety details you would have in a regular workplace’.

The Hvalpsund lifeline is a simple concept - basically what you would see in the building industries, but tailored to fit to a fish pen, or any floating structure.

It can be attached to any kind of pen, steel or plastic, and any size, and is relatively inexpensive, depending on the measurements of the pen.

‘It’s the anchors on each of the stanchions that is the most expensive part and the glider,’ said Poulsen. ‘We can attach it or farmers can install it themselves.’

The lifeline was developed last year and an early version was shown at Aqua Nor in Trondheim last August. The Danish company also took it to Seafood Expo Global in Brussels in April.

Now they have patented it at home, are finalising the worldwide patent and it has been released on to the market.

Poulsen said although the product is very new they have already had a lot of interest from the industry, in Norway, Scotland and in Canada.

‘It’s extremely simple, you don’t have to do anything more than clip it on and then just go about your business.’ FF

“

It’s really dangerous working on these pens and we do tend to see some accidents

”

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06/06/2016 12:29:40

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Hvalpsund Net.indd 51

06/06/2016 13:01:03

China – Intensive pond aquaculture

Feeding growth US soybean sector behind successful modernisation programme in China

M

uch like today, 25 years ago most of the world’s aquaculture took place in China and raised various species of carp in ponds. But Chinese aquaculture has undergone many changes since then.

It is no longer manure based, it utilises more sustainable technologies and yields a higher quality, significantly safer product for consumers.

Most of these improvements are due to work funded by American soybean farmers, says the US Soybean Export Council’s (USSEC), following the launch of its International Soy in Aquaculture programme a quarter of a century ago.

The programme focuses on the development of soy optimised feeds, industry training in aquaculture technologies, and promoting sustainable aquaculture practices, and is currently being carried out in Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East.

The priority in the early years was on transitioning Chinese aquaculture from manure based feeds to soy-optimised pellet feeds for freshwater species. Intensive training of Chinese aquaculture extension agents and fish farmers aimed to improve feed and farming methods to be more environmentally friendly, sustainable and consumer safe.

A marine aquaculture component was added in the early 2000s for the rapidly growing ocean fish culture industry, to develop and test maximum soy inclusion feeds for popular farmed marine fish species.

Recognising a need to move aquaculture further offshore, the programme also developed an inexpensive, self-submerging and typhoon resistant offshore ocean cage for China, as well as promoting sustainable marine fish culture techniques and feeds.

More recently, USSEC has pioneered intensive pond aquaculture (IPA) in China, improving economic efficiency and environmental safety and reducing the amount of labour required.

The IPA system creates a healthier environment with a riverine flow for fish in pond raceways, and protects water quality by removing waste and recycling it for other uses, such as biodiesel and fertiliser.

This has the added benefit of significantly conserving water resources by re-using the pond water, which was previously discarded due to waste pollution. This benefit is of particular importance as water resources become increasingly compromised and overexploited in China.

Jim Zhang, USSEC’s aquaculture programme manager in China, said: ‘While the advantages of the IPA system are well recognised by producers and has strong support from the government, it has also demonstrated advantages to the US soy industry.

‘The system requires higher quality feed with high protein and better water stability for lower feed conversion and less waste removal, which means more soy based feed consumption.’

To support the expansion of IPA technology in China, USSEC’s aquaculture programme has created six additional demonstration projects in various provinces, is providing more technical support through seminars and on-site technical services, and organises visiting teams to well operated IPA units.

Here, Jim Zhang answers Fish Farmer’s questions about the IPA system: When were the first IPA systems introduced in China?

In 2013.

What species are the Chinese cultivating in IPA? Grass carp, tilapia, yellow catfish, largemouth bass, seabass, channel

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catfish, and so on. At present, grass carp is the dominant species.

Have any new species been cultivated as a result of IPA? Yes. The first IPA cultured species is grass carp and, starting from 2014, the above mentioned species have been brought into the IPA. Is it practised in small scale farms or can only the bigger companies afford to install the system?

Both small and big farms can do IPA, depending on the size. Usually we call a three-cell IPA one unit and the construction cost here in China is around US$30,000. There is one 52-cell IPA operation in China and it is the biggest in the world by now. The construction cost of that system is around US$1.4 million.

Production has increased but by how much?

Production has increased by 200 to 300 per cent.

How did the relationship between the soy bean sector and China begin?

USSEC started its aquaculture programme in China in 1989. The first two initial activities conducted by USSEC in 1989 were two big workshops on feed based aquaculture in Guangzhou and Hangzhou.

Was the IPA technology developed specifically for Chinese producers?

No. The technology was initially developed by Dr Jesse Chappell and his friends in Alabama for the US fish farmers about 10 years ago. USSEC learnt about this technology five years ago and thought that was the technology fitting China very well.

Thus we decided to bring the technology into China in 2013 What proportion of farmers use this kind of technology?

A very small portion in China as this technology just started in China three years ago.

Do some fish farmers still use manure rather than fish feed?

Very minimal, insignificant in number.

Above: Pond raceways in one of China’s IPA farms.

Picture: USSEC

Are the vast majority of farms still using more traditional systems?

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Feeding growth

“

This technology has attracted huge enthusiasm and interest from both the government and industry

”

anticipated that the support will be about US$6 million this year.

Is the aim to convert all farms to the IPA system in the future?

I don’t think that will happen because China has the biggest aquaculture in the world with vast territory and diversified aquaculture technologies. It is impossible to become a one-technology industry.

Has this technology been one of the main drivers in the development of Chinese aquaculture?

For the past three years, this is the technology that has attracted huge enthusiasm and interest from both the government and industry in some of the coastal areas. The adoption rate and development pace of the technology are tremendous too.

But it is difficult to anticipate how far it will go and how many years it will keep like this in the future. For the next three years, in my opinion, it will still be in the fast lane for its development. FF

Global approach

No. They are using feed based aquaculture technology.

What is the current research funded by USSEC hoping to achieve?

The culture of different species with the technology and how to more effectively take out the waste materials, mainly fecal materials from fish and a little bit of uneaten feed.

How many farmers can afford to feed their fish a soy bean diet?

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Most of the farmers can do that as long as they culture the right species, which can enjoy a reasonably good market price, with the proper technology.

Government is said to be prioritising the IPA system so there will be greater development next year – how big are their plans?

That is correct, but no detailed figure is available yet. The government support to IPA in 2013 was 0. It was about US$1.3 million in 2014. The figure went up to about US$3 million in 2014 and it is

In the last decade, USSEC’s work was expanded to other regions with a global strategic approach, but with country specific activities and tactics.

In 2015, the programme established an Advisory Council with leaders from various aquaculture production sectors, aquafeed and sustainability certification, to help develop strategies that best meet the needs, challenges and opportunities for the growth of global aquaculture.

Present initiatives include intensive land and ocean based aquaculture production, and water optimisation technologies to conserve and recycle freshwater resources that are becoming critically limited.

The programme is also linked to the United Soybean Board research programme to address critical industry research needs, such as feed formulations for various farmed species, genetic research, and development of new soybean varieties to best meet the nutritional needs of farmed fish.

In 2015, USSEC’s aquaculture programme was instrumental in creating the industry’s first standard aquaculture feed formulation database for more than 20 different species commonly farmed in Asia, such as carp, pangasius and tilapia.

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06/06/2016 12:21:20

Advertorial – Arvo-Tec

KAJ ARVONEN

Intelligent solutions Robot system is perfect tool for reducing costs

A

family run Finnish technology company is building a reputation for developing feeding systems that are accurate, reliable and intelligent in design.

Arvo-Tec is part of the Arvokala Group and is located in Huutokoski, Finland, where fish farming has been going on since 1969. Building on this experience, the company was established in 1994 by current managing director Kaj Arvonen.

Arvonen has gained more than 30 years’ experience in the rapidly growing aquaculture field by following in his father’s footsteps as a fish farmer before branching out to create feeding solutions for modern aquaculture.

With an extensive retailer network and markets established on every continent, the company’s products have been tested and proven in diverse conditions all around the globe over the past two decades.

More than 90 per cent of the products are for the export market. Arvo-Tec works in co-operation with many of the largest international suppliers in the aquaculture industry.

While specialising in land based recirculating aquaculture technology and feeding systems, Arvo-Tec also offers a range of other services, from planning and profitability calculations to the commissioning of entire farms.

The ‘hit product’ TD2000 Feeder has been around since 2000 and was designed with reliability and accuracy in mind. The feeder has since undergone a long product development but the principle remains the same.

Its adaptability, unbeatable accuracy and sim-

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Top: Carelian Caviar. Above (from top to bottom):Laukaa research facility with RAS environments; robot feeder in hatcehry; TD2000 feeders.

plicity are what makes it so popular among fish farmers.

Modified faster versions of the same feeder are mounted on the Arvo-Tec feeding robot. The robot system is a centralised solution for indoor farms and is capable of feeding a large number or tanks individually.

After the robot has been programmed, all that’s needed is to stock up the automatic filling system and let the robot do the work.

Another solution for higher volume feeding is the centralised pipe feeding system which differs from similar products on the marketplace by using multiple smaller dividers rather than one larger one, cutting down the total length of pipe used and making the system more lightweight and modular in design.

All the individual feeders, robots and centralised pipe feeding systems are connected to the Arvo-Tec WOLF Controller Unit, which can be controlled from a PC. Arvo-Pro software has been developed for the feeding systems over the years and remains under constant development for the foreseeable future.

The software’s features are being developed based on the needs of Arvo-Tec’s customers. If the customer so wishes they can manage their measurements, light controls, data logging and feedings with one system, from one location.

The Arvo-Tec system is the perfect tool for achieving reduced feeding expenditures by calculating the ideal daily dose according to biomass, environmental parameters and species of fish based on a mathematical energy demand model built into the system.

The latest version of the Arvo-Pro software takes the customer online as standard, allowing remote updates, immediate alarms and control of the farm by the client at any location. Being online allows them to get frequent

The most important technical “ challenge for us is adapting our feeders for dosing the micro feeds ”

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06/06/2016 12:22:49

Intelligent solutions

updates and to get immediate support wherever they are.

One area of future focus for Arvo-Tec is on developments in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Arvo-Tec was the main contractor in planning and building for the recently finished recirculating unit for the National Research Institute in Finland.

The institute will act as an aquaculture testing and learning platform for Finnish RAS customers, as well as a place for international information exchange.

Arvo-Tec has built several RAS farms around the world with the largest one being Carelian Caviar, a sturgeon farm in Finland completed in 2012.

Arvonen said: ‘The most important technical challenge for us at the moment is adapting our feeders for dosing the micro feeds used in, for example, lumpfish and shrimp farming. Also, the very large pellet demand increasing in fish farming gives us new challenges.’

The development of the Arvo-Tec feeding systems is an ongoing process as the company looks to improve its existing products and create new ones for the next generations in aquaculture.

Contact Kaj Arvonen at Kaj@arvotec.fi FF

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06/06/2016 12:23:10

Advertorial – Hallgeir Solberg

Good health is good business Dave Edler meets the man looking to clean up fish farming

H

allgeir Solberg is a man on a mission when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness within the fish farming industry.

His opening gambit in our interview is typically blunt: ‘About 100 years ago, when we discovered the importance of hygiene and cleanliness, public health went through a positive revolution. It’s high time this knowledge was applied to the fish farming industry.’

Solberg should know, with 18 years’ experience in the field of hygiene and cleaning. This has included being a partner in DiverseLever, where he was responsible for business customers within the health industry, the hospitality industry and those dealing with public buildings management.

He also has experience working with breweries and the meat and seafood industries. This is in addition to having had customer responsibility for 33 oil production platforms.

Solberg, whose firm is based in Stokkoy, Norway, is evangelical when it comes to cleanliness: ‘Keeping machinery and buildings clean is of enormous importance to prevent the transmittal of diseases, to reduce the number of disease cases and to improve the general health.’

He sees opportunities and solutions where others see problems. His background has helped him find simple solutions for challenges with hygiene, algae growth and fish welfare.

‘Algae growth on fish nets, lines and moorings is 49 times higher than in a natural habitat only a few kilometres away. Grease, faeces and leftover feed cause this hyper-growth. Most of the growth remains in the area after

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pressure washing the fish farm.’

Solberg has used his expertise in hygiene and cleaning to develop equipment for the cleaning of fish hides. With a surface of about 7,000 square metres, the hide is the second largest surface after the net in the enclosure.

Larvae and eggs are trapped in the growth on the wrasses’ hide.

In Solberg’s opinion it is not sufficient to remove the hides for drying and put them back in the enclosure again after a few days.

‘After some time the surface will roughen, thereby making it easier for unwelcome guests to attach themselves.

‘The hides will not be sufficiently clean until the growth is entirely removed.

Clean hides protect against disease and prevent salmon lice eggs and larvae from establishing themselves in the enclosure.’

Today’s fish farms are kept clean by using a pressure washer every two weeks. Solberg maintains that this is not enough.

‘The method removes the growth but has some obvious weaknesses. The water pressure has to be high to obtain good results and this leads to wear and tear on the nets.

‘Another weakness is that the waste that is removed remains in the water.

The waste matter whirls about in fish farm water and acts as an irritant to the fish gills. This can lead to stress and enable diseases to happen.’

Cleaning, disinfecting and removing waste can solve many problems related to salmon lice and disease. As with human health care, cleanliness prevents diseases from taking hold in the fish farm enclosure.

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

06/06/2016 12:25:39

Good health is good business

Clean hides “ protect against

disease and prevent lice eggs and larvae from establishing themselves

”

Clockwise from top left: Ramses complete with the disinfectant tray; the washing process; Hallgeir Solberg

‘It’s a mystery to me that the operators don’t put more focus on cleaning their fish farms,’ said Solberg.

‘We are now working on a project which will clean nets, rings and moorings while at the same time collect and remove the waste matter.

‘This method will lead to less wear and tear on the equipment and it will contribute to a better environment for the salmon, with the added bonus that the removed waste matter can be utilised as a fertiliser.’

Hallgeir Solberg AS has developed a system called Ramses, which is a washing machine that sanitises cleaner fish hides in around five to 15 minutes.

The hide is removed from the fish farm, cleaned in Ramses and then immediately put back into the cage.

The system is simple to install and can be mounted on the farm railing. Since only seawater is utilised, the process is environmentally friendly.

The cleaning of the wrasse hides reduces threats to fish health.

‘Good health is good business,’ said Solberg. ‘The next generation of cleaning equipment will collect all waste matter during the cleaning process so that it doesn’t pollute the water around the fish farm like we see today.

‘There is research done on how to collect and remove the waste that accumulates below the fish farm. This research can improve health, profitability and the reputation of the entire fish farming industry.’

Hallgeir Solberg AS can be contacted on 00 47 415 73980 or at hallgeir@hallgeirsolberg.no FF

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(+47) 415 73 980 hallgeir@hallgeirsolberg.no

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06/06/2016 12:26:01

FORMULA 1

in Net Cleaning

The Cleaning system

«Some say …

He He He He He He He He He He He He

fights daily against the marine growth drives with his eyes closed increases the level of Oxygen is more environmentally friendly than his dog RACES in more than 21 countries drives the fastest, easiest and safest system on the market thinks Castrol oil taste better than coffee races against time and money never compromises on quality is supported by the best service team reduces disease and stress symptoms in the biomass claims that Earth is flat

All we know is that he used the Remote Operated Net Cleaning system known as R.O.N.C!»

»

FAST SAFE EASY NET CLEANING MPI-Norway | Sopelimskroken 51, 1341 Slependen, Norway +47 93 02 70 80 | email:post@mpi-norway.com MPI.indd 58

+47 93 02 70 80 | email:post@mpi-norway.com

06/06/2016 12:31:50

Trade shows –

Archive – November/December 1995

Who needs them?

After a tough season in which events crowded ever closer, discussion has hotted up on the role of exhibitions and conferences. Editor Stuart Banks invites you to air your views

S

how-weary businessmen were saying ‘never again’ at Aviemore in October. But then they were saying the same thing at Trondheim, at Sparsholt, at ANUGA in Cologne and at Thessaloniki.

They say it every year, yet they still come back. So how seriously should show organisers take their critics? In my view, seriously enough to consider radical changes, while not being panicked into immediate major restructuring.

Things were brought to a head in the current season because of the juxtaposition of several events, notably the powerful Aqua Nor – augmented on this occasion by the European Aquaculture Society’s conference – and the Scottish Fish Farming Conference and Exhibition in its new, late-in-the-year slot.

Inevitably, SFFCE suffered from comparison by exhibitors. It was too remote…expensive to reach…too parochial…not sufficiently international…too few visitors…away from the alternative social amenities of a city…Glasgow was better…

These subjective views of some salesmen were backed by a rumbling groundswell that Aviemore should go biennial. But approached objectively, the criticisms are not so weighty, and almost all could be directed equally at Trondheim. It too is remote, lacking city-scale amenities, and anybody who has exhibited there will know that costs do not stop with the purchase of expensive stand space.

Dr Peter Landless, SFFCE’s organiser, points out going biennial would disrupt the continuity of an event valued by Scottish fish farmers who could not afford the money or time for a trip to Norway every other year, educational though that might be.

To a large extent, however, the Norwegian show’s success is symptomatic of the industry it represents. And because fish production and exportation is supremely more significant to Norway’s economy than to the UK’s, it naturally gets more government backing. In proportion, Scotland’s show is creditably high profile, attracting a ministerial opening which at least indicates that the government is aware of its importance. That was not always the case.

In fact, SFFCE remains one of the largest exhibitions in Europe devoted purely to fish farming, though it may have lost its once undisputed second place to events like Bordeaux and Torremolinos.

These shows were linked with the highly influential appeal of EAS conferences, bringing in hundreds of delegates worldwide, and the Society’s dynamic president, Dr Michael Poxton, has made it known that he would welcome a dialogue with the Scottish show organisers which might bring EAS to Scotland as it did this year to Norway.

Is that desirable? At Aqua Nor the conference element has always been a low-key affair, subordinate to the exhibition, much of it in Norwegian. The Scottish show, on the other hand, grew from its origins in Oban as a gathering of informed people, swapping experiences in an embryonic industry over a dram or pint, listening to ‘lectures’ which kept them abreast of technical developments and the politics of affecting their business. The exhibition consisted of a scattering of a dozen or so tables.

Times have changed out of all recognition, we know. Industry

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“

Times have changed out of all recognition

”

growth brought in the commercial suppliers, major production companies grew out of amalgamations to become major buyers, reps displaced farmers and the exhibition assumed more importance than the conference. Thank God the dram and pint survived! The other thing to survive, however, is the tradition of a conference which prides itself on providing a platform for industry politics as well as dealing with the practical day-to-day problems facing farmers. It is, incidentally, a further reason for preserving the annual nature of the event.

Would this conference gel with EAS as the Norwegians did? In principle it might, but the logistics would be difficult. Could enough lecture halls be improvised at Aviemore to provide EAS with its parallel sessions? If not, would the event move again – back to Glasgow perhaps, to the delight of some exhibitors and the dismay of northern farmers? .

Certainly, the influence of EAS could help to put Aviemore, or an alternative Scottish venue, on the international map, as it did Trondheim. But scientists aren’t buyers –at least not of cages or packing lines. This brings up the question of attendance. Exhibitors abhor long, stagnant periods of inactivity, but just one customer can revolutionise their day.

Large numbers of visitors are not the criterion of a successful show, therefore, but an interested audience is essential.

It has been suggested that some sort of British Isles ‘super show’ could be mounted as an answer to the gloss of Aqua Nor. But do we need it? Clearly, the enormous lead in salmon production held by Norway is not going to be overhauled, so why try to compete?

My opinion is that annual set-pieces like SFFCE still have an important role, which does not warrant them going biennial or amalgamating. The debate is open. Please send in your views. FF

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06/06/2016 12:35:51

Processing News

Buckie firm’s pride in award

Icelandic sells Spanish division

ASSOCIATED Seafoods Ltd has won the Export Business of the Year award at Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2016, announced on June 2.

Above: Premium product

A STEADY growth in exports has resulted in the Buckie based company now supplying its premium ‘The Pride of Scotland’ smoked salmon to 28 countries in five different continents, including Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the US and Hong Kong.

Henry Angus, com-

and quality.

The awards ceremony was held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and recognised 20 winners from 245 entries.

The dinner menu showcased produce from previous winners and finalists, such as canapés created with Native Hebridean mercial director, said Scottish salmon which Salmon from the Scotthe firm is committed is then smoked in our tish Salmon Company.

Scotland Food & to further building modern processing Drink chief executive upon this internation- facility in Buckie by al success, much of using traditional time James Withers said: which ‘can be attribhonoured techniques.’ ‘There has been a revolution in food uted to the great care The Scotland Food and drink in Scotland taken in producing & Drink Excellence and the awards show our Scottish smoked Awards recognise why that is. We have salmon so as to ensure those businesses an amazing mix of the best possible qual- and individuals in established world ity and taste’.

Scotland which are class business and ‘We only ever use leading the way with specially selected innovation, enterprise a new generation of

Culture of collaboration

“

Industry bodies and companies are working together to build

”

entrepreneurs coming through.

‘There is now a culture of collaboration in Scotland - industry bodies and companies working together to build our reputation and our sales.’

Young’s in ‘Dragon’s Gastro goes for gold Den’ packaging quest

A ‘DRAGON’S Den’ style event has been held at Grimsby based Young’s Seafood to find the best new, innovative packaging ideas that could transform the future of the sector.

Young’s invited five suppliers from packaging and ingredients to pitch an innovation or improvement concept directly to its board during the event. Many of the ideas are likely to come to market soon.

Stuart Caborn, group purchasing director at Young’s, said: ‘To inspire people to love fish now and for generations to come, we’re constantly developing new ideas and innovation.’

The suppliers taking part were Ultimate Packaging, Jardox, Graphic Packaging International, FFP & DS Smith.

The event saw one floor of Young’s Seafood’s headquarters in Ross House, Grimsby, transformed into a Dragon’s Den style warehouse for the day.

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YOUNG’S Seafood has been nominated for a Gold Brand of the Year award that recognises the relaunch of its Gastro brand.

It is the only seafood firm in the finals of the Grocer magazine awards, which will be announced on June 14 Above: Prize product in London. in the last year.

The Gastro brand is Young’s has also now worth more than launched a new £54 million, having website and digital grown by 42 per cent

presence, developed new products and produced a TV advertising campaign.

New head of food service

YOUNG’S has appointed a new director of its food service division in a move to promote growth. Adrian Greaves, who took up his post on June 1, has held senior positions representing food service in United Biscuits, Heinz UK and McCain GB. Pete Ward, Young’s CEO, said: ‘I am pleased to welcome Adrian Greaves to our team. He brings a wealth of food service experience and expertise, which will help us to achieve our strategic plans.’

Above: Adrian Greaves

THE Icelandic Group is planning to sell its Spanish arm, Iberica SA, in what appears to be a major restructuring exercise.

The move follows the recent sale of the Icelandic Asia business to Brim.

The announcement was made by the parent Iceland Enterprise Investment Fund, which said it had begun a formal sales process.

The all important Investment Fund wants a less complex business, which currently includes Icelandic Seachill in Grimsby, makers of the Saucy Fish brand.

Icelandic Iberica was founded in 1996 and specialises in the wholesale distribution of a variety of frozen fish products, mostly sourced in Iceland, to the Spanish food service industry.

It has offices in at least four Spanish cities and operations in Genoa, Italy and Paris and Nantes in France.

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

06/06/2016 12:45:37

All our products are designed to withstand the harsh weather and currents of the North Atlantic, and can be tailor made for your specific needs.

Vonin.indd 61

06/06/2016 09:28:35

Markets & Retail News

Quality not quantity at Brussels show THE Scotland delegation which attended the recent Seafood Expo Global in Brussels reported a successful trip, with motivated buyers encountered and deals signed.

Above: Seafood Scotland

DAVID Rae, head of brand and international sales at Dawnfresh Seafood, was very positive about the opportunities that the Brussels event, the world’s biggest seafood show, delivered. Although

this year seemed to be a little quieter than previous years, the buyers that did visit us were more motivated to close sales.

‘Our main focus was to launch our fantastic new ranges

of Ready to Eat, Ready to Cook and Ready to Party fish to the retail and foodservice sector, and we had strong interest from buyers in Europe and beyond – which we are confident will lead to

additional listings.

‘We also signed a new deal to sell Harasu trout bellies to a company in Japan, which will add another new territory to our international business.

‘Overall, the Scotland stand created an impressive showcase for Scotland’s produce, and it was a great success for us.’

Natalie Bell, trade marketing manager for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Asia) at Seafood Scotland, said: ‘The seafood industry is crucial to Scotland’s success, and as an industry we are responsible for attracting business to Scotland by showcasing our sustainable, world-class products.

‘With buyers wielding global purchasing power present in Brussels, we’re delighted to report such a successful trip.’

Cameron Brown, managing director of Loch Fyne Oysters, said: ‘This year’s event was about quality rather than quantity.

Impressive showcase

“

Our main focus was to launch our fantastic new ranges

”

‘It was certainly quieter than usual, which probably made it the most productive event I’ve ever been involved in.

‘We managed to meet most of our partners from around the world, to pick up some additional business and are also following up numerous new leads in new territories and markets now.

‘All in all, Brussels has been a great success for us at Loch Fyne and we’re looking forward to the next show in 2017.’

Surge in seasonal sales

Seafood consumption tipped for big growth A NEW report has predicted a significant increase in worldwide fish consumption over the next four years.

THE organisation Research and Markets says the global frozen fish and seafood market is forecast to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.63 per cent during the period 2016-2020.

To calculate the market size, its Global Frozen Fish and Seafood Market 20162020 report considers the revenue generated through the retail sales of frozen fish and seafood sold through supermarkets and hypermarkets, independent retailers, and convenience stores.

The report is based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts and seafood companies.

It covers the market landscape and its future growth prospects over the coming years.

The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

Research and Markets points to a growing global population which is bringing an increasing demand for food, including seafood.

According to the World Bank, by 2030, about 70 per cent of the demand for fish and seafood will be from the Asia and

62

Retail News.indd 62

Pacific region.

To meet this demand, the global production of fish and seafood needs to increase more than two-fold.

Several major seafood companies are mentioned in the report, including Marine Harvest, Leroy Seafood, High Liner and the Iglo (Birds Eye) group.

THE age old tradition of eating fish at Easter is not dying out despite an increasingly secular Britain, new data shows.

Sales of seafood rose substantially over the 2016 Easter retail period, with chilled fish and shellfish making the biggest gains, according to the latest market information published

by Seafish.

The figures showed a 6.5 per cent increase in the value of overall seafood sold in the two weeks incorporating Easter Sunday and Monday, compared to the two weeks before.

Seafish says this is a significant improvement compared to last year. Chilled fish saw the most significant jump, with an 8.7 per cent rise in sales.

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

06/06/2016 12:55:14

WWW.SOTRA.NET TEL: +47 56 32 68 50 E-mail: sales@sotra.net

Suppliers of Coatings and Anti Fouling Paints

Tel: +47 66 80 82 15 Fax: +47 66 80 25 21 post@netkem.no www.netkem.no

www.egersundnet.no

ble on request.

81977 2 5278 wintec.dk

c.dk

ACCURATE

Other equipment available on request.

Tel: +45 97181977 Fax: +45 9642 5278 Email: wintec@wintec.dk

www.wintec.dk

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

Aqua Source Directory.indd 63

WWW

1

G B M A RI

EQUIPMENT SUPPLIEER DIVINGCAGES SERVICES & NETS

••Sock/Side Sock/SideWeight WeightRemoval Removal&&Attachment Attachment & Size Estimation ••Cavi CaviBlasting Blasting ••Moorings/Inspections/Reports Moorings/Inspections/Reports ••Barge Barge&&Hull HullCleaning Cleaning ••Dive DiveDrills Drills ••High HighSpec’ Spec’Video VideoFootage Footageofofevery everydive dive professional &&highly trained teams MOHN• AQUA GROUP The Enterprise Park, Forres, IV36 2AB, Scotland, UK • Dedicated, Dedicated, professional highly trained teams

       Fish grading, Counting Specialise in the manufacture and supply of: & Size Fish grading, Counting Aeration Equipment - Estimation Fish Feeders

Buffodine Egg Disinfectant

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CAGES CAGES&&NETS NETS

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Specialise

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Aqua

MOHN AQUA AQUA GROUP GROUP The The Enterprise Enterprise Park, Park, Forres, Forres, IV36 IV36 2AB, 2AB, Scotland, Scotland, UK UK MOHN Tel +44 +44 (0) (0) 1309 1309 678270 678270 Fax Fax +44 +44 (0) (0) 1309 1309 673615 673615 info@mohnaqua.com info@mohnaqua.com Tel

36, Foxdenton Lane, Middleton, MOHN36, AQUAFo GR Tel +44 (0) 1309 Manchester M24 1QG M Tel: +44(0)161 6835869 MOHN GROUP Te M Java Craignure MDive DiveLtd. Ltd.11 11AQUA JavaHouses, Houses, Craignure MOHN GROUP +44 AQUA (0)1772 322200 MO MOHN AQUA GROUP The Enterprise Park, Forres,PA65 IV36 2AB, Scotland, UK 07715 007964 Isle of Argyll 6BE Isle ofMull, Mull, Argyll PA65 6BE MOHN AQUA GROUP TheMobile: Enterprise Park, Forres, IV36 2AB, Scotland, UK M MOHN AQUA GROUP The E TelFax+44 (0) Tel +44 (0) 1309 678270 +44 (0) 13091309 673615 678270 info@mohnaqua.com Tel +44 (0) export@evansvanodine.co.uk Tel +44 (0) 1309E: 678270 Fax +44 (0) 13091309 673615 678270 info@mohnaqua.com sales@aquacultureequipment.co.uk www.egersundnet.no TelFa+ Tel +44 (0) 1309E: 678270 sales@ t: t:01680 01680812 812420 420 m: m:07585 07585801 801906 906 info@mohnaqua.com W: www.AquacultureEquipment.co.uk info@mohnaqua.com www. evansvanodine.co.uk e:e:mdiveltd@live.co.uk W: www. mdiveltd@live.co.uk inf Tel +44 (0) 1309 678270 Fax +44 (0) 1309 673615 info@mohnaqua.com

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The new generation Dive Company based on Isle of Mull & working throughout Scotland to raise Customer Service, Productivity & Safety Standards in Commercial Diving specializing in but not limited to the Fish Farm Industry.

• Routine & Non Routine Fish Farm Site Dives

Specialise in the• manufacture Prop Clearanceand supply of: • Sea Bed Surveys Aeration Equipment - Fish Feeders • Cleaning of Sub Surface Structures - Oxygen Monitoring Systems • Mooring Inspections/maintenance/installation Round•PE Rearing Tanks Detailed Reporting Fabricated •Bespoke High Spec video evidence ofTanks every dive • Emergency Call Outs - Depuration Equipment - Lobster • Well Boat Attendance Holding Systems - Oyster Baskets • Cavi-Blasting Aquaculture• Salvage Equipment Ltd • Bespoke Dive Drills 36, Foxdenton Lane, Middleton, • Boat Hire Skipper Manchesterwith M24 1QG • Dedicated, professional & highly trained Tel: +44(0)161 6835869 permanent teams

Mobile: 07715 007964 w: m-dive.co.uk E: sales@aquacultureequipment.co.uk e: mdiveltd@live.co.uk t: 01680 812913/07585 801906 W: www.AquacultureEquipment.co.uk

EQUIPMENT SUPPLIEER EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENTSUPPLIEER SUPPLIEER



Manufacturer and dealer of fish farming equipment.

Fish grading,DRUM Counting • WINTEC AND HYDROTECH FILTERS & Size Estimation Fish grading, Counting • MILANESE GRADING MACHINES & Size Estimation • VENERONI PROPELLER PUMPS • WINTEC FISH VACUUM PUMPS 4-10” • INLET AND OUTLET GRILLS • DAMMING AND SLUICE GATES

Manufacturer and dealer of fish ROBUST farming equipment.

ACCURATE

• WINTEC AND HYDROTECH DRUM FILTERS INTELLIGENT • MILANESE GRADING MACHINES THE•BEST VENERONIQUALITY/PRICE PROPELLER PUMPS • WINTEC FISH VACUUM PUMPS 4-10” • INLET AND OUTLET GRILLS • DAMMING AND SLUICE GATES Your partner in Aquaculture Technology Other equipment available on request.

Other equipment available on request.

MOHN GROUPin TheAquaculture Enterprise Park, Forres, IV36 2AB, Scotland, UK YourAQUA partner Technology

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AKVA group is a unique supplier with the +45both 97181977 capabilityTel: of offering Sea and Land Based Aquaculture with complete Fax: +45operations 9642 5278 technical solutions and local support.

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AKVA group is a unique supplier with the Tel: +45 both 97181977 capability of offering Sea and Land MOHN AQUA GROUP Fax: +45 9642 MOHN AQUA GROUP Enterprise Park, Forres,5278 IV36 2AB, Scotland, UK Based The Aquaculture operations with complete Tel +44 (0) 1309 678270 Tel +44 (0) 1309 678270 Fax +44 (0) 1309 673615 info@mohnaqua.com technical solutions and local support.

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Email: wintec@wintec.dk

info@mohnaqua.com

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www.fishfarmer-magazine.com 82 82

Manufacturer and dealer of fish 049-051_ff11.indd ROBUST farming equipment.

• WINTEC AND HYDROTECH DRUM FILTERS INTELLIGENT • MILANESE GRADING MACHINES THE BEST QUALITY/PRICE • VENERONI PROPELLER PUMPS • WINTEC FISH VACUUM PUMPS 4-10” • INLET AND OUTLET GRILLS • DAMMING AND SLUICE GATES

.B

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A Anew newgeneration generationDive DiveCompany Companybased basedononIsle IsleofofMull Mullworking workingtogether togethertotoraise raise Customer CustomerService, Service,Productivity Productivity&&Safety SafetyStandards StandardsininCommercial CommercialDiving Diving specialising specialisingininbut butnot notlimited limitedtotothetheFish FishFarm Farmindustry. industry.

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49

APOLLO A/S

082-083_ff07.indd 82

Expert genetic services at Graders forprices live fish affordable

Drumfilters

• Marker assisted selection • DNA sex testing • Triploidy testing • DNA pedigree assignment

Tel.: +45 97180690 www.apollo.dk email: ffm@apollo.dk

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47

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Demonstrate your Commitment to Sustainability • Partner Bureau Specialise in thewith manufacture andVeritas supply of: Certification to prove Aeration Equipment - Fishyour Feeders commitment to sustainability.

- Oxygen Monitoring Systems We offer a large range of Round PE Rearing Tanks certification i.a.

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orres, IV36 2AB, Scotland, UK 73615 info@mohnaqua.com

ealer of fish ment.

Bureau Veritas Certification

Net sterilising, washing, repair, renovation and antifoulant retreatment.

OM

sundnet.no

THE NET RESULT IS QUALITY Custom manufacture of all types of nets.

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 B G B M A R I N E   Environmentally friendly | Approved 

by DEFRA | NoMA accredited | Proven  efficacy | Removes light biofilm  Nathan Moreland, Aquatic Hygiene  Ph: +44 1463 718735  Mob: +44 7818 483043 e-mail: Nathan@aquatic.as   

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082-083_ff07.indd 82

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www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

14/07/2014 14:54:15

» Expander

» Expander

» Extruder

» Extruder

High capacity extruders and expanders

High capacity extruders and expanders.

High capacity extruderswww.almex.nl and expanders.

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www.almex.nl

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Manufa fa

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• WINTEC • MILa • VEN B •THE Marke • WINTE • DNA s •I • Triploi • DA

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MOHN AQUA GROUP The Enterprise Park, Forres, IV36 2AB, Scotland, UK MOHN MOHNAQUA AQUAGROUP GROUPThe TheEnterprise EnterprisePark, Park,Forres, Forres,IV36 IV362AB, 2AB,Scotland, Scotland,UK UK MOHN AQUA GROUP The Enterprise Park, Forres, IV36 2AB, Scotland, UK Tel +44 (0) 1309 678270 Fax +44 (0) 1309 673615 info@mohnaqua.com Tel Tel+44 +44(0) (0)1309 1309678270 678270Fax Fax+44 +44(0) (0)1309 1309673615 673615 info@mohnaqua.com info@mohnaqua.com Tel +44 (0) 1309 678270 Fax +44 (0) 1309 673615 info@mohnaqua.com

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Ferguson.indd 1

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18/02/2015 11:57

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RECIRCULATION

SHELLFISH TARPAULINS

Tom Morrow Tarpaulins

06/02/2014 16:35:16

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65

03/06/2016 12:02:02

Opinion – Inside track

Who should be accountable?

BY NICK JOY

D

on’t you just love it when some high up gets caught with his or her hand in the cookie jar and has to confess, apologise and take what’s coming? I guess this attitude is driven by schadenfreude but also by the belief that accountability has been exercised. Taking the pain because you are accountable seems logical and fair.

The other side of being accountable is being responsible. People who take responsibility inevitably accept that they are accountable for their actions, or should be. Society needs more accountability in critical posts.

Of course, it would be naïve to suggest that all people in power accept their accountability. It is human to try to justify error and also it is very human to enjoy pointing out others’ failure while ignoring your own.

However, if we do not have accountability then how can we be sure that the people in post take their actions seriously enough?

What is the relevance? Well, I have spent my career in an industry listening to people and organisations criticising it for its impact. Dire results were forecast: the extinction of wild salmon and sea trout and the loss of inshore waters to fishing.

Yet here we are so many years later and none of this has happened.

The escapes theory crashed when the critics could not find any effect of it.

As time passes it is becoming clearer that (as I have always believed) sea lice are having a negligible effect, if any, on wild fish.

We have been attacked for our effect on seals, only for the critics to find that the seal population is burgeoning.

After all this time and so much press, not one of the criticisms appear to have any foundation. In fact it appears, as usual, that lot of scientists and ENGOs have tried to make the evidence fit the theory and, as usual, time has shown them to be wrong.

It is the nature of humans to dislike something new and so criticism is natural. But in this case the criticism has led to a regulatory system predicated on saying no, to which anyone can object and repeatedly.

It is my view that it is time this was changed. Where is the accountability in objection?

If you wish to spread misinformation or even lie about a development’s risks there is no downside and you are free to do it as often as you like.

Furthermore, having done it several times, your view is still taken at face value. In other words, you do not have to be responsible or accountable.

So, after all these years, with all these scientists and single issue campaigners, we have a list of things that fish farming is supposed to cause which do not appear to have any foundation.

An industry that has to prove its benign nature is not a bad thing but how far does this logic apply. When it costs a business a huge amount of money to develop a site and large amounts of time, then businesses think twice about it.

Allowing this sort of irresponsible criticism to go on means that jobs are lost and investment too.

For a fragile economy like the west coast of Scotland, this is unforgivable. Creating employment in the countryside is difficult, in the isolated countryside it is so much harder. Thus to allow inaccurate theory, let alone misrepresentation, to slow the development of farming the sea is

66

Opinion - June.indd 66

wish “toIf you spread

misinformation about a development’s risks you are free to do it as often as you like

”

absurd. It is time we put together a system in planning which takes account of the likelihood of a group or person to use misinformation.

When there is clear evidence that a theory is at best unlikely to be true and at worst misinformation, all of the argument from the objector should be discounted.

If a theory is discounted in one development, then it should subsequently be ignored unless new evidence is put forward.

In the modern world the objector is looked at as a hero, facing capitalists who want to abuse their position. Yet so often the objector represents another industry, which tries to present itself as an underdog.

In some cases, as discovered by the Canadian campaigner Vivian Krause, foreign groups fund anti-industry objections. There is no system which ensures that objector groups declare their funding and the interests that fund them.

In a world which needs renewable energy, which needs the sea to be farmed, we need a planning and regulatory system that can no more be abused by the developer than it can be by the objector.

It is time we reviewed the planning system as well as the regulatory system which develops from it. FF

www.fishfarmer-magazine.com

06/06/2016 12:58:33

Ace Aquatec.indd 67

03/06/2016 12:03:14

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www.easonline.org EAS.indd 68

03/06/2016 12:04:10