Fish Farmer March 2022

Fish Farmer MARCH 2022

THE FAROES Respecting the sea

RED TAPE ...and how we can fix it

NTS SAGA

Boardroom battles

SALMON SHEIKHS Aquaculture in the desert

Blue dollars Investing to change the world

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Welcome

Editor’s Editor’s Welcome Welcome

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ierra del Fuego, the southernmost province of Argen�na, has a good claim to the �tle IKE“The most people, been shocked and saddened by the grim news coming every day end of theI’ve world.” fromEarlier Ukraine.

At the � me regional of wri�ng, Russia’s invasion is ongoing, and and this month the legislature of the province voted toindividuals ban open net governments in the West have been gripped by a combined sense of powerlessness salmon farming. Coming on top of the Danish government’s decision last autumn to curtailand anyoutrage. further growth of fish farming at sea, and the ongoing struggle of the industry in Inevitably, the crisis is already having ca�ons beyond Ukraine or Russia, Canada to resist the closure of farms in ramifi the Discovery Islands,the it isborders clearer of than ever that the the seafood industry will be its immune economic ons start to take effect. fiand sh farming industry needs tonot make case inasorder just tosanc� stay in business.

Even the long wayAt from front line cand, as a European stateonline that isthis notyear part of It’s not allFaroes, gloom,ahowever. the the North Atlan� Seafood Forum – held European Union, one ofErna the Solberg few countries to s�her ll bebelief expor� nginvestment seafood to in Russia, is now –the Norway’s Prime Minister reiterated that the blue facing some culttodecisions. economy is adiffi route saving the environment, not harming it. Also at the NASF, chief In thisves issue, focus alike on the Faroe Islands – asthat a salmon producing regionchallenge it is not the execu� andwe analysts were in agreement the industry’s biggest is biggest, but it is in many ways a leader in addressing the issues of welfare and finding ways to meet the world’s growing demand for their product – arguably,sustainability that’s a good in fish farming.

The islanders, who have lived for a long �me with the challenges of a wild but problem to have. highly produc� ve ocean,on have some lessons thatof wea could all of benefi In this issue we report thelearned NASF and alsoimportant present the first part preview Aquat from.

Nor Also in March’s Fish Farmer, we look at reac� ons to the Griggs Report on reforming 2021, one of the industry’s biggest trade shows.

What’s happening in aq Scotland’s aquaculture licensing system, and at how cage and The July issue also features a profi le of Norcod, currently the pen frontmanufacturers runner in the are raceaiming to in the UK and around th to improve their use ofindustry. plas�cs. Find out why Norcod’s Chief Execu�ve, Chris�an Riber, revive the cod farming What’s happening in aquacu Sandy Neil onhave somea examples ofworks. inves�ng in innova�on in the blue economy believes this reports �me they model that w in the UK and around the wo around the world, McDonagh highlights some interes� ngBahamas developments in being fish We also focus on and two Vince aquaculture projects in Guatemala and The that are JENNY HJUL –– EDITOR JENNY HJUL EDITOR farming in by theNorway’s desert terrain the c, Middle East. supported KvarøyofArc� and on the “Øymerd” project which is se�ng out to JENNY JENNY HJUL HJUL –– EDITOR EDITOR Closer to home, Nicki Holmyard reports on a new development in the UK’s House of create a fish farm based on a floa�ng concrete island.

Steve Bracken SSC’s record results Stewart Graham The final sessions Commons that will give Britain’s beleaguered shellfi farmers more of aand voice the poli� Nicki Holmyard looks at the shellfish farmers’ ba�leshagainst tubeworm thisinissue alsocal sphere. features special industry reports on Breeding and Gene�cs, Transport and Logis�cs and Steve Bracken SSC’s record results Stewart Graham The final sessions HE salmon farming sector in Scotland, when it was to Meanwhile, Nick Joy considers the crisisT in inwent the seafood sector and wonders he focus this month is on Europe, the internati is no coincidence that andwhere videos of unhealthy Srecruitment Fish Farmer topictures press, there was sti lltold no offi cialonal Li� ing and Cranes. be the subject ofScotti a be parliamentary inquiry, embraced the whether, in the long run, it is our a�tudes to those who work with their hands that have industry will soon gathering for the (European salmon were sent to news outlets just asjoint the Scotti sh news from the shScotland, parliamentary inquiry into salmon farming sector in when itEAS was tosalmon he focus this month istopictures on Europe, the internati T HE is coincidence that andwhere videos of unhealthy Sno Fish Farmer went press, there was sti lltold no offi cialonal opportunity this would provide to explain how it month. operated. created the problem in the first place. be parliament Aquaculture Society) and WAS (World Aquaculture Society) went back to work at the start of this These farming, conducted earlier this year by the Rural Economy Best wishes, thewere subject ofScotti a be parliamentary inquiry, embraced industry willsent soon gathering the EASinto (European salmon to news outletsfor just asjoint the Scotti shthe news from the sh parliamentary inquiry salmon Current trends In good Julie Hesketh-Laird The industry had nothing to hide and, if given aof fair hearing, could Meet thehealth new chief exe conference, to be staged over fi ve days in the southern French images had litt le to do with the current state Scotland’s fi sh and Connecti vity (REC) committ ee.

MSPs have now held fi ve Robert Outram opportunity this would provide explain how it month. operated.

Aquaculture Society) and WAS (World Aquaculture Society) parliament back to work atto the start of this These farming, went conducted earlier this year by the Rural Economy address much of the criti cism levelled against it.

Best wishes city ofngs, Asto well asand, highlighti ng the latest technological farms -Montpellier. where sea lice are in decline and, inwe fact, at abe five- Meet meeti in nothing private, tolevels consider their report and must Current trends In good Julie Hesketh-Laird The had hide if given fair hearing, thehealth new chief executiv conference, to beto staged over days in theaof southern images had litt le do with thefive current state Scotland’s ficould sh and industry Connecti vity (REC) committ ee.

MSPs have now heldFrench five Fish Farmer supported this but at times salmon Robert Outram advances in our fast moving sector, Aqua 2018felt willthat alsohas feature year low (htt p://scotti shsalmon.co.uk/monthly-sea-lice-reports). pati ent.

However, waiti ng forview, their recommendati ons been address much of the criti cism levelled against it. city ofngs, Astolevels well asare highlighti ng the latest technological farms -Montpellier. where sea lice in decline and, inwe fact, at abe fivemeeti in private, consider their report and must farmers were being drowned out bywhich theREC noisier elements offarming the sessions on emerging markets and look atinvolves the role ofthe fishusual This latest propaganda campaign, all made harder by leaks from within to anti -salmon Fish Farmer supported this atthe times salmon advances in our fast moving sector, Aqua 2018felt willthat alsohas feature year low (htt p://scotti shsalmon.co.uk/monthly-sea-lice-reports). pati ent.

However, waiti ng forview, theirbut recommendati ons been angling lobby, which had called foras the investi gatiRural on.

But asngs the farming in alleviati ng poverty.

Increasingly, industry meeti anti -aquaculture suspects, came Holyrood’s Economy acti vists.

The latest of these (see our news story on page 4) farmers were being drowned out bywhich theREC noisier elements offarming the sessions onpropaganda emerging markets and look atinvolves the role fishusual This campaign, allofthe madelatest harder by leaks from within the to anti -salmon sessions progressed, and eventually farmers’ voices were heard, are broadening their scope, tackling subjects such asthat thethe social and Connecti vity committ ee returned the summer recess we to makes grim reading for the industry asfrom itgati suggests committ ee angling lobby, which had called for the investi on.

But as farming inThe alleviati ngofpoverty.

Increasingly, ngs anti -aquaculture suspects, as Economy activists. latest thesecame (see ourHolyrood’s newsindustry storyRural onmeeti page 4) became more opti misti c.into Weand now believe that MSPs, perhaps with acceptability of aquaculture the contributi on it makes to global consider its draft report the future of salmon farming. members have been willing to listen to those campaigning to sessions progressed, and eventually farmers’ voices were heard, are broadening their scope, tackling subjects such asthat the committ social and Connecti vity committ ee returned the summer recess we to makes grim reading for the industry asfrom it suggests ee Serving Worldwide Aquaculture Since 1977 food security and saving the planet, aindustry move that is toanti welcomed. the excepti on ofvaluable one or two Greens cahoots with -farming Those who want toWe shut down thein asbe shut down this sector, rather than to those who operate became more misti c. now believe that MSPs, perhaps with acceptability ofopti aquaculture and the contributi on ithave, makes toexpected, global consider its draft report into the future of salmon farming. members have been willing to listen to those campaigning to Also investi gati ngacti initi aties, veswhich inregard thenow developing world, Harrison campaigners, will, on balance, the industry in a Dr favourable stepped their viti involve the within it.up food security and saving the planet, aindustry move that is tobreaching welcomed. the excepti on ofvaluable one or two Greens cahoots with anti -farming Those who want to shut down thein asbe expected, shut down this sector, rather thanthe tohave, those who operate Meet the team Charo Karisa of WorldFish writes about farming potenti al inthe Fish Farmer: Volume 44 Number 07 Volume 45 Number 03 light.

They will hopefully see that farmers take their environmental biosecure environments of farm sites to snatch photographs in Of course, such stories may be inaccurate and, in any case, Also investi gati ngacti initi aties, veswhich inregard thenow developing world, Harrison campaigners, will, on balance, the industry in a Dr favourable stepped viti involve breaching the within it.up their Editorial Board: Nigeria, both in catf ish and ti lapia culti vati on.

Editorial Advisory Advisory Board: responsibiliti es seriously and that businesses will only ever invest in the hope of fi nding incriminati ng evidence against farmers.

One committ ee’s fi ndings are not binding.

Scotland’s fi sh farmers Contact us Charo Karisa of WorldFish writes about the farming potenti al in light.

They will hopefully see that farmers take their environmental biosecure environments of farm sites tosomething snatch photographs ingame Of course, such stories may be inaccurate and, inof any case,ngthe Steve In Scotland, the summer has been a waiti Steve Bracken, Bracken, Hervé Hervé Migaud, Migaud, Jim Jim Treasurer, Treasurer, What’s in a name?

Dr Nick Lake Phil Thomas growth that is sustainable.

Tel: +44(0) 131 551 1000 Tel: +44(0) 131 551 1000 campaigner fibeen lmed himself searching, unsuccessfully, for minister, dead haveboth always fortunate to have the support of their Nigeria, catf ish and tilapia culti vati on. responsibiliti seriously and will only ever invest the hope of fies nding incriminati ng businesses evidence against farmers.

Onein committ ee’s fiin ndings are not binding.

Scotland’s fish farmers Chris while the parliament is inthat recess and thethose members of Holyrood’s Chris Mitchell, Mitchell, Jason Jason Cleaversmith Cleaversmith Fax: +44(0) 131 551 7901 Fax: +44(0) 131 551 7901 If the committ ee members, especially who have yet to fi shthat at aEwing, Marine site. Another saidofhea saw ‘hundreds’ Fergus toHarvest growhas sustainably.

In Scotland, the summer something ngminister, game of Phil What’s in a name?

Dr Nick Lake Thomas growth isfibeen sustainable. campaigner lmed himself searching, unsuccessfully, for dead have always fortunate tobeen have the support ofwaiti their and Rural Economy and Connecti vity committ ee conti nue to weigh up and Hamish Hamish Macdonell Macdonell Email: shfarmermagazine.com Email: editor@fi shfarmermagazine.com visit aparliament farm, like tothe learn more about the of infested salmon in awould pen, but we only have his word against that But itsalmon should not go unchallenged that some MSPs onsubject the REC while the isroutram@fi in recess and members of Holyrood’s If the committ ee members, especially those who have yet to fi sh at Marine site.

Another said hefarming. saw ‘hundreds’ Fergus toHarvest grow sustainably. theaEwing, evidence in their inquiry into salmon We don’tof expect Editor: Outram Editor: Robert RobertRural Outram their we have plenty of good stories in our May Even and Connecti vity committ ee conti nue weigh up Head Offi ce: Special Publica� ons, Fe� es Park, of theinquiry, professional vets and biologists who manage theissue. welfare of committ ee, with their own against the growth of Head Offi ce: Special Publica� ons, Fe� esto Park, visit a Economy farm, like toagendas learn more about the subject ofthetime infested salmon in go awould but we only have his word against that Buttheir itsalmon should not unchallenged that some MSPs on the REC report unti l pen, the autumn but hope the MSPs are using the bett er,farms they could head to Highlands later this month, where 496 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH5 2DL 496 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH5 2DLWe the evidence in their inquiry into salmon farming. don’t expect Designer: Balahura Designer: Andrew Andrewtheir Balahura these on a daily basis. industry, are in breach of the Code of Conduct for MSPs. As they wefully have plenty of good stories in ourgrowth May toinquiry, become acquainted with the facts about fithe shissue. farming. of the professional vets andagendas biologists who manage welfare of committ ee, with their own against the of theEven Doug McLeod Montpellier report Dr Marti n Jaff a meet the aquaculture industry en masse at Scotland’s theirthey report unti l the autumn but hope the MSPs areas using theittiis, meit Ifthey the is proud of its high standards, itsalmon says are inwill aindustry positi on to inflthe uence the future course of farming, Commercial Commercial Manager: Manager: bett er, could head to Highlands later this month, where This month also sees reti rement of Marine Harvest’s longest these farms on a daily basis. industry, are in breach of the Code of Conduct for MSPs. As they Subscriptions to become fully with the facts aboutof fish farming. biggest fish acquainted farming show. must mount aaquaculture much more robust defence itself, through its and of businesses vital toBracken.

Scotland’s economy, we have a right Janice Janice Johnston Johnston Montpellier report Dr Marti n Jaff a Doug McLeod they will meet the industry en masse at Scotland’s serving employee, Steve We had no Subscrip� ons Fish Farmer Subscrip� ons Address: Fish Farmer If the isto proud of itsAddress: high standards, as itsalmon says itcollecti is, it ng are in aindustry positi on inflthe uence the future course oftrouble farming, This month also sees reti rement of Marine Harvest’s longest We will certainly be at Aquaculture UK in Aviemore and look jjohnston@fi jjohnston@fishfarmermagazine.com shfarmermagazine.com representati ve body, the SSPO, than it has done to date.

The to know who they are, and we hope the industry, through its warm from his friendsdefence and colleagues tohave mark the biggest fishtributes farming show.

Magazine Subscrip� ons, Warners Group Magazine Subscrip� ons, Warners Group must mount a much more robust of itself, through its and of businesses vital to Scotland’s economy, we a right serving employee, Steve Bracken.

We had nonothing, trouble collecti ng forward toand, seeing many of you there too. campaigners, we now see, will stop at representati ves, will pressure the parliament toand investi gate before Publisher: Benne� Publisher: Alister Alisterrepresentati Benne� milestone along with rest of the industry, thefarmers team We will certainly be at Aquaculture UK in Aviemore and look Publica� ons plc, The Mal� ngs, Publica� ons plc, The Mal� ngs, vethey body, the SSPO, than itthe has done tothrough date.

The to know who are, and wethe hope industry, its at Fish warm tributes from his friends and colleagues to mark the should be prepared to fi ght back. the REC report is published.

Farmer wish him all the very best for the future.

West Street, Bourne West Street, Bourne forward toand, seeing many of the you there too. campaigners, we now see, will stop at representati ves, will pressure the parliament toand investi gateatbefore Rising stars Marti nBrown Jaff a Orkney anniversary Janet milestone along with rest of thenothing, industry, thefarmers team Fish Lincolnshire Lincolnshire PE10 9PH should prepared to fivery ghtPE10 back. the RECbe report published.

Farmer wish himis all the best9PH for the future.

Conte Conten 4-15 4-14 News 4-15 4-14 News

Fair hearing French connection Farmers must fight back Uphold the code Fair hearing French connection Farmers must Uphold the codefight back

T I A TIA

16-21 16-17 16-22 Industry pioneer News Extra platform Parliamentary in 16-21 16-17 16-22 Industry pioneer News Extra platform Parliamentary inquir 22-23 18-19 24-27 Salmon market SSPO 22-23 18-19 24-27 Salmon market SSPO

utram Robertrt O Robe Outram

24 20 20-21 28-29 BTA Shellfish Comment 24 20 20-21 28-29 Comment BTA Shellfish

Cover: Workboat at Cover: FishFaroes farm Gøtuvik, maintenance ship (photo: Bakkafrost) in Skanevik�orden, Norway Photo: Shu�erstock

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

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@fishfarmermagazine

Tel: Tel: +44 +44 (0)1778 (0)1778 392014 392014

ons: UK Subscrip� ons: £75 £75 aa year year www.fishfarmer-magazine.com nowSubscrip� on @fishfarmermag Fish Farmer isUK ROW aa year ROW Subscrip� Subscrip�ons: ons: £95 £95www.fishupdate.com year including including Facebook and Twitter Fish Farmer is now postage on www.fishfarmermagazine.com -- All postage All Air Air Mail Mailwww.fishfarmer-magazine.com www.fishupdate.com Facebook andthe Twitter Contact us Meet team

Meet thebybyteam Printed JJ Thomson Printed in in Great Great Britain Britain for for the the proprietors proprietors Wyvex Wyvex Media Media Ltd Ltd Thomson Colour Colour Printers Printers Ltd, Ltd, Glasgow Glasgow ISSN ISSN 0262-9615 0262-9615 Editorial Advisory Board: Steve Tel: +44(0) 131 551 1000 Contact us Meet the team

26 22-23 30 Shellfi sh Comment BTA 26 22-23 30 Shellfi sh Comment BTA 28-31 24-25 32-33 SSPO Comment Scottish Shellfi sh Sea Far 28-31 24-25 32-33 SSPO Comment Scottish Shellfi sh Sea Farms Rising stars Marti nBrown Jaff a Orkney anniversary Janet 32-33 26-27 26-30 34-35 Shellfi shfiSea Cleaner sh Far Scottish Comment 32-33 26-27 26-30 34-35 Janet Machrihanish Orkney farm Marti nBrown Jaff a visit Shellfi shfiSea Cleaner sh Farms Scottish Comment 13

Janet Machrihanish Orkney farm Marti nBrown Jaff a visit

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34-35 28-29 32-33 36-41 Comment Cleaner Orkneyvisitfish Farm 34-35 28-29 32-33 36-41 Comment Cleaner Orkneyvisitfish Farm

3 Fax: +44(0) 131 551 7901 Bracken, Scott Landsburgh, Hervé Steve Bracken, Scott HervéLandsburgh, Migaud, Editorial Advisory Board: Steve Tel: +44(0) 131 551 1000 Migaud, PatrickJim Smith and Jim Hervé Patrick Smith, PatrickMigaud, Smith, Treasurer and Fax: email: +44(0) 131 551 7901 Bracken, Scott Landsburgh, Hervé Steve Bracken, Scott HervéLandsburgh, Migaud, jhjul@fi shupdate.com Treasurer, Wiliam Jim Treasurer and Dowds William Dowdsemail: William Dowds Marti nofJaff a era Vaccines New player Dawn new Migaud, PatrickJim Smith and Jim Hervé Patrick Smith, PatrickMigaud, Smith, Treasurer and Editor: Jenny Hjul jhjul@fi shupdate.com Treasurer, Wiliam 12/07/2021 15:32:14 Jim Treasurer and Dowds William Dowds William Dowds Head Office: Special Publications, Dawn 07/03/2022 14:11:07 Marti nofJaff a era Vaccines New player new Designer: Andrew Balahura

Contents

Fish F armer In the March issue...

News

What’s happening in the UK and around the world

Processing News

24-25

Update from the processing sector

Comment

26-27

Mar�n Jaffa

Salmon Scotland

28-29

Hamish Macdonell

Innovation

30-33

Sandy Neil

Shellfish

34-35

Nicki Holmyard

The battle for NTS

36-37

Vince McDonagh

Climate Change

38-39

Duncan Perrin, Sunderland Marine

The Faroe Islands Robert Outram

Aquaculture in the Middle East Vince McDonagh

Cages, pens, nets & moorings

Including Grieg Seafood’s new semi-closed system

Boats & barges What’s New

Monthly update on industry innova�ons and solu�ons

Aqua Source Directory

50-51 52-55

60 62-63

Find all you need for the industry

Industry Diary

All the latest aquaculture events, conferences and courses

Opinion

64 66

Nick Joy

30

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40-48

58-59

Hybrid vessels with a smaller carbon footprint

4

6-23

40

50

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www.fishfarmermagazine.com

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07/03/2022 09:29:28

United Kingdom News

NEWS...

Scottish Government welcomes Griggs Review

THE licensing system for aquaculture in Scotland looks set for radical change following the publication of an independent report into its effectiveness.

The review, headed by Professor Russel Griggs OBE, concludes that the stakeholders working with the current system see it as “not fit for purpose”.

Professor Griggs also has strong words for the “…degree of mistrust, dislike and vitriol at both an institutional and personal level between the industry (mainly finfish), certain regulators, parts of the Scottish Government and other stakeholders.”

The review proposes that different regulatory solutions are developed for finfish, shellfish and seaweed production. A single consenting document would be required for all forms of aquaculture and producers would pay a single licensing payment based on the tonnage output of the site concerned. Portions of the funds raised through the licensing charge would be earmarked for

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the benefit of the local community and for supporting scientific research.

The review also says innovation and development should be encouraged across all three sectors, with special consents or licences aligned to innovation, including the length of validity and costs.

Griggs suggests that the new framework should be piloted before it is rolled out across the whole of Scotland,and says Shetland would be an ideal location to test the system.

The Scottish Government should work with all parties through a Project Board, Griggs says, to produce, within 12 months, a 10-year framework for each part of the aquaculture sector (finfish, shellfish and seaweed) within which all must operate.

Once that framework is in place, the review says, all existing sites should be examined to ensure that they can operate within it.

Griggs stresses that setting policy is a task for the Scottish

Government, not the regulators implementing that policy. The Vision for Aquaculture currently being developed by the Government should be the basis of a detailed framework, he says, which should recognise the industry’s dynamic nature, especially of the finfish sector, and ensure the framework is future-proof.

The review goes on: “That policy and framework should therefore not be solely about what the industry looks like today, but how it can develop over time, for example, five to 10 years. It is the future that should be at the heart of the vision for the sector and form the parameters of the framework.”

Griggs calls for the creation of a central science and evidence base focused on aquaculture, jointly run and managed by industry and the Scottish Government.

Finally, if taken up by the Scottish Government, the action points recommended in the review would be overseen by a project board set up for the

purpose, which would aim to introduce the new system within 12 months.

Mairi Gougeon, Rural Affairs Secretary, said: “This is a comprehensive piece of work by Professor Griggs… I welcome the ambitious range of recommendations he has made and we accept them all in principle.”

She added: “Aquaculture is a significant contributor to our rural economy, providing well-paid jobs in some of Scotland’s most fragile communities and will be an essential part of our green recovery and transition to net zero.”

The Scottish Government would “take a short amount of time” to consider the proposals, she said.

Gougeon also made it clear, however, that reforms to the licensing framework would reflect the co-operation agreement between the Scottish National Party and the Green Party, which has signalled its hostility to open net-pen fish farming.

Industry body Salmon Scotland welcomed the report as a “blueprint for change” and congratulated the Scottish Government for commissioning an independent review of the existing regulatory regime “which, as the report states, does not work.”

Salmon Scotland Chief Executive Tavish Scott said: “Russel Griggs has given all those involved in a £1bn Scottish success story a route map to becoming internationally competitive in delivering protein for the domestic market and overseas. We urge the Scottish Government to grasp this opportunity.”

From the top: Fish farm in Scotland; Professor Russel Griggs; Mairi Gougeon

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

07/03/2022 14:20:59

All the latest industry news from the UK

Subsea sector ‘could reach £45bn’ by 2035, says GUH

Mowi hires Stirling’s Migaud to head Fish Health

health and biology team in MOWI Scotland has hired leading aquaculture academic Scotland and will sit as a member of Mowi Scotland’s Hervé Migaud as the company’s Fish Health, Welfare & senior management team.

Biology Director.

Migaud has joined Mowi from the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, where he was professor and Head of the Production Research Group. He is also President of the European Aquaculture Society.

He has more than 20 years’ experience working in collaboration with world-leading industry partners on fish breeding, physiology, farming systems and technology, Above: Saab Seaeye Cougar-XTi Below: Neil Gordon husbandry manipulations (enTHE UK’s underwater sector, currently accounting for £8bn in vironmental, dietary, genetic, revenue, has the potential to grow to £45bn by 2035 in line with systems), health, stress and a rapidly expanding global market – and aquaculture is helping welfare, and domestication of to drive that demand. new species.

So says the Global Underwater Hub (GUH), a new trade and Reporting to Ben Hadfield, marketing body officially launched this week at the Subsea COO Farming Scotland, Expo in Aberdeen. GUH, the successor to the former Subsea Ireland & The Faroes, Migaud UK, has published a white paper setting out what it sees as a will lead the company’s fish Above: Hervé Migaud huge opportunity to take advantage of a global market that is set to grow from £50bn to £140bn.

Demand for underwater technology and services comes from the energy industry – both oil and gas and renewables – plus defence, marine mineral extraction, scientific monitoring and aquaculture, the white paper, The Blue Opportunity, says.

If the UK can hang on to its significant share – estimated to be about a third of the global market – then, GUH says, underwater technology and services could create £20bn in exports and 180,000 new jobs.

GUH CEO Neil Gordon said at the launch: “The exponential growth of the blue economy presents an unprecedented scale of opportunity on which the UK’s world-renowned underwater British Made Cage Nets In Nylon & Dyneema industry can capitalise.

“As the industry emerges from the uncertain and challenging Predator Exclusion Nets pandemic period with a degree of optimism fuelled by opportunities in energy transition and the blue economy, the Anti Foul Coatings GUH will provide the specific market intelligence and support to help companies make informed decisions on which markets Ropes - Large Stock All Sizes and sectors to target to deliver a step-change in growth.”

The GUH is funded to the tune of £13m by the UK and Floats, Buoys, Cushion Buoys Scottish governments, but led and managed by the industry. Its role will be Chain & Chain Weights to disseminate market intelligence, provide access to companies Tarpaulins looking to grow and connect players within different sectors across the industry, including the academic world.

QUALITY NETS FOR FISH FARMING The GUH currently employs 15 staff in Aberdeen, with a view to Tel: 01253 874891 reaching around 30 in total across the organisation.Two further hubs in the e-mail: john@borisnet.co.uk south and north of England are due to be launched in the next web: www.borisnet.co.uk 12 months.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

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07/03/2022 14:24:23

United Kingdom News

Crown Estate Scotland chief set to retire THE Chief Executive of Crown Estate Scotland, the public body that manages land, seabed and coastline and other property assets, is to retire later this year.

Simon Hodge, who joined Crown Estate Scotland as Chief Executive in 2018, has announced his intention to step down in August.

He said, “It won’t be easy to step away from Crown Estate Scotland and from the fantastic team of people I so appreciate working with. We’ve come a long way since Crown Estate Scotland was created in 2017 and since I joined in 2018. I’m immensely proud of what we have achieved together and excited at the work we are doing with business and communities to help make Scotland a better place.”

Crown Estate Scotland Chair Amanda Bryan said: “Simon has over the last four years worked tirelessly on behalf of the business, helping Crown Estate Scotland as a new public body to become a highly respected organisation known for delivering economic, social and environmental benefits across Scotland.

“I’m of course very sad to know that Simon will be leaving us in August, but am already working to ensure Crown Estate Scotland secures a new Chief Executive who will take the organisation into the next stage of its development.”

Above: Simon Hodge

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Scottish Sea Farms confirms first key Shetland appointments

Left: Scottish Sea Farms Richard Darbyshire (L) and Grant Cumming

SCOTTISH Sea Farms has announced the first two appointments for its new Shetland assets, which were acquired from Grieg at the end of last year.

Richard Darbyshire, formerly Scottish Sea Farms Orkney Regional Manager and then most recently Northern Isles Regional Manager with responsibility for both Shetland and Orkney, will become Shetland Regional Manager. He will be focusing exclusively on the region’s newly expanded farming estate.

Supporting Darbyshire will be Grant Cumming, previously Managing Director of Grieg Seafood’s Scottish operations, in the role of Operations Manager for Shetland.

Salmon farmer Scottish Sea Farms, which is co-owned by SalMar and Lerøy Seafood,

acquired Grieg Seafood Hjaltland uK in December 2021.

Scottish Sea Farms Managing Director Jim Gallagher said:“Over his 21-year career with the company, Richard has gone from strength to strength, proving time and again his talent for bringing out the best in his teams. During his last 18 months as Northern Isles Regional Manager, he has also amassed an extensive working knowledge of our Shetland activities, quickly gaining the respect of our local farmers.

“Add to this Grant’s in-depth experience of the former Grieg Seafood Hjaltland uK team, farms and facilities, and I firmly believe we have the best team at the helm to take our combined estate onto even bigger and better things.”

UK salmon sales up nearly 5% CONSuMeRS in the uK are eating more salmon and more fresh, chilled fish in general despite a fall in fish consumption overall.

The latest economic report from producers’ organisation Salmon Scotland finds that retail sales for Scottish salmon in the uK went up to £1.1bn last year. Sales of fresh, chilled salmon rose by 4.9% per cent from £1,047m in 2020, with the volumes consumed increasing 7.8% to 63,300 tonnes, up from 58,700 tonnes.

The total fresh chilled fish market increased by 4.2% in terms of sales to £2.6bn, but there was a slight fall in the overall fish market of 0.2% to £4.24bn.

The report also further analyses official uK Government export figures,

revealing the total volume of Scottish salmon sold abroad was 97,835 tonnes in 2021 – a 36% increase year on year.

This included strong recoveries in mature markets such as France and the uS, but also high growth in China and Singapore. Scottish salmon

remains the uK’s number one food export.

Tavish Scott, Chief executive of Salmon Scotland, commented: “The rise in consumption here in the uK shows that more consumers recognise the health values and unrivalled quality of Scottish salmon.”

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

07/03/2022 14:25:33

All the latest industry news from the UK

Three aquaculture trainees win at Lantra’s 2022 ALBAS AQUACULTURE trainees from Scottish Sea Farms, Grieg Seafood and Dawnfresh have been recognised in this year’s Awards for Landbased and Aquaculture Skills (ALBAS).

The ALBAS are organised

by Lantra Scotland, the sector skills council for the land-based, aquaculture and environmental conservation industries.

The ALBAS awards evening took place on 3 March at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Dunblane Hydro.

Emmanuelle Rey aged 43 from Glendevon, Dollar, won the Aquaculture Learner of the Year category, while 27-year-old Emily Underhill from Oban, who trained with Grieg Seafood Shetland (now part of Scottish Sea Farms) took the Runner-up spot.

Rey did a Modern Apprenticeship in Aquaculture with Shetland UHI. She works for Dawnfresh Farming.

Underhill is now a Freshwater Fish Health Biologist with SSF. She said: “It’s an honour to be selected for these awards. Working in aquaculture is a fantastic career and I can’t wait for the next chapter.”

Meanwhile, Derek Ferguson, aged 33, from the Shetland Islands, won a Higher Education SCQF Level 9+ Award. He is doing a Technical Apprenticeship in Aquaculture Management at Grieg Seafood through Shetland UHI. He said: “It’s been a great evening, and to be selected as Overall Runner-up and

come away with a Higher Education Award is fantastic. I pass on my congratulations to all the other nominees and winners, and thank everyone who has supported me along the way. I’m also looking forward to the next chapter with Scottish Sea Farms.”

Having taken place as a virtual event last year due to Covid restrictions, the ALBAS returned to Dunblane with more than 180 finalists, event supporters, employers, training providers, industry leaders and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands Mairi Gougeon attending.

Gougeon said: “What a great night spent honouring some hard-working and inspiring people across Scotland’s

land-based and aquaculture sectors. I just want to put on record what a truly spectacular group of individuals we have in the finalists and winners.

“I’m so proud to see the incredible work they are already doing and look forward to seeing them all continue in their careers.”

Sheep farmer and social media star Cammy Wilson presented the winners and runners-up awards for trainees in the agriculture, aquaculture, equine, environmental conservation, game and wildlife, horticulture, land-based engineering and trees and timber sectors.

As well as prizes for Overall Winner, Runner-up and Modern Apprentice of the Year, there were also awards for Higher Education, School Pupil and Secondary Schools, CARAS (Council for Awards of Agricultural Societies), Jean’s Jam for inspirational tutor, the Tam Tod Trophy for outstanding young learner, and the Anna Murray Award for Partnership Working.

The winners and runners-up for ALBAS 2022 were chosen by an independent judging panel made up of influential figures from across the landbased and aquaculture sector and chaired by Keith Paterson of Forestry and Land Scotland.

From the top: Aquaculture Learner of the Year winner Emmanuelle Rey; Derek Ferguson; Emily Underhill

Pure Salmon picks Ace Aquatec’s electrical stunner AQUACULTURE and technology business Ace Aquatec will be providing its electrical stunner for land-based fish farms being planned by Pure Salmon.

The recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) facilities will be located in Japan, France and the US, and Pure Salmon already operates a RAS farm in Poland.

Pure Salmon will be using the awardwinning electrical Humane Stunner Universal (HSU) system from Dundeebased Ac Aquatec in order, the company said, to ensure the highest animal welfare standards.

Since last year, Ace Aquatec’s Northern Europe Regional Manager, Preben Imset Matre, has been in talks with

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the harvesting company. He added: “Over the last few months, we’ve been working closely with Pure Salmon on its upcoming harvesting facilities in Japan, France and the US. We are grateful for their trust,and very pleased with the collaboration. Pure Salmon’s vision of building state-of-the-art production and harvesting facilities that put fish welfare at the forefront is a perfect fit for our technology and products.

“We’re looking forward to supporting the team with a bespoke product that reaches their ultimate goals of high animal welfare and better products.”

Pure Salmon is owned by private equity fund 8F Asset management, which last

year raised £290m to develop RAS facilities in Poland, Japan, France and the US.

Above: Pure Salmon’s plant in Poland

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09/03/2022 10:27:01

United Kingdom News

SAIC projects set to boost industry’s revenue by £50m

PROJECTS funded by the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) will deliver additional turnover of £50m per annum for the companies involved by 2026, according to an independent economist’s report.

Sixty projects funded by SAIC over its first and second phases were found to have a combined value of £52.7m, 60% of which – £31.4m – was contributed by business partners within the aquaculture sector.

The economic impact assessment, produced by Frontline Consultants and independent economist Steve Westbrook, predicts that the projects will create 600 new full-time equivalent jobs by 2026, largely across rural and remote areas of Scotland.

The innovation centre also leveraged nearly £10m (£9.8m) of external funding from UK and European sources over the course of these projects. Overall, for every £1 of SAIC funding granted to research projects, a further £4.67 was

leveraged from businesses in the aquaculture sector and other funding sources.

SAIC cites as an example the collaboration between AquaGen Scotland, the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture, Cooke Aquaculture Scotland and Dawnfresh to identify biomarkers in salmon indicating a greater resistance to Flavobacterium psychrophilum.

Heather Jones, CEO of SAIC, said: “This report highlights the clear benefits of investing in aquaculture innovation and what SAIC exists to do: support increased economic impact with a reduced environmental footprint in UK aquaculture.

“The work we have funded has delivered new products and processes, enhanced fish health and wellbeing, created new revenue streams for businesses,and even supported the development of new companies, along with a range of other outcomes.

“Perhaps just as importantly, the report demonstrates that our work has helped maintain Scotland’s competitiveness in the global aquaculture sector, and sustained jobs in remote and rural communities.”

Scottish seaweed industry has ‘growth potential’

Photo: Alasdair O’Dell

industry in Scotland and SCOTLAND’S seaweed modest growth for the industry has the potential industry as a whole. Supply to grow significantly, could increase to 25,000 with output potentially tonnes, with a turnover of up to 54,000 tonnes and £22.1m per year by 2040, a combined turnover of contributing £11.5m GVA more than £70m. So says and a further £1.9m in a report from a steering “induced impacts”.The group commissioned by the industry would account for Scottish Government.

130 full-time equivalent The review, Understanding (FTE) jobs and a further 30 the potential scale for jobs from induced impacts. seaweed-based industries in In the “higher growth” Scotland (February 2022), scenario, the world market sets out two scenarios for seaweed products for the industry, which currently has a tiny share of a grows by 10% and Scotland worldwide industry worth an estimated €8.1bn annually.

In Scotland, around 8,000–15,000 tonnes is harvested from the wild, compared with Norway, which harvests just over 41,000 tonnes, and Ireland, which harvests around 30,000 tonnes.

The review estimates that the seaweed industry contributes just £510,000 gross value added (GVA) to the Scottish economy.

The “business as usual” scenario envisages no Above: SAMS Seaweed Nursery from the air cultivated seaweed

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produces, by 2040, 30,000 tonnes of wild harvested seaweed and 24,000 tonnes of cultivated crop, with a turnover for the industry of £71.2m.

The industry under this scenario would contribute £38.5m GVA to the Scottish economy, plus a further GVA of £66m from induced impacts. As many as 400 FTE jobs would be sustained, with a further 90 from induced impacts.

The review concludes: “There is growth potential in

the seaweed industry”.

Future growth will depend, the study says, on “proportionate regulation of access to the wild seaweed resource and timely determinations of consent to wild harvest.”

Also, it argues, the time taken to seek a marine licence is an issue for the industry.

The report is based on research by consultants ABPmer and RPA, which were commissioned by government agencies Marine Scotland and Crown Estate Scotland.

Responding to the study, the Scottish Government said that Marine Scotland would ensure any future revisions to marine planning and the licensing regime for seaweed harvesting and cultivation are “robust, proportionate and enabling”.

Marine Scotland will, in partnership with Crown Estate Scotland, be funding a development post “to support the growth ambitions of the Scottish seaweed sector”.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

07/03/2022 14:31:12

All the latest industry news from the UK

30th anniversary for Scottish salmon’s Label Rouge mark SCOTTISH salmon producers are celebrating 30 years of holding the prestigious “Label Rouge” quality mark in France.

“Red label” status designates a food or farmed product of superior quality, with a very stringent set of standards prepared by a group of producers. Around 10,000 tonnes of exports to France each year come under the Label Rouge quality mark.

Scottish salmon was the first fish and the first non-French product to be awarded the accolade in 1992.The anniversary was marked this weekend with a high-profile visit to Scotland by leading importers and processors from Boulogne Sur Mer and Rungis

Marketplace.

They visited one of the Scottish Salmon Company’s Loch Fyne sea farms, the Johnnie Walker Experience in Edinburgh, and attended the Scotland vs France Six Nations rugby match at Murrayfield.

A series of further celebrations are planned throughout 2022.

France is the top export

destination for Scottish salmon, with new figures showing that a record 53,500 tonnes of whole, fresh salmon worth more than £304m was exported to the country last year – accounting for 50% of the value of all UK salmon exports.

The French market for Scottish salmon has boomed in recent years, up from £185m in 2020 and

£221m in 2019.

Su Cox, Chair of Scottish Quality Salmon, which sets the quality and promotes Label Rouge Scottish Salmon, said: “The prestigious Label Rouge quality mark guarantees quality and it is a source of immense pride that Scottish salmon has held this honour for 30 years.

“For three decades, our farmers have worked hard to deliver the exceptional quality that meets the strictest standards required to achieve this certification.

“When you choose Label Rouge Scottish salmon, you are getting the best of the best in terms of taste and quality with an incomparable story of Scottish provenance.”

Above: Guests from France visiting an SSC salmon farm, Loch Fyne

Inverlussa places orders for two hybrid workboats WORKBOAT operator Inverlussa Marine Services has ordered an additional vessel from Nauplius Workboats. The contract follows a previous order placed late last year and will bring Inverlussa’s fleet to 20 in total.

Both of the latest orders are for hybrid workboats, powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system and they will be put to use servicing the aquaculture industry in Scotland.

Hybrid technology and cutting-edge battery technology will enable the new vessels to either use energy Above: The Inverlussa hybrid workboat from the batteries or store energy in the batteries when surplus energy is produced by the ship’s generators.

Inverlussa said: “Reduced fuel consumption will in turn help drive down the operation costs for our customers.”

The first vessel will be named Eloise Eslea and will be delivered in late September, with the second vessel (currently known as N023), being

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delivered late December.

N023 is a 27m x 13m workboat. Inverlussa expects to recruit an additional 12 crew/staff, which will take the company’s headcount to 115 local employees.

Nauplius, which is based in the Netherlands, recently delivered the 34-metre delousing vessel Camilla Eslea, currently on a long-term charter to Mowi Scotland from Inverlussa.

The new vessels, along with Camilla Eslea, will be the first fish farm vessels in Scotland to use azimuth propulsion, which enables the vessel to use full power in any direction, giving it the ability to move in wind speeds that would normally not be possible with conventional vessels. Another major attribute is the Dynamic Positioning system, allowing the vessels to remain stationary on any one position for long periods, which is also a first within Scotland, Inverlussa said.

Since March 2020, the Mull-based Inverlussa has taken delivery of six new vessels, designed and built specifically for Scottish aquaculture.

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07/03/2022 14:36:42

European News

NEWS...

Seafood companies unite to help war-torn Ukraine

SEAFOOD companies in Norway are rallying to help war-ravaged Ukraine with cash and practical help.

Seafood Norway, the organisation that represents both aquaculture and fishing companies, has set up a special committee to help co-ordinate the assistance.

It is working closely with the NorwegianUkraine Chamber of Commerce and some businesses have come in with direct financial help.

Sales of Norwegian seafood to Ukraine have been growing in recent years although they remain comparatively small.

Seafood Norway said the Russian invasion had hit the civilian population hard.

Companies had expressed a strong desire to help the Ukrainian people and the need for humanitarian aid was great, it said.

The statement continued: “Members have asked us to take the initiative for an organised humanitarian relief effort for the Ukrainian people. This happens after individual companies in the industry have already become involved.

“Seafood Norway has therefore established a collaboration with the NorwegianUkrainian Chamber of Commerce, of which Seafood Norway is a member. Through the Chamber of Commerce, humanitarian measures on the ground in Ukraine will be disseminated and supported.

“Law firm Wikborg Rein has prepared legal guidelines for the initiative to ensure that the funds raised are used in accordance with the purpose. There will be full transparency about funds raised and the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce does not charge a commission for its participation.”

Seafood Norway’s board has decided to contribute NOK 50,000 (£4,200) as an initial token of support while two fishing boat builders are sending NOK 200,000 (£17,000).

Left: Seafood Norway salmon

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Mortalities set to cost Arctic Fish £9m ICELANDIC salmon company Arctic Fish has revealed that the biological incident that hit one of its sites in February has cost the company around ISK 1.5bn, almost £9m.

The total loss in fish in Dýrafjörður in the Westfjord now appears to be far higher than first reported 10 days ago.

Arctic Fish, which is owned by Norway Royal Salmon and ultimately the NTS group, also warned that the first few months of this year would be difficult for the company, adding:“About 3,000 tonnes of salmon have been lost, which is estimated to have a negative effect on the settlement of about ISK 1.5bn (£8.9m).

The warning was issued as Arctic Fish issued its 2021 fourth quarter results, which showed the company enjoyed a successful period and a successful year.

The Q4 EBIT or operational profit more than doubled to ISK 407m (£2.4m) and the profit for the whole year was ISK 2.3bn (£13.6m).

The company slaughtered and sold 2,900 tonnes of gutted salmon in the quarter and 11,500 tonnes for the year as a whole, 54% higher than in the previous year.

The operating income for the year 2021 was ISK 8.8bn (£52m) and ISK 2.5bn (£14m) in Q4.

Arctic Fish said:“The high price of salmon was one of the main drivers of positive results in the quarter.The average sales price per kg was ISK 838 (£5) compared with ISK 565 (£3.30) in the fourth quarter of 2020.”

It added that the increase in production had also led to a reduction in costs.

Above: Arctic Fish farm

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

07/03/2022 14:46:04

All the latest industry news from Europe

Witzøe steps down after SalMar’s NTS bid goes through GUSTAV Witzøe has resigned as CEO of SalMar, the company he built into one of the world’s largest salmon farming businesses.

He has also announced that Linda L. Aase, a member of the SalMar board since June 2020, will be the next CEO. She has held a number of senior management positions with major companies including Rolls-Royce Marine and Aker Solutions.

Witzøe dropped the bombshell on 28 February without giving a specific reason why he was stepping down at a time when SalMar is poised to complete the takeover of the NTS integrated aquaculture group.

Earlier last month, SalMar finally secured the votes it needed to push through its takeover of NTS, making SalMar the world’s number two salmon farmer after Mowi.

A few days after SalMar’s bid was agreed by the NTS shareholders, NTS Chief Executive Helge Gåsø was dramatically voted off the board of the company he founded.

Witzøe started SalMar over 30 years ago. It is understood he plans to remain on the board. He said he was very

proud of what SalMar had become, adding: “We are a unique team of skilled employees in all parts of the company.

“We have important partners among the owners, in the private business sector, in academia and among the authorities who share our ambitions for the Norwegian aquaculture industry. I’m looking forward to the idea of everything we will continue to create and that Linda has taken on the task as team captain.”

SalMar’s Chairman, Leif Inge Nordhammer, welcomed Aase to the new role and said: “On behalf of all of us at SalMar, I would also like to thank Gustav for his enormous, unique, and tireless efforts for SalMar over 31 years.

Without Gustav’s extensive knowledge and innovative power, SalMar would not have been the company it is today.

“SalMar will continue to use Gustav’s experience and expertise, and he will, among other things, actively contribute to the NTS process.”

See also Power play, page 36 of this issue.

Top right: Helge Gåsø Right: Gustav Witzøe

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You should also be able to communicate effectively, using telephone and email, with UK and international contacts.

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Fish Farmer 13

07/03/2022 15:20:49

European News

Nutreco, Holmøy to invest in Andfjord Salmon

MULTINATIONAL feed giant Nutreco and Norwegian seafood group Holmøy are investing in land-based fish farmer Andfjord Salmon. The deal is part of a NOK 38m (£3.1m) private placement for Andfjord.

As part of the deal, Andfjord has also entered into a feed supply arrangement with Nutreco’s aquaculture subsidiary, Skretting.

Skretting’s experts will also participate in a technical advisory committee, which will provide advice to Andfjord Salmon’s production protocols and regularly evaluate production key performance indicators, with the objective of further improving conditions for the fish.

“Nutreco is a highly reputable player in the aquaculture space, investing in the industry, with Skretting supplying world-leading feed and services to aquaculture producers all over the world.

Holmøy is a highly respected Norwegian seafood group with strong local connection to Andfjord Salmon. We are delighted to enter into these agreements, which will bring on board two strategic investors to Andfjord Salmon and secure supply of our preferred feed,” said Martin Rasmussen, CEO of Andfjord Salmon.

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Located at Kvalnes on the island of Andøya on the Arctic archipelago of Vesterålen, Norway, Andfjord Salmon has developed an innovative and sustainable aquaculture concept for land-based farming of Atlantic salmon, based on a flow-through technology solution.

The company’s ambition is to build the world’s most sustainable aquaculture facility of its kind.

Erik Tveteraas, Investment Director at Nutreco, commented: “At Nutreco we are committed to our purpose of Feeding the Future.

Our investment in Andfjord Salmon fully supports our ambitions to provide solutions to a dynamic and important sector that is essential to ensure that aquaculture continues to meet the seafood needs of our growing global population in a sustainable way.”

Holmøy is a seafood group based in Vesterålen, North Norway. It is one of Norway’s largest players within whitefish and salmon.

The group’s main activities are operation of trawlers through Prestfjord AS; oceanbased fish farming through Eidsfjord Sjøfarm AS, which has an annual production of 20,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon; and Holmøy Fryseterminal, which offers cold

storage of fish and other services.

Holmøy group will invest in Andfjord Salmon through its fish farming company Eidsfjord Sjøfarm AS, which already owns 66,400 shares in Andfjord Salmon.

Knut Roar Holmøy, CEO of the Holmøy group and a member of Andfjord Salmon’s board of directors, said: “Fish is our area of expertise, and we are dedicated to developing new technologies and production methods. Investing in Andfjord Salmon is therefore a natural commitment to an industry we are passionate about and where both companies are strongly connected to Vesterålen and North-Norway. We also hope that this investment can stimulate discussions about further co-operation opportunities between the Holmøy group and Andfjord Salmon.”

Nutreco will invest NOK 20m (£1.6m) in Andfjord Salmon, while Eidsfjord Sjøfarm will invest NOK 8m (£655,000). Under the agreement, Andfjord Salmon will issue, and Nutreco and Eidsfjord Sjøfarm will, respectively, subscribe for 505,050 and 202,020 new shares in Andfjord Salmon through a directed private placement.

In addition, Andfjord Salmon’s founder and board member Roy Bernt Pettersen will contribute a further NOK 10m (£819,000) in new equity, by subscribing for 252,525 new shares in the private placement.

Last December, Andfjord announced that tests of its laminar flow technology showed that its innovative flow-through system was able to create a good environment for rearing salmon.

The company aims to release its first smolt during the second quarter of this year.

Top: Andfjord testing laminar flow Above: Martin Rasmussen

Benchmark earnings soar with new lice treatment AQUACULTURE health and nutrition group Benchmark has reported a big jump in revenue and profits for the first quarter of 2022, after its long-awaited CleanTreat® sea lice treatment started its first commercial operations.

Group revenues were up 38% year on year to £40m (Q1 2021: £3m) and adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation and impairment (EBITDA) was up 145% to £7.4m (Q1 2021: £1.8m).

Benchmark said the successful launch of Ectosan® Vet and CleanTreat had increased revenues for its Health business area by 347% compared with the first quarter of 2021 to £5.8m. Two CleanTreat systems are in operation in Norway, and the treatments have shown good efficiency as expected. A third CleanTreat system has now been ordered.

Revenues related to Advanced Nutrition were 26% to £19.1m for Q1, with growth in all three product areas. Benchmark said: “The progress and commercial focus in Advanced Nutrition has been strengthened under the new leadership of Patrick Waty.”

Genetics saw growth in revenues of 20% to £15.2m for the quarter. Benchmark said this was driven by higher harvest revenues from the company’s broodstock licence in Salten, where it sells surplus broodstock as harvested fish, as well as higher revenues from salmon eggs and SPR shrimp.

Benchmark CEO Trond Williksen commented: “We are performing in line with market expectations for the full year, with continuing good performance in all business areas. The positive market environment in our core species, our leading market positions, together with our focused strategy and financial discipline positions the group well to reach profitability and deliver growth.”

Top: Trond Williksen Above: CleanTreat sea lice treatment

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07/03/2022 15:22:12

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07/03/2022 09:31:16

European News

Norcod ‘positive’ despite higher losses

WHITEFISH farmer Norcod has reported a big increase in losses during the final part of last year despite higher sales.

Nevertheless, the young – but market leading – cod producer stressed that the outlook was very positive.

Earlier in February, Norcod announced it had won a £4m contract to supply 850 tonnes of farmed cod to a large, but as yet unnamed Spanish supermarket chain.

With output now getting into gear turnover was well up at NOK 44.2m (£3.7m) against just NOK 0.5m 12 months earlier.

But the company’s operating loss was NOK 24.4m (£2m) against a loss of NOK 17.2m (almost £1.5m) in Q4 2020.

Norcod harvested 1,393 tonnes between mid-August and the end of last year.

The company said in its quarterly report that Norcod had

comprehensively delivered proof of concept and it was now a market leader in Norwegian cod farming.

The 1,393-tonne harvest figure represented more than 85% of the total volume figure of cod farmed cod in the country during that period.

“This demonstrates that Norcod has achieved commercially viable, biologically superior cod farming, which paves the way for a positive future for the industry,”

the report continued.

“The 2021 batch of 2.2 million fish at the company’s locations in Meløy and Frøya have shown strong biological performance during Q4.

“Transfer operations to the sea facilities in Q3 went successfully as planned. The fish remained calm throughout the process and immediately began feeding on arrival.”

Norcod added: “Throughout the fourth quarter the cod have shown excellent growth and survival rate, and caught up with budgeted growth despite some delayed release at the sea locations.

“The fish seem to thrive above expectations at low temperatures, which we have observed at our production sites during the recent months.”

Norcod said it continued to land strategic milestones, which included the reception of its first hybrid vessel, and two barges rigged for waterborne feeding strengthen the company’s sustainability profile.

“The choices we make regarding equipment address a lower climate footprint and lead to reduced local and global impact from our business,” it added.

The company had also increased staff recruitment.

Frøy reports jump in earnings and profits for Q4 NORWEGIAN wellboat and aquaculture services company Frøy reported a strong finish to 2021, with increased profits and a healthy order book, its Q4 results show.

Frøy is one of the divisional businesses within the NTS salmon farming group, which is about to become part of SalMar. The results show the business would make an attractive sale option if SalMar decides not to hold onto it.

Frøy reported a 40.6% jump in turnover to NOK 561m (£47m) during the quarter, while revenues from fixed contracts and framework agreements increased by 46%.

The earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation and impairment (EBITDA) increased by 56.6% to NOK 260m (£21.5m).

Pre-tax profits jumped sharply from NOK 7m (£580,000) 12 months earlier to NOK 156m (£13m), while pre-tax profits for the whole of 2021 were 19% higher at NOK 290m (£24m).

Frøy has received orders for three new builds

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including the world’s largest wellboat, MS Gåsø Høvding.

CEO Tonje Foss said orders for more new vessels will contribute to future improved earning capacity. She added: “We still see strong demand for our services, and we are in dialogue with several customers about new contracts.”

Frøy’s board is proposing a dividend of NOK 1.5 per share.

Other highlights in the Q4 report include: • solid operational performance in wellboat and sea transport; • results in service challenged by high costs, driven by increased number of employees and high maintenance costs in the quarter; • delivery of two new wellboats, including the MS Gåsø Høvding. Both vessels have been entered directly into long term contracts with large Norwegian salmon farmers; and • sale of 20-year-old wellboat Veidnes with a gain of approximately NOK 52m (£4.3m)

carried through in line with Frøy’s strategy to improve efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of its fleet.

Above: The MS Gåsø Høvding

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07/03/2022 15:23:37

All the latest industry news from Europe

Norway’s Seafood Council Chief Executive to step down

Above: Renate Larsen

RENATE Larsen has announced she is quitting her post as Chief Executive of the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Although Larsen said there was “no drama” behind her decision, it has still come as something of a surprise, as she is not going to another job.

She was appointed CEO six years ago and has been behind a number of important innovative decisions including streamlining the organisation.

During her tenure, Norwegian seafood exports have soared to well over NOK 100bn (£8.38bn) a year, with salmon leading the way.

She said she would serve out her six months’ notice period if requested.

Larsen, who told staff of her decision on Friday afternoon, said: “I have had six fantastically exciting years. There is a time for everything and right now it is time for me to do something else. I shall spend some time thinking about what I plan to do in the future.”

She added: “I am proud of what I have achieved over the past six years.”

Council Chairman Marianne Johnsen said: “I had hoped to keep Renate Larsen for a while longer, but at the same time I understand that there is a time for everything and that she wants to consider other possibilities.

“I have greatly appreciated Renate as a person, her professionalism, security and leadership skills. She has left lasting traces and will be missed.”

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SalMar posts higher Q4 profits SALMON giant SalMar has announced a final quarter operating profit of NOK 890m (£74m) – more than double the 2020 Q4 figure of NOK 414m (£34.5m).

There were excellent results from its northern and central Norway farms and from Arnarlax, its Iceland salmon farming offshoot. But the performance from Scottish Sea Farms (SSF, also known as Norskott Havbruk), in which SalMar has a half share, were disappointing.

SalMar said the SSF Q4 harvest dropped from 6,400 tonnes in 2020 to 4,900 tonnes in 2021. However, the harvest for the whole year was well up at 32,400 tonnes against 24,000 tonnes for 2020. Norskott Havbruk generated gross operating revenues of NOK 344m (£29m) compared with NOK 427m (£35.5m) in Q4 2020. SalMar said the decrease was due to the lower harvest volumes. The EBIT per kg gutted weight corresponds to a loss of NOK 5.84.

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07/03/2022 15:29:31

European News

Smolt facility up and running ahead of time A recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) smolt plant built for Salten Smolt is now fully operational ahead of schedule.

The RAS facility was built by specialist supplier Pure Salmon Kaldnes at a site at Breivik near Bødø, Norway. It houses 5.5 million fry in a 9,000m2 fish farm.

Salten Smolt, which is owned

by Salten Aqua AS, Wenberg Fiskeoppdrett AS and Edelfarm AS, already operates a smolt plant next door and a feeding plant in the neighbouring municipality of Saltdal.

The Breivik project was procured with a total budget of NOK 600m (£49m), the largest investment so far for the Salten Aqua group. The

Above: The Salten Smolt plant

company’s production of smolt per year has now tripled from 400

tonnes to 1,200 tonnes.

The site includes two flow-

through hatcheries and five RAS departments with complete overground and underground piping systems, pumps with all technical equipment, including feeding systems, as well as an advanced automation system.

Salten Aqua’s CEO, Jarle Solemdal, said: “Pure Salmon Kaldnes not only delivered on time, but they actually delivered prior to deadline. That is not necessarily normal practice for our industry.”

Pure Salmon Kaldnes was formed last year when water industry multinational Veolia sold its RAS arm, Kruger Kaldnes, to land-based fish farmer Pure Salmon.

Lerøy doubles Q4 profits for 2021 THE Lerøy Seafood group more than doubled its operating profits during the final quarter of last year.

Lerøy is unusual in seafood in that it is one of the few multipurpose operations incorporating salmon and trout farming, whitefish trawling and fish processing. It also owns a half share in Scottish Sea Farms (SSF).

The operating profit rose from NOK 441m (£37m) in Q4 2020 to NOK 902m (£75m) in Q4 2021.

Revenues during the period

rose by 25% to NOK 6,519m (£543m). The group said that strong demand for seafood, better prices realised for its main products and an improvement in underlying operations were important factors, driving significant earnings improvement in all segments compared with the same period in 2020.

CEO Henning Beltestad said: “The demand for seafood is strong, giving grounds for optimism about the future. There is a positive development in activity level and prices realised.

Compared with Q4 2020, earnings have increased in all segments.”

The operating profit for the Norwegian fish farming segment before fair value adjustment related to biological assets was NOK 702m (£58.5m) during the final quarter compared with NOK 296m (£24.6m) 12 months earlier.

The Q4 harvest rose from 48,000 tonnes to 51,000 tonnes. It said the total Norwegian harvest for this year should be around 185,000 tonnes.

The Group’s share from associates is forecast to be

23,000 tonnes. This includes expected volume from SSF’s acquisition of Grieg’s Shetland operation, Grieg Seafood Hjaltland UK. Lerøy is co-owner of SSF, along with SalMar. Lerøy’s total harvest volume in 2022 is thus estimated to be in the region of 208,000 tonnes.

On the SSF expansion, Lerøy said: “The company operates in a region that SSF knows very well and, although it will take time, SSF is expected to realise significant synergies by integrating the two companies.”

The fishing segment known as Lerøy Havfisk operates a fleet of 10 large trawlers fishing for cod, haddock and saithe.

The catch volume in Q4 2021 totalled 17,119 tonnes, against 12,619 tonnes in Q4 2020.

The increased catch was partly driven by the higher quotas allocated in 2021, but also by the fact that the company had planned a different catch pattern through the year.

Looking ahead, the group said: “The board and management believe the development in demand for seafood, including in the second half of 2021, gives grounds for continued optimism about future development, and hence about the Group’s operations and value creation.”

Left: Lerøy Seafood farm

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www.fishfarmermagazine.com

07/03/2022 15:30:36

All the latest industry news from Europe

Bakkafrost Q4 earnings below expectations

BAKKAFROST has unveiled a well below par 2021 fourth quarter operational profit (EBIT) of 120m Danish kroner (£13.5m) as biological problems continued to affect its Scottish Salmon Company business.

But the better news is that mortality rates in Scotland, which have dampened results over the past year, are returning to normal.

Harvest volumes during the October to December period last year totalled 25,800 tonnes – 20,700 tonnes from the Faroe Islands and 5,100 tonnes from Scotland.

The corresponding figures for Q4 2020 were 16,000 tonnes from the Faroes and 9,300 tonnes from Scotland.

Bakkafrost has announced a dividend of DKK 5.14 (£0.58) per share. This will be paid in Norwegian kroner (NOK) as the company is listed in Oslo.

The Scottish farming segment made a Q4 operational loss of DKK 214m (£24m) compared with a loss of DKK 54m (£6m) in Q4 2020.

The Faroes farming segment produced an operational profit or EBIT of DKK 282m (£32m) up from DKK 63m (£7m) a year earlier,

The total harvested volumes for 2021 (2020 figures in brackets) were 97,900 tonnes (Q4 2020: 86,700 tonnes) made up of 67,200 tonnes from the Faroes (Q4 2020: 50,700 tonnes) and 29,700 tonnes from Scotland (Q4 2020: 35,000 tonnes).

CEO Regin Jacobsen said: “The results in this quarter have been negatively affected by the continuation of the biological issues we reported in previous quarter and gave an update on in our profit warning in December.

We are now pleased that mortality levels have normalised.

“In the Faroe Islands, we are pleased to have reached record high harvesting volumes in the fourth quarter and for the full year, despite some challenges. We are excited to see record low feed conversion rates and record high weight on transferred smolt. Our feed operation also sold very high volumes in both the fourth quarter and for the full year.”

He added: “We are convinced that our strategy and investments will reduce the biological risk by ensuring stronger biology, which is crucial to maintain a competitive operation.”

The company plans to more than triple its

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European News v2.indd 19

freshwater treatment capacity in 2022 with two new wellboats.

The report also said Bakkafrost’s implementation of the “large smolt” strategy in Scotland was progressing well and the current expansion phase of the Applecross hatchery is expected to be finalised by the end the year.

The report continued: “By then, the hatchery will have the capacity to produce around eight million smolt at 250g. Further planned expansion and new hatcheries will increase the production capacity up to more than 18 million smolt of around 500g in 2026.

“In Q4 2021, the average weight of released smolt in Scotland increased 9% to 105 grams, compared to 96 grams in Q4 2020. In 2022, the average weight of the released smolt in Scotland is expected to be around 120 grams.

The real impact from our freshwater investments is expected in 2023.”

The biological growth rate in the Faroese farming operation has been strong during the most recent quarter. Also, the feed conversion ratio has been lower than ever before, Bakkafrost said.

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07/03/2022 15:31:49

World News

NEWS...

Canadian suppliers join fight to save fish farms

SUPPLIERS to the fish farming sector in Canada have formed a new campaigning organisation to lobby against government plans to shut the industry down along part of the Pacific coast.

The Canadian Aquaculture Suppliers Association has been formed to promote the small and medium enterprises that stock and equip Canada’s aquaculture sector.

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A federally registered non-profit organisation, the association will encourage the growth of Canada’s aquacultural sector, advance the role suppliers play in the industry and be an advocate to protect the thousands of jobs aquaculture suppliers provide to Canadian families.

The association is asking the federal government to support confidence-building measures, such as meaningful and timely salmon farming licence renewals, which will promote job creation and investments in British Columbia and Atlantic Canada.

Moreover, it said, the government should reassess its decision not to renew salmon farm licences in the Discovery Islands on the west coast. This decision threatens Canadian food security, local jobs and businesses, the association argued. Joyce Murray, who was appointed as Fisheries Minister after her predecessor, Bernadette Jordan, failed to win re-election, has said she stands by the Discovery Islands decision.

In British Columbia, 20% of all jobs in salmon farming are held by Indigenous peoples and

80% of current production is under agreement with First Nations communities. It is estimated that the federal government’s decision to halt the renewal of the Discovery Islands permits has resulted in some CAN $1.4bn (£820m) in planned national investment being frozen.

“Those who supply our nation’s aquaculture sector directly employ thousands of Canadians, including in communities where jobs are scarce and economic opportunity is limited,” said Ben James, the Canadian Aquaculture Suppliers Association’s President.

“Aquaculture represents a great opportunity for Canada on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and for businesses that wish to become part of this sustainable growth industry.”

More than 20,000 Canadians are employed in aquaculture throughout Canada, including in some 250 Indigenous communities, and approximately CAN $5.2bn (£3bn) in annual economic activity is attributed to the industry.

Above: Orbit 3600 HD digital camera from ScaleAQ, one of the suppliers Left: Joyce Murray

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07/03/2022 14:54:23

All the latest industry news from around the world

AKVA reports 10% revenue rise for Q4 2021 AQUACULTURE technology group AKVA saw revenue rise 10% year on year to NOK 831m (£69m) for the last quarter of 2021.

Earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) was up to NOK 19m (£1.58m) from NOK 9m (£750,000) in Q4 2020, but the company said profits had been impacted by cost inflation and supply chain issues.

Order intake for the last quarter was down to NOK 741m (£61.7m) compared with NOK 1.014bn (£84.5m) in Q4 2020, with an order backlog of NOK 3bn (£250,000) at the end of December 2021.

The company has announced a dividend of NOK 1 (£0.08) per share.

Revenue for AKVA’s Sea Based Technology (SBT)

division was NOK 649m (£54m) up from NOK 580m (£48m) in Q4 2020. Order intake for the division was NOK 693 compared with NOK 602 in the same period the previous year.

The division’s strongest regions were the Americas and Europe and the Middle East (other than the Nordics), while the Nordic region revenue held steady year on year.

EBIT for the SBT division was NOK 14m (£1.17m).

The Land Based Technology division reported revenues of NOK 161m (£13.1m), up 2.5% on Q4 2020. EBIT was NOK 5m (£42,000), down from NOK 9m (£75,000) in Q4 2020.

Orders for the LBT division were NOK 21m (£1.75m).

Chilean salmon giant sees revenues and profits soar

Ex-Mowi man to lead Grieg’s sales push in North America GRIEG Seafood has appointed Ken Taylor, a former Mowi executive, to develop its North American business.

Ken Taylor has spent more than 35 years in seafood sales and marketing. He will lead the development and execution of Grieg Seafood’s downstream strategy in the North American market.

Erik Holvik, Grieg’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Grieg Seafood is on an exciting journey of growth where we are building a stronger presence in the market.

“Last year, as a first step, our new fully integrated global sales and marketing organisation became operational. Now we are in the process of developing our downstream strategy, which is based on strategic partnerships, value-added processing, category development and brand cultivation.”

He added: “I cannot think of a better person to lead this work in North America than Ken Taylor. Not only does he have the expertise and years of experience, but he also shares Grieg Seafood’s values. We simply can’t wait to get started.”

Taylor was previously Vice-President of Purchasing, Sales and Logistics at Peter Pan Seafood Company. He also has 24 years of experience with Mowi, where he developed and managed the Raw Material and Trade sales operations for North America.

Taylor said: “I have enjoyed working with the dedicated professionals at Peter Pan over the last year, but could not let the opportunity of developing Grieg Seafood’s presence in the North American market go.

“It is in the salmon industry where I have spent most of my career.

I look forward to joining the entire Grieg Seafood team and working together in building partnerships downstream as we grow our business.”

Grieg Seafood’s fully integrated North American sales division is based in Vancouver, Canada, and employs 18 people.

In North America, Grieg Seafood has salmon farms in British Columbia on the West Coast of Canada and is currently building up a new farming region in Newfoundland on the East Coast.

value adjustments in Q4 2021 was US $13.4m (£10m) compared with negative $13.0m (£9.7m) in Q4 2020. The improvement is mainly CHILEAN salmon farmer Salmones attributable to higher prices and Camanchaca, which was hit by two volume. major algal attacks last year, has Salmones Camanchaca said it had reported a strong end to 2021 with also raised US $23m (£17.2m) in harvests and revenues well up. fresh capital during the quarter.

Thanks to rising prices, the Other highlights include: company reported a 63.4% Q4  inventory levels allowed for rise in operating income from higher sales volume reaching US $65.8m (£49.2m) to $107.6m 16,273 MT WFE, 18% higher (£80.4m). than for the same period last The company slaughtered 16,844 year;  Lethal wildlife incidents as a result of operations: tonnes during the period, 18%  market prices of Atlantic higher than the same period last salmon were up 47% year on year. This was made up of 15,002 We have not had anyyear; lethal wildlife incidents during the current production cycle. (July tonnes of Atlantic salmon and  good price realisation, capturing 2020 to August 2021) 1,842 tonnes of coho salmon. market price increase with value Above: Ken Taylor The company said that while added product strategy; harvest costs remained higher  the cost of Atlantic salmon  Periodic monitoring for sea lice (Caligus rogercresseyi) carried out at than the same period last year, increased 15% year on year, there was a gradualfarming improvement site: due to continuedharvesting in costs during the period. of fish from sites in the Compared with the previous Comau Fjords affected by quarter, costs were down by $0.23 high mortalities due to algae per kg (£0.17).This included the blooms; and effects of the algae blooms in the  compared with the previous ONLY pa first and second quarters of last year. quarter, ex-cage live weight For more information visit: Operational EBIT before fair costs decreased by 5.5%. pocketmags.com/fish-farmer-magazine

Information on Farming Sites Undergoing Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Certification Process

Pilpilehue Farming Site YC 2020

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07/03/2022 14:56:45

World News

Red snapper genetic secrets unlocked SCIENTISTS from the US and Canada have developed a customised breeding programme for red snapper based on genetic analysis.

The research was carried for Mexico-based fish farming company Earth Ocean Farms (EOF) by the Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT).

CAT is an R&D and contract service organisation focused on the application of biotechnology tools to improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability in aquaculture and related industries. It is a joint US-Canada operation with facilities located in San Diego, California, US, and in Victoria and Souris, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

The in-house genotyping team at CAT have developed a custom panel of genetic markers to accelerate genetic improvement in red snapper, analyse performance and ensure the overall health of the stock.

The development of this customised breeding programme is the first of its kind for Pacific red snapper. It will assist EOF to select for specific traits

in the snapper stock that show higher production yields through improved growth performance and phenotypic (observable) traits, and provide insights into feed conversion and product yield.

EOF is an open ocean aquaculture producer rearing two native species, Pacific red snapper (Lutjanus peru) and totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi), in the Pacific off Mexico’s Baja region.

Pablo Konietzko, Director General of Earth Ocean Farms, said:“The future of sustainably raised red snapper is vitally important to take the pressure off the overfishing of the wild Pacific and Atlantic red snappers while meeting the market demand for this delicious fish.”

John Buchanan, President and CEO of CAT, said:“It is exciting to apply our knowledge to new species. By using a customised approach, our expert team will be able to quickly show significant improvements for EOF. Ensuring a healthy genetic diversity among EOF’s broodstock will provide future options, as flexibility and continued improvement are the keys to profitability.”

Mowi ends 2021 on a record high Mowi ended 2021 with record revenues of just over €4.2bn (£3.5bn), the company has declared.

It also sold 466,000 tonnes of salmon and a record high of 248,000 tonnes of value-added products.

Globally, Mowi reported an operational earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) of €146m (£122m) in the fourth quarter of 2021, against €49m (£41m) in Q4 2020.

Mowi plans to distribute a total NOK 724m (£60m) in final quarter share dividends.

Presenting its fourth quarter results for the year, the world’s largest salmon farmer said the recovery in the demand for salmon increased during the final three months of 2021 with significantly higher prices.

However, the group’s Scottish performance was down in Q4, due in part to high costs for treating biological issues.

It was a similar story with Mowi Ireland, part of which was hit during the year by an algal bloom attack.

Mowi CEO Ivan Vindheim said: “The growth in demand for value-added products during the pandemic has been unparalleled, and volumes remain at a very high level.

For 2022, price prospects for salmon are favourable, with no supply growth expected for the year. Mowi is in a good position to capitalise on this with its diverse and integrated value chain and low contract share.”

He added: “I would like to thank all my 12,000 colleagues at Mowi for their dedication and hard work during 2021 in a challenging pandemic environment.”

Operational revenues in the quarter reached a record high of €1.15bn (£965m) against €1.8bn

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World News v2.indd 22

(£845m) 12 months earlier.

The total harvest volume in the quarter of 115,040 tonnes gutted weight (126,634 tonnes in Q4 2020) was above the guidance figure of 104,000 tonnes, mainly due to good growth conditions in Norway.

Mowi’s board has decided to pay a quarterly dividend of NOK1.40 per share, consisting of NOK 1.00 per share in ordinary dividend and an extraordinary dividend of NOK 0.40 per share supported by a strong financial position and a favourable outlook.

In Mowi Scotland, operational EBIT amounted to €7.3m (£6m) down from €20.4m (£17m) in Q4 2020.

Earnings decreased from Q4 2020, mainly due to harvesting from sites with a higher cost level.

Volumes were also somewhat reduced, but the effects were offset by improved prices.

The Scotland financial EBIT amounted to €13.7m (£11.5m) against €24.5m (£20m) in Q4 2020.

The overall price achieved, however, was 20% above the reference price in the quarter while contribution from contracts relative to

the reference price was positive in the fourth quarter of both 2021 and 2020.

The Scotland fourth quarter harvest volume was 12,002 tonnes gutted weight (13,018 tonnes in Q4 2020).

Mowi explained: “Due to high volumes in the first half of the year on increased smolt stocking and improved biological performance, our Scottish operations harvested 22% more salmon in the full year of 2021 compared with 2020. “ “The overall biological situation has become somewhat more challenging during the second half of 2021, especially as regards AGD [amoebic gill disease] and gill issues combined with low dissolved oxygen during October.”

The company said cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS) also remained at a relatively high rate of detection, but there continued to be a notable reduction in pancreatic disease and Pasteurella cases.

Incident-based mortality losses in the quarter amounted to €6.7m (£5.6m), mainly related to treatment losses, AGD and CMS. For Mowi Ireland, the Q4 operational EBIT amounted to €1.5m (£1.26m) compared with €3.1m (£2.6m) in Q4 2020. The reduction from the comparable quarter was mainly due to higher cost as a consequence of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) in Bantry Bay. But this was partly offset by improved prices and volumes. Costs increased from the comparable quarter mainly due to the HAB’s impact..

• In the December issue we incorrectly captioned a photo of Andy Martin. He is based at Mowi Scotland, not Mowi Canada West. Apologies for any confusion caused..

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07/03/2022 14:57:42

All the latest industry news from around the world

ASC consults worldwide on single farm standard welfare, which was the topic of a separate public consultation in 2021. Ultimately, the fish welfare content will be adopted into the ASC Farm Standard as well, according to the ASC. The ASC’s Director of Standards and Science, Michiel Fransen, said: “ASC’s Farm Standard will address all main impacts of aquaculture in a consistent manner across the industry in a more effective and efficient manner.

“We are now coming to the final stages of this project, and are asking for stakeholder feedback so we can be sure the final standard will meet expectations of all those that will use it.”

This round of consultation covers a number of issues including proposals for requiring all certified farms to report energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, a proposal aimed at combating sea lice, and the introduction of risk management plans for key topics such as health and safety.

Due to the size of the Farm Standard, the ASC has organised several rounds of public consultation. This is the second

THE Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) has launched one of its largest ever public consultations, to seek stakeholder feedback on its plan to create a single ASC Farm Standard.

The ASC currently applies a number of different standards for farming specific species. The aim of the single standard is to provide greater consistency and harmonise requirements across all farmed seafood species currently targeted by the ASC. The standard has involved years of research and development, including expert input and multiple previous rounds of public consultation. It will be split into three parts, called principles.

Principle One covers legal compliance and effective business management, Principle Two covers environmental sustainability, and Principle Three covers social responsibility.

As with the ASC’s current standards, farms must meet all indicators in all three parts to achieve certification.

This round of public consultation covers the entire standard, except for fish

and final consultation for the legal and social principles. After public feedback has been considered, Principle One and Principle Three will be finalised and sent to the ASC’s Supervisory Board for approval with an aim of publishing thereafter.

Stakeholders can see more details on the proposed Farm Standard, including how to provide feedback, including through a survey and by joining workshops, on the ASC website.

The consultations will run for two months, from 1 March to 30 April 2022.

The ASC will conduct a final round of consultation on the environmental criteria later this

year, while also carrying out onfarm pilots to understand where clarification in standard writing is needed and which elements need guidance for implementation.

Principle Two will be finalised and sent to the ASC’s Supervisory Board for approval in September 2023 with an aim of publishing thereafter.

The ASC is an independent, not-for-profit organisation. It was co-founded by the World Wildlife Fund and the Sustainable Trade Initiative in 2010 to manage the certification of responsible fish farming across the globe.

Left Michiel Fransen

AquaMaof to build yellowtail RAS plant in Chile

Above Atacama yellowtail kingfish facility

ISRAELI firm AquaMaof has agreed a deal with a yellowtail kingfish producer in Chile on the construction of a recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) farm.

The facility, at Tongoy Bay in the Coquimbo region of the country, will be run by Chilean company Atacama Yellowtail SpA (AYT). It

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World News v2.indd 23

is AquaMaof’s first RAS project in Chile and follows a joint effort on the part of AquaMaof, AYT and Inno-Sea, AquaMaof’s partner in Chile and Latin America, to make the deal happen.

With an initial investment of US $25m (£18.6m), the project will produce 900 tonnes per year of

premium yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) in the first stage. It is planned to double production in the second stage to reach 1,800 tonnes per year. AYT said the project would create approximately 50 new jobs.

AquaMaof and Inno-Sea are to participate in this project as shareholders. Construction of the facility is expected to begin during the second half of 2022, delivering the first harvests to the market in Q4 of 2024.

Roberto Tishler, Sales Director at AquaMaof, said: “We are honoured to have signed this contract with AYT and are grateful for the great efforts of our local partner InnoSea in making it happen.”

He added: “This project is strategically important for AquaMaof in Chile. We look forward to working with AYT to supply the most upscale markets

with high-quality yellowtail kingfish.

We consider this to be the next bluefin tuna, grown in a healthy and controlled environment, without the use of antibiotics or chemicals.

“The result is a healthy, nutritious and fresh source of seafood, produced in a sustainable way while safeguarding fish welfare throughout their life cycle, and optimising the human resources required to be involved in the processes.”

AYT is a joint venture between private investment fund Best Potential (supported by government agency CORFO), FDU, Inno-Sea SpA, AquaMaof and Aleta SpA. The joint venture was initially created to develop the cultivation of yellowtail kingfish and add more diversification for Chile’s aquaculture industry.

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07/03/2022 14:59:35

Processing News

Dawnfresh goes into administration as 200 processing jobs are lost in Uddingston The farming business of Dawnfresh, Scotland’s largest trout producer, is up for sale following the company’s move into administration.

“

Our focus is now on finding a buyer for the farming business

MEANWHILE, there were 200 redundancies – and possibly more to come – on the seafood processing side of Dawnfresh’s business as its plant at Uddingston, near Glasgow, was closed with immediate effect on 1 March.

Dawnfresh’s Arbroath processing business, trading as RR Spink & Sons, is now part of the Associated Seafoods Limited (ASL) group following its acquisition by Lossie Seafoods, an ASL subsidiary.

On 1 March it was announced that Tom MacLennan, Callum Carmichael and Michelle Elliot, partners with FRP Advisory, have been appointed joint administrators of the Dawnfresh group.

FRP said the sale of the Arbroath processing facility followed a short marketing exercise. All 249 staff at that plant have been transferred to the new owner. At the Uddingston site, 77 people have been retained to assist with winding up the operation.

The imminent closure of the Uddingston plant was announced in September last year by

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Dawnfresh’s then Managing Director Raleigh Salvesen. At the time, staff at Uddingston were given the option to transfer to the Arbroath site, which the company planned to expand.

The subsidiary business Dawnfresh Farming Ltd will continue trading solvently. The farming business is being marketed for sale and the joint administrators said interested parties were invited to contact FRP Advisory as soon as possible.

Dawnfresh operates seven fish farms and hatcheries across Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The company raises freshwater trout at Tervine, Braevallich and Loch Earn, and loch trout (“sea trout”) at Loch Etive.

The company is the largest trout producer in the UK and the largest supplier worldwide of Scottish loch trout – sea rather than freshwater trout – supplying the company’s own brands, including Loch Etive and RR Spink & Sons, as well as export and domestic customers.

The administrators said: “In recent years, the business has benefited from extensive investment to upgrade the plant and systems, improve efficiency and reduce costs.

“However, despite best efforts to affect a turnaround, the business has continued to suffer from rising costs, overcapacity at the Uddingston site and unsustainable cash flow problems, with administration being the only option.”

Callum Carmichael, partner at FRP, said: “Dawnfresh is a high-profile and highly regarded seafood business with a long tradition of supplying innovative products to a blue-chip customer base. Unfortunately, the business has been unable to overcome very serious financial problems at the Uddingston facility, but we are pleased to have secured a prompt sale of the Arbroath facility in a deal that will also preserve substantial employment in the town.

”

“Our focus is now on finding a buyer for the farming business while realising as much value as possible from the other assets for the benefit of creditors.”

Victor West, Managing Director of ASL, said: “This acquisition is a major boost for Arbroath and the town’s long-held fish processing tradition. Both businesses are major suppliers to Marks & Spencer, which is delighted that its two key suppliers of ready-to-eat seafood are joining ranks. We are thrilled that the Arbroath site will become part of our group, which will significantly expand our production capability in both volume and range.

“The acquisition of the Arbroath business will provide a platform for growth for the processing plant and its 249 employees, which will operate alongside ASL’s Buckie processing facility, which employs 300 staff, creating a business with a combined turnover in the region of £85m.”

From the top: A Dawnfresh boat; Raleigh Salvesen; Associated Seafoods smoked salmon; Dawnfresh and RR Spink

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07/03/2022 15:06:35

Processing News

Native Hebridean smoked salmon shortlisted for international prize THE Sco�sh Salmon Company’s (SSC) na�ve Hebridean smoked salmon has been shortlisted for an interna�onal award.

SSC’s product is among the final four contenders in the Best New Foodservice Product category in the Seafood Excellence Awards.

The final judging will take place at the Seafood Expo North America/ Seafood Processing North America show in Boston on Sunday 13 March.

The fish is a unique strain of Sco�sh salmon, originally bred from wild Hebridean salmon in North Uist and reared exclusively in and fully traceable to the remote waters of the Hebridean islands and West Coast of Scotland.

Using a tradi�onal island recipe, fresh fillets are hand cured at SSC’s Harris & Lewis Smokehouse on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.

The na�ve Hebridean is then gently smoked in a tradi�onal pebble-lined kiln using wood shavings of aged Scotch whisky barrels.

Su Cox, Communica�ons and Business Development Director at the Sco�sh Salmon Company, said: “Na�ve Hebridean is truly unique and this nomina�on is further recogni�on of how the product is highly prized by top chefs and the hospitality trade.

“Our na�ve Hebridean smoked salmon offers the discerning consumer a truly Sco�sh delicacy with unique heritage and is fully traceable to the Hebridean islands and West Coast of Scotland. It is truly our Hebridean hero!”

SSC is part of the Bakkafrost group. Last year, na�ve Hebriden smoked salmon was a category winner in the Great Bri�sh Food Awards.

The finalists in the Foodservice Product category are:  Bakkafrost/SSC – Native Hebridean Smoked Scottish Salmon Side  Handy Seafood – Chesapeake Bay Panko Breaded Oysters  Netuno USA – Cobia Panko Bites  Seagrove Kelp Co. – Seagrove Ribbon Kelp The finalists in the Best New Retail Product category are:  DOM Interna�onal Limited – DOM Reserve Salmon Poke  Neptune Snacks – Wild Alaska Pollock Jerky  Ocean Beauty Seafoods – Echo Falls Wild Alaska Hot Smoked Sablefish  Ocean Beauty Seafoods – Echo Falls Wild Alaska Sockeye Salmon Tapas Slices – Mediterranean  Pacific Seafood – Tidal Tots  Pescanova USA – Pescanova Branzino* with Pesto Sauce  Kitchens Seafood, Inc. – Honey Walnut Shrimp *sea bass

Lerøy Seafood’s Madrid factory set to develop new products

Above: Lerøy Processing Spain

LERØY Seafood said its latest factory near Madrid would provide a platform for the launch of several new products to strengthen its position in Spain and Portugal.

At 9,000 square metres and employing 160 people, the new facility is Lerøy’s largest so far in the region.

The company, which is also a co-owner of Scottish Sea Farms, said it had been strategically designed to both increase production capacity for current products and extend the group’s product range.

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Antonio Díez, Managing Director of Lerøy Processing Spain, said: “Processing fresh and frozen fish, smoking salmon and producing ready meals are some of the innovations that will create new business opportunities.

“This will undoubtedly reinforce the company’s leading position in the seafood market in Spain and the whole Iberian Peninsula.”

Lerøy already has factories in Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante and Las Palmas in Spain, along with a site in Lisbon, the

Portuguese capital. These will now all be upgraded so they can make new products.

“We can create new products in response to demand from our customers in order to extend our range and to enter new segments,” Díez added.

The new ranges include sushi, noodles, cod and salmon burgers, poke bowls and fish-based ready meals along with more traditional smoked salmon, frozen salmon and fresh salmon products in consumer packaging.

Lerøy Processing Spain currently employs around 350 people, but Díez believes that number will rise in the future.

The new Madrid factory has three zones: one for ready meals such as sushi and other dishes, one for processing fresh and frozen fish, as well as one for smoking fish.

It also has a biological treatment plant designed to reduce its environmental impact.

Fish leather innovator wins award A young entrepreneur who has developed a range of products made from fish leather has won a business award for her idea.

Antonia Gille�, 28, won a Young Innovators Award from Innovate UK for her business, Felsie, which uses tanned waste fish skins to make fish leather. Based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, Felsie is the first dedicated fish skin tannery in the UK and Gille� has pledged to give back 50% of her profits to UK river conserva�on projects.

Gille� taught herself how to tan fish skins in 2020 having returned from working in Zambia during the Covid pandemic. She said: “I started Felsie to share the joy of fish leather and to help to fund conserva�on work sustainably.”

Gille� told the Stroud Times: “When I found out I’d won the award I was so surprised.

“It felt exci�ng to know that the judges saw poten�al in my idea. I’m really grateful to have this opportunity from Innovate UK and hope it will help me grow my business. The living allowance has already allowed me to dedicate �me to work on my business idea, which is brilliant.”

Innovate UK, in partnership with the Prince’s Trust, helps aspiring young entrepreneurs from all backgrounds to take their businesses to the next level through their Young Innovators programme.

Right: Antonia Gillett

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07/03/2022 15:09:18

Comment

BY DR MARTIN JAFFA

Counter intelligence

The demand for seafood is changing, but too many in the industry are still failing to recognise that

F

EbruAry has turned out to be an interesting month in terms of the retail market. Sales of chilled salmon have increased by 7.8% year on year in terms of volume. The value of the sales has also increased. yet, at the same time, Tesco has announced the closure of more of its meat and fish and hot food counters as shoppers appear to have lost interest.

The store group already closed nearly 100 fish counters in 2019 and had planned to close more at the time, but was persuaded to keep many open. It is now to close 317 more counters leaving 279 stores where there is sufficient local demand to keep the counters open. However, Tesco doesn’t say whether all these remaining stores will have a fish counter.

They may be retained for hot food only. I already find it difficult to find stores with a fish counter so I imagine, if any are left open, they will be few and far between.

Although it might seem strange that salmon sales have increased at a time when Tesco has identified a lack of interest in its fish counters, the two are not actually connected. What these changes confirm is that the market for fish in the uK is still undergoing major transformation, but other than the salmon industry, the wider fish and seafood sectors have buried their heads in the sand.

Asda and Sainsbury’s have already closed their counters leaving just Morrisons and Waitrose fulfilling any demand. I wouldn’t be surprised if Morrisons considered the economic justification for closing their counters too, but are reluctant to do so. Waitrose is trying to make its

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counters a unique selling point.

Regardless, most shoppers are no longer interested in buying fish from traditional fish counters. In common with other proteins, shoppers want easy-to-use portions sold through prepack and, in terms of fish, salmon provides the ideal product. This is because it offers the retail sector consistent supply, usually consistent price and consistent quality.

These cannot be matched from the wild catch sector.

Over many years, I have always argued that the future of farmed salmon is in the development of added-value products and this past perception is now today’s reality.

As well as changing the way they buy fish, shoppers are also changing their shopping habits. The days of one large weekly shop in a hypermarket are numbered. Shoppers are buying smaller amounts in more visits to local small supermarkets. The limitation on space means that choice is restricted and this is especially true in terms of fish. At most, stores seem to offer, salmon, sea bass and a white fish only, as well as the ever-popular prawns.

This leaves many other species, including those that might have once been considered popular, with very little consumer demand.

For example, whilst salmon volumes have increased by nearly 8%, sales of plaice have fallen by nearly 22%. Even haddock sales have fallen by 5%. The prospect of reversing these trends seems very dim.

The problem is that the fishing sector has remained relatively blinkered about market development. Every so often, consumers are encouraged to try something different to the big five – salmon, cod, haddock, tuna and prawns – but such advice largely falls on deaf ears. Consum-

Opposite: Tesco fish

counter

Left: Anyone for

“Cornish sardines”?

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Counter intelligence

ers need a much greater incentive to change species or even to include fish in their diets at all.

The UK Government’s Seafood Innovation Fund is offering a total of £10m to help improve the seafood sector. Unfortunately, the fund has not encouraged “out of the box” thinking and to date, the only help aimed at developing the market has been a £25,000 project to change the name of “spider crab” to “Cornish king crab” and “megrim” to “Cornish sole”.

Needless to say, a simple name change has provided insufficient incentive to persuade consumers to buy these products. There had been hope that consumers would respond in the same way they did when pilchards were renamed “Cornish sardines”. However, their apparent popularity can also be measured by the fact that sardines don’t even feature in the same measure of fish sales from which the salmon data is taken.

Brexit has meant that the markets for many species have shrunk, as overseas markets that previously took many of the species unwanted by UK consumers have now become inaccessible. The wild fisheries sector seems to be running out of ideas.

My view is that it is easier to produce fish in the form that consumers want rather than try to persuade them to eat fish in the form it is produced. The salmon industry has learned this lesson over many years and that is why it is now so successful, Producers of other fish species need to adapt the product to the consumers’ needs. The failure to do so is why Tesco is now shutting many more fish counters. The traditional counter setting is clearly not how many consumers now want to buy fish. FF

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Most shoppers are no longer interested in buying fish from traditional fish counters

”

E M P O W E R I N G

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07/03/2022 15:14:36

Salmon Scotland

BY HAMISH MACDONELL

Barriers to growth Professor Griggs’ recommendations could dramatically improve the consent process for marine fish farms

S

COTTISH salmon is booming – that was certainly the message from the annual export figures last month.

Produc�on is up, exports are up and prices are star�ng to get back to where they were so everything in the Sco�sh salmon garden is rosy, right?

Well, not quite. A key measure of success is not how you are doing against your own previous performance, but how you are doing against your compe�tors and, on this measure, our report card might well read: “Could do be�er”.

The global market for salmon is growing at about 8% per year. Scotland used to have a solid 10% share of that market.

Now Scotland has a 6.6% share and it is dropping all the �me. Without a decent boost in produc�on, Scotland’s share could slip to 3% or even lower.

The reason is simple: salmon farming in Scotland is not growing at the pace of its compe�tors.

Sco�sh salmon farming is growing at about 1.4% per year. Norway’s salmon farming sector is growing at three �mes that rate, while salmon farming in Iceland grew by a mighty 35% last year.

Why are we sluggish compared with our Scandinavian neighbours?

Because the regulatory processes in Scotland make salmon farming a more expensive, cumbersome and bureaucra�c business than elsewhere.

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It costs more to grow salmon in Scotland. Crucially, it takes longer to get permissions to farm and all the barriers seem harder to navigate than in other countries.

But, at long last, there may be some light at the end of what has been a frustra�ngly long tunnel for our farmers. It has been delivered by a business expert and experienced academic, Professor Russel Griggs OBE. Professor Griggs was tasked by the Sco�sh Government with reviewing the regula�ons governing salmon farming and coming up with something more efficient, speedier and be�er.

His report has just been published and it could – if properly and carefully implemented – give our farmers the helping hand they have been so desperate for.

One of the biggest problems in fish farm planning has been the four different bodies and five different consents that are needed.

We have long argued that we don’t want to do away with any of these, but that there must be a be�er way of dealing with these permissions than going from one body to the next, with each of these bodies having a say on the consent process of all the others.

Surely it would be be�er to have a single body in charge and all the relevant regulators feed their views into that one organisa�on. This, a�er all, is how it is done elsewhere and other countries don’t seem to have the problems that we do.

There may be some light at the “ end of what has been a frustra�ngly long tunnel ”

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Barriers to growth

Above: Scotland’s licensing system for aquaculture is in urgent need of reform Opposite: Salmon fillets

This seems to be what Professor Griggs is recommending. He has called for the crea�on of a “single consen�ng document”, which would deal with all the consents in a single process.

He doesn’t explicitly men�on a “single determining authority”, but this does seem to be what he is recommending. We await clarifica�on on this, but are op�mis�c that, at last, the current torturous process, which can take years, will be speeded up.

Professor Griggs has also recommended a single licensing payment for salmon farms, a fee that will cover the costs of all the regulatory bodies involved and, crucially, provide resource for community benefit.

This is something our sector supports. We want to see clarity over the licensing process and we want to see the money our farmers spend on licensing used to support the communi�es where we farm.

Professor Griggs was not specific on whether the Sco�sh Government or the salmon producers should be responsible for alloca�ng the money locally. Both op�ons have merits, so we will wait to see how that one pans out.

Professor Griggs called for a project board to be set up to implement his report and for that board to establish the framework for future regula�on, following his recommenda�ons.

The make-up of that board and the framework it comes up with will be vital. We are adamant that if that project board follows not just the le�er but the spirit of Griggs’ recommenda�ons, then we will have a be�er, more

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efficient, more transparent and compe��ve regulatory regime for salmon farming in Scotland. But if that project board comes up with a framework that is too cau�ous and retreats back into the bureaucracy of the past, nothing will be achieved.

It is absolutely essen�al, therefore, that the Sco�sh Government drives forward with the implementa�on of this report with convic�on and speed.

This report cannot be le� to gather dust and it cannot be watered down by bureaucrats resistant to change.

A�er all, in his report Professor Griggs makes it clear that the precau�onary principle has been allowed to take the place of proper science and real evidence in the past and this cannot be allowed to happen in the future.

Much has been made of the remarks in the report referring to the hos�lity that has existed for too long between the salmon sector and some parts of the regulators.

Professor Griggs said he had never come across such deep-seated levels of mistrust between a sector and regulators and this made working rela�onships “challenging”.

Those comments came as no surprise to anyone in Sco�sh salmon who has had to wait hundreds of days over the deadline for consents to be issued by regulators. Those poor rela�onships have been forged in a cauldron of delays, red tape and bureaucracy, and are the end result of endless frustra�ons.

We hope that if the Griggs report is implemented quickly, properly and in the spirit which he intended, then it will not only heal those fractured rela�onships, but put salmon farming in Scotland on a path to proper, long-term sustainable growth.

If that happens, then perhaps we will be able to compete with our Scandinavian neighbours on something approaching a level playing field – which should make the release of our annual export figures in the future even more of a celebra�on than they are just now.

Hamish Macdonell is Director of Strategic Engagement, Salmon Scotland.

(See also News, page 6). FF

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07/03/2022 15:36:32

Investment

Smart money Fish Farmer reports on the funds investing in innovative aquaculture and the projects they are investing in

BY SANDY NEIL

B

Y 2030, the world is expected to eat 20% more fish than in 2016.

This increase can only come from aquaculture because we are already exploi�ng wild fish stocks to their limits. Mee�ng the world’s growing demand for fish while simultaneously sustaining our environment will require a radical transforma�on of global aquaculture. This is why investment funds focused on innova�on in the sector, such as Dutch company Aqua-Spark, exist.

Aqua-Spark, based in Utrecht, launched in 2014 with a mission to transform the global aquaculture industry into one that is healthier, more sustainable and more accessible. It invests in aquaculture companies across the value chain, spanning farming opera�ons, alterna�ve feed ingredients, disease-ba�ling technology and consumer-facing aquaculture products.

Since 2015, the fund has invested in 24 complementary small and medi-

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um-sized enterprises. Thus far, Aqua-Spark has €275m (£229m) in assets under management dedicated to investment in elements of the aquaculture industry that will make fish farming sustainable.

For example, there’s growing interest in seaweed farming because of its ability to absorb carbon: macroalgae such as seaweed can grow as quickly as two feet a day, sucking up CO2 much faster than trees.

While some projects aim to permanently sequester that carbon by sinking seaweed to the ocean floor, algae can also be used to make products from fish feed to human food. Grown at a large scale, seaweed could replace some of the crude oil used to make jet fuel or plas�c. Up un�l now, however, it’s been so expensive to grow that it can’t compete with fossil fuels.

In one project funded by Aqua-Spark, a “sea tractor” harvests and replants carbon-capturing seaweed at a series of floa�ng farms off the coast of Bali, Indonesia. The system is designed to help the �ny seaweed industry scale up.

“Agriculture on the sea is in its infancy,” says Shrikumar Suryanarayan, co-founder and Managing Director of Sea6 Energy, the India-based company

Top: Sea6 SeaCombine tractor vessel Left: Sea6 seaweed farm, Indian Ocean Opposite from top: Tilapia; Lake Harvest �lapia sign; Lake Harvest �lapia harves�ng; Lake Harvest �lapia cage site

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Smart money

Another Aqua-Spark investment, Oceano Fresco in Portugal, is a sustainable seafood company using innova�ve aquaculture techniques to grow highquality bivalve species as an alterna�ve to other animal-based protein sources.

Oceano Fresco has built a state-of-the-art biomarine centre (including hatchery) and it set up the world’s first open-sea clam farm off the coast of the Algarve. It farms na�ve European clams, namely of the species Venerupis corrugata and Ruditapes decussatus, both currently in decline and threatened by exo�c and invasive species, but also highly sought a�er. These, the company says, are among the most sustainable, naturally healthy and tasty foods available anywhere in the world.

In October, Oceano Fresco announced a €6.1m (£5m) Series B round, one of the largest known venture investments in the sector, co-led by Aqua-Spark and Semapa NEXT, the venture arm of the Semapa industrial conglomerate. With that designed the “SeaCombine,” the tractor-like this investment, it will grow its opera�ons and build its first storage and packagmachine now in use at its Indonesian seaweed farm. ing facili�es. Ini�ally, company expansion will focus on Spain and Portugal while In September, the company announced a new US laying the founda�on for a global business. $9m (£6.7m) funding round led by Aqua-Spark.

Aqua-Spark has also turned its focus on �lapia and ca�ish farms in Sub-Saha“Tradi�onally, seaweed produc�on is labour ran Africa. intensive, making labour costs the main compo“Substan�al investment is required in �lapia farming to both realise its nents in the cost of produc�on,” Suryanarayan poten�al and, at the same �me, ensure it plays a role in mee�ng the foreseen explains. “Developed to tackle this problem, the surge in demand for protein in sub-Saharan Africa,” says Aqua-Spark co-foundSeaCombine is a fully mechanised harves�ng and er Willem van der Pijl, as the organisa�on launched its Africa Fund to ignite seeding catamaran. The SeaCombine can farm sustainable aquaculture in the con�nent. anywhere in the oceans.”

The fund will close at US $50m (£37.5m) and will grow to US $300m (£225m) over the next six to eight years.

“These ini�al investments will be the basis from which to develop and scale a regional industry,” says Van der Pijl. “The figure of $300m is enough to fund the cornerstone investments required to build this framework—but it’s just the �p of the iceberg.

“In our pipeline for Sub-Saharan Africa, currently around 40% of the total investment need and 50% of the opportuni�es are directly related to exis�ng and greenfield �lapia farms and hatcheries. But there are also opportuni�es in salmon, seaweed, ca�ish, sea cucumber and shrimp produc�on. Further, across species, a number of other opportuni�es can be found, such as black soldier fly.

“onAgriculture the sea is in its infancy

”

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Investment

“The highest priority opportuni�es in �lapia in our pipeline lie mainly in Western Africa (Ghana and Nigeria), the north of Eastern Africa (Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda), and the south of Eastern Africa (Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe), but there are also plenty of opportuni�es in other countries.

“The fund’s core investments will be six to eight ver�cally integrated farming hubs (over 20,000 tonnes per hub) where we envisage that about 50% of produc�on will be through outgrower programmes. The Africa Fund will also invest in small and medium-sized farming opera�ons and the broader aquaculture value chain (including feed ingredients, technology, cold chain, marke�ng and distribu�on, gene�cs and animal health).

“The ini�al $50m allows us to finance a significant part of the immediate funding requirement of some of the top 25 companies in our pipeline,and with $300m we’ll be well posi�oned to finance the longer-term future of aquaculture in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

One such company, Lake Harvest Group, is one of the largest �lapia farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa, with sustainable opera�ons in Zimbabwe, Zambia (both in Lake Kariba) and Uganda (Lake Victoria), and a distribu�on network in

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The “ sustainable

produc�on of ‘blue foods’ is more important than ever

”

Eastern and Southern Africa.

Aqua-Spark, together with NORFUND, the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries, are inves�ng US $7m (£5.2m) in the growth of Lake Harvest’s �lapia opera�ons.

Aqua-Spark says: “The farm is mission-aligned, adop�ng best prac�ces that include educa�on and training programmes for staff as well as the sale of byproducts, an�bio�c-free opera�ons and gene�c improvement.”

Tilapia farming isn’t the only aquaculture solu�on for sub-Saharan Africa’s food challenge. Ca�ish (Clarias gariepinus) produc�on is increasing at a similar—or maybe even faster—pace, according to van der Pijl.

He adds: “However, compared with the produc�on of �lapia, ca�ish produc�on is concentrated in only a few places, and most notably so in Nigeria.

This is mainly due to a lack of consumer familiarity with the species in most other Sub-Saharan African countries.

“But in Nigeria, ca�ish is one of the most popular fishes. It’s therefore not surprising that the country has become Africa’s largest ca�ish producer. On its own it produces a similar volume of ca�ish to the �lapia produc�on of the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa combined.”

Once through the fingerling stage, the fish easily survives in all kinds of produc�on systems. It can be cul�vated in low-density, simple earthen ponds, in higher-density concrete or plas�c tanks, or in even

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Smart money more intensive recircula�on aquaculture systems (RAS). As long as the fish don’t suffocate at the grow-out stage, which is unlikely given that they’re air-breathers, van der Pijl says, the fish will survive in most condi�ons as they’re not so suscep�ble to viral diseases and can thrive in harsh condi�ons.

They can also survive out of the water as long as their skin remains wet.

He goes on: “In Sub-Saharan Africa, ca�ish is now increasingly produced by small, medium and commercial large-scale farmers alike. Whether ca�ish farming is a profitable business, though, depends largely on how well the fish is fed and the gene�c source of the fish.

“Although most farmers of African ca�ish in Nigeria s�ll farm in ponds, the greatest produc�on volume derives from peri-urban [that is, in areas adjacent to ci�es] concrete tanks, raceways and RAS. All of these produc�on systems, which can be used pre�y much anywhere in the country including in backyards, could become a major part of the solu�on to mee�ng the future demand for fish from the growing urban popula�on in Nigeria.”

Van der Pijl believes that with Africa’s rapid popula�on growth and urbanisa�on rate in mind, farming ca�ish in peri-urban environments is a great opportunity. The fact that ca�ish, contrary to �lapia, is o�en consumed as a smoked fish means that also in the downstream supply chain, the ca�ish industry offers job opportuni�es in the processing segment.

Another European investment fund, Bluefront Equity, is the only independent, Nordic private equity firm that focuses solely on the seafood industry.

The Oslo-based fund, founded by Kje�l Haga and Simen Landmark, invests in small and medium-sized seafood companies that can make the future seafood industry more sustainable.

“Together we will iden�fy the suppliers that have the greatest poten�al to industrialise and professionalise the seafood industry in a sustainable manner,” says Haga. The company is looking to invest in supplier companies that contribute towards increased traceability, be�er fish health and welfare, enhanced quality of the end product, improved hygiene and digi�sing the seafood industry.

In December, Bluefront Equity announced its second investment, in Bio Marine AS, headquartered in Surnadal, Norway. Bio Marine is a specialist in oxygen diffusion and also offers solu�ons for environmental control of pens, including monitoring and logging, ligh�ng, pumps and lice skirts. Bio Marine expected revenue growth of 40% in 2021 compared with the previous year.

“Bio Marine is a pioneer within oxygen diffusion and environmental control of pens and tanks, with an unwavering focus on fish welfare. We only invest in companies that contribute to a more sustainable seafood value chain and Bio Marine fits perfectly with our investment mandate,” says Simen Landmark, partner at Bluefront Equity.

Addi�onal oxygen in pens is important for vascular health – and fish health and growth generally – and it can contribute to lower mortality rates. Bluefront Equity’s first investment was in Redox, which is an ozone and oxygen specialist that develops environ-

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mentally friendly technologies that improve fish welfare and biosecurity for the aquaculture industry.

“The demand for oxygen and oxygen competence is rapidly growing and we expect Bio Marine to play a leading role in this development,” says Haga.

In February, Bluefront Equity announced its third investment, in Bergen-based Akvasafe. This is an inspec�on and cer�fica�on specialist in areas such as construc�on cer�ficates, mooring analysis, site analysis and component cer�ficates. Including its subsidiary Sematek, Akvasafe currently has 20 employees. Sematek is an independent tes�ng and inspec�on company that offers inspec�on, tes�ng, verifica�on and technical services for materials in plas�c, steel, aluminium or concrete that are used in the seafood industry.

In the midst of all this innova�on comes a new summit from the hosts of World Agri-Tech, Future Food-Tech, Animal AgTech and Indoor AgTech, taking place in London on 14–15 June, to explore the opportuni�es and challenges in scaling aquaculture produc�on while protec�ng and restoring the ocean ecosystem.

“Blue foods” includes fish, shellfish, algae and other foods derived from aqua�c plants and animals, harvested or cul�vated in marine or freshwater environments. The industry provides protein and nutrients for more than 3.2 billion people globally and demand is forecast to double by 2050 as future consumers seek new protein sources.

Global off-shore, on-shore and land-based aquaculture producers will mix with technology leaders, startups, investors and retailers looking to build new partnerships to accelerate the development of technologies that can reduce the environmental footprint of aqua�c foods, while increasing health, welfare and yield.

“With the ever-growing popula�on and increasing demand for protein, the sustainable produc�on of blue foods – fish, bivalves and seaweed – is more important than ever,” says Jennie Moss, Founder and Managing Director of summit organiser Rethink Events. “The Blue Food Innova�on Summit is an opportunity to hear from a cross sec�on of industry leaders and discover technologies that will be pivotal in scaling up produc�on and reducing pressure on our oceans.”

Lae��a Gerbe, Investment Director with blue economy investors Seventure Partners, says: “Improving fisheries and aquaculture management is indeed crucial to ensure future genera�ons con�nue to benefit from ocean resources and ecosystem services. We need events like this where we open up, talk to the ecosystem and collaborate.”

Jonas Ska�um Svegaarden, CEO and Partner, Katapult Ocean, which invests in ocean technology start-ups, adds: “We need new protein solu�ons to feed the world going forward. Investments into seaweed solu�ons are some of the most impac�ul investments there are. They have huge long-term poten�al for direct and secondary impact on our climate and society.”

The full programme, speaking faculty and delegate registration are available at bluefoodinnovation.com FF

Opposite from top: Bluefront Equity investment, BioMarine; Kje�l Haga (L) and Simen Landmark Bluefront Equity; BioMarine oxygena�on system Above: Sea6 AgroGain fer�liser is based on seaweed

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07/03/2022 15:43:07

Shellfish

BY NICKI HOLMYARD

Winning hearts and minds The UK’s shellfish industry finally has a voice in parliament

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FTER several years of trying to interest parliamentarians in our small sector, we have finally succeeded in ge�ng an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Shellfish Aquaculture off the ground, thanks to our enthusias�c local MP Anthony Mangnall, with assistance from David Jarrad, Chief Execu�ve of the Shellfish Associa�on of Great Britain (SAGB).

Mangnall visited our offshore mussel farm sites back in the summer, listened to our ideas about how to overcome the barriers to growth facing the shellfish aquaculture industry and promised to get these heard “where it ma�ers”.

What we requested was a strong poli�cal voice in parliament for a sector that is not being fully listened to. There may be challenges, but there are also huge opportuni�es, which are being s�fled by regulatory burdens, not all of which are Brexit related.

The inaugural mee�ng kicked off in February, with Simon Fell MP elected as Chair, Mangnall as Vice-Chair and seven MPs in a�endance. SAGB agreed to take on the secretariat role, with assistance from Seafish. Speakers included John and Sarah Holmyard from Offshore Shellfish, James Wilson from Deepdock Mussels (and Bangor Mussel Producers), Sarah Horsfall from SAGB and James Green from Whitstable Oysters.

Fell told Fish Farmer: “I am delighted to have been elected as Chair of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group for Shellfish Aquaculture. This is a really important issue for Furness, with

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Kingfisher Seafoods and the Morecambe Bay Oysters shellfish hatchery both located in my cons�tuency.

“For the UK, it is key that we make good progress on this over the next couple of months with Ministers, as the sector requires proper a�en�on being given to it. Many small family companies are at risk of losing their livelihoods if we don’t reopen routes for them to sell produce to the markets that need them.”

Mangnall agreed that the UK shellfish industry had been overlooked.

“I have seen first hand the value of the shellfish industry to the environment, to the economy and to our coastal communi�es. We can and must do more to recognise the poten�al for growth and to provide clarity and support for this industry. This group seeks to be the parliamentary mouthpiece for the shellfish aquaculture industry to Defra, the Fisheries Minister and Whitehall officials,” he said.

David Jarrad explained to MPs that farmed shellfish is environmentally benign, enhances habitat diversity, supports the food security agenda, encourages a blue economy and creates jobs in rural communi�es. Importantly, it is one of the most efficient methods of protein produc�on, uses no feed, chemicals or medicines, provides ecosystem services and acts as a carbon and nitrogen sink.

Official European figures show that in 2017, marine aquaculture produc�on rela�ve to available coastline in the UK was just 0.9 tonnes per kilometre (t/km), compared with 17.3t/km in France, 29.4t/km in the Netherlands and 33.5t/km in Spain, leaving huge room for improvement.

This page from top: Simon Fell MP; Anthony Mangnall MP; chef holding fresh black mussels Opposite: Oyster racks, Fleet Lagoon, Dorset; farmer collec�ng oysters from beds, Lindisfarne; Royal Na�ve Oyster Stores, Whitstable, Kent

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07/03/2022 15:47:04

Winning hearts and minds

“

I have seen first hand the value of the shellfish industry

”

English, Sco�sh and Welsh strategies all call for a very large increase in shellfish produc�on over the next two decades, yet mussel produc�on declined by 40% between 2013 and 2019, from 22,480 tonnes to 13,240 tonnes, with a value of £13.4m.

Oyster produc�on rose in the same period from 1,261 tonnes to 2,680 tonnes, with a value of £8.25m, but this is s�ll at a low level compared with Europe.

“The SAGB sees the development of a Shellfish Aquaculture APPG as a huge step forward in helping parliamentarians understand both the serious issues facing the sector and the huge poten�al for ecofriendly expansion,” Jarrad said.

Wilson spoke of the export issues caused by UK producers only being able to export shellfish direct to the EU if it had been grown in grade A waters.

Shellfish from grade B waters must be depurated before export, which can affect product quality, and there are no large-scale facili�es available this side of the English Channel and EU buyers prefer to depurate it themselves. Most of the UK’s waters are grade B and only 20 areas are currently designated grade A. Wilson explained that a Shellfish Stakeholder Working Group had been set up to work through the challenges, which commissioned a report from Seafish, en�tled Review of the application of the Official Control Regulations for shellfish production as they relate to microbial contamination. This sets out the unfavourable rules imposed by the UK authori�es on shellfish businesses compared with European and wider global bodies, and has been passed to the Food Standards Agency and Defra for ac�on. However, progress is pi�fully slow.

Greater progress is also needed from Defra through the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee to have the former trade in live bivalve mussels from grade B waters with the EU reinstated.

Sarah Holmyard talked about the export challenges she has faced since Brexit, especially since the introduc�on of European Health Cer�ficates in January 2022, which need to be signed by a veteri-

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nary surgeon. These are costly and currently cannot be filled in electronically.

She said there had been an increase in the number of physical checks at both UK and French ports this year, with rules changed regularly, some of which do not appear to be based on regula�ons.

“The whole process is very stressful and there is considerable room for error, which can result in a load being rejected and sent back to the UK. This has happened to us,” she said.

Addi�onally, the uncertainty over exports because of the water classifica�on system has led to investor insecurity and a lack of momentum to develop the industry further.

Oyster farmers are facing the death of their industry as a result of Natural England’s latest policy to stamp out the spread of feral Pacific oysters, which have started to breed naturally in the UK. Sarah Horsfall told MPs that the Government needs a clear strategy on Pacific oysters, allowing their con�nued farming in the UK. For over a decade, SAGB has asked Defra to accept this species as resident, as it is in Europe, but it has been unwilling to do so in light of pressure from Natural England. The current regula�on is based on EU law, but no EU country has such an unclear policy as the UK. Green outlined the issues with water quality caused by discharges from combined sewage overflows, which are causing poor water quality and affec�ng the classifica�on of waters grading for shellfish firms. He stated that a lack of dialogue from water companies together with a lack of investment or ac�on to address the problem were major issues that need to be addressed.

The Chair agreed to discuss all the issues raised with the Fisheries Minister, Victoria Pren�s MP and invite her to the next mee�ng, and pledged that the APPG would engage directly with water companies. FF

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07/03/2022 15:47:58

Norway

BY VINCE MCDONAGH

Power play

Gustav Witzøe emerged the winner from a dramatic few weeks at NTS, but what has he won? have been rela�vely modest, including the acquisi�on of a half share in Sco�sh Sea Farms and the purchase of Arnarlax in Iceland.

His other big rival, the Norwegian industry magnate John Fredriksen, who created Mowi (originally as Marine Harvest) has been more adventurous with his overseas ambi�ons, moving into Canada, Chile, the Faroe Islands, Ireland and, of course, Scotland. While Fredriksen has remained rela�vely quiet over the ba�les for NTS, he will likely be disappointed at losing out.

As owner of the world’s largest tanker fleet and with major interests in offshore drilling, Norwegian-born Fredriksen, who is now a ci�zen of Cyprus, clearly has bigger fish to fry.

SalMar’s NOK 15bn (£1.25bn) deal to acquire NTS puts the company second behind the leader, Mowi, in the farmed salmon sector, although it is s�ll some distance behind in terms of global produc�on.

This year, thanks to the NTS acquisi�on, SalMar should increase its produc�on by some 40%. The gap between SalMar and Mowi in Norwegian produc�on could narrow considerably if the growth FTER the high drama around the NTS boardroom in recent weeks, noplans for NRS, already announced before the takeoone can say that fish farming is dull. ver, come to frui�on over the next few years.

It has been a tale with more twists and turns than TV’s media tycoon There is also a joint venture with Aker through drama Succession – or an old Norse saga. the crea�on of SalMar Aker Ocean, set up to create As in all such tales, one man came out on top. It was Gustav Witzøe, the ena new force in aquaculture as the world’s largest igma�c boss of SalMar who has captured the Norway Royal Salmon prize that offshore salmon business. The project is s�ll in eluded him six month earlier, even if he had to acquire the whole NTS Group to its infancy, but it clearly is one with huge growth do so – and even though he now says he will step down as SalMar CEO. poten�al.

Victory was finally called on 17 February, when SalMar announced it had an SalMar Aker Ocean has already completed two “irrevocable” majority of votes among NTS shareholders for its offer, despite an successful produc�on cycles with the produc�on apparently more generous counter-offer from Mowi. facility Ocean Farm 1 in a weather-hardy, exposed Witzøe is said to have started business life as a car salesman. Anyone who area outside Trøndelag. has tried to buy a car knows that the salesman usually wins. And so it was with The experiences from this are now being built into Witzøe, who will soon own the northern hemisphere’s second largest salmon a new and larger version, Ocean Farm 2, which is farming business. under development.

In 1991, Witzøe gave up selling cars and returned to his home community on In less than three decades, Witzøe has turned Frøya to join what was then a fledgling industry – salmon farming.

SalMar into an aquaculture giant – with more yet The speed at which his business has grown has been li�le short of remarkato come. ble. Witzøe has carefully built up SalMar through a number of carefully planned In the long term, however, the NTS deal means acquisi�ons, mainly in Norway. Unlike Mowi, however, his ventures abroad he may have lost control of his own des�ny. The

Left: Gustav Witzøe Opposite page from top:

Helge Gåsø; Odd Reidar Øie; SalMar Ocean farm 1; Norway Royal Salmon future offshore pla�orm

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Power play

nature of the takeover means the Witzøe family’s shareholding in SalMar will be below 50%.

“We will never stand in the way of building something industrial,” he told business news website e.24.no.

He will, of course, have his allies, but the ous�ng of Helge Gåsø last month from the board of the company he founded shows too cruelly that friendships count for li�le in business.

In the short term, the next year or so looks good for the salmon sector. Prices have been rising, and low supply growth coupled with strong consumer demand means they are likely to remain firm throughout 2022.

Nevertheless, the industry does face serious challenges in rela�on to costs, par�cularly with respect to the prices of oil, transport and feed, which are rising fast.

The deal means SalMar will own just over 16% of

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salmon produc�on in Norway against Mowi’s 19%.

However, there are growing concerns on the part of Norway’s government that too much produc�on is falling into too few hands as consolida�on con�nues in the fish farming sector.

Together, the big four – Mowi, SalMar, Cermaq and Leroy – control more than half of total output. That doesn’t include produc�on from overseas opera�ons such as Scotland, Canada and Chile.

Bjørnar Skjæran, Fisheries Minister in the Norwegian Government, has already indicated that he is watching the situa�on closely.

Without going into detail, he told industry news website nt.24 that the �me may be coming when it is appropriate to put restric�ons on ownership.

He said the government planned to review the future issuing to permits to ensure diversity and con�nued local control and par�cipa�on.

Norway’s new Labour Government is broadly happy with the way the industry is run and is content to maintain a hands-off approach. But it is also in a coali�on and some�mes has to depend on minor par�es further to the le� to get some legisla�on through.

The desire to impose higher taxes, especially from the more le�-leaning par�es in the Stor�ng, Norway’s parliament, may be too much to resist especially now that companies are repor�ng strong increases in profits – and likely to get stronger if prices keep on rising.

Demands for tougher environmental curbs on salmon farming are also likely to grow, adding more onto costs.

Interes�ng �mes lie ahead for the expanded SalMar, but in yet another twist,

Witzøe has now announced he is stepping down in favour of Linda L. Aase, who has been a member of the SalMar board since June 2020

Move over Hollywood!

FF

The �me “may be

coming when it is appropriate to put restric�ons on ownership

”

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07/03/2022 16:04:12

Opinion

BY DUNCAN PERRIN

Environmental knowledge is the key What are the climate risks facing the sector and what strategies are fish farmers deploying to mitigate them?

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Environmental knowledge is the key

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Above: Fish farm near the Isle of Harris Opposite: Algae bloom

OMPARED with the farming of ca�le and other bovids, aquaculture has a rela�vely low emissions intensity, yet the broad range of environmental threats it faces makes it especially vulnerable to the effects of global warming. A warmer atmosphere fuels an increase in the frequency and severity of storms, and the resultant strong winds and high waves can have a devasta�ng impact.

Changing currents, another consequence of rising atmospheric temperatures, affect the dispersal of nutrients, poten�ally feeding the algal and jellyfish blooms that can be extremely hazardous to farmed fish.

These blooms have been occurring for millennia, but changes in climate and increased nutrients as a result of human ac�vity may mean more severe or prolonged events.

With such a high stake in the health of the planet, the aquaculture industry will have paid close a�en�on to proceedings at COP26 and it will not be alone in hoping that commitments made by world leaders translate into tangible progress in the fight against climate change.

Already, fish farmers are redoubling their efforts to mi�gate the risks that global warming could pose, not only to their livelihoods but to the supply of seafood worldwide.

In recent years, aquaculture companies have inves�gated whether to establish their farms

Companies op�ng to go offshore “are subjec�ng their investment to a different risk ” www.fishfarmermagazine.com

Sunderland Marine Opinion Piece v3.indd 39

further offshore. Since deeper and more open waters are less prone to pollu�on and the accumula�on of waste, which allows disease and algal blooms to thrive, loca�ng sites further out to sea can have a posi�ve impact on the welfare of farmed fish.

There is a caveat, however: these sites are also more exposed to the elements, and because they are so isolated, any damage sustained in storms takes longer to repair. Companies op�ng to go offshore are subjec�ng their investment to a different risk.

However, the note of cau�on need not be overplayed. It has become standard industry prac�ce to design equipment for offshore fish farms based on insights from empirical data gathered and processed using state-of-the-art systems. This ensures that cages and moorings for these loca�ons are built to the highest specifica�ons to withstand extreme weather events.

Aquaculture Risk Managers at Sunderland Marine offer a bespoke service, conduc�ng research and performing remote and on-site surveys to iden�fy risks at proposed fish farm loca�ons. The team also draws on a network of consultants from the commercial and academic sides of the industry who share informa�on and advice regarding any specific issues discovered during surveys. Furthermore, Sunderland Marine benefits from being part of North Group thanks to the insight from the group’s loss preven�on team, who offer their perspec�ve on protec�ng offshore installa�ons from the elements, based on decades of experience in the oil and gas sector.

Like weather and climate, marine condi�ons have a considerable influence on the planning and maintenance of aquaculture sites. Real-�me monitoring is a hot topic in the industry right now. As well as using satellite data to gain insight on weather condi�ons, aquaculture companies are increasingly deploying ar�ficial intelligence and machine learning to monitor metrics such as oxygen levels, water temperature and the presence of algae.

The current technological shi� in the sector is a posi�ve development overall. In this age of big data and the Internet of Things, we have to be wary of monitoring for monitoring’s sake, but if the data available to aquaculture companies is targeted and ac�onable, then it can only be a good thing.

In this industry, as in any other, knowledge is power: if you know your environment, you know whether you will be successful farming it.

Duncan Perrin is Aquaculture Manager at Sunderland Marine. FF

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07/03/2022 16:07:15

The Faroes

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07/03/2022 16:09:43

Islands in the stream

Islands in the

stream The Faroe Islands’ environment may look harsh, but it is a great location for farming salmon

BY ROBERT OUTRAM

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The Faroe Islands 10 pages v2.indd 41

Image: Mykines lighthouse, Faroe Islands

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07/03/2022 16:10:27

The Faroes

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long with his brother Regin, Atli Gregersen, co-owner and Managing Director of the Faroese salmon farming company Hidden�ord, represents the third genera�on at the helm of his family’s business.

Hidden�ord started out as a fishing business and Atli Gregersen remembers, as a 12 year old, hearing fishermen express scep�cism over warnings from scien�sts that the stocks of herring, at the �me the Faroes’ most valuable resource, were in danger.

In fact, when the boats returned to sea a�er a spell of bad weather they found that the herring numbers had indeed collapsed – and they have not returned to their old level since.

It was an important lesson, Gregersen told Fish Farmer: “If we live off nature, we have to respect nature.”

It was a lesson that has ul�mately led to Hidden�ord making the news with its decision to stop expor�ng salmon by air freight, over concerns that this was adding too much to CO2 emissions. For a producer in the North Atlan�c with important markets in Asia and North America, that was a bold step – but more of that later.

The Faroe Islands, also known simply as Faroes, is an archipelago 200 miles north-east of Scotland and about halfway between Iceland and Norway. It is a self-governing country within the kingdom Denmark, with a popula�on of about 50,000.

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Gunnvør á Norði, Head of Ecology and Fjord Dynamics at Fiskaaling, the Faroese aquacultural research centre, says the geography of the Faroes make the islands an ideal base for aquaculture, especially Atlan�c salmon. She says: “Sea temperatures are stable and the �ords are not so deep or long, so water exchange is good. The �ords are diverse – some are more sheltered, some more exposed.”

Thanks to the interac�on between the Gulf Stream and the waters of the Arc�c, sea temperatures in are stable, ranging between 6C and 11C year round.

Salmon farming is the Faroes’ main aquaculture sector. From nearly 60 farmers in the early 1990s, there are now just three big players: Bakkafrost (which also owns the Sco�sh Salmon Company); Hidden�ord; and Mowi Faroes, part of the world’s biggest salmon farming group.

Salmon farming took off in the 1980s but during the following decade it became a vic�m of its own

“

If we live off nature, we have to respect nature

”

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Islands in the stream

growth. Fish health became a major issue for the Faroese farmers, with infec�ous diseases and sea lice reaching alarming propor�ons.

Atli Gregersen had studied fisheries science at the University of Tromsø, Norway, and le� with a degree in fish farming. He says: “Soon I could see that what we were doing had many biological challenges.”

He explains: “In the beginning, if you had a licence for fish farming in a �ord, there could be others in the same �ord and there could be fish there the whole �me. There was no fallow period, so diseases and sea lice numbers started to rise.

“From 1998 onwards we started to work on be�er legisla�on.”

Led by Gregersen and others in the industry, work on the crea�on of a new regulatory system began in 1999. It was based on three new principles:  Only one farmer per �ord;  Only one genera�on of fish per �ord; and  “All in, all out” – in other words, a farm site must be fully stocked in one and no new fish may be added to a stocked farm site.

Previously, licences had o�en been awarded to more than one farmer in each �ord, and different genera�ons of fish could be stocked and harvested at different �mes, making it easier for diseases to

FAROES

THE BIG THREE PRODUCERS Bakkafrost Hidden�ord Mowi Faroes

Produc�on GWT* (2021) 67,200 18,200 9,933

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The Faroe Islands 10 pages v2.indd 43

spread and for sea lice popula�ons to grow in numbers.

The new regula�ons, which came into effect in 2003, meant that the industry could start to apply effec�ve fallow periods for �ords, so that sea lice popula�ons could die out and diseases could not spread from one stock of fish to the next.

A number of producers went bankrupt during the 1990s and the Faroese government opted to let licences lapse rather than, as had previously been the prac�ce, selling them on. In that way, the number of licences was reduced to a manageable level.

Gregersen says: “This is the main reason why the Faroese fish farming industry is respected – we became the ‘best in class’.”

If the reform of regula�on was a ques�on of enlightened self-interest for the Faroese salmon farmers, Gregersen argues, Hidden�ord’s decision to give up air freight was fundamentally an ethical ques�on.

He explains: “If the sea temperature rises it will not be a good thing for salmon farmers, but the �me frame is long. It’s not something that will happen tomorrow.

“It’s ethical, it’s not about self-interest. As people, and as a company, we need to take responsibility.”

Gregersen says: “We started thinking about this as early as 2011, 2012. Our main markets are con�nental Europe and the UK, Russia, China and North America.

“We didn’t ini�ally have a sea route to the US and now, we cannot sell to the Asian markets. Now there is also an extremely serious situa�on with Russia [as

Opposite from top: Fiskaaling research; Fiskaaling lab; Fiskaaling research sta�on Top: Bakkafrost’s Funningsforður farm Above: Bakkafrost 20kg box

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Photo: Susanna-Johansen

The Faroes

a result of the war in Ukraine].

“We knew that there was a short-term risk that our markets could come under pressure. But if I look at myself in the mirror, can I ship salmon by air if it will be contribu�ng so much to greenhouse gas emissions?”

Independent calcula�ons show that Hidden�ord’s produc�on contributes 4.7kg of CO2 per kg of salmon. Air freight to NY adds a further 7.2kg of CO2 per kg and air freight to Shanghai, a massive 15.8kg. In contrast, shipping by sea to the US adds only an es�mated 0.41kg of CO2.

Previously, for long haul freight Hidden�ord shipped the chilled and gu�ed salmon to Immingham in England, for transfer to London’s Heathrow airport, where it was loaded onto planes.

Hidden�ord had also at one point sent fresh salmon to New Bedford, Massachuse�s, but that service was no longer opera�ng by 2020, the deadline the company had set itself to finish with air freight.

The company found that there was a sea route via Iceland to Portland, Maine and this is now the way its product gets to the North American market. The move to transporta�on by ship coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, which ini�ally put most commercial flights on hold, and the �ming was actually very fortunate for Hidden�ord. In fact the company found that the crisis opened doors to new customers in North America, who had been unable to make use of their usual supply routes.

As well as finding a sea route, Hidden�ord had to look at its produc�on

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process to ensure that the quality of the fish would not be compromised by its nine-day journey. Óli Hansen, Sales Director with Hidden�ord, explains: “We monitored the quality of the salmon closely and saw what improvements we needed to make. The technology wasn’t new or complex, it was more about good prac�ce in cleaning, chilling and storing the fish. We have sealed containers in our factory at sub-zero temperatures and they are not opened un�l nine days later when they reach their des�na�on.”

“A�er nine days our salmon is as fresh as it would be a�er four days being transported by air freight.”

Atli Gregersen argues that salmon retains its quality very well when frozen – even be�er than white fish – but the next step will be to convince consumers that frozen salmon transported by sea is as good as chilled salmon flown by air – and that it’s a lot be�er for the environment.

If the company can do that, he says, it will not be dependent on any single market.

As he puts it: “This is our vision – to penetrate all the markets of the world, with frozen salmon.”

Meanwhile Hidden�ord also faces the challenge confron�ng all Faroes salmon farmers – while global demand for their product con�nues to grow, produc�on capacity is limited by geography and biology.

Under the Faroes regime for fish farm regula�on, operators must not only obtain a licence for the farm itself, but also get permission from the Environmental Agency and the veterinary authori�es for a given level of produc�on. This decision will take account of environmental impact and fish health issues, including sea lice numbers, which Gregersen says is the biggest single challenge for the industry.

One solu�on is to protect smolts for longer with cages that can keep out sea lice. Hidden�ord has installed two semi-closed cages, with another two soon to be added, to rear smolts, so they will have less exposure to sea lice before being transferred to

people, and as a company, we “Asneed to take responsibility ”

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07/03/2022 16:15:17

Islands in the stream conven�onal pens for grow-out. Bigger smolts have been shown to have be�er survival rates once they are transferred into pens in the ocean.

Farmers are also looking at more exposed sites, where waves or �dal currents can help to disperse fish faeces and spilled feed, and Hidden�ord can now claim to be opera�ng in some of the most rugged loca�ons of any salmon farmer in the world.

Hidden�ord is a leader in the industry’s trend to larger smolts, but others are also adop�ng this approach. Bakkafrost, for example, reports that the average weight of smolts released into the sea in its Faroes sites during 2021 (for harvest in 2022/23) was 382 grams, compared with 274 grams for those salmon harvested in 2021.

Bakkafrost says these smolts are doing very well and the strategy is also due to be rolled out in Scotland over the next few years. To meet the demand for larger smolts, Bakkafrost is expanding its hatcheries at Norðto�ir and Glyvradalur, and the company is also construc�ng a new hatchery at Onavik. Bakkafrost plans to produce more than 23 million smolts at a release weight of around 500 grams, during 2026.

Bakkafrost is also inves�ng a new wellboat with a capacity of 7,000m3, to be delivered this summer.

Announcing results for Q4 of 2021, Bakkafrost CEO Regin Jacobsen said: “In the Faroe Islands, we are pleased to have reached record high harves�ng volumes in the fourth quarter and for the full year, despite some challenges we are excited to see record low feed conversion rates and record high weight on transferred smolt. Our feed opera�on also sold very high volumes in both the fourth quarter and for the full year.

“We are convinced that our strategy and investments will reduce the biological risk by ensuring stronger biology, which is crucial to maintain a compe��ve opera�on.”

Bakkafrost reported a harvest in its Faroes sites of 67,200 GWT (gu�ed weight tonnes) for 2021 (2020: 50,700 GTW). Faroes accounted for just under 70% of the company’s total harvest.

Bakkafrost has a ver�cally integrated model and its combined farming and value added produc�on (VAP) business in Faroes reported an opera�onal EBIT (earnings before interest and taxa�on) of DKK 310m, or £34.8m (2020: DKK 143m/ £16m).

The company also sells fishmeal, fish oil and feed, and this division reported EBIT of DKK 89m (£10m) in the Faroes (2020: DKK 48m/ £5.4m).

In January 2022, Bakkafrost acquired a 90% stake

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The Faroe Islands 10 pages v2.indd 45

in the Danish canned salmon and general fish company Munkebo Seafood AS, for an undisclosed sum.

Regin Jacobsen described the move as a “great extension of Bakkafrost’s value chain.”

He added: “With the acquisi�on of Munkebo Seafood, Bakkafrost can now offer a wider range of products. Bakkafrost offers fresh, frozen and smoked salmon products, and now canned food is added”.

With fishing and aquaculture the Faroes’ biggest industries, it’s not surprising that that the islands have developed a healthy supplier base, with exper�se built up over many years dealing with some of the Atlan�c’s roughest waters.

One example is Vónin, which was founded in 1969 to supply nets and other gear for the fishing industry, and has also been supplying the fish farming

oceanrainforest.com

Opposite from top: The MEST shipyard; Atli Gregersen; Ocean Rainforest vessel Top: Torshaven, capital of the Faroe Islands Above: Regin Jacobsen Below: One of Hidden�ord’s farms

SEAWEED CULTIVATION takes up CO2 and excess nutrients

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The Faroes

industry since the 1980s.

From its base in the Faroes, Vónin has expanded to sell into other markets, principally Norway but also Greenland, Iceland (which is growing rapidly) the UK and Russia and the Far East. It also has a produc�on facility for manufacturing nets and cages, in Lithuania.

Bogi Nón, Marke�ng Manager with Vónin, said: “The Faroes is a hos�le environment for fish farming – there are lot of storms and the �ords are not very sheltered. Our approach is to keep it simple, so that there are fewer things that can break. We can’t control nature, and when we put things in the sea anything can happen.”

Vónin is increasingly also working with customers in Scotland, applying lessons from the Faroes but also adap�ng its products to local circumstance – for example as preda�on by seals is a bigger problem in Sco�sh waters, Vónin developed a new net material, Eurostone HDPE, which provides be�er resistance against predators.

Nón adds that the Faroes is a good environment for a business like Vónin: “The Faroes community is small, and people know each other. The �me taken between ideas and ac�on is o�en very short.”

There is also a tradi�on of shipbuilding in the Faroes. MEST Shipyard consists of three companies which were merged in the late 1990s. The oldest part is Skála Skipasmiðja which was founded in 1901 and Tórshavnar Skipasmiðja, which was founded as a family company in 1936 by Kjartan Mohr. Although ownership of MEST passed to an investment company in 2004, management remains in the family with Mouritz Mohr as CEO. Mouritz Mohr says: “Aquaculture is the fastest growing segment in our customer base – and one of MEST’s largest customer segments. There are three aquaculture companies in the Faroes… we are working for all of them in all areas – from service vessels, workboats, farming area, hatchery, processing and value added areas.”

Recent projects include an advanced research vessel for the Faroes Govern-

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The Faroe Islands 10 pages v2.indd 46

ment, the Jákup Sverri, five workboats for Faroese fish farming companies and a “green” workboat for Bakkafrost which runs on electric power.

MEST has also made a speciality of adap�ng service vessels build for the oil and gas industry for the aquaculture market. The Bakkanes, refi�ed for Bakkafrost’s Sco�sh subsidiary The Sco�sh Salmon Company, is a recent example.

Mohr says the environment of the Faroes helps to build a par�cular mindset: “When we have some challenges – technically or opera�onally – we have to solve the problem. No one is coming to help you – we have to solve it in the islands. This means that we have many ‘mul�-skilled’ cra�smen and engineers capable of solving different challenges.”

With aquaculture customers demanding larger and larger vessels, MEST is inves�ng in a new, larger dry dock, measuring 150 x 35 metres, which should come into service in 2024. The company is also building new storage and administra�on facili�es.

The aquaculture industry also requires scien�fic knowledge. Fiskaaling was set up by the Faroese Government to carry out research that benefits the aquaculture sector and the marine environment.

Recent or current projects include an ongoing study to help predict sea lice numbers and dispersion in the �ords; a study of lumpfish health to ensure that they can be used effec�vely as cleaner fish to control sea lice, without compromising their own welfare; and a joint project with a consor�um of organisa�ons in Norway, inves�ga�ng cardiac

Top: Vonin cage net Above left: Vonin produc�on facility Above right: Vonin centre ring for cage net

convinced that our strategy “Weandareinvestments will reduce the biological risk ”

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07/03/2022 16:19:56

Rebuilding supply vessel to a Farming service vessel for Bakkafrost The project included: A-frame for delousing – manufactured and installed 4 MELCAL cranes and winches installed Adjustments in accommodation and on the bridge Surface treatment and paint job

Contact us for your next rebuilding project WWW.MEST.FO | SALES@MEST.FO | TEL. +298 791100

CAGE NETS AND MOORINGS

Specialized in the tough high energy sites www.fishfarmermagazine.com

The Faroe Islands 10 pages v2.indd 47

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The Faroes

Photo: Rannvá Joensen

The time taken between “ideas and action is often very short ”

issues for farmed salmon. Fiskaaling has also been monitoring wild sea trout and gets regular data from “citizen scientists” – anglers who send scale samples to the centre from the fish they have caught.

The centre has also been working on monitoring species that are potentially harmful to salmon in the fjords of the Faroes. As Amanda Vang, Head of Biotechnology with Fiskaaling, explains, increasingly eDNA (environmental DNA) analysis is being used to identify harmful phytoplankton (“microalgae”), cies such as hydrozoans (“micro-jellyfish”) which can cause gill health problems.

Vang says: “Identifying species by their DNA can give a faster, objective answer because it doesn’t require manual identification by a taxonomy expert.”

Summing up, Johanna Lava Køtlum, CEO at Fiskaaling, says: “Our vision is

Above: Hiddenfjord pens during winter with island of Koltur in background

to add to knowledge and to support sustainable aquaculture. There is a lot of ongoing research and new projects, and it’s important for us to build up a cooperative research network with other bodies.”

As part of the co-operation, Fiskaaling will be hosting the international Sea Lice Conference on 9-13 May. This event takes place in a different venue each time and Faroes was due to host it in 2020, before Covid intervened.

Co-ordinator Ernst Sumberg Olsen says: “The conference addresses different areas of research, including sea lice biology, epidemiology, medicinal and non-medicinal treatments, fish welfare, modelling and epidemiology, genetics and genome, wild fish interaction and management – policy and legislation.”

He is confident that everything is as ready as it can be, and looks forward to welcoming presenters, exhibitors and delegates. Olsen has a warning, however: “The tourist industry is already forecasting record number of guests this year, so please do not put the registration too far off, especially booking flight tickets. Our islands have become a very popular tourist destination over the last few years.” FF

A forest in the ocean

A

quaculture in the Faroes is dominated by salmon farming, but if Olavur Gregersen, Managing Director with Ocean Rainforest, gets his way, cultivating seaweed as a crop will also become an established part of the islands’ economy.

Ocean Rainforest grows native seaweed species, like sugar kelp, that have long been used to feed animals and humans. As well as feed for livestock and dietary supplements for the consumer market, the company’s product is also used for other purposes, such as cosmetics. The main farming enterprise is based in the Faroes, but there is also a pilot scheme under way in Santa Barbara, California.

Gregersen says: “We have expanded cultivation, in the Faroes especially. This year we have 160,000 metres of seeded lines.

Output will be dependent on yield but we hope for 400-500 tonnes.”

As he explains, conditions are excellent for seaweed cultivation: “The ocean temperature is very stable. This is very beneficial and we can leave the lines in the water for up to two years. We aim to get two harvests per year without having to reseed.

“It has the right temperature and a rich supply of nutrients. Also, from March to October the Faroes enjoys a lot of light, which seaweed needs.”

Seaweed – wild rather than cultivated – has long been a traditional crop in the Faroes, largely for animal feed.

As Gregersen puts it: “It’s always been on our shoreline. Seaweed has been used to feed sheep in winter, when there is not much else for them to eat, but it was not generally seen as food for humans. It was a ’poor man’s food’ for when you could not get anything else.”

He admits that, in Europe at least, consumers have yet to be convinced about the benefits of seaweed as a foodstuff, but it is increasingly being seen as an additive for other types of food, especially fermented seaweed which has good prebiotic qualities.

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The Faroe Islands 10 pages v2.indd 48

Above: Olavur Gregersen

There is also evidence that, when added to feed for livestock, seaweed helps provide a better feed conversion ratio and reduces the methane emitted by farm animals.

Gregersen says: “There is some way to go before we have a commercial product for consumers but we have seen a lot of interest from, for example, the cattle industry.”

Ocean Rainforest has a five year plan with the aim of growing every year. In 2020, it closed an investment round raising US $1.5m (£1.1m), led by a tranche of US $850,000 (£633,640) from the World Wildlife Fund. That has enabled its current wave of growth, but simply being based in the Faroes, which is already geared to the “blue economy”, has been an advantage.

Gregersen says: “We have experienced great support, from government and from wider society including local businesses. For example we have been working with Bakkafrost, who allowed us to use some of their licences when we started out. We are farming in sites very close to salmon farms in some cases.

“Faroes is focused on ocean-based activities so there is a great infrastructure. For example, when the fish farmers switch to bigger chains and moorings, we are able to use the ones being replaced and the same goes for buoys.”

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CONFERENCE TOPICS

RE

GIS

TER

Fish welfare Modelling and epidemiology Medical treatment Non-medical treatment Wild fish interaction Sea lice biology Genetics and genome Management – policy and legislation

NO

W

ON

FISKAALING Your Conference Host in the Faroe Islands

WW

Our vision is: Knowledge for Sustainable Aquaculture.

Fiskaaling is an independent company, committed to focus on research within these fields:

W.

SEA

LIC

EC

• Sustainable utilisation of the fjords • Land-based aquaculture • Lice and infection • Fish welfare • New possibilities for production Fiskaaling operates exclusively with longterm and advanced research with the aim to build internationally recognised knowledge for sustainable aquaculture. www.fiskaaling.fo/en

Fiskaaling.indd 49

At Sea Lice 2022 you will have a unique opportunity to interact with internationally renowned sea lice researchers, and experience the Faroese aquaculture industry first-hand with site visits arranged exclusively for the conference.

Jóhanna Lava Køtlum, CEO

ON

FER

EN

CE

.NE

T

WELCOME! We are very excited to see the sea lice community in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands in May for a professionally stimulating and much awaited Inter-national Sea Lice Conference.

07/03/2022 09:40:26

Middle East

Desert dreams Saudi Arabia and its neighbours are looking to strengthen food security through fish farming

BY VINCE MCDONAGH

T

HE Arabian Peninsula is a forbidding place most of the year – even for those who call it home.

Searing hot winds, temperatures almost half way to boiling point and a seemingly unending desert would, at first glance, hardly make it an ideal loca�on to start salmon farming.

However, if plans by various regional governments get off the ground, this could become one of the world’s leading centres for aquaculture within the next 20 years, both marine and land-based.

It is no mirage. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the states that make up the United Arab Emirates have said they are ready to invest billions of dollars to make them almost self-sufficient in seafood.

And in a region that has seen once sleepy fishing villages transformed into modern super-ci�es in just a few decades, who can doubt them?

Saudi Arabia has been developing its seafood sector since the 1980s and now produces almost 80,000 tonnes from aquaculture and 60,000 tonnes from conven�onal fishing.

But with its ci�zens consuming up to 300,000 tonnes annually, it s�ll needs to import far more than it can produce and the tradi�onal Saudi fishing industry, mostly based around the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea, is not in the best of health.

Fisheries minister Jabir-Al Shihri says this means aquaculture will become even more important in future.

The government is increasing its investment on aquaculture from 20bn Saudi Riyals (SR) to SR 60bn (£11.77bn) between now and 2040.

Most aquaculture projects will be designed around cages in water close to shore so the fish can be transferred to nearby processing sites and sold onto home and interna�onal customers.

The country’s Agriculture Development Fund is ready to finance this strategy to the tune of nearly £3bn.

While well over 2,000 highly qualified technicians are thought to be working

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Middle East- Vince 2 v2.indd 50

in the aquaculture sector, the country does not yet have its own specialist colleges, so more young people will be sent overseas for training.

Dr Ali Al-Shaikhi, CEO of the Na�onal Fishery Development Programme, told the Arab News recently: “We have launched an ini�a�ve to help develop 100 Saudi ci�zens to become aquaculture leaders, with 70% of the funds coming from the private sector and 70% from the government.

“And we have just signed an agreement with a local academic facility to train 3,000 Saudis for the aquaculture and fisheries sector.

The country is seeking help from foreign governments and recrui�ng overseas academics to help it with this training ini�a�ve.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia will soon begin test produc�on on an aquaculture project by the Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) focusing on the farming of na�ve species.

Venture director Michael Slage says the focus will be on na�ve species that are difficult to farm using

“Aquaculture… has been iden�fied as a priority sector

”

This page from top:

Ocean Harvest signing ceremony; fish farm; �lapia Opposite: Saudi aquaculture poster

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07/03/2022 16:23:52

Desert dreams

tradi�onal methods, but he stresses the highest standards will be adopted, avoiding the use of pes�cides and an�bio�cs. Instead, the project will involve working with nature.

Dubai is known globally as a glamorous tourist des�na�on with fantas�c luxury hotels, but away from the glitz, a lot of work is going on to develop its own aquaculture industry .

It is not just for home consump�on: Dubai sees con�nental Africa as a poten�ally huge export market.

A group of students at the UAE University College of Engineering have set up a project to develop a fish farming system for �lapia.

The project also has the backing of a Dubai-based interna�onal company, Asmak, which has said it will help develop it into a commercial venture if the trials are successful.

And the UAE is working closely with India to help enhance its food security, mainly through fish farming and sustainable fishing prac�ces.

The Emirates have the innova�ve technology, while India has the land, water and experience so together they have the poten�al to develop smart fish farming.

As part of another strategy, the UAE last summer laid out a na�onal aquaculture roadmap though which it hopes to a�ract interna�onal investment.

A recent report from the Arab Organisa�on for Agricultural Development showed that UAE residents eat 25kg per head each year, nearly twice the world average.

Dubai is developing its own salmon farming sector and is also working on other species such as sea bass. Fish feed is currently imported, but it eventually hopes to produce its own supply.

In Abu Dhabi, a partnership between the investment office and the company Pure Salmon is receiving funding to expand food sustainability through salmon farming.

Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, told the

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Middle East- Vince 2 v2.indd 51

Khaleej Times recently: “The aquaculture sector has been iden�fied as a priority sector for development by the Government of Abu Dhabi.”

She added: “One of the key ini�a�ves seeks to encourage economic investment in the sector, thereby reducing pressure on the UAE’s severely overexploited fisheries, providing meaningful employment and genera�ng wealth for ci�zens by producing safe, wholesome and high-quality seafood products.”

In February, a consor�um of European and Middle Eastern businesses announced plans to build a land-based salmon farm in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The companies behind the recircula�ng aquaculture systems (RAS) farm plan are Tech Group, a UAE-based diversified group of companies; Ocean Harvest, a technology-enabled aquaculture business recently set up in the UAE; and Belgian construc�on group BESIX. Ocean Harvest’s first project is being delivered together with industry-leading RAS technology partner and supplier Billund Aquaculture A/S and global water treatment leader, SUEZ – Water Technologies & Solu�ons.

The project aims to supply 2,000 metric tonnes per year of premium-quality, locally grown Atlan�c salmon to the UAE. In conjunc�on with the partnership, BESIX and Tech Group will join Ocean Harvest’s Board of Directors as investors and “Strategic Partners”.

Ocean Harvest has secured US $1m in pre-seed capital to fund its design and engineering ac�vi�es from BESIX, Tech Group and leading angel investors.

Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Founder and Chairman of Tech Group, says: “Tech Group is dedicated towards the con�nuous pursuit of innova�ve opportuni�es that support the sustainable development of the UAE. Food security is among the most important priori�es in the UAE na�onal agenda, and we believe that our partnership with Ocean Harvest will generate

a true and tangible impact for our society.”

Qatar, though not part of the UAE, has also unveiled plans to become more self-sufficient in food by accelera�ng the development of its own fish farming industry. Working with private industry, it aims to set up fish and shrimp farms, and an aqua�c biology research centre. FF

SEAFOOD SCOTLAND IN DUBAI Seafood Scotland is already alive to the poten�al in the Middle East.

In February, the marke�ng body, joined by several Sco�sh seafood companies, a�ended the Gulfood Exhibi�on in Dubai, which brought together more than 4,000 food-related companies.

The companies included Loch Fyne Oysters, Mowi and The Sco�sh Salmon Company.

Natalie Bell, Head of Trade Marke�ng at Seafood Scotland, says: “Gulfood has always kicked off our trade show calendar and we are thrilled to be in Middle East again.”

Above: Natalie Bell

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07/03/2022 16:25:15

Cages, nets, pens and moorings

Ideas for innovation Suppliers to the fish farming industry are continuing to develop their products

I

N January, two leading aquaculture industry suppliers announced that they had merged. FiiZK and Ecomerden are both known for producing semi-closed cage systems and their joint exper�se makes for a formidable force in the market.

General Manager of FiiZK, Torstein Rønning, said at the �me of the announcement: “By combining the companies’ knowledge and technologies, we will strengthen delivery capacity at the same �me as we accelerate further development of design and func�onality.”

Jan Erik Kyrkjebø, General Manager of Ecomerden, said that he looked forward to bringing his employees and technology into a larger company to strengthen the opportuni�es this will provide for Ecomerden’s solu�ons.

Headquartered in Laksevåg, Norway, Ecomerden was founded in 2005 and distributes to Europe and North America.

FiiZK, also based in Norway, can trace its industrial origins back 150 years.

As well as closed/semi-closed cage systems, it provides lice skirts and lice treatment tarpaulins for marine fish farms, and infrastructure for land-based fish farms.

The FiiZK group also includes subsidiaries specialising in so�ware and digital integra�on solu�ons for the aquaculture sector. In January 2021, FiiZK acquired industrial fabric producer Norwegian Weather Protec�on. The combined group will trade as FiiZK. Since the merger, a key focus for FiiZK has been to look at how the respec�ve strengths of the two companies’ key products, FiiZK’s Certus series and Ecomerden’s EcoCage, can be combined.

The company says: “FiiZK is commi�ed to supplying the best closed containment technology for salmonid produc�on at the best prices. Our objec�ve is to integrate the strengths from each of the systems, Certus and the EcoCage, to develop an enclosure that is even more robust and dynamic.”

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Meanwhile, AKVA, another leading supplier in the aquaculture sector, has also been looking at how to further develop its products. As Arnstein Hosaas, R&D Director with AKVA, explains, a key focus currently is to look at environmental issues and how AKVA can take on the principles of the “circular economy”.

Above: FiiZK’s Certus cage Below: Ecomerden’s EcoCage Opposite from top: Akva pen; AKVA recycled plas�c granules; Arnstein Hosaas

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07/03/2022 16:27:40

Ideas for innovation

One project underway is exploring the feasibility of making a pen from 100% recycled plas�c working with two other businesses, Plasto and Oceanise. AKVA has already developed and delivered pens with walkways made from recycled plas�c.

Hosaas says: “We started the first delivery project about six months ago and found it was rela�vely simple to introduce – we have a good infrastructure already and collec�ng plas�c for recycling is a mature industry in Norway.”

The project began with an enquiry from Grieg Seafood, a leading salmon farming business, but Hosaas says more clients are asking about it now.

The aquaculture industry has not previously used recycled, granulated plas�c in its structures.

Consistency and quality have been issues in the past, but these have been improved. An important ques�on will be whether the recycled plas�c can meet Norway’s 94/15 standard for pens and cages.

The project is supported by the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund, which receives 1 NOK for every plas�c bag sold by its member retailers, and provides funding to projects which among others contributes to reduce consump�on and increase recycling of plas�cs.

Hosaas says: “I’m op�mis�c that this will be an op�on for the industry. There is a general drive towards be�er u�lisa�on of material – either keeping its shape or regranula�ng it, which is probably the best op�on as this restores the damage done by UV [ultraviolet] rays.”

In another development, AKVA has ended the use of Styrofoam as a buoyancy aid.

A typical pen will include Styrofoam in its construc�on so that even if the structure is breached – for example in collision with a boat – the pen will stay buoyant. This is a problem, however, because Styrofoam fragments – that is, expanded polystyrene – are inherently pollu�ng, especially during the manufacturing process and then at the end of the structure’s life when it is being recycled and there is a high risk that some of the polystyrene could get into the environment.

AKVA’s new 500R and 500RS series pens, which have been developed for use at the most exposed sites, include water�ght compartments instead of Styrofoam. The new pens consist of almost 100% high-density polyethene material.

Hosaas says: “The quality is very good and the product is more sustainable. The requirement for residual buoyancy in the event of a pipe suffering rupture is maintained, in the same way as the old solu�on. Water�ght chambers can in some cases increase safety in the event of an accident.

“The water�ght compartments were originally developed for the high-end pens, but we have now extended that solu�on to our complete plas�c pen por�olio.”

The first large-volume contract for the 500RS is with Mowi Scotland, with a first order of pens now being assembled for Mowi’s Caol Mor farm on the Isle of Skye.

Meanwhile, Hosaas sees some macro trends in the industry, par�cularly:  more exposed farm sites, with bigger volumes;

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Cages, Nets, Pens and Moorings v2.indd 53

 increased focus on stronger pens, with an increased safety margin – for example, wider walkways for crew safety;  increased focus on fish welfare and how this is affected by delousing opera�ons and other handling opera�ons; and  a significant shi� to environmental, social and governance thinking.

AKVA is also working with Sinkaberg-Hansen AS and Egersund Net AS on the “Atlan�s” project, which involves submerged fish farm cages with an “air dome” to allow the fish to replenish their swim bladders.

By keeping the fish in deeper waters, it is hoped that they will retain the advantages of being in a natural marine environment while minimising the risk from sea lice. This “deep farming” approach seeks to obtain the same advantages as one expects to gain in closed pens, but at a lower cost and with a much smaller environmental impact and, in combina�on with waterborne feeding, also a significantly lower energy consump�on even compared with conven�onal pens.

The Nau�lus concept can be considered as a simplifica�on of the Atlan�s and can be applied directly in exis�ng infrastructure. So far, the experience shows no problems with lice in the Nau�lus pens currently in opera�on in the Rørvik area.

Hosaas adds: “Farming in the deep also provides us with an excellent opportunity to take full advantage of our digital capacity since automa�on feels more natural for fish farmers when the fish cannot be directly observed, and with op�mised feeding through our AI solu�on (Observe), we expect to see even be�er results in the near future.”

Finally, Inverness-based Tom Morrow Tarpaulins, which produces lice nets, tarpaulins and other containment supplies, has also not been standing s�ll.

Proof of that comes in the form of its latest product launch, a new freshwater screen that allows the top por�on of the tank to be filled with freshwater for feeding and delousing. FF

I’m “ op�mis�c

that this will be an op�on for the industry

”

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07/03/2022 16:29:12

Cages, nets, pens and moorings

A cool solution Grieg is introducing semi-closed cages to three of its farms in British Columbia

A

FTER trialling a semi-closed solution at its salmon farms off the Sunshine Coast region in British Columbia, Canada, Grieg Seafood has announced it will be going ahead with the installation of this system at all three of its sites in Esperanza Inlet, off the west coast of Vancouver Island.

The new CO2L Flow system (pronounced “Cool Flow”) is a form of semi-closed containment that allows farmers to raise or lower custom-designed farm enclosures to ensure the farmed fish benefit from natural ocean conditions, while also providing protection for wild salmon. The system has been used successfully to rear several generations of fish at Grieg’s farms in the Sunshine Coast region. In all the trials, farmers noted better growth, lower mortality, better feed conversion and, most significantly, a dramatic reduction in the need for sea lice treatments.

“As a company, we are always looking for ways to improve our operations, and this includes transitioning from standard farming equipment to new, cutting-edge technology aimed at reducing potential impacts from our operations. This new system utilises retractable barriers that can be lowered to 15 metres, fully encapsulating the sides of the farm. This has several benefits, including preventing the lateral interaction of wild and farmed salmon populations, providing protection for farmed populations from harmful algae and enabling our farmers to better control water quality in the system using a unique aeration technology,” says Rocky Boschman, Managing Director at Grieg Seafood BC Ltd. “As ocean-based farmers, one of the most common questions or concerns we hear is regarding sea lice, and the transfer of lice between wild and farmed populations. The CO2L Flow system, with its barrier protection, has resulted in drastically reduced sea lice numbers on the farmed population, which in turn reduces the need for us to treat. During the trial period at our west coast site, we were able to keep sea lice levels

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Cages and Nets Grieg case study v2.indd 54

Top and opposite: Grieg’s new semi-closed cages Above: Rocky Boschman, Grieg

so low that the fish did not require treatment for lice. Overall, we are pleased with the results and there is no denying that this new system represents a transition towards what in-ocean farms can one day become.”

What sets this system apart from others, Grieg says, is the use of local knowledge, and on-the-ground learning to guide the development of a system that would work in partnership with nature to address challenges.

“I have been farming in these waters for over 30 years. In that time, I have learned that nature is the best engineer. If you want to find a solution, you need to work with the ocean and the natural conditions. So, when we started looking at how we could adapt semi-closed technology into our operations, we looked first and foremost to the oceans’ naturally occurring deep, clean water as a guide,” says Dean Trethewey, Seawater Production, Certifications and Regulatory Director.

He adds: “The CO2L Flow Max system has taken some tried and true technology, such as sea lice curtains, and paired them with cutting-edge aeration technology to create a completely new system. During sensitive wild salmon migration periods or times when we know there is harmful algae in the region, we can lower the barriers on the farm, forming a barrier between the wild salmon and the farmed population. This prevents lateral inter-

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07/03/2022 16:31:26

A cool solution

action and significantly reduces the transmission of sea lice between the populations. The barriers can be fully lifted outside of these periods, allowing the farmed fish to benefit from natural ocean conditions, temperatures, currents and oxygen levels.”

To bring this technology to life, Grieg relied on the expertise, knowledge and successful collaboration with several Vancouver Island-based technology and services companies – such as CPI Equipment and Poseidon Ocean Systems. A leading international oxygen solution company, Oxzo Technologies, was also involved in the creation of some components of the system.

Boschman adds: “As a company, we will continue to look at ways in which we can innovate and continue to improve our operations. Currently, the new system already has tremendous benefits through the elimination of lateral interaction between wild and farmed populations, and provides both welfare and performance benefits for our farmed salmon – but it doesn’t collect solid waste, which is the next opportunity we want to address. We are continuing to look for solutions that will support the recovery of solid waste and ways in which it could be used for some type of value-add product such as fertiliser or soil enrichment.”

Kris McNichol, President, CPI Equipment, says: “CPI has worked diligently with Grieg Seafood

I have “learned

that nature is the best engineer

”

on trials to improve the efficiency of oxygen transfer to seawater in its sea pens by using CPI’s ODiN Aerations system in conjunction with Moleaer’s nanotechnology. By achieving a greater supply of water quality within the semi-closed environment, we have been able to support the creation of a new ocean-based system… The knowledge-sharing and teamwork between Grieg Seafood and CPI Equipment shows how people, ideas, and new technology can collaborate to meet the needs of aquaculture for the future.”

The system will be installed at all three farms in Esperanza Inlet (Lutes Creek farm, Steamer Point farm and the Esperanza farm) in time for the outmigration of juvenile wild salmon in early 2023. FF

Protection from Sea Lice and HABs ⚫ Automated Control ⚫ Better Growth Improved Water Quality ⚫ Up to 75% Less Oxygen Usage Energy Conservation ⚫ Sustainable Solutions

cpi

EQUIPMENT INC. AQUACULTURE SOLUTIONS

Semi-closed Technology Specialists www.cpiequipmentinc.com 1.250.468.3971 1.250.954.7510

ODiN Total Control ODiN Titan Aeration PRO Silage Systems Nano Flow Oxygen Life Support Technology www.fishfarmermagazine.com

Cages and Nets Grieg case study v2.indd 55

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07/03/2022 16:32:10

Tom Morrow – Client content

Battling the blight

The in-depth knowledge of the Tom Morrow team is helping salmon farmers to protect their stock against sea lice

“S

ea Lice” are quite literally the dirty words associated with salmon farming. These unpleasant li�le crustaceans not only virtually eat the fish (and profits) alive, but sea lice infesta�ons have caused fish farmers to be blamed for lice spreading to damage Scotland’s wild salmon stocks.

Fortunately, there are many experts working on finding solu�ons for this blight on the strategic and vital fish farm industry, which globally produces around 52% of fish for human consump�on (according to the UN’s Food & Agriculture Organisa�on).

A world-leading company offering a “preven�on is be�er than cure” approach to saving salmon from sea lice is Tom Morrow Tarpaulins – based in the Sco�sh Highlands.

From its headquarters in Inverness, Tom Morrow Tarpaulins has been crea�ng a range of innova�ve products to sa�sfy the demands of the salmon produc�on industry – and fish-farming in general – locally and globally, for 35 years.

The key to a successful, viable fish farm is maintaining stock that is clean, fit

56

Tom Morrow Tarpaulins - PED.indd 56

Everything “is hand-made from locally sourced ingredients

”

and healthy – as free as possible from the parasi�c lice.

Gary Cunningham, director of Tom Morrow Tarpaulins, says his company has worked �relessly with aquaculture industry players for years to come up with a range of sea lice preven�on solu�ons that are now rou�nely employed by the top producers, in most cases customised for individual clients’ needs.

Barrier screens The most effec�ve way to keep parasites out of fish cages is to screen them out using impermeable lice barrier tarpaulins or skirts. Not just any old tarpaulins, though.

Barrier screens need to be durable, well-constructed, simple to deploy and they need to last long enough to see the salmon stock through several life cycles, so that any exis�ng lice infesta�on is consistently reduced, and any lurking lice hoping to enter the cage are shut out.

“We’ve fine-tuned our sea lice barrier screens over the years and come up with a first-class product with quality components and materials that are rigorously tested and inspected. Everything is handmade from locally sourced ingredients, so we’ve not had any supply or delivery problems because of Brexit or other poli�cal issues,” says Gary.

Best of all, he says, the screens have been proven to work for the firm’s clients. Feedback has been more than posi�ve.

Proof that Tom Morrow Tarpaulins are always improving and innova�ng comes in the form of their latest product launch – a new freshwater screen which allows the top por�on of the tank to be filled with freshwater for feeding and de-lousing.

Quality barrier screens are not Tom Morrow Tar-

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

07/03/2022 09:46:35

Battling the blight

ment is increasingly becoming a hot topic, an important area of research and a field open for inven�ve technology.

One solu�on that is currently receiving a lot of a�en�on, in the hope that it will diminish, or ul�mately end, the use of medicines or harsh chemicals to treat lice, is the use of cleaner fish.

Certain species of fish such as the Ballan wrasse and lumpfish have proved to be a natural biological treatment for sea lice infesta�on – they eat the lice on the salmon’s skin.

Cleaner fish in themselves present welfare problems though, both in hatcheries and when cohabi�ng with salmon on fish farms. They are subject to physical damage, diseases, nutri�onal difficul�es, behaviour aberra�ons and have complicated breeding habits.

Tom Morrow Tarpaulins have put their minds to the solu�ons for cleaner fish and come up with a selec�on of kelp curtains and hides in various configura�ons. These produce a natural-feeling environment in any cage or tank where cleaner fish can hide, rest and feed., improving their well-being and efficiency. paulin’s only success story when it comes to serving the needs of the aquaculture industry on any scale.

The firm also produces treatment bags and fresh water storage bags, cage padding, jump nets, shade nets, bird nets, polytunnels, tank covers and many other requirements, made bespoke to order.

Striking a balance Marcus Sanctuary, director of Tom Morrow Tarpaulins, points out that fish farming is increasingly essen�al in the race to meet the demand for protein rich foods. To foster sustainable, successful fish farming there needs to be a balance between the environmental impact of aquaculture, fish welfare, produc�on and profit.

He says: “We’re proud to have been playing a part in mee�ng the challenges Cleaner fish of the aquaculture industry for many years now. We don’t believe that ‘one Current Marine Scotland regula�ons state that if size fits all’, so we work as a team alongside our clients to make sure we design, a fish farm is found to have more than two adult manufacture and deliver products that exactly fit their needs.” female sea lice per fish during rou�ne monitoring He adds that Tom Morrow Tarpaulins is commi�ed to suppor�ng fish farmers then the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) will increase in overcoming all the problems associated with their enterprise by using the their checks, and if the level grows to six sea lice per firm’s exper�se and ingenuity. fish or more, enforcement no�ces might be issued.

According to Marine Scotland, fish farming in Scotland alone is worth at least Similar regula�ons exist in other parts of the £885m to the economy and provides thousands of jobs in remote communiworld where fish farming is becoming an increas�es. It’s certainly an industry worth devo�ng �me, effort and energy to develingly important part of the economy and food oping as the world increases its knowledge and experience of aquaculture, just supply. as we have had to evolve and perfect terrestrial agricultural farming prac�ces This all means that sea lice preven�on and treat- over the centuries. FF

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

Tom Morrow Tarpaulins - PED.indd 57

Opposite from top: A pen in Ireland wai�ng to be fi�ed with one of Tom Morrow Tarpaulins’ lice barrier screens; Strength and reliability s�tched into every Tom Morrow Tarpaulins product This page from top: One of Tom Morrow Tarpaulins’ freshwater bags being filled; Dependable and simple to deploy tarps, protec�ng and trea�ng stock; Sea lice on salmon

57

07/03/2022 09:47:11

Boats and barges

Hybrid heroes Combining diesel and electric power, the new generation of vessels in aquaculture are helping to cut carbon emissions

W

ITH fish farming businesses increasingly aware of the need to address their carbon footprint, a number of new vessels recently commissioned in the industry have been designed specifically to use energy more efficiently.

Mowi Scotland’s new delousing vessel, the Camilla Eslea, is one example. At 35 metres long, 14.3 metres wide and with a deck space of 377m², the Camilla Eslea is officially the highest-capacity thermolicer in the world.

Sean Anderson, Deputy Produc�on Director, explains: “Everything about the Camilla Eslea is bigger and be�er. It’s not just the scale of the vessel, which means we can treat more pens more quickly – it’s the level of sophis�cated technology incorporated on board that is transforming our ability to efficiently delouse the salmon in our care.

“For example, there is a high-capacity vacuum-pumping system installed below deck. This helps to create an op�mal environment for trea�ng the salmon as it means that the fish handling is very gentle, which reduces poten�al stress for the fish.”

He adds that the vessel is also fi�ed with a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system. This features a heat-recovery system on the ship’s engines that is used to help heat the water required for the thermolicer. This means that the vessel uses less energy, significantly reducing CO2 emissions.

Provided by Inverlussa Marine Services, the Camilla Eslea has capacity for

58

Boats and Barges v2.indd 58

a seven-line Hydrolicer, Op�licer or SFI (Sea Farm Innova�ons) delicing units and packs 2,850 horsepower in total.

Earlier this year, Loch Duart became the first salmon farmer in Scotland to introduce a low carbon emissions feed storage barge, with a hybrid system designed by ScaleAQ. The feed storage barge was brought in to service Loch Duart’s farm site at Oldany.

Loch Duart es�mates that the feed storage barge reduces the site’s diesel consump�on by up to 60% when compared with standard diesel systems.

Addi�onally, by taking lorries off the road and delivering the feed fresh and straight from the producer by sea, Loch Duart is using sea freight, the most CO2-efficient transport method.

Hazel Wade, Opera�ons Manager of Loch Duart, says: “This system represents a significant step forward, reducing our fuel usage and emissions while ensuring quieter opera�ons for the team, our salmon and the local environment.”

Above: Loch Duart’s hybrid feed storage barge Below: The Camilla Eslea delousing vessel, Mowi Opposite: Sco�sh Sea Farms’ hybrid feed barge (le� in picture) alongside hybrid service vessel Laurence Knight

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

07/03/2022 16:36:35

Hybrid heroes The hybrid system for feed storage barges developed by ScaleAQ uses an environmental management system to ensure lower levels of diesel consump�on and consequently lower emissions of CO2, nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxide. The DNV-GL (Det Norske Veritas)-approved, cobalt-free ba�eries ensure installa�ons are safe and have a long service life.

In February this year, Sco�sh Sea Farms (SSF) took delivery of its first hybrid feed barge, following on from the company’s acquisi�on of the Laurence Knight, a hybrid workboat.

The new barge is based at SSF’s site at Lismore West, Argyll. Sco�sh Sea Farms’ Regional Director for the Mainland, Innes Weir, says the barge represents a significant step forward in terms of cu�ng waste and saving costs.

He explains: “With a hybrid system, the diesel generator can be run more efficiently but not as o�en. And because you’re relying on the ba�eries to supply 50–70% of the power, you reduce wear and tear on the engine and so make savings on maintenance and servicing.”

Fuel savings are es�mated at between 20% and 45%, with generator maintenance costs around 75% lower over three years.

The hybrid power system switches automa�cally between ba�eries and the generator once programmed, and can be managed remotely and monitored in real �me. All the barge func�ons, including the ba�eries (87 in total), fuel pumps and feeding system can be controlled online.

Weir says: “The generator can recharge the

ba�eries, which, once sufficiently charged, are big enough to run the feeding system and then the generator will switch off.

“As you go through the day, you’ll find the generator will be on for some of the �me and then it will be ba�eries, and as the ba�eries discharge, the generator will come back on while the ba�eries are recharged.”

The 200-tonne, £1m-plus barge was developed by Norwegian aquaculture supplier ScaleAQ and was built in Poland. It combines a fully recyclable 150kW lithium-ion hybrid ba�ery system with a diesel engine powered generator.

Lismore West Farm Manager Alasdair MacAulay says: “All we have to do is go on our tablets to keep account of how much feed is in the silos and how much we’re using.

“We’ve also got cameras downstairs so if there are any issues, we can see them from upstairs – and there’s an overhead camera on the barge that can oversee all the pens.

“Even if we can’t get out to the farm, we can see if the feed pipes are connected properly and haven’t been damaged by bad weather, so it’s really good for health and safety too.” FF

This “system

represents a significant step forward

”

S-Bin the new name in packaging solutions

P

ackaging Solutions Scotland (PSS Ltd) is revolutionising the world of salmon packaging by providing an efficient and sustainable alternative to the currently used polystyrene boxes. The S-Bin is a returnable and completely recyclable packaging solution that breaks down for easy storage and transportation. The cost benefits against poly boxes and wooden pallets are potentially huge. The S-Bin is environmentally friendly and due to its lightweight structure and integrated pallet base, it improves the handling process from point A to B. “We have seen with one customer using the bins vs poly boxes a staggering reduction in CO2 emissions of 78% over a year” commented Andrew Kirk, MD. Designed specifically to handle salmon in bulk orders, the S-Bin can transport up to 400kgs of salmon per bin. Once used, the double-stacked bins have the potential to replace a huge number of EPS (expanded polystyrene) boxes, saving time and the number of deliveries necessary. Collecting and returning the empty bins is also made

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Boats and Barges v2.indd 59

easy with an ergonomic design. The structure of the bin can be folded and returned in stacks of 12 empties per pallet space.

“Existing users in the UK are pushing to increase the use of S-Bins for productivity and environmental reasons as well as enjoying significant cost savings compared to traditional packaging” added Andrew Kirk.

With this many benefits, why not see the S-Bin in action or learn more about the rental options?

For more information visit: www.packsysco.com or contact info@packsysco.com Above: The S-Bin

59

07/03/2022 16:37:12

Products and services

What’s NEW

Monthly update on industry innovations and solutions from around the world Feed handling that is built for safety and the environment

FM BULK HANDLING manufactures micro dosing systems, big bag filling and emptying systems, scales, hoppers and smaller silos.

All FM BULK HANDLING manufactured hoppers and silos have round corners to avoid the build-up of material, and easy access for cleaning is built in as standard. The equipment also has filters mounted to avoid dust in the surrounding environment and so ensure that people are operating in a safe workspace.

FM BULK HANDLING have the environment in mind all time. The machines are built to a high level of quality, with low energy consumption gear motors, and the design also keeps the dust safely inside the machines. www.fmbulk.com

Stuart Gilligan joins Brimmond Group to strengthen Marine Crane services

STUART Gilligan has recently joined Brimmond Group to further increase growth within its marine crane and lifting services division. The move comes off the back of the recent confirmation that Brimmond will be representing Heila Marine Cranes within the UK and Ireland region. With more than 25 years’ marine crane and lifting experience, Stuart has the knowledge and skills to drive growth for the group.

With a large range of rental equipment, engineering support, an onsite support team as well as providing all suitable spares and ancillary items, Brimmond Group is now well placed to serve the aquaculture industry. www.brimmond-group.com

A new generation of FishStunner

FIAP’S profiwork FishStunner is a robust and low-maintenance device for stunning and slaughtering fish. The adjustable control device enables the duration of the stunning to be adjusted to the user’s requirements. Bleeding in the fish’s tissue is prevented by gentle anaesthesia and optimal adjustment. In contrast to other models with grid electrodes, the use of the FishStunner’s plate electrode guarantees a uniform electrical flow through the entire tub. www.fiap.com

Anticipation builds for Seawork2022

IN person, online and on water, we’re looking forward to welcoming you to Seawork2022 – the “one stop shop” that gives you direct access to the commercial marine and workboat business.

Taking place over 21-23 June in Southampton, Seawork offers a unique combination of undercover exhibition space, open air demonstrations and floating displays, attracting over 600 exhibitors and 7,700 attendees from all over the world.

Conferences, events, demos and competitions provide a productive platform to learn about the latest innovations and efficiencies. Make new contacts, renew your network and walk away with new ideas to help your business grow.

Seawork2022: supported online by Seawork.com open for business 365 days a year.

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07/03/2022 09:50:40

Looking to

recruit?

Post your vacancy on www.fishfarmermagazine.com for only £225 (+vat) per job posting.

Contact Janice Johnston 0044 (0) 131 551 7925 jjohnston@fishfarmermagazine.com

Fish Farmer

COMING IN THE NEXT ISSUE...

In April:

• Containment & Predator Protection • Fish Health and Welfare • Processing • Careers in Aquaculture • Aqua UK Preview • Barcelona Preview For more information on opportunities for advertising with editorial content around these subjects please contact: Janice Johnston 0044 (0) 131 551 7925 jjohnston@fishfarmermagazine.com Copy deadline - Friday 1 April This magazine will be on our stand at Aqua UK

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Industry Diary

Industry DIARY The latest aquaculture events, conferences and courses MARCH 22

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Bremerhaven, Germany June 29-30, 2022

Boston, Massachusetts, USA March 13-15, 2022

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Opinion – Inside track

Promises, promises…

BY NICK JOY

I

KNOW it doesn’t make it any better to tell anyone that someone else is deep in the same hole, but nowadays so many industries are needing people who can work with their hands, or work in the countryside or do any of the tough parts of life.

Whilst it is easy to blame the current situation, it is hardly a new phenomenon since we developed a burgeoning middle class in this country.

In fact,, the issue of working with your hands has always been the least rewarded of all of the possible careers. This, of course, goes back to when the majority of the population was uneducated.

The issue is still very much in the public consciousness. Those who have to do manual work don’t want their children to, and those who don’t see it as beneath them. Thus we have a plethora of accountants and a lack of farmers.

Universal education made an enormous difference to the average person’s life and it changed the aspirations of those who were low paid.

Don’t think that I decry any part of that, but anything, however good, can go too far. We need lawyers, but there won’t be any point in having them if there is nothing to eat or no one to fix the drains.

As my farm in Orkney tries to find an assistant, it has become clear how few people want to work in any form of farming. If the Government has any strategy about food production, I would assume that it expects all of it can be fully mechanised and then we won’t need anyone working on the land or sea at all.

It was not a surprise to me that I read our industry is having trouble recruiting enough processing staff (“Situations vacant”, Fish Farmer, February 2022). It is a highly skilled job that requires very difficult working hours too. One packing plant I worked with for some time employed eastern Europeans, but also at some time later Iranians in an attempt to keep wages down. Over the next years, I noticed a subtle change, with more stability and more staff who I recognised as local to the area. It turned out that the company had seen that the simplest solution was to raise wages, take on the best of the locals and try to keep them.

If we keep trying to keep wages low by immigration, then eventually we will run out of people. After all, the world is getting wealthier. More importantly, how do we justify, morally, relying on immigration in order to keep labour cheap?

Now, I am hardly known for my left-wing views, but it seems that it is time for a new way of thinking. This thinking has to be centred around usefulness to the future of the human race both in terms of the environment and practically. To some extent, as I mentioned above, this will be dealt with by the laws of supply and demand. Try getting hold of a plumber, electrician, roofer or any other trade now and when you have, take a deep breath before looking at the bill.

The other thing you might want to note is the age of the people who do this work. It is rare to find someone young, which is very similar to agriculture. If young are needed to fill the future needs of food production then this starts at early education levels.Yet this is precisely where the problem starts. Our schools, taught by people with academic qualifications, tend to teach that the academic life or the professions are the best careers.

In other words, we are educating our children away from the things that

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that “itItisseems time for a new way of thinking

”

are critical to their future. I remember well being told that a teacher in a local school told her pupils “work hard or you might become fish farmers”! This was doubly shocking as a significant number of her charges’ parents were themselves fish farmers.

Margaret Beckett – former Secretary of State with responsibility for agriculture and rural affairs – and other politicians have said that we don’t need to produce food in the UK because we can always import it. The short-sightedness of such thinking is breathtaking.

What will happen when food is short? After all, the world will not react kindly to the sort of behaviour meted out to poor Africa, where exports to Europe have contributed to the impoverishment of the local communities and the deterioration of their diet. I wouldn’t bet on countries sending food to us if things get tough!

So my advice to the powers that be, such that they are in Scotland, is to look at how to bring the careers in the trades and the rural economy much more to the front before we lose the people who know how and also the ability to replace them. FF

www.fishfarmermagazine.co.uk

07/03/2022 16:38:52

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