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NEWS...
SEPA moots ‘protection zones’ for wild salmon
THE new regime for regulating fi sh farming in Scotland will include wild salmon protection zones in which applications for new or expanded farm sites could be turned down if the risk to wild fi sh from sea lice is deemed to be too great.
The proposal is laid out in a consultation document from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), which is set to become the lead regulator for marine fi sh farming in Scotland.
The document, Proposals for a riskbased, spatial framework for managing interaction between sea lice from marine fi nfi sh farm developments and wild Atlantic salmon in Scotland, includes details of where the protection zones are likely to be located and how the acceptable threshold for sea lice will be calculated.
In October, the Scottish Government announced that SEPA would be the lead body for regulating marine fi nfi sh farming, and said that proposals for a spatial framework to guide future applications for new farms or increased capacity would be published shortly.
Explaining the proposals now out, SEPA said: “Whilst the causes of the poor conservation status of wild salmon stocks are complex and believed to be due to a range of different factors rather than a single cause, sea lice from open-net pen fi nfi sh farms in Scotland can pose a signifi cant risk to wild salmon populations.”
SEPA said it has worked closely with scientists from Marine Scotland as well as with Nature Scot and local planning authorities to develop a means of assessing the risk to wild Atlantic salmon posed by marine fi nfi sh farm developments. Terry A’Hearn, Chief Executive of SEPA, said: “Scotland is renowned worldwide for the quality of its rivers, lochs and seas. Despite this, in nearly 60% of salmon rivers across Scotland, including on the West Coast and Western Isles, salmon populations are in poor conservation status. Whilst the causes of the poor conservation status of wild salmon stocks are complex and believed to be due to a range of different factors rather than a single cause, we know that sea lice from marine fi nfi sh farms can be a signifi cant hazard.” He added that the protection of wild salmon was “a national priority” for Scotland.
Protection zones
Under the proposals, permits for all existing farms that can contribute to infective-stage sea lice in wild salmon protection zones would be changed to enable inclusion of conditions that (a) appropriately control the factors determining the number of juvenile sea lice emanating from the farms so that those numbers cannot signifi cantly increase without prior authorisation; and (b) require suffi cient information to be provided about the operation of the farms to enable calculation of the number of juvenile lice hatching from lice on the farms’ fi sh and the resulting infective-stage sea lice concentrations in wild salmon protection zones. This is needed, SEPA said, to assess the impact of a development proposal on infective-stage lice densities in the protection zones. Wild salmon protection zones are defi ned as “narrow or constrained areas of sea (e.g. sea lochs and sounds) that wild salmon post-smolts have to pass through, and are hence concentrated, as they migrate away from the coast to the open sea.” The proposed zones identifi ed in the document cover each graded salmon Above: SEPA proposed wild salmon protection areas river under the Conservation of Salmon Left: Terry-A’Hearn (Scotland) Regulations 2016 and rivers designatOpposite: SEPA risk assessment process; The Sir John ed as Special Areas of Conservation or Sites of Murray, SEPA’s survey vessel Special Scientifi c Interest for the conservation of Atlantic salmon or the freshwater pearl mussel (which is dependent on salmonids for part of its life cycle). All the proposed zones are located on the west coast of Scotland or the Hebrides. There are no zones on the east coast – where there is no marine fi nfi sh farming – or the northern isles, where there are no relevant salmon rivers. Although they are also subject to sea lice, sea trout are not part of the proposed framework for now, SEPA said, because too little is known so far about their interactions with the parasite. Risk thresholds The threshold for risk to wild salmon is based on the likely exposure of post-smolts to sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) as the fi sh migrate from the coast to the open sea. SEPA is proposing an exposure threshold of
0.7 “infective-stage sea lice-days per m2” integrated over the upper two metres of the sea. This could mean, for example exposure for one day to a concentration of 0.7 infective-stage sea lice per m2, or exposure to 0.3 infective-stage sea lice per m2 on the fi rst day of migration and to 0.4 infective-stage sea lice per m2 on the second day. The number of days’ exposure depends on how long a post-smolt would take to pass through the zone to the open sea.
The thresholds are aimed at preventing the number of mobile sea lice from exceeding a “safe level” of 0.1 lice per gram of wild salmon.
The anticipated number of juvenile sea lice dispersing from open-net pen farms will take account of the number of fi sh on the farm and the average number of adult female sea lice with eggs per fi sh, as well as hydrodynamic factors such as ocean currents.
Farms in protection zones will need to provide SEPA with suffi cient information in order to calculate the risk threshold.
The document makes it clear that: “Any proposal where expected contribution of sea lice into the environment could not be accommodated within the sea lice exposure threshold would not be granted authorisation.”
SEPA is proposing to integrate controls for protecting wild salmon fully into its wider regulatory framework for controlling other pressures on the water environment from marine fi nfi sh farms, including discharges of fi sh faeces and medicines.
The consultation is open for comment until 14 March 2022 and details can be found at consultation.sepa.org.uk/regulatory-services/protection-of-wild-salmon/
Cooke Aquaculture opens new Scotland offi ce
SCOTTISH salmon farmer Cooke Aquaculture has opened a new Scotland corporate offi ce.
It is located in Avondale House in Strathclyde Business Park in Bellshill, close to the main motorway serving Glasgow and Edinburgh – Scotland’s two largest cities.
The offi ce has been completely refurbished and equipped with new energy-effi cient equipment throughout to create premium offi ce accommodation for more than 30 staff making up Cooke’s UK sales, supply chain, communications, fi nance, IT and sustainability teams.
Cooke said the offi ce is powered with renewable electricity from Blantyre Muir windfarm near Hamilton and has electric vehicle charging spaces outside.
At just over 5,000 square feet the new corporate offi ce provides more than double the square footage of Cooke’s previous offi ce accommodation in Strathclyde Business Park. Not only will this enable staff to socially distance, it is equipped with “hot desks” for staff who are not normally based in Bellshill.
Colin Blair, Cooke Aquaculture Scotland Managing Director said: “It’s been 20 months since we took the decision to enable those staff who could to work from home. Back in March 2020 no-one could have predicted how long the disruption to the business would last, nor foresee the effect Covid-19 would have on our working and personal lives.
“So today’s opening of our new corporate offi ce, and the return of all our offi ce-based colleagues across the country, feels signifi cant.”
The move coincides with the company’s decision for all offi ce-based staff to return in a phased approach to their normal places of work.
Two senior hires, one returner for Seafood Scotland
SEAFOOD Scotland, the national trade and marketing body for Scottish seafood, has created two new senior roles to help promote the industry, including a new initiative to support langoustine exports.
Karen Galloway joins as Head of Retail and Matthew Hurst takes on the role of Programme Manager.
In her new post, Karen Galloway will support the strategic development of Seafood Scotland, focusing primarily on initiatives within retail, both
UK multiples and independent retail sectors. She has over a decade of experience working in the seafood sector in marketing and project management roles, including two years as Head of Marketing for Seafi sh, the public body supporting the seafood industry across the UK.
Matthew Hurst joins from Scottish salmon farm, Loch Duart, where he worked in international sales for six years. He will oversee delivery of key industry-led workstreams to improve the langoustine (nephrops) supply chain as part of the Scottish Nephrops Programme Board. This post is funded by Scottish Government.
Natalie Bell also returns to the Seafood Scotland team following maternity leave, to take up her position again as Head of Trade Marketing (Asia, Europe and Middle East).
Top left: Karen Galloway Left: Matthew Hurst Above: Natalie Bell
PROFESSOR Simon MacKenzie has been named as the new Head of the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture.
He is an evolutionary biologist and immunologist who has worked at the Institute of Aquaculture (IoA) since 2013. Professor MacKenzie will take over from Professor Selina Stead as Head on 1 January.
Professor Alistair Jump, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, said: “We are grateful to Professor Stead for her dedication and vision in leading the IoA over the last three years.
“The period of her leadership has seen rapid changes in the external environment across policy and practice and the very signifi cant challenges of leading the Institute during the pandemic. Selina leaves the Institute effi cient and well-positioned to meet the demands of the future. We wish Selina the very best of success in her new role at the University of Leeds.”
He added: “We are excited to welcome Professor Simon MacKenzie as the new Head of the Institute of Aquaculture. Simon brings a wealth of research knowledge and considerable experience of leading successful academicindustry collaborations to improve animal health and welfare in the sector. He joins us at a tremendously exciting time, and we look forward to working with him as he leads signifi cant new initiatives that will underpin the next phase of development of the Institute.”
Professor MacKenzie was born and bred in Stirling, but spent 12 years as Professor of Biology in Barcelona, specialising in human and animal immunology, before returning to Scotland. During his time at the IoA, he has been Director of Research, focussing on molecular biology and the genomics of aquatic animals.
HIE backs Scottish Salmon
A four-year aquaculture research and development project has been awarded up to £5m in public sector funding. The post-smolt innovation project is being carried out at The Scottish Salmon Company’s (SSC) Applecross sites in the northwest Highlands. It will create around 30 new rural jobs and signifi cantly advance salmon farming in Scotland. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has approved up to £3m investment, and a further £2m in funding has been confi rmed by Marine Scotland.
The project is being led by The Scottish Salmon Company as part of longer-term commitment by its parent company, the Bakkafrost Group.
A central aim is to increase smolt size from around 100g to 500g in an ecologically sustainable way, using innovative recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technology. It will include innovative husbandry and enhancing smolt testing and vaccination methods to improve fi sh welfare while increasing production.
Greater control of the freshwater rearing environment allows the length of time smolts spend in the freshwater phase of production to be increased. The marine phase, where the fi sh are most at risk to environmental and biological challenges, such as predation and disease, will be shortened. This will reduce biological risk and enable greater productivity and quality.
Announcing the funding, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “I welcome the new approach being taken by The Scottish Salmon Company since it became part of the Bakkafrost Group and the introduction of new management.
“The project will deliver on improved fi sh and welfare, applies innovation to address key challenges and contributes towards sustainability. It also supports the creation of new jobs which will boost the wider economy.” See also Sustainability, page 30
Left: Simon MacKenzie. Photo: Jeff-Holmes Above: Rural Secretary Mairi Gougeon
Scottish salmon producers predict increased production for 2021
SALMON farmers in Scotland saw their production go up by 3.8% year on year for the third quarter of 2021, to 60,600 tonnes. The industry expects to produce a total of 217,000 tonnes this year, up 4.5% for 2020.
The fi gures come from Salmon Scotland’s Economic Quarterly report for Q3, 2021. The report also shows that salmon exports from Scotland fell to £182m in Q3, from a record level in Q2 of this year of £202m, refl ecting some month by month volatility.
Farm gate prices (as shown in the NASDAQ Salmon Index, which records prices for Norwegian salmon) rallied in Q3 after a seasonal decline at the start of the quarter, but remain some way below the high level seen at the end of 2019.
For the fi rst time, the Economic Quarterly provides a regional breakdown for salmon production in Scotland. In descending order this breaks down as (with percentages rounded): • North Coast and West
Highlands 15,900 tonnes (26%); • Argyll and Clyde 14,000 tonnes (23%); • Shetland 12,400 tonnes (20%); • Outer Hebrides 11,700 tonnes (19%); and • Orkney 6,700 tonnes (11%).
Farmed salmon contributes more than £640m to the Scottish economy, the report says, with a total turnover of more than £1bn at the farm gate and more than £370m spent with suppliers in Scotland. The salmon farming sector employs 2,500 people directly.
Salmon Scotland Chief Executive Tavish Scott said he was optimistic about the future, adding: “As more businesses return to full capacity, the outlook for domestic consumption in the restaurant and hospitality sector should remain positive.
“This is because consumers will take the opportunity to eat out more often while at the same time cooking and enjoying salmon in their own homes.
“The sector is proving just how robust and agile it is in challenging market conditions. This is clearly very good news for Scotland’s rural and island communities and all who live and work in them.”
Above: Production of Scottish salmon
Seal attacks ‘cost Scottish salmon farmers £12m a year’
MORE than one million farm-raised salmon in Scotland are expected to have been killed by seals in the two years to the end of 2021.
Statistics published by Salmon Scotland, the trade body for Scotland’s farmed salmon sector, reveal the extent of seal predation on salmon farms, with attacks costing salmon farmers an average of £12m a year in lost fi sh.
The fi gures are contained in a report setting out in detail the impact of seal attacks on Scotland’s salmon farming sector.
Tavish Scott, Chief Executive of Salmon Scotland, said seal predation was getting worse and he urged government ministers to sit down with sector leaders to discuss possible solutions.
He said: “There is no easy fi x but we need a dialogue with ministers – and the leaders of other sectors affected – to fi nd ways of tackling what has become an increasingly serious issue for our members.”
The fi gures released by Salmon Scotland show that in 2020, 516,443 fi sh were killed directly in seal attacks (with many hundreds of thousands more so stressed they died later).
In the eight months to the end of August 2021, a further 347,917 salmon were killed directly by seals, taking the total since January 2020 to 864,360. With four months left in 2021 and with seal attacks peaking traditionally in
the winter, the total is due to pass one million well before Christmas. The salmon killed by seals would have fetched a market price of £12,253,743 in 2020 and a further £8,436,987 in the eight months of 2021 to end of August, adding up to a total lost revenue of £20,690,730. Scotland has 210 active salmon farms, of which about 70% will be stocked at any one time. This means that on average, 2,792 salmon were lost per farm (with a lost harvest revenue of £67,696) in 2020 and a further 1,955 fi sh (with an expected harvest revenue of £47,399) in the fi rst eight months of 2021. Salmon Scotland argues that farmers have a statutory duty to protect their stock but many feel they are powerless to do anything about seals, which are a protected species, now that they can now neither dispatch the predators nor scare
Above: Seals in salmon pen after biting through top bird protection netting them away.
Lobster restoration project reaches another milestone
ORKNEY Shellfish Hatchery (OSH) has announced the release of its first stock of land-raised European clawed lobster juveniles into the ocean.
The release, which saw 500 of the hatchery’s advanced lobster juveniles deployed directly onto the seabed at the Churchill Barriers in Orkney, Scotland, was supported by local diving school, Kraken Diving.
The lobsters had been successfully raised on land at the hatchery from egg through to stage 6 and beyond using the Aquahive© system from Ocean On Land Technology© .
On release, they measured up to 45mm in size (from claw tip to end of tail). Juvenile lobsters of this size are considered more robust than in earlier stages, the hatchery said, therefore giving them the best chance of survival in the wild.
Dr Nik Sachlikidis, Managing Director at OSH, said: “We are excited about the first
release of our European clawed lobster juveniles and are extremely proud of the progress that both Callum, our lead lobster hatchery technician, and the hatchery team has made. “We are pleased to play our part in maintaining and replenishing native lobster stocks in the local waters and this release is a clear demonstration of how we aim to support the valuable local fishery. I’d also like to extend a huge thanks to the Kraken Diving, Orkney team, who we look forward to working with Above: The Orkney Shellfish Hatchery and Kraken Diving teams again on upcoming, larger lobster releases.” Last month OSH carried out its first successful release of native flat oyster spat, another of the restoration projects it is involved with.
New feed barge for Kames on Skye
KAMES Fish Farming has taken delivery of a new feed barge for its Pooltiel site on Skye. The barge – named Fast Alice, has been designed to withstand the high energy nature of the site, and has high capacity hoppers, which will reduce the carbon footprint of feed deliveries and keep the farm stocked up in bad weather.
The vessel is fitted with environmental monitoring equipment, giving Kames’ farm staff live and historic information on water quality and tides.
The investment in the new barge was achieved with the help of funding from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
The company said: “It’s a vital investment for us, keeping our site and jobs secure on Skye into the future.”
Above: The Fast Alice feed barge
Kelp study promises a happier home for cleaner fish
A company that provides cleaner fish hides for fish farms has received a £125,000 funding package from the Seafood Innovation Fund (SIF) to explore the benefits of using natural kelp to provide a more natural environment for the fish.
KelpRing – the name of the company and its product – is a system that mimics wild seaweed habitats, to create a “home from home” in which cleaner fish can thrive, helping them to keep sea lice numbers down in salmon pens.
Supported by the SIF programme, with additional input from the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), salmon producer Loch Duart, and the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture, the new research will see KelpRings deployed at one of Loch Duart’s salmon farms for the next 18 months.
Designed as an alternative to artificial seaweed hides typically used on fish farms, KelpRing aims to be as close as possible to the type of environment ballan wrasse and lumpfish – the most common cleaner fish species – would experience in the wild.
A previous feasibility study with Scottish Sea Farms, combined with international research, showed that the introduction of natural kelp on salmon farms can have medicinal properties and a calming effect on cleaner fish, boosting their ability to tackle sea lice.
This latest trial will see Institute of Aquaculture researchers evaluate the impact of KelpRing against current standard conditions, assessing the preference of cleaner fish and mapping behavioural and physiological changes in the cleaner fish population related to their welfare. They will be also looking at cleaner fish efficiency by means of sea lice counts and the health and welfare state of salmon. The SIF is administered by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) on behalf of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Martin Welch, founder of KelpRing, said: “Cleaner fish are naturally drawn to seaweed forests and by adding kelp hides to salmon pens, it allows the fish to act as they would in the wild, in their natural habitat. Wrasse and lumpfish can live a long and healthy life of up to 25 years if the conditions are right, and measures to enhance their wellbeing can only support their ability to treat sea lice.”
Competition body clears takeover of Grieg’s UK assets
THE UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cleared Scottish Sea Farms’ bid to acquire Grieg Seafood Hjaltland UK, paving the way for the takeover of Grieg’s Scottish assets.
In June 2021, Scottish Sea Farms (SSF) – which is co-owned 50/50 by Lerøy Seafood Group and SalMar ASA – signed a share purchase agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Grieg Seafood Hjaltland UK from Grieg Seafood ASA for the purchase price of £164m.
Included in the deal are the company’s freshwater hatchery, processing facility and 21 marine farms around the Shetland Islands and Isle of Skye which, combined, produced approximately 16,000 tonnes (HOG) of Atlantic salmon in 2020.
This complements the geography of SSF’s own operations across mainland Scotland, Shetland and Orkney, the company said, putting the salmon grower on track to produce 46,000 tonnes in 2022.
Commenting on the CMA announcement, SSF Managing Director Jim Gallagher said: “This is hugely positive news that promises farmers from both companies greater opportunity than ever before to create the best growing conditions, working collectively as one team with regards to the key factors of fish health, stocking regimes and sea lice management.
“This, in turn, will enable us to offer customers a more secure and stable supply of premium quality Scottish farmed salmon.”
It is anticipated that the acquisition, which will be financed with 100% cash consideration from SSF, will complete as early as year-end.
Grieg said last year that, following the Covid-19 pandemic, it had to make some tough decisions by prioritising resources and investment. Its focus will now be on Norway and Canada.
It also emerged last year that this is not the first time that Grieg has tried to sell its Shetland business.
Faced with mounting biological problems, the company considered such a plan five years ago, but shelved the move until the situation had improved, deciding instead to wind down in the Isle of Skye. Most of those earlier biological problems have now been satisfactorily resolved, Grieg has said.
The UK’s competition rules required that the CMA consider “whether it is or may be the case that this transaction, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 and, if so, whether the creation of that situation may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services.”
Following the consultation period, the CMA has decided there are no grounds to undertake an “in-depth assessment” of the deal.
Above: Scottish Sea Farms’ Slocka farm, Shetland
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NEWS...
Norway seafood exports hit new record a month early
Above: Salmon fi llets
NORWAY’S seafood exports last month broke the 2019 all-time record fi gure of NOK 107.2bn (£8.9bn), the latest fi gures from the Norwegian Seafood Council show.
With the December fi gure still to come, they so far total NOK 108.8bn (£9bn). November exports were worth NOK 12bn (£1bn), a value rise of 28% on a year ago.
Seafood Council CEO Renate Larsen said: “Although we still have major challenges with the coronavirus pandemic both at home and abroad, we experienced a growth in demand compared with November last year. This applies to important species such as salmon, cod, trout, saithe and king crab.”
She did not think that the threat of a new shutdown in some countries would hit sales as hard as they did at the start of the pandemic almost two years ago because of an increase in home sales.
November also saw a new monthly record for farmed salmon, with sales reaching 127,000 tonnes and worth NOK 8bn (£660m). Volumes were 19% higher and the value 40% up on November last year. 12
Seafood Council analyst Paul T. Aandahl said the strong development in salmon exports continued with a new monthly record in value.
He said: “Most markets showed a strong increase in volume and value as a result of continued high sales to the grocery trade. At the same time, the consumption of salmon in restaurants has increased compared with last year.”
Aandahl added: “Thailand is a market that is worth highlighting this month. In November, Norway exported salmon worth NOK 145m (£12m) there, which represents a growth of NOK 92m (£7.6m).”
Farmed trout exports, which had been fl agging, fared much better last month, showing a rise on both fronts for the fi rst time this year.
They totalled 6,600 tonnes, a volume increase of 6%. The value totalled rose by 31% to NOK 427m (£35m).
Exports of fresh cod increased by 34% in volume and 35% in value to NOK 125m (£10m) last month.
Solskjær company invests £2m in Egg project
OLE Gunnar Solskjær may have lost his job as Manager of Manchester United, but he could be onto a winner with his latest aquaculture venture.
Norwegian-born Solskjær, who was sacked in November following a 4-1 defeat at Watford, owns a 20% stake in investment company Akvakulturpartner AS, which has just pumped NOK 23m (£2m) into Hauge Aqua Solutions, the company behind the futuristic Egget (“Egg”) project.
So called because it is shaped like an egg, this unusual-looking object is designed to solve some of the problems associated with salmon farming such as lice, escapes and pollution. The fi rst Egg farm is under construction and reported to be on budget and on time, and should be ready for delivery soon, with the aim of operating a farm in Romsdalsfjorden next year.
The Egg is produced by Herde Kompositt AS in Ølve, and is thought to be the main reason why Solskjær and Akvakulturpartner AS decided to buy into Hauge Aqua. Akvakulturpartner CEO and co-owner Bjørn-Vegard Løvik of Akvakulturpartner AS told the news platform Kapital.no: “What triggered us was the high-tech behind the Egg. It is fantastic fun and rewarding to be allowed to be involved in producing salmon in this way. At the same time, we believe that this will be a really good investment.”
“It is not the case that he [Solskjær] indulges in assessments of a strategic nature, but he is involved in investing if new, exciting and sustainable projects in aquaculture that we consider interesting emerge.”
Faroes producer Hiddenfjord orders a fourth Certus cage from FiiZK
AQUACULTURE supplier FiiZK has won a contract to deliver to deliver a further Certus 15000 cage to Faroes-based salmon farmer Hiddenfjord.
Hiddenfjord has already taken delivery of three semi-closed containment systems from FiiZK, which are currently being installed and will soon be ready for receiving fish.
Børge Sneisen, Project Manager at FiiZK, said: “The fourth Certus 15000 will be delivered to the Faroe Islands at the end of May 2022. The collaboration with Hiddenfjord and local subcontractors has been very good and we continue with enclosure number four following the same model.”
FiiZK said that there had been significant demand for its semiclosed containment systems.
“This is the fourth enclosure we have arranged delivery for with a short lead time to our various customers. Production, delivery and further development are now in full swing,” said Magnus Stendal, Business Developer at FiiZK.
NORWAY’S Labour-led coalition Government has set industry alarm bells ringing by announcing that it was considering putting a time limit on the granting of new fi sh farming permits.
Fisheries Minister Bjørnar Skjæran said there was a need for a basic review of the entire aquaculture licensing system. He has asked a special committee set up by the previous Conservative Government to consider ending the current policy of permanent fi sh farm permits. The committee consists mainly of researchers and academics, although at the request of the industry it now includes one seafood company representative.
There is no indication yet how long that limit should be, but reports from Oslo suggest that the Government has already made up its mind on the issue.
There are wide political differences in the Storting (Norway’s parliament) over how tough the Government should be with the aquaculture industry, which is facing increasing costs for a number of reasons.
Skjæran said the Government must look at how the regulations in aquaculture can be adapted to meet current and future challenges.
He said: “The committee is to assess an extensive, demanding complex, case and important work is beginning now.”
The Green Party, although not formally part of the coalition, does have infl uence and is calling for a tightening up of environmental controls on the industry. The party wants an end to the unregulated dumping of chemicals and medicines used to treat lice and other diseases.
The Conservative opposition is critical of Labour’s proposals, warning they will undermine confi dence and impede growth and investment, along with putting jobs at risk.
Above: Bjørnar Skjæran
Olympic champion carries fl ag for Norway’s seafood
NORWEGIAN Olympic champion Karsten Warholm has signed a two year deal to help promote the country’s seafood across the world.
The co-operation agreement is with the Norwegian Seafood Council. The message of the campaign is: “Together we win the world for Norwegian Seafood”.
Karsten Warholm has been described as Norway’s greatest ever athlete, winning and breaking the world record in the 400-metres hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics this year.
He also holds gold medals from the World Championships in 2017 and 2019, and the European Championships in 2018.
Seafood Council CEO Renate Larsen said that through this agreement the country gets one team that has won over the world through their respective professions.
She added: “I am therefore incredibly proud that Karsten Warholm will now work with us to achieve our vision. It is a very good match between us and I am confident that we will work well together.”
Warholm said he looked forward to helping the Norwegian seafood sector, something he had long wanted to do.
He said: “It is a fantastic and important product for the nation. Our country is based on the values that come from the seafood industry. My ancestors worked at sea themselves [doing] all kinds of catching and fishing, and I have always had a great love for Norwegian seafood. Seafood is also an important part of my diet and absolutely necessary to deliver the results that I do. It is also a wellknown fact that all the best in the world comes from the coast in Norway.”
Above: Karsten Warholm (centre) with Renate Larsen and trainer Leif Olav Alnes
Iceland company to spur growth with its first feed barge
Above: The AKVA AC 450 feed barge ICELANDIC fi sh farm company Háafell ehf has chosen AKVA group to supply its fi rst feed barge.
The impressive AC450Comfort feed barge will be put into operation at the company’s locations in the west of the country.
Gauti Geirsson, CEO of Háafell, said his company had more than 20 years’ experience in cod and rainbow trout farming, and was now moving into an exciting development phase with salmon farming.
He said: “With a new production permit of 6,800 tonnes of salmon (granted last summer) and investment in the company’s fi rst barge, we have taken an important step.
He added: “We are very pleased to have reached an agreement on the delivery of a well-equipped feed barge within a limited time frame with AKVA group, which we consider a solid and competitive supplier.”
Háafell is a subsidiary of the larger integrated fi shing company Hradfrystihusid-Gunnvör hf, which was started in 1941 at the height of the Second World War by a group of trawler owners as a traditional fi sh-freezing company. It is now involved in conventional deep-sea trawling and fi sh processing as well as fi sh farming.
Powered by shore-based renewable energy, the barge will be put into operation in the Ísafjarðardjúr fjord.
Roar Ognedal, Akva Regional Manager for Southern Norway and the Nordic countries, said: “We are very grateful that Háafell chose AKVA group as supplier.
“We have been following this company for a long time, and I am very pleased that they are now in the process of producing salmon.
“With our AC450Comfort feed barge, Háafell gets an established barge model with all the facilities and equipment needed for reliable operation at the locality.”
ISA confi rmed at Laxar Fiskeldi fi sh farm in Iceland
TESTS have confi rmed infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) at a Laxar Fiskeldi fi sh farm in eastern Iceland.
MAST, the Icelandic food and veterinary authority, said it had received the results of tests taken earlier this month at the farm in Reyðarfjörður and the results showed that the site had been infected by a pathogenic variant of ISA. Laxar Fiskeldi is owned by the Norwegian salmon company Måsøval.
This is thought to be the fi rst recorded case of the virus in Iceland and the news will be a huge setback for an industry that had prided itself on steering clear of the sort of health issues that have plagued neighbouring salmon-producing countries in recent years.
The authorities are now trying to fi nd out whether ISA was brought into the country or is the result of some form of mutation.
The disease attacks the tissue in blood vessels, leading to bleeding in some of the organs.
The task of culling the salmon in infected pens is currently under way. Because ISA, sometimes known as salmon fl u, is quite harmless to humans and is not transmitted through fi sh products, the slaughtered fi sh can be used for consumption.
RUV, Iceland’s national broadcaster, reported that around 68,000 fi sh had already been slaughtered.
Global offshore company makes fi rst key appointment
SALMAR Aker Ocean has made its first senior appointment as the company gears up for its global offshore aquaculture project.
The joint venture business has named Kristine Hartmann as its Development Director. She was previously Operations Director at C4IR Ocean, a foundation established by Aker and the World Economic Forum.
Prior to this, she was central in the development of the biotechnology company Aker BioMarine, where she was responsible for a number of changes and development processes over a nine-year period.
Hartmann said: “Now Norway’s new industrial adventure begins. For a civil engineer in marine technology, with experience through establishing fisheries in Antarctica and a strong commitment to sustainable business models, it feels like coming home.”
SalMar Aker Ocean said the appointment of Hartmann will be followed up with several new people taking up key management positions. It was recently announced that Olav Andreas Ervik, who has led the company since its inception in 2019, plans to resign his position as CEO early next year. The search for his successor is currently under way.
Chairman Atle Eide said the company’s first goal was to be producing 150,000 tonnes of salmon by 2030. He added: “Our ambition is to be one of the world’s largest salmon producers from 2030, but that goal is only the beginning.
“Along the way, a wealth of opportunities will be created for the Norwegian supplier industry in transition, and a foundation will be laid for thousands of industrial and engineering jobs in Norway.”
Above: The Ocean Farm 1 Right: Kristine Hartmann
Frøy takes delivery of world’s largest wellboat
THE Gåsø Høvding, hailed as the world’s largest wellboat, has been officially handed over to its Norwegian owners at a ceremony in Turkey.
It is so big that its owners, the aquaculture supply vessel company Frøy, said a commercial aircraft could fit onto its deck. Frøy described the handover at the Sefine shipyard where it was built as a big day for the company.
“The boat is completely unique – there is nothing else around to compare it against,” Frøy’s Operations Director, Oddleif Wigdahl, said.
Designed by More Maritime, the Gåsø Høvding is 82.3 metres long and 30.9 metres wide. More Maritime said it had worked closely with Frøy throughout the project.
The vessel, which was launched earlier this year, has been built for a large salmon farming business that is yet to be named. The Gåsø Høvding has a total well volume of 7,500 cubic metres. It is equipped with negative pressure sorting and removal of all types of cleaner fish, freshwater treatment with reuse, 12-line hydrolysers and an advanced automated hygiene system.
Wigdahl added: “The boat is built for high capacity and can load more than 1,000 tonnes of fish per hour. This makes it environmentally friendly and economical, because it can process and transport more fish in less sailing time.”
The high load capacity contributes positively to fish welfare, Frøy says, because operations can be carried out faster and the fish are therefore exposed to less stress.
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New Icelandic government backs aquaculture growth
ICELAND has a new Fisheries Minister – and a new coalition government with a determined pledge to strengthen the country’s fish farming industry.
Left-green party member and Health Minister in the old government, Svandís Svavarsdóttir, takes over the key cabinet job of Minister of Food, Fisheries and Agriculture from long-serving Kristján Þór Júlíusson, who is no longer in parliament. The new government is a politically strange alliance between the Left-Greens, the conservative leaning Independence Party and the centre right Progressive Party. It finally came together last weekend, more than two months after the general election.
Katrin Jakobsdottir of the LeftGreen movement will continue as Prime Minister.
The new administration, which hopes to be in power for four years, said it planned to create a comprehensive policy on the structure, framework and charging system for the country’s growing aquaculture industry.
It added: “In this work, emphasis will be placed on opportunities for job creation on the basis of self-sufficiency, scientific knowledge and the protection of wild salmon stocks”.
It also plans to appoint a committee to map new opportunities and challenges across the seafood and fisheries sector.
Labour-related disputes have hit Iceland’s traditional fishing sector in recent years and the government says it wants to submit proposals for improved social harmony.
Icelanders voted to remain outside the European Union several years ago – and this policy has not changed.
The new government stated: “Iceland’s interests are best served outside the European Union. The Government will place greater emphasis on the implementation and development of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement so that Iceland’s interests and sovereignty in co-operation and trade with other countries are secured.”
Above: The Icelandic Parliament Left: Svandís Svavarsdóttir
SalmoTerra orders an 8,000-tonne RAS farm from Graintec
DANISH aquaculture technology supplier Graintec has signed a multi-million krone deal to build an 8,000-tonne land-based facility for Norwegian fish farming company SalmoTerra.
Graintec said it would deliver all parts of the farm, which is based on recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) technology. This will be the first grow-out facility for SalmoTerra and will be located at Øygarden, near Bergen.
The two-stage project is moving swiftly, with construction due to start early next year and phase one production under way in the first half of 2023. Following completion of phase two, total production should reach 8,000 tonnes, making it one of the largest land grow-out facilities in Norway.
SalmoTerra Managing Director Harald Schreiner Fiksdal said: “Our clear vision is to create optimal conditions for the wellbeing of the fish in our visionary RAS plant.
“We wanted a supplier to partner up with, a partner with shared values and visions. Graintec has a long project history within large projects. It understood our expectations and supported us in creating peace of mind for our investors [in terms of] this great project in Bergen.”
Graintec CEO Michael Mortensen said: “SalmoTerra is a well-worked project and has very talented people on board. We are looking forward to a long partnership as trusted advisor. SalmoTerra marks an important milestone for Graintec as this is our first fish farm project. Having supplied salmon feed plants and feeding solutions for more than two decades we have a long track record in delivering complex projects to the salmon industry.”
He added: “Graintec is committed to develop sustainable aquaculture technology. We have invested heavily in building up RAS competencies and have developed a unique RAS concept that will allow SalmoTerra to realise its vision of farming sustainable salmon of highest quality.
Måsøval raises £33m to help fund Vartdal purchase
NORWEGIAN fish farming company Måsøval has successfully raised NOK 400m – around £33m – to help finance the purchase of the Vartdal Group, another family salmon business.
Måsøval has made a private placement of 9,828 million shares at a price of NOK 40.7 each, which netted NOK 400m. Its share price rose to NOK 42 following completion.
Interest was so strong that it took less than 24 hours on the Oslo Stock Exchange to finalise the share purchase. DNB Markets and Carnegie were engaged as facilitators.
In November, Måsøval announced it was buying the Vartdal group for around NOK 1.5bn (around £128m).
The companies being acquired include Aquafarms Vartdal AS, Vartdal Fiskeoppdrett AS, Urke Fiskeoppdrett AS, Western Seaproducts AS (a slaughterhouse) and Vartdal Fryseri AS.
The Vartdal Group is a fully integrated breeder and currently has four permits for the production of salmon in production area 5 (“PO5”) with a total maximum permitted biomass of 3,120 tonnes.
Some of the money raised by Måsøval will be used for other growth projects and general corporate purposes. Vartdal Invest AS is a fully integrated salmon farming business with a maximum biomass (MTB) of 3,120 tonnes. The company is also able to produce its own land-based smolt and post-smolt with a capacity of 670 tonnes of biomass.
Based in the Trøndelag region, Måsøval has been in business for almost 50 years and was in at the start of modern fish farming in Norway. Måsøval Eiendom, which is wholly owned by the third generation in the Måsøval family, owns 77% of the company. The board believes the deal will allow the business to diversify biological risks and pursue growth in the PO5 production area.
The Norwegian salmon industry has undergone considerable consolidation this year and more mergers are expected in 2022.
Above: Lars Måsøval, the company’s Chairman
Russian Aquaculture reports strong growth and profit
RUSSIAN Aquaculture has seen significant growth in both revenue and profit for the first nine months of 2021.
The company, which farms Atlantic salmon and trout in the Murmansk and Karelia regions, reported year-on-year revenue growth of 73% for the nine months to 30 September 2021, taking the figure to RUB 9.7bn (£99m).
Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, depreciation and amortisation) was RUB 3.9bn (£39.8m), up 52% on the same period last year. Net profit increased by 117% to RUB 4.8bn (£49m). Financial results for the nine months are unaudited.
Biomass increased, at 29,800 tonnes at the end of September 2021, compared with 22,300 tonnes at the end of September 2020. Sales by volume were also up, by 75% year-on-year to 18,000 tonnes.
Russian Aquaculture CEO Ilya Sosnov said that demand in the global salmon market had increased throughout the period., with the Russian market alone up by 45%.
He added: “We are seeing a steady increase in the consumption of salmon and in demand for quality chilled salmon, which affirms the fundamental appeal of the Russian market and the growth potential for our business. In this regard, we continue to invest heavily in both equipment and production assets.”
The board is recommending an interim dividend of RUB 352m (£3.6m) for shareholders. It has also established a Sustainability Committee “to ensure a systematic approach to and integration of ESG [environmental, social and governance] practices into all business processes.”
AE2021 Madeira: correction
OUR report from Aquaculture Europe (Fish Farmer, November 2021, page 45) incorrectly credited Portugal’s Ministry of the Sea with the wine tasting session at the AE2021 Conference. In fact, the wine tasting, as well as other opportunities to enjoy Madeiran produce, was provided by B2E CoLAB as part of the Blue Bioeconomy Portugal collaborative booth, which CoLAB organised. The CoLAB stand represented seven institutions with an interest in the Blue Economy, and was one of the most visited stands at the show.
We are happy to make this correction and look forward to seeing CoLAB again at AE2022 in Rimini, next year!
NEWS...
Skretting to build feed plant for Atlantic Sapphire
SKRETTING, the world’s largest provider of feed for aquaculture, is to build a state-of-theart plant for Atlantic Sapphire’s landbased salmon farm in Florida (pictured).
Skretting has also entered into an agreement to fi nance the feed factory, it said in a statement.
According to the announcement, a local feed plant will minimise the carbon footprint of transporting the feed to the facility, and is expected to cut the company’s logistics cost, and thereby its cost of production, by approximately US$0.3/kg head-
on gutted. Atlantic Sapphire said that it had chosen to work with Skretting due to the company’s unparalleled track record in R&D and the two fi rms had committed to co-operate to develop specialist RAS salmon diets. As well as reducing their carbon footprints, the two companies will work together to add novel ingredients to the feeds in a bid to use zero marine ingredients in the salmon diets, while still maintaining high levels of omega-3s in the fi nished products.
The statement added: “The allin feed price will be determined by the actual cost per specifi c diet and can only be infl uenced by factors outside the control of Skretting.
Skretting CEO Therese Log Bergjord said: “The agreement contains contractual mechanisms to ensure that Atlantic Sapphire always has access to marketleading salmon feeds in terms of both quality and value, while Skretting continues to exceed industry standards.
“With the long-term agreement that Skretting and Atlantic Sapphire have established, we are committed to increasing capacity to facilitate future growth of the land-based salmon industry in the US.”
Johan E. Andreassen, CEO of Atlantic Sapphire USA, said its business case was centred on technological development and in-market production of delicious and healthy salmon with signifi cant sustainability benefi ts compared to conventional ways of salmon farming.
“Having our most important production input locally fi ts perfectly with this strategy, as it reduces production cost and GHG emissions signifi cantly, while at the same time accelerating the technological development of a customised feed for our Bluehouses that we expect will lead to higher productivity and output.”
He added: “Further, we see this agreement with the world’s leading salmon feed producer as a strong sign of confi dence in our business case and future growth.”
Mowi tops sustainable producer list for third year
Above: Mowi salmon Below: Ivan Vindheim
MOWI has been ranked the most sustainable animal protein producer for the third year in a row by the Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index.
The report, now in its fourth edition, assesses 60 of the largest listed global meat, dairy and aquaculture companies on 10 environmental, social and governance themes aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Overall, Mowi scored 81 out of 100 and was rated “Industry Best” against many of the criteria aligned to the SDGs including greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and biodiversity, use of antibiotics, animal welfare, working conditions, food safety and governance.
CEO Ivan Vindheim said: “This shows again that Mowi is at the forefront of sustainable food production. I am proud and humbled to lead a company and an organisation that is a recognised leader in sustainable food production. Importantly, the index highlights that aquaculture and salmon farming is part of the solution toward shifting to a green economy.”
Chief Sustainability and Technology Offi cer, Catarina Martins, added: “I am delighted to see Mowi’s sustainability strategy and achievements being recognised in this global rating. For three years in a row now, Mowi is considered the most sustainable animal protein producer in the world. “This achievement is the result of hard work and passion for what we do every day: producing food that is good for people and good for the planet,” she emphasised.
Mowi is joined in the top fi ve ranked companies by fellow Norwegian aquaculture companies Grieg Seafood and Lerøy Seafood Group who are ranked second and fourth respectively.
The 2021 report found that aquaculture companies, primarily salmon producers, continue to perform better than land-based animal protein producers on all risk factors, especially deforestation, biodiversity and antibiotics.
Maine land deal opens way for Kingfi sh RAS plant
LAND-BASED aquaculture business The Kingfi sh Company has concluded the purchase of land estate near Jonesport, Maine. The acquisition marks a crucial step towards the construction of its planned fi sh farm in the north-eastern United States.
The company plans to build a recirculating aquaculture facility (RAS) to produce yellowtail kingfi sh, replicating its site in the Netherlands, which is already in operation.
In October, The Kingfi sh Company reported that it had secured approval for the two fi nal permits from the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection earlier this month, which were required in order to advance to preconstruction design and engineering on schedule.
Ohad Maiman, Founder and Chief Executive Offi cer of The Kingfi sh Company, said: “These announcements represent a major milestone in The Kingfi sh Company’s execution of its expansion strategy, and its focus on technology-driven local production of high-value, import-dependent seafood in the EU and the US.
“Today, Kingfi sh Maine is one step closer to achieving fully operational status, and we are ready to build on our proven blueprint and scale our technology locally to service our network of distributors nationwide.”
The company’s Netherlands operation runs on 100% renewable energy, sourced from wind, solar and biogas. The company’s facilities operate on seawater,.
Yellowtail kingfi sh (also known as ricciola, hiramasa or greater amberjack) is a highly versatile premium fi sh species, popular in Italian and Asian fusion cuisines.
See profi le feature, page 48..
THE aquaculture sector worldwide is set to record substantial growth after a slump in 2020, the fi rst year of the Covid-19 pandemic.
That’s the prediction of the annual production surveys and forecast from the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA – formerly known as the Global Aquaculture Alliance).
The two surveys – for shrimp and fi nfi sh – were produced by the GSA in association with Rabobank, with additional data from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and analysts Kontali. Estimates of growth for the next few years were based on a survey of producers.
The GSA said shrimp production for 2021 would be up 8.9% on 2020’s fi gures to just under 4.5 million tonnes. An estimate based on offi cial FAO data gives a much larger estimate of around 7 million tonnes, but this includes data from China, Indonesia and Vietnam, which the GSA believes is overstated.
Global fi nfi sh production for 2021 was estimated to be around 38 million tonnes, up 2.5% on 2020 levels, with a further 2.7% growth expected in 2022.
For salmonids, which is a highvalue product group, but only the fourth largest by volume, the GSA said it expected 2021 production would total around 2.8 million tonnes, an increase of 4.4% on 2020. The GSA said strong growth in Norway and the smaller producing nations had offset a poor year for Chile.
See feature, page 40.
Global production bouncing back, says GSA survey
New service vessel heads for British Columbia
A new service vessel is on its way to British Columbia for Nidaros Shipping. The Coastal Server will provide delicing treatment for Grieg Seafood in Canada.
The vessel was built by Moen Marin for Nidaros, and has been fi tted with the SkaMik delicing system. As this issue went to press, the vessel was off the coast of northern Mexico.
Terje Andreassen, CEO of Moen Marin AS, said: “Crossing the Atlantic for your own machine is not an everyday occurrence for work boats in the aquaculture industry, but we were never in doubt that the Coastal Server could carry out such a voyage. Nabwork 2411 are robust boats.”
Coastal Server is the sixth new-build vessel that Nidaros Shipping has bought from Moen Marin. Håvard Grøntvedt, Chairman of Nidaros, said: “We are very satisfi ed with the quality of the vessels, and with the follow-up during the construction phase and after takeover. Moen Marin is proactive and quickly follows up on warranty and maintenance locally in British Columbia.”
The Coastal Server is equipped with the mechanical delicing system SkaMik 1.5. This is the fi rst time this technology is being used on the coast of Canada.
Right The new Coastal Server
Salmones Camanchaca in ‘green’ bank deal
CHILEAN salmon farming company Salmones Camanchaca has signed a US $135m (£101m) refi nancing agreement linked to sustainability.
It is thought to be one of the fi rst, if not the fi rst deals of this type for a fi sh farming business and involves DNB Bank, Santander and Labbank. In return, Salmones Camanchaca has pledged to reduce greenhouse gases and become carbon neutral by 2025, as well as increase the amount of other waste such as paper, cardboard and so on that goes to recycling. The company has also agreed to improve occupational safety.
It also well timed because Chile is in the middle of a presidential election where one of the candidates is reported to be not well disposed towards salmon farming.
Company CEO Ricardo Garcia said: “Because this is part of the sustainability model we have been promoting since 2019, we are not a passive spectator in the face of global and Chilean challenges.”
Another aim is the reduction of the amount of marine ingredients that are used in the diets to obtain the harvested salmon (known as the “fi sh in/fi sh out ratio”).
Garcia said: “In our case, by 2025 we are compromising a fi sh in/fi sh out ratio of less than 0.6.”
At the same time, the company announced it would move part of its production to the Aisén region of Chile. This pledge follows damaging high-oxygen levels and algae outbreaks that affected farms in the Los Lagos region earlier this year.
Salmones Camanchaca, which is one of Chile’s oldest salmon farming companies, said it was also buoyed by the news that salmon prices were rising after historically low levels last year.
Above: Salmones Camanchaca Left: Ricardo Garcia
Huon Aquaculture: Correction
THE photo used to illustrate the news item on Huon Aquaculture in our November issue was incorrectly captioned. It should have read: “David Mitchell, Fish Performance Manager at Huon Aquaculture Company” and not “Peter Bender, CEO”. Apologies for any confusion this may have caused.
