Fish Farmer May 2020

Fish F armer MAY 2020

EXCLUSIVE:

PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO FISH FARMING REVEALED IN SSPO PRIVATE POLL

Running Wild Parties react to wild salmon report

PIED PIPER Nicki Holmyard on set with Jonathan Pie

NOT GOOD ENOUGH

Nick Joy gives it to you straight

CAPTAIN COVID

Sandy Neil steers a ship through the rocky waters of Coronavirus ff05 Cover.indd 2

11/05/2020 16:50:19

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06/05/2020 03/03/2020 12:41:08 10:05:34

Welcome

Editor’s Welcome

T

HIS month we should have all been heading up to Aviemore for what, as a Scottish based publication, is the highlight of our two year exhibitions cycle, the Aquaculture UK event. The three days is usually a great chance to catch up with old and new friends, to discover the latest innovations about to improve the industry, as well as the chance to attend some great conference sessions. And there is always the opportunity to engage in some late night gossip over a couple of good bottles in convivial company!

However, until September at least, all of that is on hold for now, although we do bring you a comprehensive guide to those shortlisted for the aquaculture awards 2020, which will be presented when the event does go ahead. And what a diverse bunch they are, demonstrating the huge global reach that the aquaculture industry now enjoys.

Closer to home, our big news story this month is the exclusive releasing of some private polling commissioned by the SSPO on public attitudes to fish farming. The initial results What’s happening in aq are very encouraging, although clearly there is still some significant work to be done to in the UK and around th What’s happening in aquacu win over the hearts and minds of the undecided. in the UK and around the w We also have plenty of analysis and reaction to the first report from the working group JENNY HJUL –– EDITOR JENNY HJUL EDITOR on wild salmonid interactions, plus a very exciting piece from Nicki Holmyard on a day out on location with Jonathan Pie (actor JENNY HJUL –– EDITOR JENNYTom HJUL Walker) EDITOR who is making a new film dealing with sustainability.

Steve Bracken SSC’s record results Stewart Graham The final sessions It is my first ride in the saddle, so to speak, as Interim Editor after Jenny Hjul’s departure Steve Bracken SSC’s record results Stewart Graham The final sessions and I will be attempting to maintain the excepti onally high editorial standards that she salmon farming sector in Scotland, when it was to 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 had brought to the publication over the past fivesubject years, of and for which we inquiry, are enormously be the a be parliamentary embraced the industry willsent soon gathering the (European salmon were to news outletsfor just asjoint the Scotti sh news from the Scotti 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 grateful. Starting the task under lockdown is a litt le surreal, but I hope you will think that opportunity this would provide to explain how it operated.

Aquaculture and WAS Aquaculture Society) parliament went back to work at (World the start of month.

These farming, conducted earlier this year by thethis Rural Economy be the subject of aSociety) parliamentary inquiry, embraced industry willsent soon be gathering the EASinto (European were to news outletsfor just asjoint the Scotti shthe news from the Scotti sh parliamentary inquiry salmon we have made a decent stab of it!. salmon Current trends In good Julie Hesketh-Laird The had nothing to hide and, if given fair hearing, Meet thehealth new chief exe conference, to be staged over five days in theait southern images had this litt le to doprovide with theto current state of Scotland’s ficould sh and industry Connecti vity (REC) committ ee.

MSPs have now heldFrench five opportunity would explain how operated.

Aquaculture Society) and WAS Aquaculture Society) parliament back to work at (World the start of month.

These farming, went conducted earlier this year by thethis Rural Economy address much of the criti cism levelled against it. city of Montpellier.

As well as highlighti ng the latest technological farms where sea lice levels are in decline and, in fact, at a fi vemeeti ngs, in private, to consider their report and we must be Current trends In good Julie Hesketh-Laird The had to hide and, if given fair hearing, Meet thehealth new chief executiv conference, to benothing staged over days in theaof southern images had litt le to do with thefive current state Scotland’s ficould sh and industry Connecti vity (REC) committ ee.

MSPs have now heldFrench five Take care, Fish Farmer supported this but at 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, their recommendati ons been address much of the criti cism levelled against it. city of Montpellier.

As well as highlighti ng the latest technological farms where sea lice levels are in decline and, in fact, at a fi vemeeti ngs, in private, to consider their report and we must be Dave Edler 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 ngof poverty.

Increasingly, industry ngs anti -aquaculture suspects, came as Holyrood’s Rural Economy activists. latest these (see our news story onmeeti page 4) became more opti misti c.

We now believe that MSPs, perhaps with acceptability of aquaculture and the contributi on it makes to global consider its draft report into 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 43 Number 04 light.

They will hopefully see that farmers take their environmental biosecure environments of farm sitesindustry to snatch photographs in Of course, such stories may be inaccurate and, in any case, Also investi gati ng initi ati ves in the developing world, Dr Harrison campaigners, will, on balance, regard the in a favourable stepped acti vitiish es,and which nowculti involve breaching the within it.up their Editorial Advisory Board: Nigeria, both in catf ti lapia vati on. responsibiliti es seriously and that businesses will only ever invest the hope of fi nding incriminati ng evidence against farmers.

Onein 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 ingame Of course, such stories may be inaccurate and,photographs inofany case,ngthe Steve Bracken, Hervé Migaud, Jim Treasurer, In Scotland, the summer has been aofwaiti What’s in a name?

Dr Nick Lake Phil Thomas growth that isfibeen sustainable.

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

One committ ee’s fiin ndings are not binding.

Scotland’s fi sh farmers Chris Mitchell, Jason Cleaversmith while the parliament is in recess and the members of Holyrood’s Fax: +44(0) 131 551especially 7901 If the committ ee members, those who have yet to of Phil fi sh at a Marine Harvest site.

Another said he saw ‘hundreds’ Fergus Ewing, to grow sustainably.

In Scotland, the summer has been something of a waiti ng game What’s in a name?

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

Another said he saw ‘hundreds’ of Fergus Ewing, to grow sustainably. the evidence in their inquiry into salmon farming.

We don’t expect Interim Editor: Dave Edler their we have plenty of good stories in our May Even Rural and Connecti vity committ ee conti nue weigh up Head Offi ce: Special Publicati ons, Fett esto Park, of theinquiry, professional vets and biologists who manage theissue. welfare of committ ee, with their own against the growth of visit a Economy farm, like toagendas learn more about the ofthetime infested salmon in go awould but we only have his word against that But itsalmon should not unchallenged that some MSPs onsubject the REC their report unti l pen, the autumn but hope the MSPs are using the Designer: Grant Dickie bett er, they could head to the Highlands later this month, where 496 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH5 2DL Wefor the evidence in their inquiry into salmon farming. don’t expect these farms on a daily basis. industry, are in breach of Code of Conduct MSPs. As they their 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 Commercial Manager: Montpellier report Dr Marti n Jaff a Doug McLeod 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, 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 Janice Johnston to become fully acquainted with the facts about fi sh farming. biggest fi sh farming show. must mount aaquaculture much more robustWe defence oftrouble itself, through its and of businesses vital toBracken.

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

The toWe know who they are, and we hope the through its warm tributes from his friends and colleagues to mark the biggest fi sh farming show.

Magazine Subscripti ons,economy, Warners Group must a much more robustWe defence itself, through its and ofmount businesses vital toBracken.

Scotland’s we have a right Publisher: Alisterserving Bennett employee, Steve had noof trouble collecti ng forward toand, seeing many of you there too. campaigners, we now see, willrest stop nothing, representati ves, will pressure the parliament toand investi gate before milestone along with of the industry, thefarmers team will certainly be at Aquaculture UK inat Aviemore and look Publicati ons plc, The Malti ngs, West representati vethey body, the SSPO, than itthe has done tothrough date.

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

Farmer wish him the best for the future.

Street, Bourne forward seeing many of 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 and, along with the rest of thenothing, industry, thefarmers team Fish Lincolnshire PE10 9PH should prepared to fivery ght back. the RECbe report published.

Farmer wish himisall the best 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

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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

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

@fishfarmermagazine

Cover: Fish farm salmon sea nets farming at sea Loch Tay Scotland UK. Photo: richardjohnson / Shutterstock.com

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Tel: +44 (0)1778 392014

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

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26 22-23 30 Shellfi sh Comment BTA 26 22-23 30 BTA Shellfi sh Comment 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

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Janet Machrihanish Orkney farm Marti nBrown Jaff a visit Advisory Board: Steve Contact Tel: +44(0) us 131 551 1000 MeetEditorial theJohnston team Subscription enquiries contact: Janice jjohnston@fi shfarmermagazine.com 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 or call 0044 131 551 7925 Migaud, Patrick Smith and Jim Hervé Migaud, Patrick Smith, Patrick Smith, Jim 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 Migaud, PatrickJim Smith and Jim Hervé Patrick Smith, PatrickMigaud, Smith, Treasurer and 3 new Editor: Jenny Hjul jhjul@fi shupdate.com Treasurer, Wiliam Jim Treasurer and Dowds William Dowds William Dowds Head Office: Special Publications, Dawn Marti nofJaff a era Vaccines New player new Designer: Andrew Balahura Fettes Park, 496 Ferry Road, Editor: Jenny Hjul Advertising Manager: Team Leader: HeadEdinburgh, Office: Special Publications, EH5 2DL Designer: Andrew Balahura Fettes Park, 496 Ferry Road, Dave Edler 11/05/2020 18:40:54 Advertising Manager: Team Leader: Figure 9. Development of salmon nominal catch in sou

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36-39 32-35 34-35 43-45 Wild salmon Cleaner fish decl Orkney IoA careers 36-39 32-35 34-35 43-45

Contents

Fish F armer

In the May issue...

News

What’s happening in the UK and around the world

Coronavirus news The latest on the crisis

Lice still the number one issue EUMOFA release latest report

You can call me Al Organic growth Smokin’ fish

32-33

Top award for JCS

Positive polling

34-36

Exclusive polling from the SSPO

Winning hearts and minds

38-39

Hamish Macdonell

Weak mussels

40-41

Martin Jaffa

Running wild

42-44

Wild salmonid report comes out

Archive Aviemore

46-47

Here’s what we’re all missing!

It’s not all hard work!

48-49

Nicki Holmyard

Covid captain’s log

50-53

Sandy Neil

A talented bunch

54-59

Aqua Awards shortlist revealed

Over the rainbow

60-61

Harry Hamlin-Wright

All the latest aquaculture events, conferences and courses Monthly update

Aqua Source Directory Find all you need for the industry

Opinion Nick Joy

4

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22-23

28-30

Organic salmon on the up

What’s New

18-21

26-27

All the facts on macroalgae

Industry Diary

6-17

62 63 64-65 66

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2020 16:09:26

MSC Cargo.indd 1

06/05/2020 27/03/2020 12:42:37 10:46:58

United Kingdom News

NEWS...

Scottish Salmon Company claims prestigious certification The Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) has become the first salmon producer in Europe to be recognised with a 4-star ‘Best Aquaculture Practices’ (BAP) certification.

The prestigious certification is a reflection of SSC’s commitment to Scottish provenance and sustainability, using the very best practices at each stage of the supply chain to consistently deliver the highest quality salmon.

With operations based across the West Coast of Scotland, SSC takes great pride in producing the finest sea loch fresh salmon.

Dedicated to industry leading standards, all of its salmon is fully traceable from farm to shelf with the BAP certification providing further recognition of the producer’s robust supply chain integrity.

The Company already held two stars for its processing sites at Marybank and Cairndow, and its marine sites throughout the West Coast of Scotland and Hebrides.

Last year, SSC was awarded a third star for sourcing its feed from BAP certified suppliers.

SSC has been awarded the fourth and final star for its freshwater operations. Four stars is the highest designation in the BAP third-party certification programme.

Su Cox, Director of The Scottish Salmon Company, said: ‘Scottish provenance is sought after the world over – consumers want to know where their food has come from and that it is produced sustainably. To be awarded a 4-star BAP certification is testament to the care and commitment that goes in to responsibly farming our Scottish salmon at every stage of the supply chain.

‘The BAP seal of approval means our customers can buy our Scottish Salmon with the confidence and reassurance that it is of the highest quality and integrity.’

Mike Berthet, BAP’S Market Development Manager for

Europe, said: ‘The Scottish Salmon Company has proven its determination to have a fully BAP-certified operation by reaching four-star status.

‘This certification recognises that SSC is contributing to a safe and nutritious product that is enjoyed all around the world, while enhancing the reputation of aquaculture as a responsible and

sustainable industry.’

The world’s most comprehensive third-party aquaculture certification programme, BAP is administered by the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) and is compliant with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP) and Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI).

Aasmek deliver new wellboat to Migdale Migdale Transport Limited have taken delivery of a new wellboat supplied by Aasmek Verksted A/S.The Bonar Bridge based company took possession of the vessel on April 23rd, after the christening ceremony originally planned to take place in the Orkney Islands in May had to be cancelled due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

The boat will start work immediately on a charter from Cooke Aquaculture to be used In their salmon farming

6

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operation.

Migdale was established in 2008 and their main activity is live fish handling solutions using both truck transport and wellboat services.The company operate the wellboat MV Migdale that was also built by Aas Mek. For the full spec of the new craft, and a lot more information about this exciting development, see our full length feature on the delivery in the June issue of Fish Farmer Magazine.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2020 16:10:50

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06/05/2020 03/12/2019 12:43:44 16:48 06/12/2019 15:32:03

United Kingdom News

Seafood Scotland issues plea to UK retailers

SEAFOOD Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish seafood sector, has written to the chief executives of the main UK supermarket retailers, urging them to reopen their fresh fish counters.

With international markets closed off, and the UK restaurant/catering sector largely shut down, the entire sector is relying on retail for survival, but most of the fresh fish counters in major multiple retailers have been closed for weeks. Only Morrisons has reopened its fresh counters in recent days, in a welcome move to support the meat and fish sectors.

Scottish Seafood Facts: • Scotland is the third largest seafood producer in Europe • Peterhead is home to the largest fish market in Europe • Scotland’s sector fish and farm over 65 different species of seafood due to our unique location with the cold North Atlantic and warm currents form the Gulf Stream • Known around the world for its exceptional quality, over 80% of the fish and seafood landed in Scotland is exported to international markets.

It normally goes to restaurants and wholesalers across Europe,Asia, the Middle East and the US. • The other 20% goes to UK foodservice and retail markets • However, over 60% of the fish and seafood we eat in the UK is normally imported.

• Fish and seafood are a vital component of a healthy diet

8

ff05 news MASTER.indd 8

In the letter, sent to the leaders of ASDA, Sainsbury’s and Tesco, Donna Fordyce, Head of Seafood Scotland, says: ‘It is imperative that fish counters are reopened to allow consumers access to fresh, locally caught seafood from the domestic market as part of their essential shop.’

The Scottish seafood sector has been devastated by the impact of the coronavirus.

The Scottish seafood industry landed around 450,000 tonnes of sea fish and shellfish from around 2000 vessels. 150 processing sites employ over 13,000 staff. With an estimated 60% drop in demand, the industry is suffering, and fishing families and the wider communities that rely on the sector are facing real economic hardship.

Pre-coronavirus, 80% of Scottish seafood and shellfish was exported, with the remaining 20% destined for UK food service and retail.

With the export market at a standstill, the sector is now completely reliant on the UK market to keep afloat, and even within this segment the food service sector is operating at minimal levels due to the UK lockdown.

This means UK multiple retailers and some independents are now at the front line of supplying the nation with locally caught seafood. Some fishing businesses are selling direct to the public, but this trade is contained within small pockets, and amounts to a drop in the ocean.

Fordyce continued: ‘Once the lockdown was implemented many of the main multiples closed their fish counters – effectively blocking a significant part of our domestic market. We understand why this happened – retail was under enormous pressure at the time, and social distancing felt like a barrier. However, we believe that the operational pressure has eased slightly as retailers and consumers alike become more used to working around social

distancing in supermarkets. Morrisons has already proved it can be done.

‘It’s time for consumers to eat local, eat Scottish. We get to eat our own high quality, delicious, healthy, and sustainable seafood, so that the Scottish coastal communities can continue to operate, albeit at reduced capacity. The supermarkets are key to making this happen.’

There has been a shift in consumer behaviour across Europe moving towards a buy local approach and signs are that this will continue after this pandemic. Seafood Scotland says that the support of the UK supermarket sector is now imperative to assist a core industry that is currently severely affected by this crisis.

Note: Seafood from Scotland was set up ‘by the industry for the industry’ in 1999 to increase value of return to the Scottish seafood sector.

Operating worldwide, Seafood Scotland, work together with Government agencies such as Scottish Development International to promote the wealth of Scottish seafood to a global trade market. Focusing on restaurant and catering deals, the organisation targets trade buyers, wholesalers, industry influencers and chefs in the UK, Europe, the US, the Middle-East and Asia – acting as the conduit between in-country trade markets and Scottish suppliers.

Dealing with all seafood species, Seafood Scotland is a non-political organisation that works throughout the supply chain with fishermen, fish/shellfish farmers, processors, retailers, food service companies, caterers, NGOs and consumers. A small organisation, Seafood Scotland’s strength lies in its hands-on approach, expertise and high credibility within the seafood industry.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2020 16:11:55

All the latest industry news from the UK

Grieg Shetland sees harvest and prices increase GRIEG Seafood has reported good price achievement at its Shetland operation during the start of this year.

Announcing its 2020 first quarter results today, Shetland produced a harvest of 2,047 tonnes, up from 1,788 tonnes a year ago. And it achieved an EBIT or operational profit per kilogramme of NOK 6.80 compared with a LOSS of NOK 13.93 in Q1 2019.

Grieg said the price improvement, however, had been set against reduced superior quality but offset by currency effects, adding: ‘Initiatives to improve biological performance, including more robust smolt, has increased the 12-month survival rate to 88 per cent (85 per cent in 2019). (There were) high sea lice pressure and treatments during the quarter, but also underlying cost improvements year-on-year.’

The company expects a second quarter harvest of 3,900 tonnes and a 17,000 tonne total for the whole of 2020.

Globally, Grieg announced higher revenues along with a 24 per cent increase in harvest volumes – up from 14,800 tonnes to 18,360 tonnes – during the quarter with a total EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) of NOK 240 million (£19-million) compared with NOK 267 million (£21m) in Q1 2019.The report says there were positive developments in British Columbia as well as Shetland. It expects a global harvest of 100,000 tonnes for 2020.

Revenues rose by 25 per cent to NOK 2,055 million (£162m).

But as with every salmon farming business, Coronavirus affected results towards the end of the quarter. Chief executive Andreas Kvame said:

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‘The first quarter of 2020 took a dramatic turn when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Our top priority in this situation is the safety and wellbeing of our employees, their families and the local communities where we operate.

‘Safeguarding people, operations and partnerships are key priorities going forward, as well as protecting the financial solidity and flexibility of the Group.We also will continue to execute on our ambitions.We hold on to our target of 100 000 tonnes harvest in 2020. By 2025, we aim to harvest at least 150,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon, to achieve cost leadership and to reposition Grieg Seafood in the value chain. In the first quarter, we took an exciting first step on this growth journey by acquiring Grieg Newfoundland AS. ‘Lastly, but most importantly, despite the extraordinary situation, we do not yield in our commitment to sustainable and responsible farming. Sustainability is our license to operate and remains at the heart of our strategy and all our activities.’

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11/05/2020 16:13:20

European News

NEWS...

Grieg Seafood shuffles the pack AS part of it’s new 2020-2025 strategy, Grieg Seafood has made a series of internal appointments to ‘C’ level posts. The new strategy focuses on global growth, cost leadership and valuechain repositioning and the changes were announced by the Oslo listed company in a report to shareholders on May 4th.

The company will now split its farming operations into three divisions comprising Farming Europe, (covering Finnmark, Rogaland and Shetland), Farming North America (covering operations in British Columbia and Newfoundland), and the Technology Division, focused on sustainability, research and development (R&D), plus fish health and welfare.

Grieg’s new positions were all filled by existing staff.

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Alexander Knudsen was promoted from Regional Director of Grieg Seafood Rogaland to COO Farming Europe.

Roy-Tore Rikardsen was appointed as COO Farming North America. He was previously the regional director of Grieg Seafood Finnmark.

Prior to joining Grieg, Rikardsen had industry experience working for Leroy, Akva and Ewos.

Additionally, the group’s former COO Knut Utheim was promoted to Chief Technology Officer. Utheim supervised Grieg’s growth in harvest volumes from 65,000 metric tons to 100,000 metric tons between 2014 and 2020.

Prior to Grieg, he was Mowi’s regional director in central Norway for a decade and has been in the industry for 30 years now.

Knut Skeidsvoll will take on the role of regional director of the new region in Eastern Canada, Grieg Seafood Newfoundland.

Skeidsvoll was previously the managing director of Grieg Newfoundland, which was acquired by Grieg Seafood in April.

Nina Willumsen Grieg was appointed as regional director of Grieg Seafood Rogaland. She joined the company in 2015 and has been responsible for business development since 2017.

However, she is currently on maternity leave and will

start this new position in the first half of 2021.

In the meantime, Kjetil Ornes will act as interim regional director of Grieg Seafood Rogaland until Grieg returns.

Ornes has been the Sea Water Production Manager of Grieg Seafood Rogaland since 2006.

Grieg Seafood CEO Andreas Kvame welcomed the changes: ‘With these changes, I am confident in our ability to reach our goals and create value for our local communities, customers, employees and shareholders alike’.

From top: Nina W. Grieg; Roy-Tore Rikardsen; Alexander Knudsen; Knut Utheim (Image credits: Morten Wanvik.

AKVA Group reports ‘stable’ Q1 outlook THE AKVA Group declared a ‘stable’ outlook in its Q1 results for 2020, which have just been published.

The group delivered revenue for Q1 of 752 MNOK (about £57 Million), down 12% from Q1 2019. EBITDA decreased from 97 MNOK in Q1 2019 to 86 MNOK in Q1 2020. The Net Profit decreased from 36 MNOK last year to 21 MNOK in Q1 2020.

The acquisition of 70% of the shares in Newfoundland Aqua Services Ltd. Was completed in February 2020.

The group confirmed that it had signed a strategically important Tube Net contract in April 2020.

Responding to the results, AKVA said: ‘On a global scale the whole quarter has been affected by the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus.

In AKVA group we recognized early on the need for action. The Group implemented several measures to ensure the health and safety of our employees and customers, to monitor and optimize the overall liquidity in the company, to maintain the security of supply during the crisis and a steady order intake to ensure work for all in AKVA group. Although it is too early to tell the overall outcome of this crisis, AKVA group has seen moderate effects on ongoing business and have a high order backlog at the end of Q1 2020 when correcting for the cancellation of two major RAS deliveries’.

Moving forward the group said that it maintains focus on full grow out RAS facilities, despite the temporary setback on its China project.

The net service businesses are about to be expanded, as a new service station is to be built in northern Norway with a partner and plans for additional stations are underway.

A new generation of Tube Nets have been launched. There is strong interest in the market for this product and AKVA group have signed a contract of 100 MNOK in April 2020 for several deliveries to one customer.

Establishment of net services internationally is proceeding as planned with the acquisition 70% of the shares in Newfoundland Aqua Service Ltd, a net service business in Canada.

Within the digital segment the interest for their precision feeding solution (Observe) is increasing and the pipeline is growing.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2020 16:22:18

All the latest industry news from Europe

Mowi receives clearance to farm on World Heritage site MOWI has finally been given official clearance to carry out salmon and trout farming on a UNESCO World Heritage site in a remote region of northern Norway known as Rødskjæran on the Vega Islands.

The decision should finally end a long running dispute between the salmon farming giant (which began in 2016 when it was known as Marine Harvest), and a number of powerful environmental groups.

Permission was originally granted by Nordland’s county governor, but a year ago the Norwegian Environment Directorate withdrew the permit on the grounds that the site had World Heritage status which had not been taken into account by the governor. Mowi was forced to put development work on hold.

The Vega region is a cluster of dozens of small islands just south of the Arctic Circle, covering a land and water area of more than 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) and is home to 230 species of birds.The islands also bear testimony to a simple way of life, dating back 1,500 years, based on small scale fishing and, in particular, the breeding and harvesting of eider ducks which are renowned for their feathers.

While the project had the backing of local politicians, various Norwegian and international environmental groups including UNESCO, the influential United Nations heritage organisation, claimed the development could harm the duck population – a claim rejected by Mowi which subsequently launched a series of appeals.

But the state broadcaster NRK reports that the Ministry of Climate and Environment has now overturned the Environment Directorate’s veto.The decision will come as something of a relief to Mowi, which recently had to cull 450,000 salmon in Newfoundland due to an outbreak of Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA).

The company’s communications manager Eivind Nævdal-Bolstad said it had been a frustrating issue and told NRK: ‘This is a good day for Mowi and the municipality of Vega.’

Work on the project is expected to re-start shortly creating yearround jobs and investment in an area which has seen better days economically.

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11/05/2020 16:24:38

European News

Backward step for Norwegian exports NORWEGIAN seafood exports fell last month for the first time in 18 months, reflecting the damaging impact Covid-19 is having on the industry. However, figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) show that the salmon sector is showing a lot of resilience in finding new markets as traditional outlets shrink.

Overall seafood exports including whitefish, pelagics and shellfish totalled 183,000 tonnes in April and were worth 8.2 billion kroner (£642 million), a decline of NOK 666-million (£52 million) or eight per cent in value. This is the first decline since September 2018.

Tom-Jørgen Gangsø, Director of Market Insight and Market Access at the Seafood Council, said: ‘This can be explained by the decline of the restaurant segment and increased air freight costs for fresh products to overseas markets.’

Salmon exports last month were down by just three per cent in volume to 83,100 tonnes and were worth NOK 5.4 billion (£423 million), a reduction in value of 13 per cent.

Seafood Council analyst Paul T. Aandahl explained that the flow of goods to individual markets was changing, with Spain, one of the countries hardest hit by coronavirus, surprisingly showing up well: ‘Some markets have, to a greater extent than others, been able to compensate for reduced restaurant consumption with increased consumption at home’

Strong start to the year for BioMar Group BIOMAR started the year with strong results, having met the challenges of corona virus with a highperformance across all geographies.

The company has at the same time been reaching out to support customers and building inventories to meet any business impact caused by the coronavirus.

The 2020 Q1 report for BioMar Group clearly reflects that the company has met the challenging market conditions of coronavirus head on, while ensuring business continuity by increased inventories of raw materials and finished products.

The increase in revenue and earnings were mainly driven by the salmon and shrimp segments, by innovative product offerings, new capacity and close cooperation with customers designing advanced feed solutions targeting the consumer market. The CEO of BioMar Group, Carlos Diaz, said: ‘On one hand, we are very proud to have started the year in a good way setting all-time records for a Q1, but we are very conscious of the potential impact of the pandemic on our business and the industry. Being

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in the food value chain, we play an essential role, making sure high-quality products reach consumers. However, there are many uncertainties ahead financially as well as looking at the overall impact of the virus on the countries where we operate.

‘It has from the beginning of the crisis been our strategy to make sure we protect our people and ensure business continuity.We implemented hygienic measures and very rigorous protocols to maintain physical distancing in our factories.At the same time, we have collaborated with customers to find a way to get through the challenges together.’

BioMar reported a significant increase in earnings and revenue, but together with its owner, the industrial conglomerate Schouw & Co. (listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen), suspended specific financial guidance on the Company due to global uncertainty following the corona crisis. Diaz continued: ‘Right now, our focus is on handling the direct impact of the corona virus and at the same time trying to prepare for the ‘new normal’ which will follow. I believe that businesses able to turn this crisis into an opportunity by rethinking the future, will have a strong advantage going forward’.

‘In countries such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea, consumption of Norwegian salmon is increasing, while it is declining in tourism-dependent markets such as Thailand and Singapore.

‘In Europe, the supply of salmon is increasing in markets that largely process Norwegian salmon, such as Poland and Lithuania. Exports also increase to consumer markets such as Spain and Germany, while falling in Italy and France. This happens a lot because of (the different) local measures that make normal sales of fresh fish challenging.

‘Reduced freedom of movement has prevented consumers from shopping as normal, thus shifting sales of fresh salmon towards products with longer shelf life. The result is that we will not be compensated for the losses in the restaurant sector.’

However, overseas sales of farmed trout increased by 13 per cent in volume to 4,200 tonnes, but were down by 13 per cent in value to NOK 234 million (£18m).

Damen delivers Multi Cat to Inverlussa THE Netherlands based Damen Shipyards Group has completed the handover of a Multi Cat 1908 named Patricia Matheson to Inverlussa Marine Services.The company, based on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, will operate the vessel in the aquaculture industry.

Inverlussa Marine Service is one of Scotland’s leading workboat companies, supplying vessels to service contracts for, amongst others, the offshore wind and fish-farming sectors throughout the UK and Europe.

Patricia Matheson will be the 12th vessel operating in the company’s fleet and their first Damen vessel.

The contract order for the vessel was signed in October, 2019.The fast delivery was facilitated by Damen’s practice of building hulls for stock.This vessel will work in the aquaculture industry and will carry out a diverse range of tasks including grid inspections, anchor-handling and equipment towage.

Ben Wilson, managing director of Inverlussa Marine Services said: ‘We enjoyed working with Damen on this project.Their Multicats are renowned around the world and when the right opportunity arose, we were delighted to partner with them.The Patricia Matheson will strengthen the breadth

of services that we can now provide to our clients in Scotland and further afield.’

Although based on the standardised, proven Damen Multi Cat 1908 design, Inverlussa Marine Services have customised their new vessel.This has included the positioning of the capstan cranes and manouevring stands, some tailoring to the vessel’s accommodation and the installation of an additional generator to provide the power the vessel needs to serve the aquaculture industry.

Additionally, in alignment with the company’s keen focus on operating efficiency, Patricia Matheson features an additional crane and a larger main winch.

Damen sales manager Mike Besijn said: ‘It’s been a pleasure working with Inverlussa Marine Services on the development of their Multi Cat.They really knew what they were looking for in their vessel and have provided us with valuable input in her development. On behalf of Damen I would like to wish the company every success with their first Damen vessel.’

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2020 16:25:18

All the latest industry news from Europe

Responsible RAS New French facility now at design stage

Below: H AquaMaofNeder Snir(CTO), Yoav Dagan (VP BD), Gary Mayers (Senior Technology Officer).

Bottom: Images from the Pure Salmon Poland Facility.

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quaMaof Aquaculture Technologies Ltd, a world leader in Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology, has announced the launch of a new RAS facility in France for the production of Atlantic Salmon, commissioned by 8F Asset Management Pte. Ltd. The 10K-ton French facility is currently at the design stage, with the first eggs to be put into the system by 2021 and the first harvest expected by 2023. This new facility joins other underdevelopment projects with a combined capacity of 60K tons of Atlantic Salmon annual production.

AquaMaof is now working on facilities in Canada, US, Japan, Russia, central Europe, South East Asia, and Chile.

The company’s Vice President of Marketing & Sales, Shai Silbermann, said: ‘We are excited to kick off this project that will integrate all the latest advancements in RAS technology. These projects will provide important local production capabilities to markets that today import the vast majority of their fish and seafood.

‘Today more than ever, the capabilities of maintaining a clean, bio-secured, disease-free environment in fish and seafood production, as well as enabling local production in a time of disrupted food production and international supply chain and transport, are much sought after. Governments, investors, and big retailers are seeking food-production technologies that promote food safety and local production capabilities.’

AquaMaof’s RAS technology provides a solution for responsibly-farmed and harvested aquaculture practices, for various aquaculture species. Its facilities are strategically located adjacent to large cities, which dramatically reduces transportation costs, and produces fresh, natural, and high-quality fish at competitive prices. The company promotes sustainable practices that include proprietary water-recycling techniques with minimum discharge and low power consumption. There are no antibiotics or chemicals used in the farming process. AquaMaof’s Integrated RAS technology enables year-round harvest.

AquaMaof is a privately-owned company, headed up by CEO David Hazut and specializing in the field of indoor aquaculture technology and turn-key projects. With over 30 years of experience, the team of technology and aquaculture experts has been providing research and development, as well as comprehensive design, production, operations and support solutions for aqua farming in over 50 locations around the world. The Company’s unique indoor fish production platform offers advanced, sustainable, and cost-effective solution for today’s fish-growing needs. FF

INTEGRATED MARINE, RAIL & ROAD LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE UK

we are excited to kick off this “project that will integrate all the latest developments in RAS ” www.fishfarmermagazine.com

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Work vessels and Port services available for short term, long term and one-off contracts

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11/05/2020 16:27:37

World News

NEWS...

‘Women In Aquaculture’ scholarship fund announced

KVARØY Arctic, producers of sustainably raised salmon from Norway’s Arctic Circle, and the James Beard Foundation — a nonprofit organization whose mission is to celebrate, nurture, and honour chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone, have just to announced the first scholarship for women in aquaculture. Applications for the ‘Women in Aquaculture’ scholarship are available to those studying the subject at a college or university in any country, and can be submitted via the James Beard Foundation website. Applications opened on May 1st.

The annual $10,000 scholarship also includes a paid one-month summer internship on the Kvarøy Arctic farm site in Norway. The recipient can continue their internship each year they are in school, and will be considered for employment upon graduation.

Kvaroy Arctic CEO Alf-Goran Knutsen said that he hoped the new fund would help improve the chances for women in the sector: ‘We finalized arrangements for the scholarship during our inaugural dinner at the James Beard House in February. Five of our 23 employees in Norway are women, as are seven of the eight members of our U.S. team. Historically, like the culinary industry, women aren’t well represented in aquaculture. We are hoping to change that by supporting education in the field and with the opportunity to work at our farm.’

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James Beard Foundation Impact Programmes Manager Emily Rothkrug added: ‘This is only one of two international scholarships available from the James Beard Foundation. We are proud to support the leadership shown by Kvarøy Arctic to develop the first-of-its-kind scholarship for women in aquaculture.’

How to Apply: Application forms are available digitally now at jamesbeard.org/scholarships.

About Kvarøy Arctic: Located on the remote island of Kvarøy in Norway, Kvarøy Arctic was founded in 1976 by fish farming visionary Alf Olsen and his son Geir.

They started with 3,000 salmon. Now, Geir’s children Gjermund Olsen, Håvard Olsen, and Ida Knutsen, together with CEO Alf-Gøran Knutsen and a team of 23 people, raise 2 million Atlantic salmon a year in ASC certified sites. Their shared grand vision is to maintain responsible farming practices while providing a healthy source of protein for a growing world. It has led them to set new industry standards in sustainability, with a pioneering feed model and thoughtful leadership in site management and fish health.

Kvarøy’s fish reflects Norway’s cold, clear waters with delicate marine flavours and a slight brininess. The fish is available through distributors and in the fresh case at select U.S.

Whole Foods Markets. It is one of a small number of farm-raised fish certified by the American Heart Association’s® Heart-Check program.

About the James Beard Scholarship Program: Established in 1991, the James Beard Foundation Scholarship Program assists students from across the food community including aspiring and established culinary professionals who plan to further their education at a licensed or accredited culinary school or hospitality institution, college, or university. As of 2020, the Foundation has awarded more than $8.5 million in financial aid to over 2,000 recipients.

About the James Beard Foundation: For more than 30 years, the James Beard Foundation has highlighted the centrality of food culture in our daily lives, with a mission to promote ‘good food for good’. Through the James Beard Awards, unique dining experiences at the James Beard House and around the country, scholarships, hands-on learning, and a variety of industry programs that educate and empower leaders in our community, the Foundation has built a platform for chefs and asserted the power of gastronomy to drive behaviour, culture, and policy change around food. The organisation is committed to giving chefs and their colleagues a voice and the tools they need to make the world ‘more sustainable, equitable, and delicious for everyone’.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2020 16:29:55

World News

Mowi to cull 450k fish after ISA outbreak

China in their hands THE BioMar-Tongwei Joint Venture partnership has now begun commercial production of aqua feeds in their new factory based in Wuxi, China.

The new facility has already proven to deliver high and consistent quality making it possible to transfer production of high-end aqua feeds for China that were previously produced in Denmark.

The green field factory in Wuxi was announced as a strategic and important growth initiative back in 2016, to bring BioMar production knowledge from high-end species into the Chinese market. Together with the existing factory in the south of China, the new factory is going to service a wide range of species all over China.

BioMar Group CEO Carlos Diaz was delighted with the new opening: ‘We are very happy with this important next step to expand our activities. We have established a good business in China through a combination of local production and imported products. We are serving traditional customers as well as customers striving to bring new value propositions to retailers and end consumers. The Wuxi factory will allow new possibilities for customers with advanced product requirements through all production life stages.

‘We have experienced an incredible dedication from employees in our JV, as well as from the supporting project team. During the corona-crisis, we have managed

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to find new ways of collaborating and bringing people together across the globe, exchanging process knowledge, formulation experience and innovation ideas.

It has been amazing to witness, how we can work closely together, while at a distance, and obtain such high product quality. I envision a “New Normal” in terms of global collaboration, when we open up borders and countries.’

During the commissioning phase of the new Wuxi factory, BioMar has been able to achieve product nutritional values and physical quality comparable to the standards seen in high-performing, well established aqua feed factories.

Key customers have started to place orders in the new factory for products previously delivered from Denmark: The General Manager of Bio-Mar Tongwei, Alan Xiaoqing Qian, also welcomed the launch of the new facility: ‘After some delays in the construction of the factory, we are extremely happy to have come through an uncomplicated commissioning phase, where we obtained a consistently high nutritional and physical quality.

Feeds for sturgeon, rainbow trout, Californian sea bass and large yellow croaker are ready for the market. We have agreed with our customers, that we will start moving some orders from the BioMar factory in Denmark to now be produced in China’.

450,000 fish are to be culled at Mowi’s huge hatchery in Newfoundland and Labrador, after an outbreak of Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) effecting 14 fish was confirmed on Tuesday at the Northern Harvesy Stephenville hatchery, as reported by IntraFish.

All culled fish will be transported to a facility within the province that will convert them into biofuel.

Jason Card, Mowi Canada East’s director of communications, explained that the fish that were being culled are juvenile and ‘very early in their development.’

A thorough disinfection process will take place after the cull to ensure that no further traces of ISA can be detected. This will be supplemented with an enhaced testing and monitoring programme that will continue at the facility with the involvement of regulatory authorities. The facility will remain under quarantine until lifted by the authorities.

The cull, disinfecting process, and continued monitoring activity will be conducted according to standard operating procedures approved by regulators.

In a statement released, Mowi added: ‘Should further fish be confirmed ISA positive through sampling, additional measures may be announced’.

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11/05/2020 16:31:58

World News

Canada’s salmon farmers welcome $62m seafood aid package THE Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance has welcomed a $62.5-million package to help the country’s seafood industry through the Covid-19 crisis. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced the measure amid mounting concerns over the state of the country’s food supply.

He said the funds will go toward protecting workers and putting in place recommended health guidelines within the industry. Seafood processors and harvesters are worried about whether they will have the labour they need — including enough temporary foreign workers — to fill out their workforce, while others have called for delays to the spring season as they work to establish proper safety protocols.

The aquaculture alliance (CAIA) and the Fisheries Council of Canada said in a joint statement they wanted to thank Trudeau, adding: ‘As an essential service filling grocery store shelves for Canadians, this support is critical to ensuring the continued operations of our sector as we adjust to the latest public health guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic’.

Timothy Kennedy, President and CEO of the CAIA said: ‘Together, our industry continues to work to provide safe, healthy and sustainable farm-raised and wild sourced food products.This support will help to ensure our industry remains operational to support Canadians at this critical time and

as we begin to recover from this crisis.’

The two organisations added: ‘As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we look forward to continuing to engage with our governments, industry authorities and the public to ensure the Canadian fish and seafood industry continues to provide its essential service of feeding Canadians.’

Many of Canada’s salmon farms are outside owned by Norwegian companies such as Mowi.

BioMar starts production at Tasmanian feed facility BIOMAR Australia have commenced aqua-feed production at their stateof-the-art 40 million euro facility in Tasmania, Australia, which is welcome news for the local aquaculture industry at a time when many businesses are facing COVID-19 operating restrictions.

In a virtual media conference to comply with social distancing requirements, Minster for Primary Industries and Water Guy Barnett congratulated BioMar on achieving this milestone.

BioMar Australia’s Managing Director, David Whyte, who was onsite during the virtual launch, thanked all parties involved for helping BioMar deliver the project on schedule and budget: ‘While it’s not currently possible to formally celebrate our opening together with our staff, customers and community, we must acknowledge all those involved in bringing the project to life. We are now up and running in Tasmania and we’re excited to add our technical and production capacity to the region’s aquaculture industry.

‘Trials of our products are already underway in a variety of species in Australia and New Zealand, and we are bringing BioMar’s global best practices and nutritional know-how into our region helping to support sustainable innovation in aquaculture.’

Carlos Diaz, CEO of BioMar Group also attended the virtual opening event from Chile and expressed the important global role of BioMar Australia and the local aquaculture industry:

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‘Globally aquaculture is a growing industry with growth expected to double by 2050. BioMar is committed to helping Tasmania and our wider region play an important role in this endeavor, supporting farmers to grow healthy, sustainable and safe food’.

BioMar announced plans to establish production in Australia back in 2017 and after a two-year build, the first trucks of fish-feed have started to roll out of the facility. The production facility will produce up to 110,000 tonnes per annum of aqua feed to support the Australian and Oceania aquaculture industry. Despite COVID-19, it is business as usual production-wise at the facility with the adoption of key social distancing measures to ensure the wellbeing of BioMar employees.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2020 16:33:00

World News

Alarm as whitespot disease returns to Australian prawn farms SHELLFISH farms in South east Queensland in Australia have been put on alert after White Spot disease was detected in seafood samples at two sites.

White spot syndrome is a viral infection is highly lethal and contagious, killing shrimp quickly. Outbreaks of this disease have wiped out the entire populations of many fish farms within a short space of time in places throughout the world. However, the disease is not harmful to humans and the authorities say it is safe to eat shellfish that has already gone to market. A similar outbreak in 2016 destroyed stocks at a number of Queensland prawn farms and cost the sector more than three hundred million Australian dollars.

The state was only a few months away from obtaining proof of freedom – two years of consecutive negative results for white spot syndrome virus.

The discovery follows reports of the re-emergence of a separate destructive viral infection at prawn farms in the Guangdong province of southern China over a week ago.

The Australian discovery was confirmed after Biosecurity Queensland undertook routine surveillance for white spot in Moreton Bay a couple of weeks ago. The tests were later confirmed by the by the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness. The disease is very difficult to establish whether it originates in fish farms or whether it comes from outside. A number of restrictions are now in force.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner told ABC Radio: ‘This is not the result we wanted to see but we will get through this and now more than ever we should be supporting our local seafood industry.

‘Queensland seafood is magnificent, the best in the world, and that hasn’t changed. I hope everyone will back our Queensland seafood industry by buying it and enjoying it more than ever.

Biosecurity Queensland will review all prawn farms to ensure future on-farm biosecurity management is appropriate in dealing with this new detection.’

Biosecurity Queensland officials will meet with members of the Aquatic Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease this week when they will discuss new detection and management operations.

Footnote: Australia is one of the few countries that has managed to contain the spread of coronavirus with under 7,000 cases nationwide and a death toll of less than 100.

Above: White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in black tiger prawns.

Masked gunmen burn down Cermaq offices THE offices of Cermaq Chile have been burned to the ground in an arson attack after four armed intruders raided the Coipue site in the country’s La Araucania region, reports cooperative.cl.

The masked gunmen set fire to the premises before firing off ten rounds of bullets at the site.

They left behind pamphlets protesting against the construction of the Freire-Villarrica highway. Three local emergency fire units were unable to prevent the total loss of office buildings, the report said.

Cermaq announced last month it would close two of its Chilean processing plants as part of a restructuring process to adjust capacity in Chilean salmon farming Region X. The company said it would close two plants on Chiloe island, one in Ancud and the other in Dalcahue.

The company currently operates four processing plants in Region X, with the capacity to process 120,000 metric tons annually.

Cermaq’s salmon production volume in regions X and XI has declined significantly in recent years as a result of regulatory changes in the country, and less than 60 percent of the company’s overall capacity has been used over the past year‘.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

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11/05/2020 16:34:57

Coronavirus crisis – Latest updates

Fishy business Seafood Scotland launches virtual supper clubs

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N a bid to encourage more Scots to get fishy in the kitchen, and at the same time support the ailing Scottish seafood industry, Seafood Scotland has just launched a series of virtual ‘Seafood Supper Clubs’, putting chefs and budding cooks together online to create restaurant quality seafood dishes at home.

Foodies that are missing their favourite restaurants can use the treasured recipes gifted by notable Scottish chefs, along with step by step instructions and video content designed to make cooking seafood easy and accessible for all.

The first event, hosted on April 30th by Carina Contini, of Edinburgh’s Contini, The Scottish Café and Restaurant and Cannonball, saw the chef take a group of social media influencers through a ‘Date Night’ recipe for Baked Lemon Sole with spinach and cheddar. The influencers, with a combined following of over 150,000 people, will then share the recipe, video, tips they have picked up with their audiences along with discount codes for local suppliers.

Consumers will also be able to access the recipe materials directly at www.seafoodfromscotland.org Further Seafood Supper Club events are planned for Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen tackling feeding a family, seafood for one, and delicious meals using basic store cupboard ingredients.

The initiative is designed to provide market support for the seafood sector in Scotland, which is suffering greatly as a result of the current coronavirus pandemic. With 80% of Scottish seafood usually destined for international markets the industry is hoping that people will take advantage of the increased availability of fresh Scottish seafood, now often available direct to the door through the many businesses that have taken up contactless home delivery, or via existing fishmongers and retailers.

Around 60% of the seafood we eat is imported, but now is the time to buy local, buy Scottish, say the organisers of the virtual event.

Donna Fordyce, Interim Head of Seafood Scotland, said: ‘The harsh fact is that the seafood sector in Scotland is in a dire situation. Businesses and communities along our coasts are on the brink of collapse after their markets all but disappeared overnight.

Families that have for generations depended on the fishing sector are contemplating a bleak future.

‘The one thing that is keeping them going is the local consumer market. If people buy Scottish seafood to cook at home, businesses may

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people buy Scottish seafood “to Ifcook at home, businesses may survive ”

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survive. We know people are sometimes a bit hesitant of cooking fish and shellfish at home, but it’s pretty simple when you know how, which is why we’ve asked Scotland’s chefs to lend a helping hand.’

Scottish seafood is available in supermarkets and direct from fishmongers, processors and in some cases, the fishermen themselves as many have diversified to provide income through the crisis. Scotland Food and Drink has this week launched www.supportlocal.scot, an online hub where consumers can search for local providers of all types of produce , seafood included.

Carina Contini commented: ‘I’ve always been amazed that as an island nation surrounded by the best coastal fishing territories in the world, we are importing fish.

It’s crazy. As one of the most delicate and special ingredients, fish and shellfish has to be fresh. Where better than Scotland to get the best freshest seafood?

‘Restaurants have always been a key market for the domestic market and with us all closed it’s a perfect opportunity to support the industry by taking the time to learn how to cook seafood. It’s easier than you think and so healthy and totally delicious.’

Kylie Reid, participant and founder of the EGG community said: ‘I loved last night. Carina showed us how easy and simple cooking fish can be, and in 20 minutes we had the made the most delicious meal, made even more enjoyable knowing we’re supporting the Scottish seafood community. I’m excited that good food can be this easylly.’ FF

Above: Carina Contini takes to the net to catch seafood lovers.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2020 16:45:02

Coronavirus crisis – Latest updates

Bakkafrost saves unique salmon strain from extinction BAKKAFROST has revealed it is working to save a strain of North Atlantic salmon unique to the Faroe Islands that was in danger of becoming extinct, in a move that is starting to deliver success.

Chief executive Regin Jacobsen has told shareholders that the operation stems from large scale investment at its farming and harvest operation at Suðuroy in the south of the country.

He said: ‘Following the agreement with the Faroese Government to take over the responsibility of the Faroese broodstock programme, we have made commitments in order to save and preserve the Faroese strain of the North Atlantic Salmon.

‘Having been farmed for over 40 years in the Faroe Islands, this unique strain was facing extinction. Bakkafrost has the option to obtain the genome rights in 2021, and we are building a new state of the art broodstock facility to secure a future operation based on this strain.’

‘In the meantime, we are pleased to have been able to deliver roe for this unique strain to our hatcheries and (we are) looking forward to being self-sufficient.The investment in the broodstock operation is a long-term investment, which we are convinced will create value for Bakkafrost.’

Jacobsen is also convinced that the development of offshore farming, which

has now been sanctioned by the Faroese government, was a feasible and natural next step with real growth potential for the Faroe Islands.

Last year Bakkafrost acquired the Scottish Salmon Company in a £500 million plus deal which took the company to a new level and beyond its core Faroe Islands base. Jacobsen said this move opened up significant new growth and development opportunities for the business.The company has already announced a sizeable investment programme for SSC over the next few years.

Low demand causes stock issues In Spain, the farmed seabass and seabream sectors were already affected by low prices and Storm Gloria, leading to reduced production and stocking in 2019. The COVID-19 crisis has driven this trend further. Then in 2020, a contraction of the supply is expected, leading to increased imports from Greece.

Seabass and seabream farmers are not selling as much as they used to, and once restrictions lift, will be selling only slightly larger fish.

Typically, the larger sizes have gone into the Hotels, Restaurants and

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Catering (HoReCa) channel, which is not going to recover as fast as retail. Companies already producing processed and frozen products are better positioned.

According to industry sources, several companies in Denmark, including newly established RAS farms, selling to the HoReCa segment, are severely impacted by the crisis.

Steep fall in revenues increases pressure on farmers’ liquidity, and several companies are struggling for survival.

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14/05/2020 12:03:35

Coronavirus crisis – Latest updates

Strength in depth

Looking ahead, Bakkafrost reports:

CEO satisfied despite challenging conditions

Market

T

HE Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) helped Bakkafrost, its new owner, deliver a first quarter EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) of 248.1 million Danish kroner (£29-million) during the first three months of this year in what it describes as a ‘challenging period due to Covid-19’. The Faroese salmon farming company acquired SSC in a £500-million deal last October and this helped revenues rise from DKK 964 million a year ago to DKK 1,255 million this quarter. However, mainly because of Covid, the group has reported an overall loss for the quarter.

Harvest volumes totalled more than 17,935 tonnes gutted weight, of which 7,268 tonnes came from Scotland and 10,667 tonnes from the Faroe Islands. The combined Faroe farming and VAP segments made an operational EBIT of DKK 192.1 million. The farming segment made an operational EBIT of DKK 202.9 million in the Faroe Islands and DKK 29.7 million in Scotland (SCT).

Lower harvest volumes in the quarter had a negative effect on the operational EBIT. But coronavirus meant that a profit of DKK 213 million (£25m) in Q1 2019 became a loss of DKK 148 million (£17m) this quarter.

Bakkafrost CEO Regin Jacobsen said that overall he was satisfied with the results in a challenging quarter. He declared: ‘In times like these, we see the strength in our integrated value chain and in particular having significant production capacity and flexibility in our VAP segment. Swiftly, we have been able to shift volumes from the spot-oriented market towards the VAP segment for the retail market and hereby maintaining a high production.

‘We are pleased that the integration of SSC into Bakkafrost is on track and of already seeing a positive development in the operation in Scotland; the tangible results, however, are not expected to materialize until late this year.

Our staff in Scotland and the Faroe Islands are highly motivated and their cooperation is very good. The biological development is also good

with strong growth in both the Faroe Islands and Scotland.

‘The challenges this quarter have been: An unusually stormy January, which reduced the fishery of species, used as raw material

by Havsbrún, hence reducing production – a severe storm in the end of February, causing a loss of around 1.2 million fish – and then the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘Since February, Covid-19 has disrupted the salmon market resulting in a drastic drop in the salmon spot price and imposing logistical problems with air transport. Over a few weeks, the demand for salmon has changed in favour of products for the retail segment, but at great harm to the fresh-oriented HORECA (Hotel Restaurant, catering) segment.

‘It will be interesting to see if the huge number of new consumers, buying salmon from the supermarkets, will be a part of an increased demand for salmon, when the HORECA segment reopens during the next coming weeks and months.’

The combined Faroes farming and VAP segments made an operational EBIT of DKK 192.1 million (DKK 231.1 million in Q1 2019). The operational EBIT per kg in Q1 2020 was DKK 18.01 (DKK 16.86), which corresponds to NOK 25.10 (NOK 21.99) for the combined FO farming and VAP segments.

The Faroes farming segment made an operational EBIT of DKK 202.9 million (DKK 229.7 million) in Q1 2020. The harvested volumes were lower, and the achieved prices were higher in Q1 2020, compared to Q1 2019.

A severe storm that hit the Faroe Islands in late February, caused a loss due to mortality amounting to DKK 23.4 million. The Scottish farming segment made an operational EBIT of DKK 29.7 million.

The VAP (value added products) segment made an operational EBIT of DKK -10.8 million (DKK 1.3 million) for Q1 2020. The segment fishmeal, oil and feed made an EBITDA of DKK 40.2 million (DKK 65.3 million). FF

We are pleased that the “integrati on of SSC into Bakkafrost is on track ”

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The global harvest of Atlantic salmon was around 2.3 per cent higher in Q1 2020, compared to Q1 2019, according to the latest estimate from Kontali Analyse. The market was affected negatively by the market disruption caused by Covid-19 pandemic, especially towards the end of the quarter.

Looking forward the market dynamics will still be affected by the Covid-19 situation which imposes greater uncertainty to the market development estimates. In Q2 2020, the global harvest of Atlantic salmon is expected to increase around 2-4%, compared to Q2 2019. The estimated global harvest of Atlantic salmon for 2020 is an increase of around 2-4%, compared to 2019.

Bakkafrost operates in the main salmon markets, Europe, USA, the Far East and Russia.

During 2020, variation in sales distribution between the different markets is driven by the change in demand from quarter to quarter in the different regions. In Q1 2020 and during the coming quarters, the sales distribution will most likely be affected by changing market dynamics caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Bakkafrost, however, aims to have a balanced market diversification to reduce market risk.

Farming

The outlook for the farming segment in the Faroe Islands is good, and the overall operational performance is very good. There are many possibilities in the Scottish operation. The gradual improvements will start this year and will be revealed over the next years. The estimates for harvest volumes and smolt releases in both geographies are dependent on the biological development.

Bakkafrost focuses on reducing biological risk continuously and has made several new investments and procedures to diminish this risk. Bakkafrost focuses on using non-medical methods in treatments against sea lice and has invested in new technology to follow this strategy, including farming supply vessels for mechanical delousing and mechanical cleaning of nets in the pens.

The quality and performance of the smolts have also increased significantly, and there are clear signs that the large smolt and non-medical delousing strategies are working successfully in the Faroe Islands. Looking ahead, Bakkafrost will extend these strategies into the Scottish farming operation.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2020 16:53:11

“intW

Ba

Coronavirus crisis – Latest updates

Overall, the biological performance in the Faroese and Scottish operations have been strong during Q1 2020 with good growth and low mortality rates, except for the mortality caused by the severe storm that hit our farming sites in the Faroe Islands in late February

VAP (Value Added Products)

Bakkafrost has signed contracts covering around 47% of the expected Faroese harvest volumes in Q2 2020 and 40% of the harvest volume for 2020.

Bakkafrost’s long-term strategy is to sell around 4050% of the Faroese harvested volumes of salmon as VAP products at fixed price contracts.

The VAP contracts are at fixed prices, based on the salmon forward prices at the time they are agreed and the expectations for the salmon spot price for the contract period. The contracts last for 6 to 12 months

We are pleased that the “integrati on of SSC into Bakkafrost is on track ” FOF (Fishmeal, Oil and Feed)

The outlook for the production of fishmeal and fish oil (FOF) is dependent on the availability of raw material. The ICES 2020 recommendation for blue whiting is 1,162 thousand tonnes, which corresponds to an increase of 2%, compared to ICES’s recommendation for 2019.

Bakkafrost expects a decrease in production volumes of fishmeal and fish oil in 2020, compared to 2019. Havsbrún’s sales of fish feed in 2020 are expected to be 110,000 tonnes, depending on external sales.

The major market for Havsbrún´s fish feed is the local Faroese market including Bakkafrost FO’s internal use of fish feed.

Investments

Bakkafrost’s investment programme for the period from 2020 to 2022, excluding investments in The Scottish Salmon Company, will amount to around DKK 1.8 billion, including maintenance capex, and will reinforce Bakkafrost’s integrated business model and ensure a capacity across the value chain to be able to produce 100,000 tonnes gutted weight of salmon in the Faroe Islands. The aim of the investment programme is to minimize the biological risk, increase efficiency and create sustainable organic growth. Bakkafrost’s focus on producing larger smolts plays a key role in achieving this goal.

Financial

Despite the uncertainties imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, long term market balances in the world market for salmon products will most likely remain favourable for Bakkafrost. Bakkafrost has a long value chain and a cost-efficient production of high-quality salmon products and will likely maintain the financial flexibility going forward.

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Safe in the Gael GAEL Force Group’s Sales Director Jamie Young has commended his colleagues for their response to coronavirus, describing them as “incredibly resilient in the face of very challenging times”.

The Inverness headquartered aquaculture equipment and technology supplier implemented a COVID-19 health and safety policy at the end of March to ensure that safe distancing and good hygiene measures became part of their daily work practises. Adapting to the new measures has enabled their feed barge and pen building production to be maintained, as well as other parts of the business such as boatbuilding and workboat repairs in Corpach, underwater technology manufacturing, and consumable equipment distribution from Inverness.

Jamie Young commented: ‘In these circumstances, as challenging as

they have been, we have been well equipped to keep our operations moving safely. To do that we have been acting in line with government guidance and speaking with our staff to ensure continuous improvement on the safety measures that we have in place.

‘We are confident that our policy is keeping us safe at work and that in turn is allowing us to maintain operations throughout the pandemic in support of our critical food producing customers in aquaculture.

‘We have been open and honest in our outlook during this crisis – it has been a steep learning curve for us all. However, the experiences and lessons we have learned during the crisis, and the resilience and determination of our colleagues at Gael Force means that we remain open for business and in a strong position to support our customers.’

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11/05/2020 16:57:09

EUMOFA Norway Study

Lice still the number one issue Despite coronavirus, industry’s major challenge remains perennial problem

BY VINCE MCDONAGH

Left: salmon farm in Norway.

T

he current coronavirus crisis apart, one of the biggest challenges facing Norway’s fish farmers continues to be dealing with sea lice, a new report by the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EUMOFA) finds.

This latest study of the country’s salmon and seafood sector was prepared before the Covid-19 onslaught took hold, but the assumption within the industry is that the pandemic will eventually pass and fishing and fish farming will return to normal at some point.

While the outbreak is continuing to play havoc with commodity markets including aquaculture, the early indications are that salmon companies in Norway, Scotland and the Faroe Islands are coming up with ever smarter ways of getting their product to market.

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It also means that the problem of sea lice will still be around. The EUMOFA study says it is an issue that has become of continuing concern for Norway’s salmon and trout farmers.

‘High levels of sea lice impact on fish health and welfare, and excessive numbers in salmon farming may also infect wild stocks of Atlantic salmon and sea trout, causing increased mortality,’ says the report.

‘Under Norwegian aquaculture regulations there is a maximum limit for the number of sea lice which can be attached to each fish.

‘In order to keep sea lice levels under control, farmers can de-lice salmon by using chemicals, mechanical methods (brushing and flushing), conducting freshwater treatments, or introducing cleaner fish to farming enclosures.’

EUMOFA says the production of cleaner fish, primarily lumpfish and certain species of wrasse, is driven in part by the demand for sea lice mitigation, particularly from salmonid farmers who wish to avoid the use of chemicals.

Production of cleaner fish has accelerated from 3.8-million fish in 2014 to almost 31 million fish in 2018.

Increased demand has also pushed prices up for both farmed cleaner fish and for targeted trap/pot fisheries.

The rise in fish farming in Norway over the past four decades has been quite

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2020 17:16:56

EUMOFA Norway Study

From top: sea trout; Atlantic salmon; sea louse; sea louse attached to wild Atlantic salmon; farmers still find a way to get their produce to the markets; sea louse.

“ofHighsealevels lice impact on fish health and welfare… causing increased mortality

”

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ff05 EUMOFA Norway.indd 23

spectacular. In the 1970s it was little more than a cottage activity.

Today Norway is the world’s largest producer of Atlantic salmon, accounting for almost 95 per cent of all aquaculture production. Although important, rainbow trout, concentrated in the mid region of the country, represents just five per cent of output.

The report says that last year salmon production rose to 1.36 million tonnes while trout was up to 79,600 tonnes. Exports in 2019 were worth around NOK 72 billion or £6.3 billion.

But more and more fish farmers are looking to cultivate other species, particularly in the whitefish sector.

The report says that a decade or so ago cod farming exceeded 20.000 tonnes:‘However, biological challenges (slow growth and high mortality rates) and market-related influences caused by increases in wild stocks led to a collapse in production, with levels falling to zero in 2015,’.

But, thanks to rising prices there is no renewed interest in the cultivation of cod and the report states: ‘As a result of developments in breeding and production technology, as well as a steady increase in market prices, some companies are planning to resume cod farming’.

The other finfish category, says EUMOFA, is dominated by Atlantic halibut. Over the last few years production has increased steadily – from 1,243 tonnes in 2015 to 1,843 tonnes in 2018. The peak in the production of Atlantic halibut was seen in 2011 when production reached 2,767 tonnes. Atlantic cod production amounted to 495 tonnes in 2018.

And it reveals: ‘There has been increasing interest in algae production in Norway. Historically, algae production has been limited. However, recent research seeking to identify potential sites for the farming of macroalgae indicates potential future production.’

Aquaculture is also bringing important social benefits to the country:‘Together with the fisheries sector, petroleum and shipbuilding industry, aquaculture contributes to the maintaining of strong communities along the coast. It is estimated that, as of 2017, the aquaculture-based value chain (including ripple effects) employed around 33.700 FTEs’.

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11/05/2020 17:18:41

EUMOFA Norway Study Processing continues to play a limited role in aquaculture. The study finds: ‘ Among the main drivers behind higher margins in the processing activities associated with wild fish were positive development in the raw material situation for fishmeal and fish oil, and increased prices in the conventional industry (groundfish).

‘In the aquaculture sector the processing share is relatively low. Unlike the fishing processing industry, most products from aquaculture are sold fresh and only a limited share of the production is actually processed in Norway.

‘Based on trade data, only 16 per cent of the total export volume of salmon and trout was processed in Norway. The low processing share is impacted by high tariffs on products with high value added.

Consequently, some Norwegian salmon and trout farming companies have established or acquired processing capacities in the EU for processing of smoked salmon and other ready-to-eat products.’

EUMOFA concludes: ‘The seafood sector is important for Norway.

Value creation in the total seafood value chain (including ripple effects) was estimated at NOK 94 billion in 2017 (€10 billion), and the number of people employed in the sector was estimated to be 58,000 Full Time Equivalents (FTEs). Production in Norway amounted to 3,670 million tonnes in 2019’.

The study paints a generally bright future for Norwegian aquaculture – but there is little doubt that because of coronavirus all predictions will be put to one side for at least the next year – and possibly beyond. FF

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there “ has been

increasing interest in algae production in Norway

”

From top: salmon in a smokehouse; Fishmeal factory in Karmoy, Norway; fishmeal and fish oil capsules.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2020 17:20:31

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Principal advantages Efficiently clean nets and lice skirts without damage and with minimal waste spread Prepared for up to 250 bar pressure and 750 L/min Robust components and rugged design Easy to operate with automated functions Open construction, easy to maintain and disinfect Thrusters propulsion (no damages from wheels/ tracks) Graphic visual presentation Advanced control system prepared for autonomous operation

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11/05/2020 12:03:18 30/10/2019 15:15:21

Macroalgae Q&A

You can call me Al Q & A on the benefits of macroalgae in aquaculture

some species of which can produce toxins that can kill fish or cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. No marine macroalgae are known to be toxic or harmful to humans. These different colours of algae are the result of different photosynthetic pigments or chlorophylls that each alga uses and these reflect different wavelengths of light.

Q. Where are macroalgae found?

Q. What are macroalgae?

Macroalgae are members of the huge group of aquatic plants known as algae (singular alga’).

The algae (the primary producers of the planet) are primitive photosynthetic plants that include the single celled phytoplankton of the multicelled macroalgae, or seaweeds, that can range in size from microscopic to the massive bull kelps (Durvillaea) and giant kelps (Macrocystis) Macroalgae should not be confused with seagrasses. The latter are closely related to land plants as they have roots, vascular tissue and produce flowers and pollen.

Macroalgae on the other hand, derive all their nutrients directly from the surrounding waters through their tissue, a bit like a sponge soaks up moisture, and their holdfasts are purely for physically anchoring the thallus to the seabed.

While seaweeds do reproduce sexually, their reproductive structures are mostly microscopic and require fine dissection to be revealed.

Most macroalgae fall into four basic groups: the blue-green algae (Cyanophyta/Cyanobacteria) that are often associated with blooms in rivers: the green algae (Chlorophyta) such as sea lettuce; the brown algae (Heterokontophyta) that include the large kelps; and the red algae (Rhodophyta) the most diverse group of all.

The red algae should not be confused with red tides which are actually caused by single-celled algae (phytoplankton),

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With a few exceptions, macroalgae are strictly benthic plants; that is they are always attached to the seabed or a solid substratum such as natural reef, rocks, shells, mangrove roots, boat hulls, jetty piling mooring lines etc. When dislodged, most macroalgae have a limited lifespan as free floating seaweed drift and they may only live for hours to several months.

Only a few macroalgae, such as Caulerpa species, can grow in soft sediments and anchor themselves either with long root-like rhizoids or simply by entanglement around seagrass fronds.

Macroalgae grow both intertidally and subtidally. Because they derive their nutrients by diffusion through their tissue, the water movement across fronds has to be continually refreshed and by being anchored to the seabed, they increase their chances of this. When floating with the currents and tides, the water surrounding them immediately is not replenished as rapidly.

The one notable exception is a species of Sargassum. The famous Sargasso Sea (western north Atlantic) is named after this seaweed that floats there in massive rafts and can maintain itself by simple fragmentation.

Since macroalgae are true photosynthet organisms, they can only grow in the photic zone of the coastal regions, where the light penetrates sufficiently for photosynthesis to occur. In clear waters, macroalgae can survive and grow at depths of over 200 metres, but in murky water this is reduced to only a few metres.

Left: Underwater close up of swaying Seaweed leaves Macrocystis pyrifera.

Bottom from left: sea lettuce leaf; phytoplankton under a microscope; the Great Barrier Reef; Aerial view of seaweed farms; Bull kelp on a beach in New Zealand; macroalgae provide food and/ or shleter for many species.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2020 17:24:15

Macroalgae Q&A

Q. What Is Their Significance ?

As a result of their photosynthetic activity, marine algae (macroalgae and phytoplankton) are considered to produce between 50% and 75% of the earths oxygen as well as taking up about 25% of the carbon dioxide.

Crustose coralline algae, a very significant group of red seaweeds, make rocks look pink in colour and, when broken apart, are major contributors to the sediments of intertidal and subtidal reefs as they actively lay down Calcium Carbonate (chalk) in their tissues.

Geological cores taken on the Great Barrier Reef have shown that up to 70% of the marine sediments are made up of calcium carbonate deposits from the green algal genus Halimeda. In fact, they should probably be called macroalgal reefs rather than coral reefs.

Macroalgae are an important resource as food and/or shelter for a large range of fish, shellfish and other invertebrate species, and they often act as nurseries for juvenile fish. As drift, seaweeds are a vital food source for many beach invertebrates and, when rotting on the sand, they return vital nutrients back into the beach ecosystem.

Globally, macroalgae have been valued at about 11 billion dollars annually.

Kelp forests are four times more productive per square metre than any intensively farmed crop on land.

Macroalgae can be harvested from natural stands, such as the fastgrowing Macrocystis forests along the coast of California where the seaweed grows up to 50 cm a day. Alternatively, they can be farmed in large aquaculture enterprises. In these, the algal spores and/or young plants are seeded onto special ropes that are then attached to long- lines or other structures where they are left to grow for several months before harvesting.

In countries such as the Philippines, the seaweed industry, which is based largely on aquaculture, is one of the largest contributors to the nations Gross Domestic Product.

Japan is the largest grower and producer of macroalgae in the world and they grow many different types of seaweed for food (eg, the red algal genus Porphyra which is dried to make nori sheets for sushi rolls) or for a range of secondary products such as agar, carrageenen and alginates which are used extensively in making processed foods, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Some macroalgae respond rapidly to, and thrive within, waters that receive increased nutrients and often can be used as indicators of water quality. At certain times of the year, especially in spring when water temperatures and day lengths increase coupled with some heavy rainfalls supply nutrients from runoff to the coast and estuarine environments, macroalgae can bloom in massive quantities. In all instances so far studied, the algae involved in these blooms are harmless, non-toxic native species.

They are simply responding changes in environmental conditions as most plants do.

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Q. How fragile are macroalgae as a species?

“

marine algae are considered to produce between 50% to 75% of the Earth’s oxygen

”

Macroalgae are an extremely fragile fish habitat that can be easily destroyed. This loss may contribute to declines in the abundance and diversity of fish and invertebrates in some of these estuaries and nearby coastal zones.

Direct human impacts such as mechanical damage, eutrophication, aquaculture, siltation, coastal constructions, and alteration of food web; along with indirect human impacts, including the impacts of climate change, can contribute to a widespread loss of macroalgae.

Already, Sydney Harbour is the site of the world’s first recorded extinction of a seaweed (Millar 2003) due to dredging, trawling, siltation and seabed/habitat destruction.

Some of the large brown algae along the New South Wales coastline have experienced a range retraction south as seawater surface temperatures have increased over the last 60-70 years (Millar 2007).

Macroalgae can be damaged directly by boatingrelated activities and by dredging and reclamation.

Foreshore structures such as pontoons and jetties can indirectly impact by shading macroalgae. Natural disturbances such as storm events, floods, extreme wave-action, predation and disease also may contribute to macroalgal loss.

Subtidal macroalgal species diversity and distribution is dependent on, and affected by: • The diversity of the seabed topography and geology, • Regions of upwelling where nutrient-rich cold waters reach the surface at certain localised regions along a coastline, • Anthropogenic entrance modification to intermittently closed and open estuaries and lagoons (which causes decreased flushing & increased residence times), • Point sources of pollution from industrial discharge, discharge from sewage treatment plants sewage overflow events dumping of nutrient rich wastewater, • Natural climatic events such as storms, • The introduction of alien or pest species. FF

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11/05/2020 17:28:19

Organic Salmon Report

Organic Growth Upward trend in organic salmon sales continues

BY VINCE MCDONAGH

B

ritain, and that means Scotland, is now one of the largest producers of fresh organic salmon in Europe, according to a recent study by the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EUMOFA).

But it is still some way behind Ireland which is the main provider of this niche, but increasingly popular seafood product.

The statistics from the EUMOFA report, completed at the end of March before the Covid crisis fully took hold, only go back to the end of 2017, so the picture will have changed considerably since then.

Nevertheless, they give a fairly accurate indication of an upward trend in the popularity of organic produce of all types that has been evident for some time.

This case study focuses on a fast-growing niche market product: pre-packed in MAP (Modified Atmosphere Packaging) portioned fillets of organic salmon and includes a price structure sub-title.

EUMOFA says packed fresh fillets of ready-to-cook

organic salmon are becoming ‘standard’ products in different national markets Below left: salmon farm in Scottish Highlands. within Europe Scottish fish farms were producing more than 3,000 tonnes of organic salmon by the end of 2017 (the last year for which up-to-date figures are available), out of a total salmon harvest of 171,000 tonnes. This is a relatively small amount and the figure has been fairly static.

But consumption in the UK had grown by over 40 per cent over the previous three years, indicating that the British public are buying increasing amounts of organic fish from rival countries such as Ireland and Norway.

It would also suggest that, given the popularity of Scottish salmon generally, there are further growth opportunities in this specialist sector.

The output from neighbouring Ireland was more than 19,300 tonnes, representing virtually all of its farmed salmon production. Around half that total was consumed domestically with the remainder taken up by growing demand from mainland Europe.

Norway, by far the largest farmed salmon producer at 1.2 million tonnes, rolled out 17,000 tonnes of the organic variety.

The report states: ‘The United Kingdom was the second largest EU consumer of fresh fish in value and the third in volume. Cod ranks first among main species consumed in terms of volume, followed by salmon (almost 50,000 tonnes in 2017).

‘But According to Euromonitor, the UK is the largest market for organic fish (of all types) in Europe, with 17,500 tonnes of seafood products by 2017.

UK is “thethelargest

market for organic fish (of all types) in Europe

”

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www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2020 17:32:44

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Organic Salmon Report ‘The consumption of organic fish grew by plus 40 per cent between 2013 and 2017. However, the share of organic salmon is not available.

‘British consumers appear to have more familiarity with national organic logos or sustainable production system – logos than with the EU Bio-logo.’

The study also finds that production costs in Scotland are considerably lower than its main rival across the Irish Sea, although Ireland is able to command a higher sales price.

The report adds: ‘Irish organic production, which was estimated at 12,500 tonnes in 2012, had increased by 32 per cent in 2017, driven largely by growth in Ireland (plus 300 per cent), while Scottish organic production decreased by half in the period 2012-2017.

‘The history of Irish organic aquaculture started in the mid-nineties with salmon. Ireland used to also have production of organic ocean-farmed trout, but the producer concerned has now switched to salmon.

‘The main driver behind organic salmon farming in Ireland is the regulatory framework for conventional (i.e. non-organic) salmon. The producers realized that it is very difficult for small scale producers to compete with Scotland and Norway in terms of costs and consequently price. Therefore, the Irish salmon farming industry chose to focus on the organic segment of the market.’

EUMOFA says demand for organic seafood generally has been growing and main products in the retail markets include salmon, shrimps, trout and mussels. Germany and the UK are the largest EU markets for organic fish (fresh, frozen and processed).

France ranks third but shows the strongest growth rate over a four year period. According to experts interviewed, organic salmon and trout, fresh and smoked, account for the majority of the volume in France. In Germany demand for salmon of all types is growing at an impressive pace.

Figures show that consumers are generally prepared to pay a much higher price for organic salmon – 50 per cent more on average.

The EUMOFA report gives a fairly detailed picture of what has happened in the past. The big unknown is the almost certain huge negative impact of Covid19 on the UK and European economy and how it will affect consumer buying habits. Unemployment will rise while those lucky enough to be in work are likely to face higher taxes and lower wages.

The demand for higher priced organic foods of all types may well take a nosedive over the next two or three years, in which case all bets will be off. FF

An Eggsact science Organic salmon remains a slightly controversial aspect of aquaculture, with the industry’s detractors claiming that it doesn’t make sense to use the term in connection with what are essentially still farmed fish. So, how does salmon in the EU qualify to use the term ‘organic salmon’?

What are the regulations?

The European Union organic regulations set out the main terms.

What are the rules on pen density?

The density in the pen must not be greater than 10kg/m3.

What are the rules on feed?

Organic salmon are usually fed with maritime feed made from offcuts of fish. The fish used has to drive from sustainable fisheries but does not itself have to be classified as organic.

What about lice treatment?

Cleaner fish or mechanical delousing systems are usually used.

Can the fish be treated with medications?

Yes, but if they are then the withdrawal period is double the time lapse for non organic salmon.

What about environmental considerations?

The sites used to farm organic salmon have to be fallowed for a minimum of four months after the site is empty, compared to two months for normal salmon.

From top: salmon in a farm pen; salmon fillets; Cod still outdoes salmon in consumption volume.

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ff05 Organic salmon.indd 30

How does the certification process work?

The process is regularly inspected by the certification body and is verified throughout the chain. Inspections are carried out at least once a year to check the control of protocols for fish husbandry, fish farming methods, harvesting, feed, sales and processing.

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11/05/2020 12:01:52

JCS Fish – Award winners

Smokin’ Fish Salmon and trout supplier sweeps up another award

BY VINCE MCDONAGH

L

eading salmon and trout supplier JCS Fish is celebrating another international award for its BigFish Signature Smoked range.

The Grimsby based company has won a Silver Quality Award from the International Quality Institute Monde Selection in Brussels, which has been certifying the quality of products from around the world for nearly 60 years. It was due to have been presented at a Monde event in Munich at the end of this month, but that has now been cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

This is the is the second major food accolade for JCS’s premium BigFish Signature range, which was launched last year. Then, in November, it achieved a ‘Best Smoked Fish’ recognition at the prestigious Quality food and Drinks Awards.

Louise Coulbeck from JCS Fish said: ‘The changes we’ve had to make to our operation to keep things going since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic have been tough on our staff, so this award is a welcome boost for the team. Monde Selection is a major international accolade for a small business such as ours and naturally we are all absolutely delighted.’

32

ff05 JCS Fish.indd 32

Monde “Selecti on

is a major international accolade for a small business such as ours

”

The Monde Selection Silver Quality Award is given to products of exceptional quality and guarantees to consumers that Big Fish™ Signature Oak Smoked Salmon has been tested and approved by a panel of independent industry experts. For Monde Selection 2020, 3,200 products from more than 100 countries were rigorously analysed. They were tested and tasted by expert juries composed of eminent professionals such as Michelin starred chefs, EuroToques, members of the ‘Académie Culinaire de France’ and other prestigious associations. Jury members consider up to 25 different parameters to establish the profile of each product, an evaluation which goes far beyond regular tastings.

Meanwhile, JCS Fish has re-launched its BigFish range of frozen salmon products in completely redesigned packs that have also cut the brand’s use of plastic by around 60 per cent.

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11/05/2020 17:37:11

JCS Fish

The eye-catching new design features an image from some 25 years ago of JCS founder, Andrew Coulbeck, holding a large salmon. It appears on new cardboard packaging across the BigFish range of frozen salmon fillets, breaded salmon bites and fish cakes and has eliminated the brand’s use of dual polymer plastic bags.

Commercial manager, Jack Coulbeck, says: ‘Our aim was to cut as much plastic packaging as possible and give the brand a refresh at the same time. We’ve worked hard to find the most responsible supply chain for our salmon so it’s only natural that we should also want to find the most sustainable packaging solution to put it in.’

BigFish is the first brand in the UK to commit to responsibly sourced fish through the GGN aquaculture label, which appears on all the new packs. JCS Fish is also the only UK seafood company so far to have made the source of all its fish fully transparent through the Ocean Disclosure Project.

The new packs are already stocked in independent retailers across the UK and available online through Ocado and the BigFish website. The BigFish brand is perfect for consumers seeking to stock up on healthy, convenient frozen products and has seen an

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upturn of about 150 per cent in its online sales since the start of the current lockdown.

Co-founder Louise Coulbeck added : ‘Although Andy was initially reluctant for us to use his mugshot on the packs, the younger members of our team all thought it was great and we’re delighted with the new look. Given that times got pretty tough in March with the Coronavirus lockdown, we initially held back on our relaunch but now feel the time is right for some colourful new branding. It certainly looks good in the freezer and is a boost to our hardworking team, helping us all look forward – hopefully to some more cheerful times ahead.’ FF

Clockwise from above: The Coulbeck family; the packaging for the new range; the early days; signature smoked salmon; looking back.

33

12/05/2020 16:49:17

Public Attitudes Survey – EXCLUSIVE

Positive Polling Scottish public give tentative thumbs up to fish farming

P

rivate commissioned by the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO), and released exclusively to Fish Farmer Magazine, has revealed that among those who claim at least ‘a little’ knowledge about fish farming, 30% of Scottish respondents were positive towards the industry, compared to only one in five who expressed a negative view. The remainder of those questioned were undecided. That was the stand out finding from this comprehensive poll, which was conducted

by Ipsos MORI in January of this year, before the Covid-19 crisis took hold.

messages about Scottish salmon were found to be credible by consumers.

Generally speaking, the British public had relatively low levels of knowledge about salmon farming, although the figure of 17% in Scotland knowing either a great deal or a fair amount about the industry was considerably higher than the UK wide figure of just 12%.

Of those knowing at least ‘a little’ about the industry, 26% of respondents held favourable views towards it, rising to 30% among the Scots questioned. One in five held unfavourable views, while two in five said that they were neither favourable or unfavourable towards the industry. Men and the over 55’s, along with consumers of salmon, were more likely to express favourable views than women or younger age groups.

The SSPO will take comfort from the fact that consumers generally found Scottish salmon to be healthy, tasty and of high quality, all key reasons driving purchases. Not liking the taste or texture of salmon was given as the main The pollsters surveyed a representative sample of reason for not buying it. 11% of GB consumers suggested they may stop buying salmon in the next year, although 7% of them also said that they may start to 1,108 adults aged 18 and over across Great Britain buy it. The big caveat to that, however, is that this was a January survey and between the 7th and 22nd of January 2020. In there is almost certainly going to be a difference in consumer behaviour post addition, an extra ‘booster’ survey was conducted Covid-19. in Scotland only with a further 498 participants, While the 18-34 age group were no more likely than older age groups to bringing the total sample size for Scotland up to 594. express negative views about salmon farming, the polling did indicate that The survey’s intention was to measure public this demographic were more likely to be receptive to messages from the anti attitudes towards salmon farming in general, as farming lobby, suggesting that the industry needs to keep defending itself well as identifying how consumers associated with robustly against its detractors.

Scottish salmon – their motivations to purchase Messages about the economic benefits of salmon farming were well received, or not and the likelihood of them changing their especially by Scottish respondents and the over 55’s. A minority of respondents current behaviour. It also sought to find out which

this poll “shows our farmers have solid support in the UK

”

A quarter of the GB public are favourable towards salmon farming, while one in five are unfavourable % Very favourable

How favourable or unfavourable are your views and opinions about salmon farming?

% Mainly favourable

% Neither/ nor

% Mainly unfavourable

% Very unfavourable

4% Favourable: 26%

12% 5%

Favourable: 30%

8% 6% 7%

21%

24% 13%

14%

43%

42%

Base: GB adults aged 18+ who know at least a little about salmon farming (1,430); Scotland adults aged 18+ who know at least a little about salmon farming (532); fieldwork conducted 7 th – 22nd January 2020

3410

© Ipsos | Public Opinion on Salmon Farming | February 2020 | V1 | Internal/Client Use Only

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11/05/2020 17:41:50

Public Attitudes Survey

Two in five in GB report consuming salmon at least once a month Two in five in GB report consuming salmon at least once a month How do you eat report each of the following types of fish?

Two often in five in GB consuming salmon at(%) least once a month How often do you eat each of the following types of fish? (%) How often do you eat each of the following types of fish? (%) Once a week or more often Once a week or more often Once a week or more often

1-2 times a month 1-2 times a month 1-2 times a month

Less than once a month Less than once a month Less than once a month

Never Never Never

62 62 62

50 50 39 39 39 18 18 18

30 30

31 31

30

31

33

14 14

12 12

22

12 12

31 31

30 30

31

30

38 38 38 18 18

26 5 5

12

Tuna Tuna Tuna th

26 26

22 22

14

12

Cod, plaice, Cod, plaice, haddock or other haddock or other whiteplaice, fish Cod, white fish haddock or other Base :GB sample - 1606, fieldwork dates 7 white fish

33 33

Salmon Salmon Salmon

5

50 33 33

34 34

33

34

18

Other fish Other fish Other fish

30 30 30

3 3 3

11 11 11

Mackerel Mackerel Mackerel

1 1 1

5 5 5 Trout Trout Trout

to 22nd January 2020

nd January 2020 Base :GB sample - 1606, fieldwork dates 7th to 22 © Ipsos | Public Opinion on Salmon Farming | February 2020 | V1 | Internal/Client Use Only nd January © Ipsos | Public Opinion on Salmon Farming | February 20202020 | V1 | Internal/Client Use Only Base :GB sample - 1606, fieldwork dates 7th to 22

© Ipsos | Public Opinion on Salmon Farming | February 2020 | V1 | Internal/Client Use Only

agreed with the negative messaging around fish health and the effects on the Scottish environment caused by the industry.

38% of British respondents said that they consumed salmon at least once a month, with 12% enjoying it at least once a week. The most common phrase to describe Scottish salmon as was ‘healthy’, which was selected by 56% of all respondents, rising even higher in Scotland to 61%. ‘Tasty’ was the next most popular phrase, followed by ‘high quality’, ‘fresh’ and ‘locally sourced’. The main reason by far for the purchase of Scottish salmon was that it was healthy, low fat and a good source of protein, followed by recipients knowing that they liked the taste of it. Conversely, not liking the taste or texture was overwhelmingly the main reason for not buying it, selected by two thirds of respondents who don’t buy fish.

The survey also found that messaging around the health benefits and product quality of Scottish salmon resonated well with the public. 76% of Scots agreed that Scottish salmon was healthy for people to eat, whilst a further 73% found it to be a high quality product that Scotland could be proud of. An almost as high 71% of Scottish respondents agreed that salmon farming helps to create jobs and improve the local economy in some of Scotland’s most remote areas, employing 2,300 people directly.

Of the negative messaging, 24% of Scots agreed that salmon farming had a negative effect on the Scottish environment and on wild salmon and sea trout stocks, while 26% thought that it was bad for fish health and welfare.

Responding to the findings of the poll, Hamish Macdonell, Director of Strategic Engagement at the SSPO, said: ‘We commissioned this research to find out what the public think about the process of salmon farming, not just the product on their plates.

‘We know that salmon is the UK shoppers’ fish of choice but we wanted to get underneath that and discover what people feel about the farming process and the results have been hugely encouraging.

‘This poll shows our farmers have solid support in the UK, particularly in Scotland. Our job now is to get that positive message across to all those who don’t know about salmon farming, allowing them to appreciate the hard work our farmers do to get them the product we know they enjoy.’ FF

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ff05 SSPO.indd 35

Dedicated to your performance 35

11/05/2020 17:43:01

Public Attitudes Survey – EXCLUSIVE

Messages around health benefits and product quality Messages around health b Messages around health benefits and product quality resonate well resonate well resonate well A minority agree with negative environmental messages around salmon farming A minority agree with negative environm % agree A minority agree with negative environmental messages around salmon farming To what Scottish salmon is healthy for people to eat - it’s low in fat % agree high in protein extent do you Scottish salmon is healthy for people toand To what eat - it’s low in fat agree or and high in protein extent do you Scottish salmon is a high quality product that Scotland disagree can be proud of agree or with Scottish salmon is a high quality product that Scotland each disagree with Salmon farming helps to create jobs and improve can be the proud of local economy in some of Scotland’s most remote areas, statement? each Salmon farming helps to create jobs and improve local employing 2,300 peoplethe directly economy in some of Scotland’s most remote areas, statement?

Salmon farming makes a employing major contribution to Scotland’s 2,300 people directly economy Salmon farming makes a major contribution to Scotland’s economy Salmon farming makes a major contribution to the UK’s economy Salmon farming makes a major contribution to the UK’s economy Salmon farming is bad for fish health and welfare

To what72% extent do 76% you 72% agree or 76% 66% disagree73% with each 66% 65% 73% statement?

65%71% 60% 71%

60%66% 66%

45%

Scottish salmon is healthy for p

Scottish salmon is a high qu

Salmon farming helps to create economy in some of Sco emplo

Salmon farming makes a majo

GB

GB Salmon farming makes a ma Scotland

Consumers perceive Scottish salmon as healthy, tasty an Scotland 45% 56% 56% 24% high quality 26%

Salmon farming is bad

24% 26% 21%

Salmon farming is bad for fish health and welfare Salmon farming has a damaging impact on Scotland’s environment, for example by reducing wild salmon and Salmon farming has a damaging impact ontrout Scotland’s sea stocks environment, for example by reducing wild salmon and Base: adults aged 18+ living in Great Britain (1,606); adults aged 18+ living in Scotland (594); fieldwork conducted 7 – 22 January 2020 sea trout stocks 21 © Ipsos | Public Opinion on Salmon Farming | February 2020 | V1 | Internal/Client Use Only

24% Which of the 21% Tasty 24% following words or High quality phrases do you Scottish salmon as healthy, tasty Freshand Consumers perceive high quality with Rich in nutrients associate Healthy Locally sourced Which of the salmon?

Scottish Tasty th

Salmon farming has a dama environment, for example by

Healthy

5

Base: adults aged 18+ living in Great Britain (1,606); adults aged 18+ living in Scotland (594); fiel

nd

21

© Ipsos | Public Opinion on Salmon Farming | February 2020 | V1 | Internal/Client Use On

51 52

Base: adults aged 18+ living in Great Britain (1,606); adults aged 18+ living in Scotland (594); fieldwork conducted 7 th – 22nd January 2020

21

© Ipsos | Public Opinion on Salmon Farming | February 2020 | V1 | Internal/Client Use Only

45%

52 42% 46%

56%

following words or phrases do you associate with Scottish salmon?

High quality Sustainably

Fresh

produced 45%

42% Expensive 46%

Rich in nutrients

A treat

21%

19% 24% GB 12% 16% Scotland

27%

Environmentally friendly 19%

Reasonably priced

24%

12% everyday ingredient 16% 4%

Harmful1%to people’s health

Harmful to people’s health Base All those who eat or(GB: buy salmon 1,193,dates Scotland: 432), 2020 fieldwork Base : All: those who eat or buy salmon 1,193, Scotland:(GB: 432), fieldwork 7 th to 22nd January

4%

27%

52%

Reasonably priced 21%

A treat

An everyday ingredient

52 30% 30% 28%

52%

30% 30% 28%

Sustainably produced

An Environmentally friendly

33%

33%

Locally sourced Expensive

61%

53% 56% 51% 52%

4% 4% 1% 1%

1%

dates 7 th to 22nd January 2020

© Ipsos | Public Opinion on Salmon Farming | February 2020 | V1 | Internal/Client Use Only

© Ipsos | Public Opinion on Salmon Farming | February 2020 | V1 | Internal/Client Use Only

Feelings of pride and product quality are highest in Scotland Older people and those in the higher socio-economic groups are also more likely to feel that Scottish salmon is a high quality product that Scotland can be proud of. % agree Scottish salmon is a high quality product that Scotland can be proud of

55+ 35-54 18-34

74% 67% 55%

AB C1 C2 DE Scotland North excl. Scot England South excl. London Midlands Greater London

70% 68% 66% 60% 37% 26% 23% 23% 21% 19%

Base: adults aged 18+ living in Great Britain (1,606); adults aged 18+ living in Scotland (594); fieldwork conducted 7 th – 22nd January 2020 © Ipsos | Public Opinion on Salmon Farming | February 2020 | V1 | Internal/Client Use Only

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ff05 SSPO.indd 36

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11/05/2020 17:43:57

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11/05/2020 11:59:07

Attitudes Survey – Scottish Salmon Producers Association

BY HAMISH MACDONELL

Winning hearts and minds Hamish Macdonell of the SSPO responds to the findings of their own poll

‘A

ll those who have been in this business for a while have become used to peaks and troughs, to good times and to bad but this is going to be one of the toughest periods we have ever faced.’

overwhelming reason behind consumer salmon purchases. People buy it primarily because they see it as healthy; as a low-fat source of protein.

Since the Covid crisis really took hold, there has been growing evidence that consumers are becoming even more health conscious and more choosey so the health message is one we will be ratchetting up over Above: salmon and cuts coming months. for sale.

Similarly, the economic benefits of salmon farming resonate very strongly among Scots, particularly the older generation, most of whom That was the assessment of one Scottish believe that Scottish salmon is a product Scotland can be proud of. salmon-farming veteran to the Covid crisis.

To try to put us all on the road to economic recovery, there is now Export markets have collapsed, the food service gathering momentum behind campaigns to ‘buy British’, to ‘shop sector is in tatters and no-one knows when Scottish’ and ‘support local’. either will return, even in part.

The French are doing it with their home-produced food, as are the So, while there is a lot to be gloomy about, Americans and now both the UK and Scottish governments are pushing it is perhaps worth taking a step back and the same message here. considering what’s good and solid and That, tied in to the economic benefits which the farmed salmon sector reassuring. brings to fragile rural communities, is something else we will also build With that in mind, the SSPO is releasing on as we all start to find our way out and back to a resemblance of polling data through Fish Farmer which we normal living. commissioned earlier this year.

But it was perhaps the overall result on favourability that gave us, in the Our aim in undertaking this research from Ipsos SSPO, the most encouragement.

MORI was quite specific: we wanted to find out We do have our critics, we know that. The proportion of people who how people viewed salmon farming as a process, not just the product on the supermarket shelves. don’t like us is around 19 per cent in the UK and 20 per cent in Scotland.

But this is more than compensated for by those who do like us. A total We wanted to find out if the drip-feed of of 30 per cent of Scots and 26 per cent of UK consumers have favourable negativity from a small number of vocal critics views of salmon farming. was starting to seep through into public opinion However, the key here – in message terms at least – is the huge number and, if so, how far had it reached.

We were also keen to find out which messages in the middle. Around half of all consumers who know at least a little about salmon farming (49 per cent in Scotland and 55 per cent in Great carried the most weight for us as a sector and Britain overall) either say they are neither favourable nor unfavourable which groups of people responded best to towards salmon farming or don’t know. These are the ones we need to each one. work on. We are unlikely to change the views of those hardened against The research was done before the Covid us but we do need to stop more of those in the middle from edging over outbreak, but there is nothing to suggest to that side. that views will have changed since. On the That is why our effort will be aimed at that middle ground. We will contrary, it is likely that some of more positive findings have been reinforced as a result of the be putting out positive, informative messages based around those themes that have the most resonance: health, the economy and the lockdown. environment.

For instance, we found that health was the

the “ economic

benefits of salmon farming resonate very strongly among Scots

”

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ff05 Hamish column.indd 38

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11/05/2020 17:54:28

Attitudes Survey But if there is one overriding message that comes through this research it is this: most people see the positive benefits of our product.

It is very easy, in all walks of life, to become so inward looking and focused on the minutiae of everyday details of what happens in our own sector that views become distorted.

In this way, it can be very easy to exaggerate the reach and influence of critics and opponents, believing they are succeeding in pushing the public in one way or another.

The research we have done is therefore very reassuring. Yes, the critics are out there, yes they are getting some, limited, purchase with their messaging, particularly on the environment but their reach is limited.

We have to be very aware of what they are doing and saying, we have to make sure we counter their, often erroneous, claims when they get as far as the press but our aim has to be encourage all those people in the middle to become positive supporters of the sector.

These are people who eat salmon regularly (one in every eight British consumers eats salmon at least once a week while almost two in five eat it at least once a month). They like and appreciate the fish we produce.

Our job is to make sure they like and appreciate salmon farmers too. If we can do that, if we can win them over to our side, then not only will the future of salmon as the UK shoppers’ fish of choice be assured but the future of Scottish salmon farming should be too.

During these difficult times, everyone in the sector is looking closely at our UK home market. We all want people to buy more salmon. After all, that’s one of the only ways we are going to be able to offset, at least in part, the drastic decline of our export markets.

That is why this research is so important, at this time more than at any other. And that is why we should take such encouragement from it.

NOTES: Ipsos MORI interviewed 1,108 adults aged 18+ in Great Britain and a boost of an additional 498 adults aged 18+ in Scotland (giving a total Scotland sample size of 594) online between 7th and 22nd January 2020. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. For more information, please see the Ipsos MORI website: www.ipsos-mori.com. FF

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11/05/2020 17:51:41

Comment

BY DR MARTIN JAFFA

Weak Mussels Seafood sector suffers badly during crisis

T

he unfortunate consequence of COVID-19, is that, excluding salmon, it has exposed the fragility of the fish sector. In recent years, salmon has developed into its own separate protein category as in beef, pork, lamb, chicken, salmon, and other fish. Sales of salmon are doing alright during the corona virus outbreak. Sales of other fish and seafood have suffered badly, especially of farmed species such as portion trout and mussels.

Prior to the current crisis, fish and seafood was either exported, (although this outlet was already threatened due to Brexit), sent to food service such as restaurants and takeaways or was sold through retail. With little opportunity to export and a complete close-down of the food service sector, the retail sector has been the only real market operating in recent weeks.

Unfortunately, public consumption of fish and seafood at home has been in massive decline for the past decade. The scale of the decline can be illustrated by the fact that consumers are eating the equivalent of one portion of fish less every month than they did ten years ago. This fall in consumption has been reflected in the recent permanent closures of fish counters in Asda and Tesco stores. So few customers were buying fish off the counter that there was no justification to keep them open.

Attempts by the fish sector to boost consumption have failed miserably. The reasons are too numerous to discuss in this short commentary, needless to say that consumers completely ignored any fish related campaigns.

The public have simply got out of the habit of eating fish at home and nothing that has been done has convinced them otherwise. It hasn’t helped that the way consumers shop has changed, with visits to smaller convenience

40

ff05 Martin Jaffa.indd 40

stores increasing whilst shoppers have shunned weekly visits to larger stores for a larger shop. Convenience stores, by their very nature, stock less products and this is especially noticeable when it comes to fish with stores offering fewer lines of prepacked fish. Inevitably shoppers are buying less fish because there is less choice.

And then COVID-19 hit.

Due to lockdown and social distancing, it is difficult to be precise as to Above: Mussels in nets what the overall impact on fish and seafood due to coronavirus will be, for sale. but in the early days of panic buying, my observations were that whilst Left: Chalkmans trout. chicken and meat disappeared from the shelves of most retail chains, packs of fish remained without any buyers.

Now that the panic buying has ended, stores have returned to some form of normality as far as what stock they carry is concerned. However, the fish offering has not yet returned to former levels and is quite limited.

The real problem for trout and mussel farmers is that these species were mainly sold through the fish counter. The potential for sales was

Unfortunately, public consumption of “fish and seafood at home has been is massive decline ”

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11/05/2020 17:53:34

Comment

already compromised by the closure of some counters but as the virus hit, all the remaining counters closed as staff were deployed to help restock shelves and process home deliveries. Overnight, the market for trout and mussels at retail disappeared.

After the initial few days, Waitrose had reopened their counters but with a limited range of fish, mainly the best sellers such as examples from the ‘Big Five’ species like salmon and cod. It has been difficult to assess whether shoppers are really utilising the counters or whether Waitrose are just keeping them open to be a point of difference. This is because restrictions on the number of people allowed in the store at any one time means that it is impossible to judge whether the counters are being used or not. Six weeks after lockdown, Morrisons have reopened some of their counters in an attempt to help farmers and fishermen but like Waitrose only with a limited range of species.

However, these few open counters are not going to really help trout and mussel farmers because the limited range being offered does not seem to include these species.

Farmers are left with little other choice. Fishermen are metaphorically in the same boat. They have no outlets for their fish.

Many fishermen are setting up their own supply chain by marketing direct to consumers. Fish farmers could exploit the same market but equally it is surprising that quite a few fishmongers remain open and although it may involve long drives, there is the potential to deliver direct.

Such problems might be solved in the short-term, but it does seem inevitable that the already declining market for fish might suffer a much greater hit from COVID 19 with home consumption of fish and seafood in total freefall. It has not helped that the biggest consumers, those in their more advanced years, are stuck at home unable to even get to the shops and reliant on others to deliver what they can.

Sad to say, as the public emerge from lockdown, they may find what is described as a new-normal. The risk is that this new-normal may not be one that has a public eating a diet rich in fish and seafood. FF

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11/05/2020 17:56:21

SSPO Wild Salmon Report

Running Wild

The salmonid interactions working group delivers its first report

BY DAVE EDLER

A

fter around eighteen months of discussions, the salmon interactions working group (SIWG) delivered its first recommendations in a report issued at the start of this month. The Chair of SIWG, John Goodlad, opened the report with the following comments: ‘Populations of wild salmon and sea trout are at critically low levels. The reasons for this are complex and not yet fully understood. The Scottish Government has identified twelve groups of hazards, including fish farming, that may contribute to the decline of wild salmonids.

It is well known that the interaction between aquaculture and wild salmonids is controversial and many strong views are held from different perspectives.

‘It was against this background that the Interactions Working Group was established. At the outset it was acknowledged by the Group that reaching a consensus position on the way ahead would not be easy. However, all members of the Group recognised the importance of the task in hand and embraced this challenge.

The agreed recommendations reflect the

“

could be done to make things better and have accordingly produced 42 recommendations. Although these recommendations cover a large number of issues, we believe they complement each other. To that extent these are presented to the Scottish Government as a package of measures which we believe should be implemented in full. If our recommendations are accepted, then I believe it will be possible to build a robust and durable framework that will minmise the impact of fish farming on wild salmonids’.

Above: Wild salmon.

Right: Fish Farm on Loch

Ainort on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

In 2018, the Scottish Parliament’s Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee (ECCLR) and Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) Committees held two inquiries into Scotland’s salmon farming industry. The focus of the first ECCLR inquiry was to investigate the environmental impact of the salmon farming industry, whereas the second REC inquiry focused on identifying opportunities for the future development of the industry and explore the fish health and environmental issues identified in the ECCLR inquiry.

The findings from both inquiries highlighted concerns over the environmental impacts of the industry, particularly with regard to the potential hazard to wild salmonids. Recommendations from the inquiries indicated that the status quo was not an option and that changes to the regulation of the industry were required.

Concurrent with the Parliamentary Inquiries, the Cabinet Secretaries for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham, and Rural Economy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing, established a workstream to examine the 12 high level pressure groups and address the decline in wild Atlantic salmon. The first stage in this process was the establishment of the SIWG, which was tasked with the following: • Consider the evidence coming from the ECCLR and REC Committee inquiries (including the literature review undertaken by Scottish Association of Marine Science), and any other work, concerning the environmental impacts of salmon and trout farms on wild salmonids; • Review current Scottish Government policy and advice governing wild/farmed salmon interactions including, but not limited to, sea lice, pathogens and escapes; • Review the actions required to monitor and mitigate the impact of farmed salmon and trout on wild salmonids (including through Environmental Management Plans, or other future regulatory mechanisms) so that any impact is reduced in accordance with our

I believe it will be possible to build a robust and durable framework that will minimise the impact of fish farming on wild salmonids

”

professional approach taken by the Group and their determination to address these difficult issues in a constructive manner.

‘We have deliberately kept our Report short.

We saw little point in summarising what has already been said. We focused instead on what

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SSPO Wild Salmon Report international and domestic obligations; • Make recommendations, including a delivery plan of agreed actions and timescales, for a future interactions approach, including the need for any further research, changes to the regulatory regime, including planning advice and environmental monitoring; and the potential use of ‘adaptive management’ techniques, including the management of risk The SIWG met between October 2018 and March 2020. The set of recommendations provided within the report were unanimously agreed upon by all members of the group and presented to Scottish Ministers.

All members of the SIWG agreed that actions taken forward from these recommendations should be implemented as soon as possible and encouraged Ministers to act in a swift manner to provide clarity and direction for regulators, the aquaculture sector and all interested stakeholders.

The key conclusions and recommendations made by SIWG were as follows: 1. Wild/farmed salmonid interactions In recognition of the potential hazard that farmed salmonid aquaculture presents to wild salmonids, the SIWG acknowledges that the outcome should be balanced and proportional improvements to fisheries conservation alongside the sustainable development of the salmon and trout aquaculture sector. The SIWG believes that a key component of achieving the recommendations set out in this report is developing a professional and collaborative working relationship within the shared spaces where wild and farmed fish are present.

2. Licensing and enforcement The SIWG is of the view that a properly designed, reformed regulatory regime will deliver many of the recommendations that Parliament has sought. The characteristics of such a system, which must apply to all farms, encompasses strengthened licence conditions and associated enforcement measures[4] to deliver the essential regulatory protection that wild salmonids require.

The SIWG recognises the vital importance of ensuring that a wide range of strategies for sea lice control (including medicinal and non-medicinal treatment) are available to the finfish farming industry, in order to ensure wild and farmed fish welfare and sea lice control, whilst ensuring protection of the wider environment.

3. Farmed and wild salmonid data The SIWG recognises the substantial amount of data relating to finfish aquaculture which is now publicly available, and the continuing progress made by the sector in increasing transparency. This will be further enhanced when the Scottish Government bring forward new sea lice reporting regulations. The forthcoming wild salmon strategy presents an opportunity to put in place the infrastructure to support wild fisheries managers in improving access to a higher resolution of wild fish data which will support a greater understanding of interactions.

4. Farmed and wild salmonid research The SIWG recognises that there are a number of gaps in our understanding relating to wild-farmed interactions. However, the SIWG is firmly of the view that filling these knowledge gaps is not a pre-requisite for taking forward regulatory reform. Indeed, the recommendations set out above include monitoring requirements which will be complementary to the strategic priorities set in the full report.

5. Wild salmonids The SIWG considers that additional resources are required to support management of salmonids, particularly in west coast rivers and welcomes the commitment to produce a wild salmon strategy for Scotland. Largescale pressures, such as climate change, require international cooperation to address and are therefore beyond the control of fisheries managers.

The focus of fisheries management in Scotland is therefore to improve freshwater habitat and address issues that we can control, with a view to ensuring the maximum number of healthy, wild smolts leave our rivers.

The SIWG acknowledges that resources to undertake this work are

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SSPO Wild Salmon Report

Above: The farmed and the free - report brings them together.

severely limited and declining. Therefore, the SIWG calls jointly for practical measures to ensure that potential hazards from salmonid aquaculture are maintained at the lowest possible levels and greater investment in conservation and restoration programmes that will demonstrably improve the wellbeing of indigenous populations of wild salmon and sea trout.

Responding to the report, Julie HeskethLaird, Chief Executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation, said: ‘The Scottish Government has identified 12 potential pressures to wild salmonids in Scotland that it wishes to explore, of which wild/farmed salmon interactions is just one.

now released, our hope is that these newly forged ties between the different stakeholders can continue, with both wild and farmed interests learning from the other. In particular, Scotland’s salmon farmers have shown their commitment to best practice by going further with transparency and data reporting than almost all international counterparts.

We would now like to see the wild fish sector match our level of transparency and frequency of reporting to help us all better understand what is really happening to Scotland’s wild salmon stocks.

‘Equally, we look forward to governmental bodies addressing the other 11 identified pressures to wild salmon and trout in an equally thorough manner in the near future.’

The full report can be viewed at: https:// www.gov.scot/publications/report-salmoninteractions-working-group/pages/1/. FF

our hope is that these newly “ forged ties between the different stakeholders can continue ”

6. Conclusion The recommendations set out above complement each other and should be considered as a package of measures. Taken together, it is the view of the SIWG that they will improve the regulation of wildfarmed interactions, improve the relationship between the farmed and wild salmonid sectors and support conservation of wild salmonids.

Scottish Ministers are encouraged to move swiftly to implement and support the delivery of these recommendations.

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However, as farmers, our members have an acute appreciation of the need to maintain and protect the natural balance of the habitats in which we live and work, and as such have been keen to lend their insights and experience from day one of discussions.

‘With the results of those recommendations

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AquaUK 2018

Archive Aviemore With no show taking place at Aviemore this May, we look back at some images from the previous event in 2018

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AquaUK 2018

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11/05/2020 18:12:51

Shellfish

BY NICKI HOLMYARD

It’s not all hard work!

Out on location with Jonathan Pie in a quest to save the planet!

A

ny farming is hard work. Battling with nature, coping with the vagaries of the weather, pests and diseases, equipment and machinery breakdowns and the many unexpected issues that crop up every day, are all part of the deal. Mussel farming six miles out to sea and 18 miles from port, amplifies many of these.

However, it’s not all hard work. When the weather is fine, the sea state near-calm and everything is going to plan, it is a joy to work at sea. And it’s a good feeling knowing that our growing crop of mussels is doing its bit to help the planet by locking up carbon, as well as feeding people.

It was this particular aspect that BAFTA-award winning, environmental filmmaker Franny Armstrong of Spanner Films picked up on, when she phoned us early last year asking if she could

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bring a camera-crew out to the farm for her new film ‘Pie Net Zero.’

‘No!’ was initial response from John the boss man, who was not convinced by Franny’s credentials, thought it would take up too much time and energy on a busy day, and was dubious about her choice of presenter; Jonathan Pie. For anyone who hasn’t come across Jonathan Pie, he is a swearing, ranting, fake news reporter, who has become an internet sensation giving his wry view of politics and politicians, on the green in front of Parliament.

I thought it would be a great opportunity to showcase the farm in a good light, and to help get across the fact that we all need to work a lot harder to reach net zero carbon by 2050, if we are to save the planet. I had my work cut out dropping the subject into conversation several times a day, but to no avail.

However, it turned out that Franny was made of sterner stuff than the boss, and he was gradually brought round to the idea that this was indeed a serious film that would combine fact and humour, and put the message across to a new audience. He was also won around by the promise of drone footage from one of the UK’s best drone operators.

And so we found ourselves, early one morning, being introduced on the quayside in Brixham, to the actor Tom Walker. It was quite a surprise to find that he was as serious, pleasant and mild mannered, as his alterego Jonathan Pie is frivolous, unpleasant and loud! We had made the mistake of mixing fact with fiction, although from a person who thinks the Archers is real, perhaps that is no surprise!

“I am an actor,” was Tom’s amused reply, when I staggered an apology for my mistake.

There followed a long day of shooting, re-shooting, nearly losing the drone in the fog, persuading Jonathan Pie to eat raw mussels, and repeating lines over and over, until Franny was happy with the result.

When she shouted, “It’s a wrap!” there was relief all round! Our crew could go home, while the film crew moved to the next location, to shoot on a seaweed farm.

We received the first cut a few weeks later, and had to admit that Franny’s idea had worked; the short film was funny and the message came across well, even if there was rather too much swearing for primary school viewing!

When it launched, the film became an overnight sensation, with hundreds of thousands of views, and got a lot more people talking about net zero carbon. Franny now hopes to make a longer documentary on the subject.

“I want to really shake up people’s thinking and get action underway,” she said.

So what are the facts? Can mussel farms help to save the planet?

A 2011 report commissioned by the Scottish Aquaculture Research

Left: Jonathan and Nicki.

Right: On set with the crew.

Bottom right: Cameras rolling.

I want to “really shake

up people’s thinking and get action underway

”

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Shellfish

Forum (SARF) on the “Carbon Footprint Of Scottish Suspended Mussels And Intertidal Oysters,” found that shellfish perform favourably against meat products, and that mussels specifically can justifiably be promoted as a low-carbon food product.

The study looked at the impacts of the shellfish from spat collection or hatchery production for oysters, through growing, harvesting, depuration, and packing ready for dispatch.

The “cradle-to-gate” carbon footprints of harvested shellfish were calculated to be 252 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide equivalents (kg CO2-eq) per tonne for suspended mussels and 1,281 kg CO2-eq per tonne for intertidal oysters.

“The Environmental Cost of Animal Source Foods,” by Ray Hilborn et al, published by The Ecological Society of America, looked at energy use, greenhouse-gas emissions, release of nutrients and acidifying compounds, and found that mollusc aquaculture was one of the lowest impact production methods.

Pie Net Zero points out the UK emits 350 million tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere each year by burning fossil fuels.

“Each passenger on a transatlantic flight is responsible for the release of about 1 tonne of carbon dioxide. One mussel locks away a few grams of that, but a square kilometre of mussels could capture 218 tonnes, enough for a plane load of people flying to new York. If we turn a quarter of UK waters over to mussel farming, the shellfish would draw down about an eight of our total emissions,” said Jonathan Pie in the film.

According to John Holmyard, one problem is that everyone wants to see something happen in a human timescale, but we need to look at the bigger picture.

“On a grand scale, we are talking about decarbonising the entire atmosphere, not just local bits where shellfish are grown. The more shells you produce, the less carbon dioxide there is in the atmosphere,

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because they bind it up. This is how the white cliffs of Dover and all the other limestone in the world was produced. In the geological records, whenever large quantities of carbonate limestone was being laid down, it is noticeable that the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reduced,” he said.

“We need to eat, so we produce food. Some food production methods result in more CO2 being released and some in less, and I believe that it makes sense to eat the food that produces the least of all, and that is shellfish.” FF

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11/05/2020 18:17:35

Comment – Coronavirus analysis

Covid Captain’s Log Sailing the seas of good and bad news stories in another rocky month

BY SANDY NEIL

E

veryone has been sailing in uncharted waters for the last two long months of this corona virus pandemic, whether as an individual, a family, a company, or a country.

When a ship must navigate a safe passage through uncertain straits, one crew member looks astern recording the path for others to follow, but, most importantly, another is standing on the prow scanning the horizon for dangers ahead. Here we shall attempt to bring both perspectives together in one log, and help plot the course of a £2 billion ship with 2,300 employees on board: Scotland’s salmon farming sector.

Perhaps, since we’re all now cooking at home, the information would be most palatably served as a ‘news sandwich’: slices of good news wrapped around a filling of bad news, for easier digestion. To start then, a bite of good news.

As the UK went into lockdown in March, supermarket sales soared by 20 per cent as shoppers stockpiled food, including a very strong demand for Scottish salmon, as consumers shifted from fresh to frozen fish to fill their freezers. But in April, when panic-buying stopped and shelves had been restocked, was there a slowdown of domestic sales of Scottish salmon?

No, revealed the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation (SSPO), a membership body representing every company farming salmon in Scotland: ‘There has been an increase in domestic sales, which has been very welcoming for our farmers. Retail sales have been strong as

“

consumers make use of the ability to freeze fresh salmon and do more home cooking.’

The Norwegian Seafood Council also reported in April a surging consumer appetite for pre-packed salmon, providing a new opportunity for the processing industry in Norway and internationally. However, any increase in retail sales has been offset by plummeting demand from the food service sector. Already we are crunching into the thick layer of bad news.

The biggest challenges facing Scottish salmon farmers, according to members of the SSPO, continue to be the closure of UK food service outlets and export markets, plus a lack of passenger flights to destinations like the US and China, and an increase in air freight rates.

Let’s look at each in turn.

While sales in UK retail boomed, the shutting down of cafes, pubs, restaurants, and the steady closure of the UK’s 10,000 fish and chip shops, decimated foodservice sales. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson MP may reveal his roadmap to exiting the lockdown in the first week of May, but we cannot expect a quick return to normal.

Asked by the BBC in April when restaurants, pubs and hotels would be back in business, the Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove MP revealed they would be the last to reopen.

Perhaps, with Covid-19 cases continuing to fall, we could hope for a reopening of restaurants and cafes, with social distancing measures such as two metres between tables, by July, followed later in the month by hotels on limited occupancies, and pubs last of all. But even restaurateurs may be reluctant to open their doors.

Many, according to Sky News, signed a letter urging the government not to end the lockdown too soon, warning it could cause a ‘substantial’ number of businesses to fail. Restaurant owners are concerned sites will be operating at limited capacity due to social distancing measures, and that demand could be slow to pick up due to customer uncertainty about getting back to normal after the UK coronavirus lockdown. This could result in revenue plummeting while staff costs, rent and supply costs remain at the same level, causing permanent closures. Salmon farmers could maybe hope for a gradual increase in food service sales over the summer, but the outlook remains unclear.

Above: Frozen salmon.

Top right: Packaged fish.

Right: Cooking at home

raises demand.

There has been an increase in domestic sales, which has been very welcoming for our farmers

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”

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Comment

In the meantime, to help mitigate the losses for salmon farmers, the SSPO said: ‘‘We anticipate that some consumers at least will continue to replace their usual out-of-home expenditure by trying new dishes, incorporating healthy, versatile products such as Scottish salmon. We are working closely with Scottish Food & Drink on marketing campaigns that encourage Britain to eat more, healthy, seafoods such as salmon. Some of our member companies are also looking at other, innovative solutions including direct online sales to customers.’

Necessity is the mother of invention, and these ideas will be interesting to see, and may prove profitable beyond the pandemic.

Then, chomping down into the next layer of bad news, there’s the crashing export market, as countries followed each other into lockdown, imposing social and travel restrictions. One set of figures released by HMRC in April showed the coronavirus pandemic led to a 32 percent drop in Scottish salmon exports in February- a drop of 2,700 tonnes compared to the same month last year, valued at £32 million. Exports to Asia accounted for the majority of the decline, with volumes only just exceeding 200 tonnes in February, down by 1,360 tonnes (-87 per cent) compared with the previous year’s figures. However, the value of its exports to Europe rose slightly by three per cent, despite volumes dropping by 10 per cent. The impact on exports will become clearer when the statistics for the first quarter are reported in mid-May. For the first time since September 2018, Norway experienced a fall in the value of its seafood exports in April. That month 183,000 tonnes of Norwegian seafood was exported to a value of NOK 8.2 billion- a decrease of NOK 666 million, or eight per cent, compared with April 2019. Volumes were also down seven per cent compared to the same time in 2019.

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‘A significant fall in demand for salmon and whitefish in April as a result of the corona crisis is the main reason,’ said the Norwegian Seafood Council’s Director of Market Insight and Market Access, Tom-Jørgen Gangsø.

‘This can be evidenced by the decline of the restaurant segment and increased air freight costs for the transportation of fresh products to overseas markets.

‘This year can be split in two for seafood exports, before and after the corona crisis. 2020 started off well with a strong increase in value due to increased demand for Norwegian seafood products. This positive trend came to an abrupt end within the introduction of measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, which is why we are seeing exports fall. We also find that the corona crisis has led to layoffs and increased unemployment globally. There is considerable uncertainty about how weakened purchasing power will affect demand for Norwegian seafood in the long run.’

Scottish salmon exports have been hard hit by the lack of passenger flights to the USA and China, and an increase in air freight rates, the SSPO explained.

‘There are no words that can adequately describe how deeply this crisis is impacting aviation,’ said the boss of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Alexandre de Juniac. Between April and June, ‘some $61bn could disappear from cash reserves. Demand is in free-fall. Worldwide, it’s down 70 per cent compared to last year: 90 per cent in Europe. And it could get even worse.’

It was estimated at least 8,500 aircraft were parked in April, with only a quarter of the global capacity in operation. Passengers at Edinburgh Airport plummeted from some 250,000 a week to as few as 200 – or just a few dozen a day, mostly people returning to their home countries.

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Comment – Coronavirus analysis A lot of freight is carried in the belly of passenger aircraft, including a lot of fresh Scottish salmon. But without that airliner capacity, the cost of getting produce air freighted on a cargo plane has soared. Per kilo, the BBC reported in April, air freight went up around ten-fold. Again, we can expect no return to normal soon. The giant German airline Lufthansa predicted: ‘It will take several months until the global travel restrictions are completely lifted, and years until the worldwide demand for air travel returns to pre-crisis levels.’

Meanwhile Scotland has been left with no US flights until at least October 24, after United Airlines postponed plans to resume its daily service to New York. United had already cancelled its daily summer flights between the capital and both Chicago and Washington DC, and Glasgow and New York. American Airlines has said it would not operate its EdinburghPhiladelphia service this summer. The SSPO said simply: ‘The Scottish farmed salmon sector has kept exports flowing where the markets have allowed.’

Two months into lockdown, and another problem is emerging for UK trout farmers, who spend 18 months rearing full-sized trout ready for the supermarket shelf. With most supermarket fish counters closed, few are stocking trout, meaning farmed trout have nowhere to go. With no money coming in, feeding the fish is draining trout farmers’ cash reserves. Soon the only option might be to kill some fish, to free up pond space and ease expenses. Unless restrictions are eased - or supermarkets sell more stock - thousands of fish could be culled in the coming weeks.

Oliver Robinson, CEO of the British Trout Association and trout farmer, told the i newspaper: ‘We’re gridlocked. We are stuck with a huge amount of fish. In the end if we can’t sell it, fish have to go.’

‘If things haven’t unlocked by mid May, there will be a situation where farmers will have to decide what they will slaughter and dispose of.

You’re talking about many thousands, getting into millions of fish [being culled]...I hope to God we don’t have to do that.’

But culling them could leave Mr Robinson in an even trickier financial spot. He will have to decide whether to kill market ready fish, ‘teenage’ stock, or the juveniles - but removing any group leaves a hole in his product cycle.

‘You do that to a supermarket and they will drop you [as a supplier],’ he said.

Are UK salmon farmers facing a similar crisis? When the outbreak began in March, to help salmon farms cope with any staff shortages due to sickness or self-isolation, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) temporarily relaxed its rules governing monitoring and the weight and duration of salmon in cages at sea. The easing of regulations gave the industry breathing space, but those fish will still need to be harvested.

Are UK salmon farmers facing a cull like trout

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farmers? No, an SSPO spokesman reassured: ‘Scotland’s salmon producers have absolutely no plans to cull fish.’

With the collapse of the export market, where then will these fish go to?’ ‘It is too early to be definitive but, obviously, some of these fish are still likely to be destined for our exports markets,’ the SSPO replied: ‘There is still Scottish salmon getting into export markets (and more into those places where the markets are still open) and, as these markets start to open up, so more of the salmon currently in the sea will be exported.’

How serious have staff shortages been so far? ‘As soon as the pandemic hit, all our member companies quickly introduced new working practices to safeguard the health and wellbeing of employees,’ the SSPO said: ‘This included skeleton crews on farms, the imposition of social distancing, new shift patterns in all sites with multiple employees and the introduction of shields and barriers in processing sites. The work ethic and can-do attitude of farm teams (freshwater and marine) and processing staff has been nothing short of exceptional with people keen to play their part in keeping food supplies flowing.’ Mercifully sickness levels seem to be much lower than feared. Scottish Sea Farms last month reported an absenteeism rate of under one per cent during the pandemic. At last we are returning to better news.

However, concerns have been raised in the press about how the coronavirus could cost the health of farmed salmon and marine wildlife. ‘Keeping the fish at sea for longer also increases farming challenges, particularly in husbandry, farm housekeeping, feed, and treatments,’ the SSPO said. In particular, an increase in biomass could lead to a rise in sea lice which, if uncontrolled, cause large scale mortalities in farmed fish and an increased risk to wild salmon and trout, SEPA explained.

‘The mild winter may lead to the risk of sea lice infestations on farms being higher than normal over the coming months. This will require operators to work harder to maintain control of lice numbers on their fish at the same time as coping with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak.’ The environmental watchdog continued: ‘Operators may have to rely more on medicine use when access to vessels, specialists in mechanical approaches to lice removal and the number of available farm workers are affected.’

As a result, SEPA relaxed its limits on two controversial anti-lice pesticides, emamectin and azamethiphos, which environmental campaigners feared could harm or kill crustacea and shellfish in the vicinity. ‘SEPA’s temporary regulatory position on sea lice medicines does not change the environmental standards,’ the agency assured: ‘It provides for temporary exceedances of the standards, provided the

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Comment conditions of the regulatory position are met. These conditions have been carefully designed to minimise the risk to the environment and include specific protections for shellfish farms to avoid exposure of the farms to elevated concentrations of azamethiphos. For azamethiphos, the regulatory position enables farms to treat more pens per day on a farm (and hence discharge medicine more quickly) than under normal permit conditions.’ Breaches of the 24-hour quantity limit for azamethiphos, a bath treatment medicine, will not be permitted at any farm within 2.5 km of a shellfish harvesting area.

‘At a small number of farms, due to the COVID-19 outbreak operators may need to use more of the in-feed medicine, emamectin benzoate, than they are authorised to use,’ SEPA continued. ‘Subject to the conditions of the regulatory position being met, these farms would be able to make a one-off use of increased emamectin benzoate. Where they have to resort to doing so, under the conditions of their authorisations, they will not be able to make use of the medicine again for a considerable period once this regulatory position ends [on 30 June 2020].

‘Due to the temporary nature of the expected breaches of biomass limits; the expected small scale of the breaches; and how risk assessments are being used to identify where and to what extent biomass limits are exceeded, we expect environmental effects will be short-term and localised. So far, only a small number of farms have notified us of their intention to use the regulatory position on biomass limits.’

The SSPO also sought to allay any concerns. ‘These are fully licensed veterinary medicines and, like all medicines used in livestock production, their safety has been rigorously assessed during the licensing process,’ an SSPO spokesperson said. ‘The environmental regulator has also ensured they are safe to use and it controls how medicines can be used to ensure environmental protection. There is an ongoing review into one

specific medicine and, to support that review, the sector has undertaken extensive studies with the manufacturer. We are reassured that the findings of these studies support the responsible use of medicines by fish farmers.

‘The SSPO has been working with SEPA and Marine Scotland to determine pragmatic ways for farmers to manage sea lice with due regard for the environment. During this challenging time, we need to protect the health of our workforce while, at the same time, safeguarding the health and welfare of our fish.

‘We are not looking to use more medicine than normal: what we are trying to do is use medicines more effectively – and that is what the regulator has been working with us on. In some cases, this means using medicines more speedily – not in greater quantities and actually with fewer treatments – than before.’ Hopefully, therefore, better news can be read there too.

Perhaps the best news can be found in how salmon farming is holding up. ‘Salmon is the safe haven of the seafood industry and has been impacted less than other sectors,’ explained Gorjan Nikolik, senior seafood analyst at Rabobank. ‘In Europe, which accounts for 50 percent of salmon consumption globally, most of the business lost from the food service sector has been taken up by retail sales. However, the decline in exports to China and the US from the pandemic has led to an oversupply in Europe and a corresponding drop in prices from almost NOK 80 in January to around NOK 54 [in mid April]. But, in historical terms, this is still a reasonable price and, importantly, it still covers the production costs.

‘Salmon is a well-financed sector, coming from years of strength, so the pandemic is unlikely to have lasting effects,’ he concludes. Despite the lurking rocks, and force 12 storm, Scottish salmon farmers look set to keep on sailing. FF

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The Scottish farmed salmon sector has “kept exports flowing where the market has allowed ”

Clockwise from top left: Freight is restricted due to drop in passenger flights and increased cargo costs; three could be an increase in sea lice presence; farmed trout have restricted places to go with closures of supermarket fish counters.

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11/05/2020 18:22:37

Aquaculture Awards 2020 – Shortlist

A talented bunch Shortlist demonstrates aquaculture’s global reach

‘F

rom Milan to Yucatan’ opined Ian Dury in his iconic 1980’s hit ‘Hit me with your rhythm stick’, before giving a namecheck to some other far flung outposts around the globe during the remainder of the song.

My memory was jogged back to this hit after reviewing the shortlist of nominations for the 2020 Aquaculture UK awards, now due to take place at Aviemore in September after the original dates for the awards dinner (at the Aquaculture UK Exhibition) had to be postponed due to the covid-19 crisis.

Nominees stretch from Malta to Malaysia, from the Netherlands to Nigeria, from Devon to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and from the Isle of Mull to Indonesia. We truly live in an interconnected world and the amazing global reach of the aquaculture industry was ably demonstrated in this years nominations.

The awards brought together a diverse panel of judges, featuring Alex Adrian, aquaculture operations manager of Crown Estate Scotland; Martin Gill, head of aquaculture and fisheries at Lloyds Register; Nicki Holmyard, Director of Offshore Shellfish Ltd; (and a regular columnist here at Fish Farmer Magazine), Professor Dave Little, head of research at Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture; Ingrid Olesen,

“

senior scientist at Nofima; and The Fish Site’s Rob Fletcher.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the judges were unable to meet up in person, but over the course of three conference calls organisers were able to debate the relative merits of over entries and nominations, and the six judges managed to whittle down the contenders for each category to make the shortlists. The organisers thanked both the judges and all those who entered these hotly-contested awards.

Event director Cheri Arvonio said: ‘The Aquaculture Awards are a fantastic way to recognise the achievements of those stand-out individuals who are making an exceptional contribution to the industry. Once again, the quality of this year’s awards entries has been outstanding. Congratulations and good luck to each of our shortlisted finalists’.

The ’Rising Star’ award is one that often attracts a lot of attention, as it gives an indication of the potential ‘movers and shakers’ of the future within the industry. This year two of the nominees hail from Scotland, Rosie Dreghorn of Cargill/EWOS and Ivana Russo of BioMar. They are joined by Funke Olatunde of Imoran Farms in Nigeria and Zoe Fletcher of the AquaBio Tech Group from Malta.

Our very own regular correspondent Dr. Martin Jaffa of Callender McDowell is nominated for the ‘Unsung Hero’ award, where he will be competing for the honour alongside Prof. Charles Ngugi of Kenya, Nigel Woodhouse of Hawkshead Trout and Nick Bradbury of BioMar. In addition to the twelve categories detailed below, there are also two further awards. One of them is for the best overall aquaculture company to be shortlisted, which is decided at the judges discretion, while the final award is the ‘people’s choice’ category, which is decided by an open vote in which anyone from the aquaculture industry can participate. Details of how to take part will be released by the organisers soon.

the awards brought together a diverse panel of judges

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12/05/2020 16:50:50

Aquaculture Awards 2020

Here is the full list of the nominees for the 12 categories announced: FINFISH FARMER OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Gael Force Group • Lovemore Ndovie, Kayalami Aquaculture • Funke Olatunde – a PhD student and fish farmer, Nigeria • Ross Fennel – site assistant with the Scottish Salmon Company, Gigha, Scotland • Noelia Rodriguez – hatchery manager for Scottish Sea Farms, Barcaldine, Scotland

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT – sponsored by Cargill

• Inovafeed – insect protein producer, France • Fjord Maritime – generators for feed barges, Norway • Nofir – recycling, Norway • EWOS/Cargill Aqua Nutrition – developing compostable feed bags, Scotland

ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY – sponsored by BioMar

• Aquaseed Fishtecknik – fish smokers, Nigeria • The Scottish Salmon Company Apprentice to Expert training scheme, Scotland • Scottish Sea Farms – Eday Employee Housing, Scotland • The Scottish Salmon Company - Outer Hebrides Local Energy Hub (OHLEH), Lewis, Scotland

RISING STAR – sponsored by AILG Skills Group

• Funke Olatunde – Imoran Farms, Nigeria • Rosie Dreghorn – Cargill/EWOS, Scotland • Zoe Fletcher – AquaBio Tech Group, Malta • Ivana Russo – BioMar, Scotland

SHELLFISH FARMER OF THE YEAR – sponsored by M&S Select Farms

• Gordon Turnbull – owner and operator of Isle of Mull Oysters, Scotland • George Holmyard – manager of Offshore Shellfish, Devon, England • Koo Eng Wah – Sepang Today Aquaculture Centre, Malaysia

AQUACULTURE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Stingray

• Benchmark Genetics/StofnFiskur • Ace Aquatec • NAFC Marine Centre UHI • Gael Force Group

ANIMAL WELFARE – sponsored

by MSD Animal Health

• John Avizienius and Malcolm Johnstone – RSPCA Assured • FAI Farms – Tilapia Wellbeing project • Benchmark Genetics – SalmoBreed Salten • Ace Aquatec and Scottish Sea Farms – novel slaughtering systems

UNSUNG HERO

• Professor Chalres Ngugi - Kenya • Dr Martin Jaffa – Callander McDowell, UK • Nigel Woodhouse – Hawkshead Trout, UK • Nick Bradbury – BioMar, UK

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE INDUSTRY – sponsored

by Marine Scotland • Amy Novogratz – co-founder and head of Aqua-Spark, Netherlands • Alan Henshaw – manager of Calverton Fish Farm, England • Alastair Barge – owner/operator of Otter Ferry Seafish, Scotland • Djames Lim – CEO of the Lim Shrimp Group, Indonesia

COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

• Loch Duart – Salmon Pool community funding • Mowi Scotland – Salmon Wagon • The Scottish Salmon Company - Outer Hebrides Local Energy Hub (OHLEH), Lewis

INNOVATION – sponsored by the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre

• Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group – novel packaging • Vita Aqua Feeds (World Feeds Ltd) – cleaner fish feed blocks • EWOS/Cargill Aqua Nutrition/Gaia BioMaterials Ltd - compostable feed bags • Ace Aquatec & Scottish Sea Farms – novel slaughtering systems

COLLABORATION – sponsored by the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture

• The Global Salmon Initiative (GSI) • Mowi Scotland – River Lochy salmon enhancement project • Davidsons Animal Feeds / The James Hutton Institute – seaweed in livestock feeds • Benchmark Genetics / Nofima – development of whitespot-resistant shrimp

The awards dinner is currently scheduled to take place at the Macdonald Resort in Aviemore on September 16th 2020. www.fishfarmermagazine.com

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11/05/2020 18:31:49

Aquaculture Awards 2020 – Shortlist

Holding out for a hero We meet the nominees for the ‘Unsung Hero’ category

Unsung Hero Nominee – Professor Charles Ngugi - Kenya Professor Ngugi has been at the forefront of Kenyan and wider sub Saharan aquaculture development for the last 25 years in a number of varied roles- he set up and ran the fish farm and hatchery training facility at Moi University, also developing bespoke aquaculture curricula and courses there for many young Kenyans to go through over the years. He became private undersecretary to the Fisheries Minister for a spell then moved to Kenyatta and now Karatina Universities where he continues to teach and mentor research again with many young Kenyans.

He set up his own fish farm and integrated hands on training

centre at Mwea Fishfarm, where he also carries out a number of trials for EU and US funded research projects . He works in hand with Stirling (UK) and Auburn and Oregon State Universities (US) through a range of international donors and investors.

The products of all his hard work patience,intelligence, unselfish nature and pure humanity are his students/ alumni who are out there now across Kenya (and wider!) working on and managing farms which are steadily making Kenya one of the next larger aquaculture producers across the African continent.

Left: Martin Jaffa.

Right, clockwise from top left: Sarah Last of Scottish Sea Farms; the awards room (Credit: Rob Fletcher); Jason Cleaversmith of AKVA; Sheila Voas Women in Aquaculture (Credit: Rob Fletcher); Lynne Frame and Scott Mackay; Ben Hadfield of Marine Harvest; Gael Force’s Stewart Graham.

Unsung Hero Nominee – Dr Martin Jaffa – Callander McDowell For almost 20 years Martin has produced and published the weekly newsletter ‘Relaksation’. Issued entirely free of charge, the newsletter is released every Saturday and, at the time of writing, is at issue number 949. Often serving as a mouthpiece for the aquaculture industry, Martin has tirelessly and relentlessly argued in favour of the scientific approach when dealing with industry critics. He has frequently debunked myths surrounding the salmon farming business, highlighted inconsistencies and hypocrisies and time and again revealed plain mistruths to an increasingly vociferous anti-industry minority. Most people struggle to grasp that his efforts are self funded and are motivated both by his passion for the aquaculture industry and his overwhelming desire to see scientific rigour overcome unsubstantiated criticism. This makes him an ideal candidate as an ‘unsung hero’ in this sector.

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11/05/2020 18:32:06

Aquaculture Awards 2020

A look back at 2018’s event and winners

Unsung Hero Nominee – Nigel Woodhouse – Hawkshead Trout

Unsung Hero Nominee – Nick Bradbury – BioMar UK

Nigel started trout farming 40 years ago after travelling in central and South America and living with indigenous natives. While sitting on the BTA Council he championed environmental and welfare issues, long before they were todays norm. This included humane slaughter, reedbeds and settling ponds. He was approached by the Soil Association in 1995 to negotiate an organic standard for aquaculture and became the first UK Organic certified producer. He is now chair of Soil Association Organic Standards for Aquaculture, Chair of the Organic Producers Association, contributes to UNESCO fish standards and to the EU. He has recently been made a Fellow of the Royal Society for the detailed Journals he kept during his time in South America. A true unsung hero!

Nick Bradbury has dedicated his 25-year career to Scottish aquaculture. After completing an MSC in Aquaculture at Stirling University, he became very much a ‘hands on’ salmon farmer on the west coast of Scotland before moving into fish feed with Fulmar in 1992. Fulmar later became BOCM, where Nick provided extensive technical support to customers.

In 1999 Nick joined BioMar Scotland and in the years since has been involved in helping bring about advances in a range of key areas including flesh quality, nutrition, and raw materials, as well as the development of new species and quality schemes. In each case, Nick has always thrown himself into projects with enthusiasm, applying

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his in-depth technical knowledge of raw materials, feed and fish.

‘Nick Bradbury is a cornerstone of Scottish aquaculture; his passion and drive has played asignificant role in the development and global reputation of a safe and high quality Scottish farmedsalmon for consumers. His wealth of experience and deep understanding is highly respectedthroughout the supply chain from raw material supply, feed production, producers, processors,retailers and external stakeholders.’Ralph Bickerdike, Head of Fish Health, Scottish Sea Farms

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11/05/2020 18:32:26

Aquaculture Awards 2020 – Shortlist

Stars in their eyes We take a look at the nominees in the ‘rising star’ category Rising Star Nominee – Ivana Russo – BioMar Scotland Since joining BioMar in 2017 as part of the SAIC graduate programme, Ivana has made measurable contributions and improvements to each of the business areas that she has spent time working in, and through close cooperation with customers, has developed new processes/tools, and reports to meet their requirements. Ivana has shown a natural talent and ambition for dealing with any task or project that has been given to her, always embraced enthusiastically, and undertaken in an organised, diligent, and determined manner. Her inquisitive

nature, resourcefulness and adaptability, combined with her great ‘people skills’, have meant that Ivana has been able to consistently deliver.

For the first 18 months of her career in BioMar, Ivana worked in the Customer Support Team where despite her initial lack of knowledge of aquaculture she quickly learned to perform a range of tasks out on customer sites. Always keen for a new challenge and to learn, Ivana was given several specific projects to run.

Two notable achievements during this time were;

Right: Funke Olatunde, one of this year’s Rising Stars.

• The creation of a health and welfare assessment scoring matrix for cleaner fish.

• The design and management of a successful commercial health and performance trial with aLumpfish hatchery which resulted in the launch of a new BioMar product.

‘Ivana has been a real star in putting our best foot forward with customers’.James Neilson (COO, BioMar) ‘If she sees there is an area which she can help in she will volunteer, and in most casesbecome the expert in that project’. Dan Leeming (Technical Manager, BioMar)

Rising Star Nominee – Zoe Fletcher – AquaBio Tech Group, Malta Zoe Fletcher (27) is an Aquaculture Consultant at AquaBioTech Group. Following completion of her masters in Aquaculture Business Management at University of Stirling in 2017, she contributed to the new aquaculture sector plan at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), where she also carried out research, aquaculture site assessments and audits. Upon joining AquaBioTech Group in August 2019 she was immediately able to apply her previous knowledge and experience to on-going projects. She quickly took responsibility for deliverables in the H2020 TAPAS project and within her first four months at the company, her initiative and passion for aquaculture was recognised when she was awarded an invitation to the highly competitive Yenching Global Symposium (4200 applicants, 80 invitations awarded) on Sustainability, to beheld in Beijing later this year. Since then she has also become a task leader for aquaculture aspects in the EU Horizon 2020 MUSICA project, working with partners from a variety ofinternational and professional backgrounds to deliver clean energy, and food and water securityto small islands through multiple use of space.

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She regularly engages public audiences in project dissemination activities and presentations.She is skilled at communicating the depth and breadth of her knowledge to range of audiences from all backgrounds, having addressed upwards of 200 people in groups from the Maltese Innovation Summit, business leaders and schools. Zoe also continues to contribute to her work as a STEM ambassador, inspiring and empowering other young women into careers in scienceand aquaculture, as well as engaging in voluntary work for environmental and social causes inMalta.

Possessing qualities of a future industry leader, she provides constructive feedback and supportto management and others. Her critical thinking, honesty and problem-solving ability has helpedto develop projects, deliver outcomes and ensure high standards of professionalism and work.

She is an indispensable and trusted team member, and a wonderful ambassador forAquaBioTech Group and the sector as a whole. She continues to evolve and flourish as avaluable and dynamic asset for the future sustainable development of the aquaculture industry.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2020 18:32:44

Aquaculture Awards 2020

Meet the judging panel ALEX ADRIAN

Aquaculture Operations Manager, Crown Estate Scotland

NICKI HOLMYARD

Director of Offshore Shellfish Ltd

ROB FLETCHER Senior Editor of The Fish Site

RUTH LAYTON

Rising Star Nominee – Funke Olatunde – Imoran Farms Nigeria Funke Olatunde, from Imoran farms Nigeria limited, has been nominated for the rising star award in relation to the farm that she now manages. She was originally an undergraduate student in the Department of Zoology before going for her master’s degree in Stirling and now she is a Ph.D. research student in the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Funke has

been featured in a prominent newspaper in Nigeria as a youth involved in agriculture and promoting food security through aquaculture, showing strong prowess in this field by employing and empowering women and teenagers in her community. She mainly produces African catfish and she adds values to it by drying and sometimes grinding it. She has various fish-based spices.

Rising Star Nominee – Rosie Dreghorn – Cargill/EWOS Scotland On paper Rosie displays all of the potential needed to be one of the next leaders in Scottish Aquaculture. Her feet are metaphorically firmly planted in the sea, with a degree in Marine Biology and a Masters in Aquaculture. Add in her practical experience as both a laboratory assistant and hatchery technician with MOWI and Rosie has the foundations of a rising star.

However, what really sets Rosie apart is her incisive practical intelligence, calmness under pressure and her disarming sense of humour. She is a prob-

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lem solver, a natural innovator and shows the potential to be a strong leader.

Rosie joined Skretting in 2017 as a Technical Consultant and very quickly established her self within the Skretting Sales and Marketing Team. As part of her on-going development she became involved in feed formulations and looked after all Skretting’s Invergordon formulations. Following the closure of Skretting, Rosie joined Cargill in May 2019 as a Technical Consultant and Feed Formulator.

Rosie was initially responsible for

all Freshwater Accounts, taking advantage of her direct hatchery experience with MOWI. She split her time equally between Account Management (everything from feed pricing to technical support) and feed formulation.

Rosie fitted so quickly into the team that she has quickly become indispensable. She is trusted to run live formulations, runs formulation scenarios and works todevelop new products. Rosie’s potential has been recognised and she has been highlighted as a high performer under Cargill’s development program.

Founder and Director, Sankalpa

MARTIN GILL

Head of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Lloyd’s Register

INGRID OLESEN

Head of Aquaculture Breeding and Genetics, Nofima

DAVID LITTLE

Chair of Aquatic Resource Development and Research Director of the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling 59

11/05/2020 18:33:03

Profile – Harry Hamlin-Wright

Over the rainbow Life as a young vet on fish farms revealed

F

or the past three years, 29-year-old Harry Hamlin-Wright has being working as a company veterinarian for Dawnfresh Farms, a role that takes him to the organisation’s seven Rainbow Trout farms located across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

He began his journey doing a veterinary degree at Nottingham University, where he got the opportunity to explore fish health management through short work placements. Once he decided to pursue a career in aquaculture, Harry completed an MSc in Aquatic Veterinary Medicine at the Institute of Aquaculture in Stirling, before joining Dawnfresh Farming’s graduate programme.

Harry said: ‘I started to think seriously about careers during my final two years at Nottingham. The initial plan was to go into small animal practice because I like exotic medicine. I’m also interested in population health management, so when I got the chance to join a work placement programme on a fish farm in Shetland, I jumped at the chance. Since then I’ve never looked back.’

Shortly after completing the Dawnfresh graduate programme, Harry was offered the position of company veterinarian, where he is responsible for areas like diagnosing and managing fish health problems, recording and analysing data, as well as providing training and vet support for site workers.

Aquaculture veterinarians have a challenging and varied role, according to Harry. He continued: ‘Each day is different and is largely determined by what’s happening on site and the time of year. We have seven farms across the mainland, as well as a hatchery and on-growing site in Northern Ireland, so there’s a lot of ground to cover. In the summer, I travel around Scotland visiting the sites. Everything tends to slow down during winter, but there’s always something to do. Key to my role is building good relationships with site managers, so we can

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Left: Handling a rainbow trout.

Right: Harry HamlinWright.

Bottom: Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

make positive changes and improvements together.’

Harry has a particular interest in sustainable food production, a challenge which is common to water and land based industries. He explains: ‘As our population grows and we face growing environmental pressures, producing food in a responsible and sustainable way is becoming increasingly important. At Dawnfresh, we’ve developed an effective feeding and health management programme which improves production and limits our environmental footprint.’

Working as an aquaculture veterinarian demands a broad range of skills, from tackling challenging fish health issues to using new technology. But being a good communicator is also very important, as Harry says.

‘You need to know how to develop good relationships with people so you can communicate effectively with each other. We often rely on site managers to provide us with information so we can tackle basic fish health issues remotely.

There are only two vets, so we can’t be everywhere all of the time. We also need to train and empower site managers to do basic veterinary tasks, such as identifying health problems or administering treatments.’

So what does the future hold for Harry?

‘To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to become company veterinarian so early, so I’m thoroughly enjoying my current role. It’s both challenging and rewarding and there is always something new to learn. I hope to keep training through Dawnfresh and see where that takes me. It’s been a great learning experience.

I’d recommend it anyone considering a career in aquaculture. Combining theory with hands-on practical experience is so important, and will put you in good steads for the future.’ FF

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11/05/2020 18:34:44

Profile

Large “scale

farming will require reliable marketing and economic research

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Industry Diary

Industry DIARY The latest aquaculture events, conferences and courses MAY 20 CPD TRAINING COURSE IN FISH HEALTH AND WELFARE

SEPTEMBER 20 AQUACULTURE UK 2020

NOVEMBER 20 AQUACULTURE AFRICA 2020 Alexandria, Egypt November 28 - December1, 2020

RASTECH Conference

This two-day course provides a solid understanding of the biological particularities of fish, fish health and disease, disease prevention, fish welfare and relevant legislation, and an overview of salmon production in Scotland.

Enrolment deadline: open, the course runs every two months, please enquire through Alex Pargana, a.m.pargana@stir.ac.uk Course date/s: May 26-27

AUGUST 20

Aviemore will once again be the venue for this bi-annual trade fair and conference. It is undoubtedly the most important aquaculture exhibition held in the British Isles. The show has a tremendous following and with increased investment for 2020 it promises to reach even further across the broader aquaculture markets in both the UK and Europe.

Aviemore, United Kingdom September 15-17, 2020

OCTOBER 20 AQUACULTURE EUROPE 2020

RAStech 2020 is the venue for learning, networking and knowledge sharing on RAS technologies, design and implementation across the world.

Hilton Head Island, SC, USA November 16-17, 2020

DECEMBER 20 WORLD AQUACULTURE 2020

WAS NORTH AMERICA & AQUACULTURE CANADA 2020

This World Aquaculture Society event will feature hundreds of world class speakers and delegates from around the globe.

St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada August 30 -September 2, 2020

SEPTEMBER 20 NAFC: AQUACULTURE MANAGEMENT CPD

This conference will cover the full scope and diversity of European aquaculture. AE 2020 will feature an international trade exhibition, industry forums, student sessions and activities, satellite workshops and updates on EU research.

Cork, Ireland September 29-October 2, 2020

ASSG ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2020 This Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme will allow you to gain a diploma level qualification in aquaculture management while working in the aquaculture industry.

It is aimed at experienced aquaculture staff who are working in, or are ready to progress to, aquaculture management roles.

Enrolment deadline of August 14 Course start date of September 7

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The event will be held in Singapore this year with involvement from countries throughout the Asian-Pacific region and around the world.

Aquaculture is growing rapidly in the region and therefore 2020 is the perfect time for the world aquaculture community to turn its focus here.

Singapore December 14-18, 2020

FEBRUARY 21 The Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers’ annual conference features speakers from around the world.

Oban, United Kingdom October 8-9, 2020

AQUACULTURE AMERICA 2021 San Antonio,Texas, USA February 21-24, 2021

www.fishfarmermagazine.co.uk

11/05/2020 11:56:47

Products and services

What’s NEW Monthly update on industry innovations and solutions from around the world

Tanks that enable industry to deliver.

Flexibility, Durability and Value: RNT supports the Blue Economy with the inventive use of 200-year-old technology and the worlds most trusted material.

From the humble corrugated steel sheet RNT fabricate tanks that enable industry to deliver on the challenge of rising food demand and improving animal welfare. By continuously developing their products to be even more efficient in structure, strength, simplicity and quality, this cost-effective demountable tank solution is delivered to your site with clear instructions for erection and easily integrates into any RAS or other system. Give RNT a call to discuss your Aquaculture Farm needs.

Conceptual Development Inter Fresh Concepts is busy catching up now that some space has been freed up by the Corona measures. Director Leon Hoogervorst told us: ‘We had it on the agenda for some time that we wanted to make it possible for retailers to order directly from us.

‘We have now built that website and will be online in June. Complete with the famous shopping cart in the picture. Ordered today, delivered tomorrow.’

Interfresh itself is in a transition from a traditional icepack supplier to a company that is involved (again) in the conceptual development of refrigerated packaging.

For full details see the website. www.interfreshconcepts.NL

www.rnttanks.com Email: info@rnttanks.com

Caged delivery FiiZK will complete two new installations of closed cages for fish farmers in Norway in May and June. A third cage is also under construction, and will be delivered in October.

Certus 15000, FiiZK’s newest closed postsmolt cage, can hold up to 750 tons biomass. A heavy duty industrial PVC bag closes the production volume. 4 independent water intakes deliver 18.000m3/h of seawater into the cage. Oxygen is inserted directly into the intake water, securing a stable O2-level throughout production. Waste is collected in the sludge-collector in the bottom of the bag.

The postsmolt thrives in a closed cage from FiiZK. www.fiizk.com

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What's New - May 20.indd 63

On the move Ferguson Transport and Shipping are leaders in delivering general, specialised, ADR, fish feed, treatments, pen washing and fish harvests, port services and facilities covering the West coast of Scotland, Ireland and Northern Isles.

The Port and dry dock serve the marine, decommissioning, wind wave and tidal, oil and gas sectors via road, rail and shipping logistic solutions distributing excellence throughout the UK. Fergusons ‘roll on roll off’ work vessels are available for private hire seven days a week, 365 days a year, for short, long-term and ad-hoc contracts for the movement of general cargo and waste management.

Facilities include one of the largest dry docks in Europe, as well as quayside berthing, cranage, materials handling, warehousing, offices and accommodation and shipping and agency services.

Feature Caption: Port and Marine services .

Go with the flow Oxygenation efficiency reduces costs and improves performance. Animal health and growth rates are improved with proper oxygenation. This applies to new farms as well as existing ones with inefficient oxygenation systems. Live holding systems and hydroponics can also benefit from higher oxygenation levels easily achieved using the Oxyflow® oxygenator.

Low head Oxyflow® is easy to install in fresh or salt-water systems and can reach 100% efficiency for oxygen cost savings. Suitable for use with LOX or oxygen generator produced oxygen. There are many examples of installations working successfully around the world. Contact Aquacare to improve your farm profitability. www.aquacare.com T: +1 360 734 7964 Email: info@aquacare.com

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11/05/2020 11:55:34

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06/05/2020 12:34:15

Opinion – Inside track

Not Good Enough!

BY NICK JOY

S

O here we are again, another body set up to create harmony between the wild and farmed sectors has pronounced its views. Set up just like the Tripartite Working Group,The Salmon Interactions Working Group is another body in a long history of attempts to find a brokered solution to this never ending saga of a badly run industry, full of nostalgic people longing for the catches of their youth attacking a new industry growing the king of fish. Forgive me my cynicism please, as I have seen and been involved in this area for so long, from naïve junior manager to Managing Director.The groups always start with lofty ideals of government and then descend into lobbying behind the scenes and bad blood usually caused by the same things. In the end a series of recommendations come out, which are aspirational and cause larger numbers of bureaucrats to be employed and little else.

So, let’s take a look at these ‘new’ recommendations: A lead body to take on regulation and planning is proposed.Well that idea is so old that I am surprised it is still alive. It makes sense but both sides will be coming at it from different directions and therefore it is unlikely to be set up.

The wild sector will use their attack dogs (Salmon and Trout Conservation) to attack it as soon as it makes decisions that they don’t like. Until the wild lobby agree to publicly disavow their attack dogs then there will never be a one stop shop for regulation.

It calls for local engagement and a review of Management Areas with protection of wild salmonids as the key component.Again, the two sides will expect different things from this.The farmed side will hope for agreements on a longterm basis to ensure easier management and better coordination.The wild side will want to see farm closures and much greater enforcement.They will also never sign up to a long-term agreement to a farm being in place because as soon as they have succeeded in moving their ‘priority’ farms, they will move on to a new list.

The fundamentals that drive this difference is the ridiculous idea that the Wild salmon and Sea Trout sector are a conservation organisation.They have cleverly played themselves to government as such and both the press and government have allowed themselves to be duped. In general, in Scotland, these sort of fisheries are owned by fairly rich people, who own it and treat it, quite correctly, as an industry because that is what it is. It is a tourism industry which survives by creating a cachet, catching wild migratory fish.The catches are only significant inasmuch as they must not fall too low or become too high such that those people, who wish to dangle a fish on a line, make it fight for as long as they can and then release it, feel they are unlikely to catch enough during their allotted period.The interesting truth that also follows is that if there are too many fish and you catch one on every cast then the same people quickly become bored and will take up another pastime.The catches have been used both by the migratory salmonid angling industry to beat anyone they deem to have contributed to the decline of these wonderful fish. However here again there is a catch, forgive the pun.

Catch statistics depend on fishermen recording their catches accurately.

Their relevance to a river’s true capacity have been discussed for many years. If less fishermen fish then less fish are caught.Thus fishing effort and accuracy of recording lie at the centre of whether catches are representative. If you think how difficult it is to get onto a West Coast river through the season, it soon becomes apparent that catch effort is not just about lazy fishermen!

So, catches may not be a good indicator. Even more so when you realise that the rateable value of a river is directly related to the number of salmon and sea trout caught on that river. Let me be even clearer, if a river catches less fish then the owner pays less rates.What this means is that a sector which sees itself as an advocacy group for a species it preys upon, has a strong incentive to underreport its catches. It is not for me to say whether they do or not but they regularly accuse the salmon farming industry of being corrupt because of

66

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less “timeSpend looking

at the science and more time at the way people are behaving

”

what could happen.Yet right at the centre of this debate lies an anomaly which they simply cannot deny.

Nonetheless catches for individual rivers have always been collected by government and collated into areas because they are commercially sensitive.

I suppose they are and I suppose that you could argue that you would be telling the thieves where to go to take salmon or sea trout except that these catches are reported after the fact. However, when the salmon farming industry argues that sea lice numbers and other data are commercially sensitive, the wild salmon lobby suggest it is not important.

The new recommendations have a very short paragraph suggesting that the angling industry will release its figures in a more useful form. I for one am not going to hold my breath waiting for it.

Oh, and just in case you’re worried the angling sector are looking for government support for their cause. In plain speak they are looking for government to lob some money their way. It was ever thus.

The gist of this document is that all recommendations for the farming industry appear to be in bold capitals with the wild industry’s in italics with brackets round them and an Asterix for which the note reads ‘not really necessary’.

Before I round off this cant, in such terrible times, I would like to add my support for the NHS but mention some other unsung heroes who nobody notices.The farmers, the processors, the packers, the transporters, the drivers and supermarket workers all of whom ensure that when the shoppers go to buy their stockpiles, there is still enough to eat.Thank you from someone whose stomach continues to get larger from too much inactivity but who appreciates that without all of you it couldn’t happen! FF

www.fishfarmermagazine.co.uk

11/05/2020 18:37:36

Welcome

The annual meeting of the European Aquaculture Society

For more info on the TRADESHOW: mario@marevent.com For more info on the CONFERENCE: www.aquaeas.eu ae2020@aquaeas.eu

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06/05/2020 27/03/2020 12:39:34 09:04:47