Breeding and genetics
Well bred Technology and large RAS projects are driving demand for specialist services BY ROBERT OUTRAM
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t some point during 2023, the foothills of Mount Fuji in Japan will become the unlikely home for thousands of Atlan�c salmon. Norwegian-based Proximar Seafood is hoping to make major inroads into the Japanese market with a land-based RAS (recircula�ng aquaculture system) farm, with an ini�al produc�on capacity of 5,300 tonnes. Naturally, a RAS farm on that scale needs to ensure the health and quality of its stock, and Proximar has just signed a deal with Benchmark Gene�cs, which will supply salmon ova for Proximar’s hatchery. The first delivery of salmon to the Japanese market is expected in 2024. Joachim Nielsen, CEO of Proximar, says: “Proximar is on its way into the Japanese market, where quality is especially important. With the increasing number of land-based facili�es, ensuring quality eggs is a key issue. Our agreement with Benchmark Gene�cs ensures us stable deliveries throughout the year.” Earlier this year, Benchmark won a similar contract to supply eggs for the interna�onal land-based aquaculture group Pure Salmon. The agreement covers the delivery of more than 80 million eggs per annum, at full capacity, and also formalises a strategic collabora�on in research and development. Pure Salmon already operates a farm in Poland and the company is currently
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developing sites in Japan, France and the United States, with more planned in China, South-East Asia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The group is working towards a target produc�on capacity of around 260,000 tonnes of Atlan�c salmon annually. And just last month, Benchmark also announced a contract with Ecofisk to supply ova for a RAS farm to be located in Espevik in Tysvær municipality, Norway. The facility is set to be the biggest integrated land-based fish farm in Norway, Ecofisk believes. Delivery agreement starts in Q1-23, amoun�ng to over 25 million Atlan�c
“Ensuring quality eggs is a key issue”
www.fishfarmermagazine.com
12/07/2021 16:06:33
