Fish Farmer May 2022

Fish Farmer MAY 2022

SHOW TIME

Seafood Expo Global

And the winners are...

UK Aquaculture Awards

SMART SOLUTIONS Turning waste into value

HEALTHY LESSON

Export woes

Salmon on the school menu

Could a digital system be the answer?

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WELCOME Welcome

Editor’s Welcome Welcome

TT

ierra del Fuego, the southernmost province of Argen�na, has a good claim to the �tle he experience of two years without trade shows and conferences has shown “The of the world.” together in person. theend value of getting Earlier this month thedisappeared, regional legislature thelearning provincetovoted to ban openthe net Covid-19 has not but weofare live with it, and salmon farming.

Coming on top of the Danish government’s decision last autumn to last few weeks have seen the return of two big events – Seafood Expo Global/ curtail any Seafood further growth of fi sh farming at sea, and the ongoing struggle of the industry in Processing Global, in its new home, Barcelona, and the Aquaculture Canada toshow resistin the closure ofinfarms in the Discovery Islands, it is clearer than ever that the UK trade Aviemore, the Scottish Highlands. fish farming industry needs toto make its case order just to(and stayweather!) in business.

The two are very different, be sure, notinjust in scale but also because It’saquaculture not all gloom, however. have At thea North Atlan� Seafood ForumIn – held onlinethey this year the producers different rolec at each event.

Barcelona are suppliers, looking to connect with buyers andher retailers frominvestment around theinworld; at –the Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg reiterated belief that the blue Aquaculture UK they are thethe customers. economy is a route to saving environment, not harming it. Also at the NASF, chief Whatves these occasions had in was a palpable buzz,biggest along challenge with a sense execu� andtwo analysts alike were in common agreement that the industry’s is of relief at being able to meet other people in the industry again, reinforcing existing finding ways to meet the world’s growing demand for their product – arguably, that’s a good relationships and forging new ones. problem to have.

In this this issue issuewe wereport reporton onthe theNASF Expoand in Barcelona and also the results of the In also present theyou firstcan part of asee preview of Aqua Nor UK Aquaculture Awards, held in Aviemore.

A full report on Aquaculture UK will appear in 2021, one of the industry’s biggest trade shows. the What’s happening in aq TheJune July edition. issue also features a profile of Norcod, currently the front runner in the race to Also this month, Hamish Macdonell writes about an initiative that has seen Salmon in the UK and around th revive the cod farming industry. Find out why Norcod’s Chief Execu�ve, Chris�an Riber, What’s happening in aquacu Scotland and its members reaching out to schools in Stirling to help their students find believes this �me they have a model that works. w in the UK and around the wo out how salmon can be a tasty and nutritious part of the school diet.

We also focus on two aquaculture projects in Guatemala and The Bahamas that are being JENNY –– EDITOR JENNY HJUL HJUL EDITOR Sandy Neil reports on the lessons so far from a pilot study in digitising the paperwork supported

by Norway’s Kvarøy c, and on the “Øymerd” project which is se� to around exporting seafood to Arc� theJENNY European Union.

Vince McDonagh looks at ng theout latest HJUL JENNY HJUL –– EDITOR EDITOR create a fi sh farm based on a fl oa� ng concrete island. thinking on aquafeed and we also have a report on progress so far with Cermaq’s Steve Bracken SSC’s record results Stewart Graham The final sessions Nicki Holmyard at the shellfish farmers’ ba�le against tubeworm and this issue also innovative iFarmlooks concept. features specialElizabeth industry reports on Breeding and Gene� cs, Transport andwarn Logis� cs the and Steve Bracken SSC’s record results Stewart Graham The final sessions Researchers Cook, Nidhi Nagabhatla and Louise Shaxson that HE salmon farming sector in Scotland, when told it was to he focus this month is on Europe, where the internati onal T is no coincidence that pictures and videos of unhealthy S Fish Farmer went to press, there was sti ll no offi cial Li� ing and Cranes. potential for seaweed as a farmed crop could be undermined by a lack of genetic be thewere subject ofScotti a be parliamentary inquiry, embraced the industry will soon gathering for the (European salmon sent to news outlets just asjoint the Scotti sh news from the shScotland, parliamentary inquiry into salmon farming sector in when itEAS was tosalmon diversity; and we also hear from twoT HE members of the Welsh Senedd about their he focus this month istopictures on Europe, where the internati is coincidence that and videos of unhealthy Sno Fish Farmer went press, there was sti lltold no offi cialonal 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 Best wishes,from a fact-finding visitsalmon impressions to aquaculture businesses in Scotland. be the subject of aSociety) parliamentary inquiry, embraced industry willsent soon be gathering for the EASinto (European were to news outlets just asjoint the Scotti shthe news from the Scotti sh parliamentary inquiry 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 Robert Outram 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 Best wishes 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 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 Robert Outram address much of the criti cism levelled against it. city ofngs, Astolevels well asare highlighti ng the latest technological farms -Montpellier. where sea lice in decline and, inwe fact, at abe fivemeeti in private, consider their report and must farmers were being drowned out bywhich theREC noisier elements offarming the sessions on emerging markets and look atinvolves the role ofthe fishusual This latest propaganda campaign, all made harder by leaks from within to anti -salmon Fish Farmer supported this atthe times salmon advances in our fast moving sector, Aqua 2018felt willthat alsohas feature year low (htt p://scotti shsalmon.co.uk/monthly-sea-lice-reports). pati ent.

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

But asngs the farming in alleviati ng poverty.

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

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

But as farming inThe alleviati 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.into Weand now believe that MSPs, perhaps with acceptability of aquaculture the contributi on it makes to global consider its draft report the future of salmon farming. members have been willing to listen to those campaigning to sessions progressed, and eventually farmers’ voices were heard, are broadening their scope, tackling subjects such asthat the committ social and Connecti vity committ ee returned the summer recess we to makes grim reading for the industry asfrom it suggests ee Serving Worldwide Aquaculture Since 1977 food security and saving the planet, aindustry move that is toanti welcomed. the excepti on ofvaluable one or two Greens cahoots with -farming Those who want toWe shut down thein asbe shut down this sector, rather than to those who operate became more misti c. now believe that MSPs, perhaps with acceptability ofopti aquaculture and the contributi on ithave, makes toexpected, global consider its draft report into the future of salmon farming. members have been willing to listen to those campaigning to Also investi gati ngacti initi aties, veswhich inregard thenow developing world, Harrison campaigners, will, on balance, the industry in a Dr favourable stepped their viti involve the within it.up food security and saving the planet, a45 move that is tobreaching welcomed. the excepti on ofvaluable one or two Greens cahoots with anti -farming Those who want to shut down thein industry asbe expected, shut down this sector, rather than tohave, those who operate Meet the the team Fish Farmer: Volume Number 05 Meet team Charo Karisa of WorldFish writes about the farming potenti al inthe Fish Farmer: Volume 44 Number 07 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 Advisory Board: Editorial Board: Nigeria, both in catf ti lapia vati on.

Contact us responsibiliti es seriously and that businesses will only ever invest in the hope of fi nding incriminati ng evidence against farmers.

One committ ee’s fi ndings are not binding.

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

They will hopefully see that farmers take their environmental Steve Bracken, Bracken, Hervé Hervé Migaud, Migaud, Jim Jim Treasurer, Treasurer, biosecure environments of131 farm sites tosomething snatch ingame Of course, such stories may be inaccurate and,photographs inofany case,ngthe Steve In Scotland, the summer has been aofwaiti Tel: +44(0) 551 1000 What’s in a name?

Dr Nick Lake Phil Thomas growth that is sustainable.

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

Onein committ ee’s fiin ndings are not binding.

Scotland’s fish farmers Fax:ee +44(0) 131 551 7901 Chris while the parliament is inthat recess and thethose members of Holyrood’s Fax: +44(0) 131 551 7901 If the committ members, especially 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. and Hamish Hamish Macdonell Macdonell Email: editor@fi campaigner lmed himself searching, unsuccessfully, forto dead haveRural always fortunate toshfarmermagazine.com have the support of their minister, and 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 isroutram@fi in recess and members of Holyrood’s If the committ ee members, especially those who have yet to Editor: Robert Outram 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 Editor: RobertRural Outram Head Offi ce: Special Publica� ons, Fe� esto Park, their we have plenty of good stories in our May Even and Connecti vity committ ee conti nue weigh up Head Offi ce: Special Publica� ons, Fe� es Park, of theinquiry, professional vets and biologists who manage theissue. welfare of committ ee, with their own agendas against the growth of a Economy farm, like to learn more about the ofthetime infested salmon in go awould but we only have his word against that Buttheir itsalmon should not unchallenged that some MSPs onsubject the REC report unti l pen, the autumn but hope the MSPs are using the Designer: Andrewvisit Balahura 496 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH5 2DL bett er,farms they could head to Highlands later this month, where 496 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH5 2DL We the evidence in their inquiry into salmon farming. don’t expect Designer: Andrew their Balahura these on a daily basis. industry, are in breach of the Code of Conduct for MSPs. As they wefully have plenty of good stories in ourgrowth May toinquiry, become acquainted with the facts about fithe shissue. farming. of the professional vets andagendas biologists who manage welfare of committ ee, with their own against the of theEven 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, Commercial Subscriptions bett er, could head to Highlands later this month, where This month also sees reti rement of Marine Harvest’s longest JaniceManager: Johnston these farms on a daily basis. industry, are in breach of the Code of Conduct for MSPs. As they Subscriptions 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 Scotland’s economy, we have a right Janice Johnston Subscrip� onsto Address: Fish Farmer Montpellier report Dr Marti n Jaff a Doug McLeod jjohnston@fishfarmermagazine.com they will meet the industry en masse Scotland’s serving employee, Steve Bracken. had no Subscrip� ons Address: Fish Farmer If the isto proud of its high standards, as itsalmon says itcollecti is, it ng are in aindustry positi on inflthe uence the future course ofat farming, This month also sees reti rement of Marine Harvest’s longest We will certainly be at Aquaculture UK inindustry, Aviemore and look jjohnston@fiCommercial shfarmermagazine.com representati ve body, the SSPO, than it has done to date.

The to know who they are, and we hope the through its Magazine Subscrip� ons, Warners Group warm tributes from his friends and colleagues to mark the biggest fi sh farming show.

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

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

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

West Street, Bourne Farmer wish him all the very best for the future.

West Publisher: Alisterforward Benne� 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 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 Uphold the codefight back 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 SSPO 22-23 18-19 market 24-27 Salmon SSPO market

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Cover: Seafood Expo Global, Fira Barcelona Cover: Fish farm Granship Via maintenance in Skanevik�orden, Norway Photo: Shu�erstock

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Tel: +44 +44 (0)1778 (0)1778 392014 392014 Tel: UK Subscrip� Subscrip�ons: ons: £75 £75 aa year year UK www.fishfarmer-magazine.com now on @fishfarmermag Fish Farmer is ROW Subscrip�ons: ons: £95 £95 aa year year including including ROW Subscrip� www.fishupdate.com Facebook and Twitter Fish Farmer is now postage on postage All Air Air Mail Mailwww.fishfarmer-magazine.com www.fishfarmermagazine.com -- All

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

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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 the team www.fishfarmermagazine.com Fax: +44(0) 131 551 7901 33 Bracken, Scott Landsburgh, Hervé Steve Bracken, Scott HervéLandsburgh, Migaud, Editorial Advisory Board: Steve Tel: +44(0) 131 551 1000 Migaud, PatrickJim Smith and Jim Hervé Patrick Smith, PatrickMigaud, Smith, Treasurer and Fax: email: +44(0) 131 551 7901 Bracken, Scott Landsburgh, Hervé Steve Bracken, Scott HervéLandsburgh, Migaud, jhjul@fi shupdate.com Treasurer, Wiliam Jim Treasurer and Dowds William Dowdsemail: William Dowds Marti nofJaff a era Vaccines New player Dawn new Migaud, PatrickJim Smith and Jim Hervé Patrick Smith, PatrickMigaud, Smith, Treasurer and Editor: Jenny Hjul jhjul@fi shupdate.com 11/05/2022 16:37:37 Treasurer, Wiliam 12/07/2021 Jim Treasurer and Dowds William Dowds William Dowds Head Office: Special Publications, Dawn Marti nofJaff a15:32:14 Vaccines New player new era

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

CONTENTS

Fish F armer

In the May issue...

News

What’s happening in the UK and around the world

Processing News

24-25

Update from the processing sector

Comment

26-27

Martin Jaffa

Salmon Scotland

28-29

Hamish Macdonell

Shellfish

30-31

Nicki Holmyard

Export

32-33

Sandy Neil

Feed

34-35

Vince McDonagh

Innovation

36-37

A new source of astaxanthin

Technology

38-39

Sandy Neil

Iceland

40-41

Vince McDonagh

Seafood Expo Global Report from Barcelona

Waste management & the circular economy Innovations to help planet and profits

The Welsh perspective

Mabon ap Gwynfor MS and Rhun ap Iorwerth MS

Seaweed

Elizabeth Cook, Nidhi Nagabhatla and Louise Shaxson

What’s New

Monthly update on industry innovations and solutions

Industry Diary

All the latest aquaculture events, conferences and courses

Aqua Source Directory

42-49 50-52 56-57 58-59 60 62 64-65

Find all you need for the industry

Opinion

66

Nick Joy

32 4

6-23

42

58

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

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11/05/2022 10:42:04

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

United Kingdom News

Minister promises action on reforming aquaculture regime

6

UK News.indd 6

RURAL Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon has promised to personally oversee the drafting of a new regulatory regime for aquaculture in Scotland.

Speaking at the opening of the Aquaculture UK trade show in Aviemore, in the Scottish Highlands, she announced that a Ministerial Aquaculture Strategy Forum will deliver the recommendations made

by Professor Russell Griggs OBE in the first stage of the Scottish Government’s regulatory review of aquaculture.

The strategy forum, she said, will be responsible for ensuring equal progress of the government’s commitments to bring in reforms to a system that the independent Griggs Report, published in February this year, described as “not fit for purpose”.

Gougeon added: “In order to make progress at pace to streamline the consenting system, I have instructed my officials to set up a small consenting task group to support the work of the forum.”

She also said that she had instructed her officials to extend the marine licence renewal period for finfish and shellfish farms from six to 25 years, bringing it in line with the Crown Estate Scotland lease cycle.

The marine licence deals with navigational issues only, Gougeon stressed, and this change is meant to reduce the burden on both Marine

Scotland and the industry, without affecting environmental or other outcomes.

The Scottish Government’s Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture is set to be published by the end of the year. It is expected to have enhanced emphasis on environmental protection and community benefit at its core.The policy framework will embrace finfish, shellfish and seaweed aquaculture in Scotland.

A Blue Economy Action Plan will be published later this year, setting out how the Blue Economy Vision will be delivered.

Also, the Scottish Science Advisory Council has also been asked to consider the scientific recommendations of the review to ensure changes to the sector support its sustainable development and tackle environmental challenges.

Referring to the Scottish Parliament Committee’s inquiries into salmon farming in Scotland, Gougeon said: “I think it is important to recognise the significant progress made since then through the salmon interactions working group and the recent SEPA sea lice risk assessment framework consultation for wild salmon.”

She said: “I am a champion for the aquaculture sector in Scotland – it is a

significant contributor to our rural and island economies, providing well paid jobs in some of Scotland’s most fragile communities.

“The aquaculture sector is a vital part of our economy in Scotland.”

Tavish Scott, Chief Executive of Salmon Scotland, commented: “We are very pleased that the government recognises that the regulatory regime is not fit for purpose and that it must change.

“Mairi Gougeon’s personal commitment to chair a strategy forum is a very strong sign of her leadership on this, and government officials and regulators can be in no doubt as to the direction of travel.

“Professor Griggs recommended that a reformed regulatory framework should be delivered within 12 months and the strong message coming from Aviemore is that we must all work together to deliver this vision.”

He added: “The salmon sector in Scotland will work constructively with government and regulators to deliver efficient and effective outcomes across social, economic and environmental objectives, supporting thousands of rural jobs, generating millions of pounds for Scotland’s economy, and farming one of the most nutritious products that we can eat.”

From the top: Salmon farm; Mairi Gougeon; Tavish Scott

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2022 16:23:43

Consortium aims to help improve lobster survival rates AN innovation group involving the university sector and development bodies is helping to find ways to ensure that more lobsters survive their early stage growth phase.

Marine-i is helping the National Lobster Hatchery to develop a new kind of larval rearing vessel, which can be used to improve lobster survival in the hatchery.

The National Lobster Hatchery is a marine conservation, research and education charity based in Padstow, Cornwall, UK. Its work is specifically related to a commercial species – the European lobster.

A vital element of the Hatchery’s work focuses on the larval stage of the lobster lifecycle. In the wild, the survival rate at the larval stage is very low.

The National Lobster Hatchery seeks to improve survival at this early, vulnerable stage of the lobster’s life and release them back into the wild at an age where they are less vulnerable and more able to fend for themselves.

A female lobster can carry in the region of 20,000 eggs under their abdomen.

However, only one of these

is expected to survive in the wild. With skilful and careful application of modern technology, the National Lobster Hatchery can improve this survival rate by about 1,000 times.

Marine-i was set up to help the marine technology sector in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly grow through research and innovation. With support from the European Regional Development Fund, Marine-i is a collaboration between the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, The Cornwall College Group, Cornwall Marine Network, Cornwall Development Company and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.

Dr Carly Daniels of the National Lobster Hatchery said: “We currently use modified conical vessels to keep the larvae in suspension.

Now, based on our own preliminary work, we believe that it may be possible to create an enhanced larval vessel with conditions that enable greater survival rates.”

Ruadan Geraghty from Marine-i partner University of Plymouth, said: “We are aiming for materials to be sustainable and recyclable, as well as sufficiently robust to withstand the rigours of the marine environment.”

The National Lobster Hatchery will test the prototype in the hatchery from the start of the new larval season in May 2022 with the help of Marine-i partner, the University of Exeter.

Dr Daniels added: “If the new larval vessel is proven to achieve higher survival rates than the vessels we currently use, then we will look to move to large scale production of the new vessels for future use.”

Group

Group

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Left: Dr Carly Daniels

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

UK News.indd 7

7

11/05/2022 16:24:56

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

NEWS IN BRIEF Two new directors join Salmon Scotland board

TRADE body Salmon Scotland has apointed two new members to its board. Ben Wilson, managing director of Inverlussa Marine Services, which supplies and operates working vessels, and Jarl van den Berg, general manager of Hendrix Genetics, were unanimously elected to the board of Salmon Scotland at its AGM in Aviemore on 4 May.

Above: (From left): Ben Wilson, Jarl van den Berg

ASC role for Alison Hutchins ALISON Hutchins, formerly Farming Director with salmon and trout producer Dawnfresh, has joined the Aquaculture Stewardship Council as Director of Innovations. She had worked at Dawnfresh for nearly nine years.

Right: Alison Hutchins

SAIC’s Jones joins Global Underwater Hub board HEATHER Jones, CEO of the Sustainable Aquaculture Centre (SAIC), has joined the board of the Global Underwater Hub (GUH), the body set up to promote the UK’s growing subsea sector. Other board appointments include: Sue Barr, Chair, Marine Energy Council, Zander Bruce, Subsea Operations Manager, bp North Sea; Bill Cattanach OBE, Head of Supply Chain, North Sea Transition Authority; Sarah Cridland,VP Commercial and Subsea Projects, UK, Med & Caspian – UK Country Manager, TechnipFMC; Neil Douglas, Director,Viper Innovations Ltd; Rear Admiral Paul Halton OBE, Director Submarine Support, Royal Navy; Mike Jones, Chairman, Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd; Tim Sheehan, Head of Business Development, Boskalis Subsea Services; Benj Sykes,VP UK Offshore, Ørsted.

Above: Heather Jones

8

UK News.indd 8

Bakkafrost’s Scottish farms on road to recovery as group profits rise BAKKAFROST almost doubled its operating profit during the first three months of this year with its Scottish farming business, showing a big improvement.

Releasing the 2022 Q1 results, the Faroe Islands based salmon farmer announced an EBIT (earnings before interest and taxation) figure of 418m Danish kroner (£48m), against DKK 244m (£28m) 12 months earlier.

The Faroe Islands farming segment performed particularly well with an operational EBIT of DKK 471m (£54m) while its Scottish farming arm, the Scottish Salmon Company, recorded a loss of DKK 53m (£6m) against a loss of DKK 6m (£690,000) last year.

The Q1 harvest for the Faroe Islands was 3,500 tonnes higher at 17,500 tonnes while Scotland dropped from 7,000 tonnes to 4,000 tonnes.

The full 2022 Faroes harvest is expected to total 68,000 tonnes while Scotland should rise to around 35,000 tonnes.

Two million smolts were transferred in the Faroes, down from 2.3 million in Q1 2021, but the number increased for Scotland – from 1.6 million a year ago to 2.3 million this quarter.

Despite disappointing financial results from the Scottish farming operation, Jacobsen said he was pleased to see clear improvement during the period following “challenging biology and high mortality” during the final six months of 2021.

Loch Duart launches online shop SALMON farmer Loch Duart has launched an online shop to make its products available directly to the consumer.

Customers will now be able to buy the company’s restaurant-quality salmon to enjoy at home.

The online shop at lochduart. com allows consumers to order eight or twelve fillet portions of fresh salmon for delivery within days. It includes a Shopify function and also uses Apple Pay, for simple threestep purchasing.

Chris Orr, Sales Director with Loch Duart Salmon, said: “Bringing Loch Duart to people’s homes has been something we have been planning for some time so it’s fantastic to finally launch our new online shop and bring the salmon we love direct to customers.Traditionally Loch Duart salmon has been

reserved for the world’s finest restaurants, but over the last few years we’ve seen a growth not just in the desire to cook at home, but a demand for restaurant quality produce to work with.

“We’re delighted that home cooks can now easily buy generous Loch Duart fillet portions through our new online shop. I’d urge all discerning foodies and home cooks to savour the unique flavour of Loch Duart.”

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2022 16:25:38

Gael Force Group unveils new features for its concrete and steel SeaFeed barge range FEED barge builder Gael Force Group has unveiled a series of 2022 Sea Safe features and enhancements on its extended SeaFeed barge range, encompassing modernised concrete and steel designs.

The supply partner, which recently celebrated a landmark 100th feed barge build, revealed the range ahead of exhibiting at Aquaculture UK in Aviemore from 3 to 5 May. Adding to their existing range of 150T to 300T SeaFeed steel barges, and 600T SeaFarm steel barge, are the newly launched range of 400T and 500T SeaFeed steel barge designs, and their SeaFeed concrete barge range now comprising standardised models with 150T, 200T and 350T feed load capacities.

The barges are designed and built in accordance with NS9415 by a wellestablished and skilled in-house team based in Scotland.

Their 2022 Sea Safe features across the full range of SeaFeed barges include: • Freeboards designed to be significantly greater than the requirement as set out in the NS9415 standards for Hs 5-6 rating. For example, the SeaFeed 200T Concrete Barge has had its freeboard massively increased from previous models – more than 2 metres when fully loaded.

• Load line markings are clearly marked on the barge hull to indicate minimum

working freeboard, light ship and fully laden levels to the operator.

• A smart new hatch alarm system is connected to all external hatches, doors, or openings. If any hatches are left open, the alarm system will notify the operator with a combination of audible and visual alerts both inside and outside the barge, meaning operators will not be able to leave the barge without knowing that a hatch or opening has not been closed correctly.This is additional to existing automated bilge alarm systems.

• Throughout the lower levels of the barge, Gael Force has introduced robust DNV compliant watertight doors and hatches, increasing segregation between rooms.

• Watertight cable glands have been implemented in the design to ensure all cable transitions through walls keep each void watertight.

• All new barge designs feature a new heat venting arrangement meaning any heat generated from the plant inside the lower levels of the barge is now vented directly outside thus removing any source of heat build-up. As a result, the inside of the barge is kept close to ambient seawater temperature, and this benefits the plant on board and ensures that feed retains its quality in

the best available environment.

• Optional Hybrid Power Systems can be installed or retrofitted to existing barges.With Fjord Hybrid, fish farms can run their generators for as little as three hours per day, instead of 24 hours, which is the current norm.This can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 per cent compared with traditional operations.

Moreover, Fjord Maritime has reported that the reduced running time can extend the lifetime of fish farm power supply systems by up to 60 per cent.

Group Managing Director, Stewart Graham said: “With the price of steel trading at peak levels, continuing to provide our customers with an economical choice of reliable, stable concrete feeding platforms remains important for the safety of farmers and cost-efficient husbandry of fish.

“Our feed barges have gradually evolved over many years as fish farming methods have advanced, however, by modernising our concrete designs within the SeaFeed range and implementing our collection of 2022 Sea Safe features we see this as a significant leap forward, building a stronger more competitive offering in support of our customers.”

Above: The SeaFeed 350T concrete barge Left: The SeaFeed 500T steel barge

Scottish Sea Farms makes ‘Living Wage’ commitment ONE of Scotland’s biggest salmon farmers has committed to help its employees cope with the cost of living crisis – by paying above the real Living Wage.

Following its annual pay review this month, Scottish Sea Farms – now the country’s second largest producer of farmed salmon – said it will now pay a minimum hourly rate of £10.40. The move represents a pay increase of 9%, year on year, for the company’s lowest paid employees.

The “real Living Wage” is independently calculated each year based on what households need to live on. It is consistently higher than the UK Government’s National Living Wage.

The real Living Wage is recalculated annually. It is currently set at £9.90, while the

National Living Wage is currently £9.50 for those over the age of 23.

The decision by Scottish Sea Farms brings the company’s entry level salary to £21,632 before overtime, weekend payments, employer pension contributions and annual bonus.

Managing Director Jim Gallagher said:

“Across each area of our business, costs are rising at a rate and to a level never seen before. In the first four months of this year alone, the cost of fish feed – one of our largest overheads – has risen by 29%, with further increases expected throughout the year. Over the same period, we’ve seen even larger hikes in the price of oxygen (32%), oil and diesel (48%), and electricity (53%).

“Of course, household incomes are under increasing pressure too due to the rising price of food, fuel and energy, amongst other essentials. As an employer, it presents a very real challenge: how best to help employees withstand the worst of the hopefully shortlived inflationary hikes, whilst also ensuring any increases in pay rates are affordable in the longer term.”

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11/05/2022 16:26:22

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

Cooke’s new hybrid barge reduces carbon emissions COOKE Aquaculture Scotland has taken delivery of its first hybrid feed barge, which runs on a combination of diesel and electric power.

The barge, SM95, has been deployed at Cooke Aquaculture Scotland’s Mill Bay organic site in Stronsay, Orkney by Invernessbased aquaculture supply company Gael Force Group, working in partnership with Norwegian sustainability leaders Fjord Maritime, who developed the hybrid technology.

It is also the first hybrid barge delivered by Gael Force and, for Fjord Maritime, the first time its hybrid technology has been deployed outside Norway.

The barge’s auxiliary diesel generator will only operate to recharge batteries on the barge, which are then used to power the barge’s own operation and to provide electricity for the seawater site.

In 2019, Cooke initiated a review of barge power as part of its ISO 14001 environmental management objectives to explore alternative sources of power supply to the company’s seawater sites

in Orkney and Shetland.

The hybrid battery solution that was selected automates power supply and optimises use of generators, batteries, electrical drives and control systems.

Modelling confirms, Cooke said, that this will reduce generator run time by up to 90% and fuel consumption by up to 60%.

The SM95 barge is expected to achieve carbon savings of approximately 146 tonnes of CO2 every year, which is equivalent to removing 55 cars from the roads.

Fjord’s hybrid solution can be operated

remotely through the Fjord Control system, which continuously transmits information about status and any unexpected events.

Stewart Rendall, North Isles Manager at Cooke Aquaculture Scotland said: “Cooke Aquaculture is committed to sustainability. Farmraised salmon already have one of the lowest carbon footprints but there is always more we can do to minimise any impact on the environment and play our part in tackling climate change.

“This is a significant investment but one that makes economic and environmental sense.

“Our new hybrid feed barge in Orkney has been developed by partners with a strong track record and we have a high degree of confidence in the expected performance of our new hybrid barge.

“We are already exploring options to deploy this technology on other barges across our fleet in Orkney and Shetland which would further lighten our carbon footprint.”

Above: Cooke’s new hybrid feed barge

Seafood contributes to Scotland’s food and drink export growth

Above: Salmon on platter

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SCOTLAND’S economic recovery has largely been driven by strong growth in exports of drinks and seafood products, which together accounted for £5.2bn of total Scottish exports.

The figures come from a report by the Food and Drink Federation, which also found that Scotland’s total food and drink exports in 2021 were up 15% on the previous year.

HMRC figures show that Scottish salmon is the UK’s biggest fresh food export, with overseas sales increasing to £614m in 2021 – up 36% compared to 2020 and only marginally below the £618m recorded in 2019.

The sector directly employs 2,500 people in Scotland and supports more than 3,600 suppliers, with 10,000 jobs dependent on farm-raised salmon.

Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said: “There is soaring demand for our unrivalled farm-raised Scottish salmon, with exports recovering to near recordlevels.

“As well as creating thousands of jobs and opportunities in rural Scotland, farm-raised Scottish salmon is a global success story with high environmental and welfare standards that puts one of the healthiest products we can eat on people’s plates.

“The incredibly encouraging export figures demonstrate the resilience of our industry and are testament to the hard work and dedication of farmers during the Covid pandemic.”

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

11/05/2022 16:27:34

Suppliers join Salmon Scotland LEADING suppliers to the fish farming sector have joined the industry’s trade body, Salmon Scotland.

The new members announced include infrastructure supplier AKVA group, netmakers W&J Knox and Garware, boat operators Inverlussa and Aquaship (UK) and leading veterinary businesses.

Last year the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation rebranded as Salmon Scotland, citing the rationale that its role was expanding to represent the entire industry and its supply chain. The latest announcement makes good on that promise, with 12 suppliers joining as members, representing businesses employing people across the whole of Scotland.

Tavish Scott, Chief Executive of Salmon Scotland, said:

Above: Inverlussa’s Kallista Helen

“Our role is to speak for and champion the interests of people and businesses across Scotland’s farm-raised salmon sector.

“At the heart of our sector are farmers who care for their fish and produce a healthy, nutritious product that is increasingly popular around the world. But our responsible growth would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of thousands of people in the wider supply chain.

“Together, we deliver more than 10,000 jobs in every part of Scotland and generate millions for the local economy, with everyone in the sector.”

The list of new members is: AKVA Group Scotland Ltd | Aquascot | Aquaship (UK) Ltd | Benchmark Genetics | DFDS | Garware | Inverlussa Co Ltd | Morenot Scotland | MSD Animal Health | Pharmaq Ltd/ Zoetis | Scale AQ | W & J Knox Ltd Salmon Scotland estimates that the sector directly employs 2,500 people in Scotland and supports more than 3,600 suppliers.

Aquaculture UK visitor numbers up 9% on 2018 THE UK’s biggest aquaculture trade show returned to Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands this month, with numbers significantly up on the last event in the series.

Aquaculture UK, held at the Macdonald Highland Resort, Aviemore, saw more than 2,600 visitors, up 9% on the previous show in 2018.

Cheri Arvonio, Event Director of organiser Diversified Communications, said the company’s first Aquaculture UK had exceeded expectations: “The feedback we have had so far from

exhibitors and visitors has been incredible.

“Aquaculture UK certainly lived up to its reputation as the UK’s number one exhibition for the aquaculture community and we are already looking forward to building on this year’s success as we plan for the next gathering in 2024.”

The event also featured the UK Aquaculture Awards, recognising achievement within the industry.

For a full report on the awards, see page 12. A review of Aquaculture UK will appear in the June issue of Fish Farmer.

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11/05/2022 16:31:05

AQUACULTURE AWARDS 2022

Celebrating excellence The winners of this year’s Aquaculture Awards were announced on 4 May at a celebratory dinner at the Aquaculture UK trade show in Aviemore by Robert Outram

T

he UK Aquaculture Awards took place on Day 2 of the Aquaculture UK conference and trade show at Aviemore, Scotland.

In front of a sell-out crowd at the Macdonald Resort, with Scottish broadcaster Dougie Vipond as host, a total of 14 prizes were awarded to companies and individuals making an exceptional contribution to the sector over the past year.

Kames Fish Farming was named Best Aquaculture Company award in the 2022 Aquaculture Awards.

Kames is a family company and aquaculture pioneer that has been farming steelhead trout for 50 years and has recently embarked on an exciting new chapter in its growth, the judges said.

The winner of the Finfish Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Fish Farmer magazine, was Stephen Woods of Scottish Sea Farms. Woods is a farming veteran who has been with the company for 27 years. He was recognised for being its best performing farm manager of all time, “setting and continually raising the bar for other farmers to aspire to”.

He said: “It’s nice to get recognition of the hard work and dedication over the years. I’ve always felt well supported and appreciated by the company itself, but this sector award is the icing on the cake, not just

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Aquaculture Awards.indd 12

for myself but for my wife and family who see first-hand just how much I put into my role.”

Jim Treasurer from FAI Farms, won the Opposite from top: Outstanding Contribution award for his work Kames Fish Farming; in fish biology and sustainable aquaculture Rhianna Rees, SAMS; over 30 years. He is also a member of the Fish Jim Treasurer, FAI Farmer magazine editorial board Farms; Cheri Arvonio, Treasurer is one of the UK’s leading experts Robert Outram, Stephen on cleaner fish welfare and has published, Woods, Dougie Vipond and contributed to, a number of pieces of

Above: The 2022 Aquaculture Awards winners

”

The standard was exceptionally high, making the judges’ decisions difficult 11/05/2022 16:34:31

research on this previously little understood subject. He has also set up, and teaches, an online course for FAI Farms designed to help fish farm managers gain an understanding of cleaner fish welfare issues and, through this, help to control the threat that sea lice pose to farmed fish.

The judging panel had a tough job deciding on the Rising Star award among many deserving candidates and, in the end, it was agreed it should go to two up-and-coming youngsters, Andre Van of Kames Fish Farm, who has “transformed” fish health management at the company, and Rhianna Rees of SAMS Enterprise, an “effective leader and networker” in the seaweed sector.

The award came a week after the launch of the Seaweed Academy, the UK’s first dedicated seaweed industry facility, which uses research knowledge generated at SAMS to offer advice to start-ups, train workers and share the latest research.

Rhianna Rhees said: “Words cannot describe how grateful, surprised, proud, and honoured I am to have been awarded Aquaculture UK Rising Star award.

“This was a win for seaweed, for SAMS, and everyone in the team who has worked so hard to achieve all the things we have so far as part of the Seaweed Academy.”

The Collaboration award went to Mowi and the Brexit Working Group collaboration that ensured a smooth transition for Scottish salmon in the months after Britain’s exit from the EU. The transition process required crossdepartmental interaction and co-ordination from the salmon sector, which was the only area of UK seafood exports which successfully set up inspection and documentation hubs.

In another hotly contested category, the Innovation prize was awarded to marine consultant BMT, for its Decision Support System, a marine modelling tool that places farm sites in areas less likely to have high levels of sea lice and that the company claims will contribute to significant reductions in the cost of sea lice management measures.

Winner of the Environmental Impact award was Fjord Maritime for its Fjord Hybrid

technology that delivers sustainable energy to fish farms, saving costs and reducing the sector’s carbon footprint. The company has more than 100 systems operating in Norway and plans to open a Scottish base this year.

Scottish Sea Farms won the Economic Sustainability for its commitment to ensuring the company’s policies and practices are as attractive as possible to today’s workforce, helping safeguard the long-term economic sustainability of its remote farms and facilities.

Meanwhile, the Community Initiative award went to the Scottish Salmon Company, which established its Healthy Communities Community Charter to bring people and communities together by encouraging staff to play an active part in the areas they work in and champion local causes.

SSC launched a Community Fund in 2017 which awards money to community groups promoting health and wellbeing or environmental stewardship. The fund has supported food banks, local schools and sports teams, as well as groups that organise beach cleans.

Since 2017, more than 100 staff-nominated local groups have received funding in the Western Isles, Argyll and Bute, the Highlands and Islands and North Ayrshire and Arran, and this year SSC is opening the fund up to external community nominations.

The Shellfish Farmer of the Year honours went this year to Judith Vajk of the Caledonian Oyster Company, described as “inspirational” after taking over the running of the farm following her husband Hugo’s death in an accident a few years ago, and “persevering in the face of adversity” to maintain a successful business.

Ace Aquatec and Stirling University were joint winners of the Animal Welfare award, for their work, sponsored by the Humane Slaughter Association, to extend humane slaughter to more of the world’s farmed fish species, in a project designed to ensure 100% of fish stunned electrically are unconscious before death. The technology is being rolled out worldwide to humanely stun, and monitor the efficacy of that stunning, in the top ten commercially grown fish species.

The Aquaculture Supplier of the Year was Nutrition Analytical Service, of the University of Stirling. Run by James Dick at the Institute of Aquaculture, this independent laboratory provides advice on aquafeed to its customer base, which spans the Scottish and international aquaculture industries.

During the pandemic, it maintained services across the aquaculture sector, from feed

manufacturers to fish production, to ensure the delivery of vital supplies to the retail market.

And this year, for the first time, a Judges’ Special Recognition Award was created to acknowledge the special efforts of a particular company or individual. The recipient, Pacific Ocean Culture, based in Fiji, emerged during several categories in the judges’ deliberations as a dynamic enterprise, punching above its weight with its environmental programme, a local healthy eating campaign, and focus on developing the country’s aquaculture sector.

Cooke Aquaculture Scotland’s longserving Biological Controller Ian Keen-Smith was named Unsung Hero. Described by colleagues as a “sea of calm” and “someone to talk to when things need to be fixed”, Keen-Smith has survived the consolidation of the industry, worked for 15 managing directors and is now retiring, after 47 years in the business.

Aquaculture Awards and Aquaculture UK organiser Diversified Communications paid tribute to all the award entries, and to the sponsors who helped make the event happen, including SAIC, Fish Farmer, MSD Animal Health, Ocean Kinetics, M&S Food, DSM, BioMar, Poseidon, Hendrix Genetics, Solvtrans, Cargill, Stingray, the Institute of Aquaculture, Skills Development Scotland, Crown Estate Scotland and Marine Scotland.

Event Director Cheri Arvonio said: “Congratulations to all the amazing award winners and also to all those who entered.

The standard was exceptionally high, making the judges’ decisions difficult, but reflecting the wealth and breadth of talent in this incredible sector.”

“It feels more important than ever to recognise hard work and dedication in the industry after the challenges of the past two years and we are proud to honour the achievements made by the most innovative and successful operators in aquaculture.”

A report from the Aquaculture UK trade show and conference will be in the June 2022 issue of Fish Farmer.

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11/05/2022 16:35:57

EUROPEAN NEWS

European News

Witzøe steps down as SalMar seals the deal

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SALMON farming giant SalMar has a new chief executive at the helm, with Linda Litlekalsøy Aase taking over from Gustav Witzøe.

She steps into the top job at a critically important time for the business as it prepares (subject to Norwegian Competition Authority approval) to acquire its aquaculture rival NTS. SalMar now owns 66,228,641 shares or 52.7% of the NTS equity. Its NOK 15.1 billion (£1.25bn) offer expired at close of stock market trading in Oslo on 29 April.

SalMar, which maintained weeks ago that it had already secured just over 50% of the shares, said in a statement that it was “satisfied with the support of acceptances, which means that NTS will become a subsidiary of SalMar”.

Witzøe, who has skilfully engineered the purchase of NTS, announced in March that he planned to step down as CEO this month. He will take a seat on the SalMar board.

He founded the business from small beginnings in the 1990s and over the past 30 years has built it into one of the world’s leading salmon companies.

Based mainly in Norway, SalMar

also has interests in the UK through half ownership of Scottish Sea Farms and in Iceland through Icelandic Salmon owned Arnarlax.

Last year it teamed up with Aker to form SalMar Aker Ocean to take its offshore salmon farming activities onto a global platform.

The Witzøe family currently owns just over half of the SalMar shares.

Linda Aase will now have the formidable task of blending NTS, whose main farming interests are Norway Royal Salmon and SalmoNor, into the SalMar culture.

NTS also owns the wellboat and aquaculture supply company Frøy and it will be interesting to see whether she decides to keep or sell that business in due course.

Linda Aase holds a Master of Science degree in materials technology and has also studied economics.

She began her career at Aker Solutions in 2014 and has held various senior management positions including at Rolls-Royce Marine.

She has been a board member at SalMar since June 2020.

From the top: Gustav Witzøe; Linda Aase; Ocean-Farm-1

Ireland reports higher farmed seafood exports in 2021

Above: Salmon farm, Donegal

IRELAND’S farmed and wild caught seafood economy grew by 15% last year to a record €1.26bn (£1.06bn), according to the latest data from BIM, the country’s seafood industry development agency.

The sector’s growth defied the twin challenges of Covid and Brexit.

Ireland is known for its organic salmon and was able to increase exports in this market last year, although revenues were down by 14%, largely due to increased international supply from competitor countries such as Norway and Scotland.

Overall salmon exports totalled 11,400 tonnes and increased in value by 13% to €129m (£109m). Exports of farmed mussels were up by 10% and were worth €10m, while sales of oysters shot up by 40% to €35m (£29.45m).

BIM said the reopening of food service sectors internationally led to strong price growth in shellfish species such as crab, lobster, shrimp and razor clams – with prices increasing by more than 20%.

BIM chief executive, Jim O’Toole, said that the sector had proven to be highly resilient and innovative: “The key insights from this report are the sector’s success in both identifying and driving opportunities in different markets along with an increase in value for some categories.

While Brexit, and the additional impacts of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (agreed between the EU and the UK) reduced quotas for key species, government support along with private investment helped mitigate some of these impacts.

The industry continues to adapt, for example in the seafood-tech sector there are now over 50 companies employing more than 700 people from disciplines including engineering, fintech and marketing and we have seen turnover more than double in the past few years.”

He added: “Although we have seen significant growth last year there are further challenges now being encountered with cost increases for fuel, energy, and materials as a result of the conflict in Ukraine. Support to the industry to help withstand this economic shock will undoubtedly be required.”

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11/05/2022 16:15:47

Mowi sells Egg development licences INVESTOR Akvaculturpartner AS has entered into a new partnership arrangement with Hauge Aqua and strengthened its involvement in the “Egg” closed fish farm project by buying six development permits from Mowi.

Akvakulturpartner has been a sizeable shareholder in Hauge Aqua for some time and has shown strong interest in the Egg project (also known as Eggett) which is shaped like an egg and is designed to solve some of the problems associated with salmon farming such as lice, escapes and pollution.

Mowi formally confirmed the sale in a press announcement.

The first Egg farm is currently under construction and reported to be on budget and on time. It should be ready for delivery soon, with the aim of operating a farm in Romsdalsfjorden next year.

One of Akvakulturpartners’ principal shareholders is the former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who strengthened his investment in the business last year.

Akvakulturpartner will become an industrial development partner for Egg and take over all rights and obligations related to the commitment from the Directorate of Fisheries.

Its founder Bjørn-Vegard Løvik said: “For the players in Akvakulturpartner, this investment fits in perfectly with our goal of building business activities in aquaculture both regionally and globally.

“We ‘wear long protein glasses’ and it is sustainable to invest in new technology that can take this fantastic industry forward. We want to be a part of the development of closed fish farming at sea and land-based farming as part of future growth in aquaculture,

Above The Hauge egg

and we are therefore grateful that we got this agreement.”

Cato Lyngøy, general manager of Hauge Aqua described the move as “a very good solution” for the business.

He added: “We are pleased that the development permits now benefit the project. We look forward to realizing the project together with Akvakulturpartner.”

New harvest vessel to run on battery power NORWAY-based ship operator VOLT Service AS has ordered a new hybrid diesel-electric harvest vessel capable of delivering up to 100 tonnes an hour.

The order has gone to shipbuilder Fitjar Mekaniske Verksted (FMV), based south of Bergen.

The company said the HFMV P42-500 design has a strong focus on fish welfare, fish quality, operational efficiency and reduced climate emissions.The vessel will be called VOLT Harvest III. The battery pack is about 850 kWh, with an additional shore power system on board.

The machine configuration and an optimised hull shape make the vessel more efficient and reduce carbon

emissions. Among other things, the vessel can sail for several hours on battery power alone.

VOLT Service is based in Fosnavåg, about 150 miles north of Bergen. It is part of the Remøy Management Group.

VOLT Service said it is currently building a modern and efficient fleet of “blue boats”, with a special focus on fish welfare

and quality.The fleet has vessels in a range of sizes and is designed to meet most needs of Norwegian fish farmers and slaughterhouses.

The company said: “VOLT Harvest III will be the third, and so far largest, process boat Fitjar Mekaniske Verksted has delivered to VOLT Service.The vessel will be built completely on Fitjar.

“With this vessel, we take a new major step towards lower climate footprints from salmon freight.

“With battery operation and shore power connection together with a focus on solutions with low energy consumption, we believe that this is one of the vessels with the lowest emissions per unit transported in the industry.”

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11/05/2022 16:16:47

EUROPEAN NEWS

Høstlund back as NRS CEO, for now the whole NTS group, and CHARLES Høstlund has the NTS board has called on returned as Chief Executive NRS to drop its plans.

Officer at Norway Royal Charles Høstlund stepped Salmon – but only on an down from his post as CEO interim basis. at NRS when NTS acquired Høstlund, who was CEO of the company, also last year.

NRS from 2014 till SeptemHe said on his reappointber 2021, has stepped in to ment: “I have accepted to replace the previous interim lead NRS in an interim CEO, Klaus Hatlebrekke, who period, and it is exciting to returns to his regular post of be back with the company. I Chief Operating Officer as am looking forward to seeing of today.

Above: Charles Høstlund many familiar faces in the The move follows an coming weeks.” extraordinary general meeting last week at Klaus Hatlebrekke said: “It is natural to which a new board for Norway Royal Salmon make a change now in this phase for the com(NRS) was elected. The company has been pany. Charles and I have worked together for at odds with seafood group NTS ASA, which many years, and I look forward to continuing owns a majority stake in NRS, over the NRS the collaboration.” board’s plan to merge the company with Paal E. Johnsen, Chairman of the Board of SalmoNor, which NTS acquired last year.

Directors, thanked Hatlebrekke for his serThe move has been opposed by competitor vice as interim CEO. SalMar, which is in the process of acquiring

Faroese contractor to build two barges for Hiddenfjord

Above: The new feed barge

JT electric has signed a contract with Faroese salmon farmer Hiddenfjord to build two new 700 tonne feeding barges for exposed farm sites in the North Atlantic.

The new feeding barges are designed for a significant wave height of 5.5m and all onboard systems are fully automated and controlled remotely from shore.

They are planned to be delivered towards the summer. They have a 700 tonne feed capacity – one with 16 feeding lines and the other with 6 feeding lines in addition to an integrated lumpfish feeding system with 5 tonne capacity.

JT Electric described the contract as “a milestone” in the company’s strategy of

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designing and building new structures for the international market after many years of renovating big vessels to feeding barges.

Suni Justinussen, CEO at JT electric, said: “We are very excited about our collaboration with Hiddenfjord, says Our collaboration with them plays a crucial part in our transition to designing new barges to exposed farm sites on the international market.”

Faroes-based JT electric is a supplier of advanced tech solutions for the fish farming industry. Their feeding systems are being used in the Faroe Islands, Scotland, Norway, Iceland and Canada and feed approximately 80 million salmon every day.

Thor Talseth appointed CEO of Avramar Seafood THE world leading Mediterranean sea bass and sea bream breeding group Avramar Seafood has appointed its current Chair Thor Talseth (pictured, below) as Chief Executive of the business.

He took over in his new CEO role at the end of April. His successor as Chair is Craig Tashjian, Managing Partner at AMERRA Capital, Avramar Seafood Group’s majority shareholder.

Tashjian said: “We could not have hoped for a stronger and more experienced CEO than Thor, who has been integral to Avramar’s formation and development since its inception. With growth returning to the global economy, we have seen a strong resurgence for Avramar’s products. Thor’s appointment will further accelerate our performance and strategic development.”

Danny Dweik, Head of Industrials at Mubadala Investment Company, the coinvestor in Avramar, added: “With his deep understanding of the company and the entire aquaculture sector, Thor is the ideal choice to take the company forward.”

Thor Talseth has more than 20 years’ experience in the international seafood and aquaculture industry as an investor, senior executive, and sector-focused banker.

He was appointed Chair of Avramar’s board in June 2016 and is founding partner of Neptune NRCP LLC. Prior to this, he was Head of Private Equity at AMERRA Capital Management LLC. Talseth said: “I am honoured and excited to have the opportunity to lead Avramar into the next chapter of its evolution and am grateful for the trust that the owners have placed in me. My new role will enable me to harness the momentum that has been generated and to accelerate our pace towards new opportunities for innovation, expansion, and growth.”

Avramar focuses on the development and production of the globally recognised Mediterranean species of sea bass and sea bream, while at the same time developing a range of less well-known species such as stone bass and Pagrus.

The company said it is applying new technologies and processes to improve both production efficiency and product quality while maintaining its commitment to world-class sustainability standards.

Right: Thor Talseth

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European News.indd 16

11/05/2022 16:18:01

$10k scholarships to encourage women into aquaculture NORWEGIAN salmon farmer Kvarøy Arctic is once again promoting the role of women in fish farming.

For the third year in succession, it is awarding two annual scholarships to support the further education, research, and career development of women in the field of aquaculture.

One of the Above: Kvarøy Arctic farm scholarships is dedicated to an transforming the state of aquaculture applicant from any country globally and to join the scholarship committee. Julie the other is designated for applicants Kuchepatov from Seafood and Gender from countries in Africa, where fish Equality (SAGE) and Imani Black from farming is taking on an increasingly Minorities in Aquaculture, together important role. with Kvarøy Artic’s management team, The application process is now open oversee the annual scholarship. and continues until 1 July with women Launched in 2020, the mission of from all around the world invited to the scholarship is to help women apply. learn about the future of food and The two winners will be announced stewardship in sustainable aquaculture. on 1 August.The programme provides a Since the beginning of the program, $10,000 fund for education and scientific nearly 500 women from more than research to each of the two recipients as 30 countries have applied for the well as the opportunity to gain practical scholarship. experience as an intern at Kvarøy Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE) Arctic’s sustainable salmon farm sites. is a non-profit initiative, which was To ensure a fair process, Kvarøy Arctic founded by Julie Kuchepatov. SAGE’s has invited women who are already goal is to work towards a more diverse,

inclusive, ethical, and sustainable seafood industry.

Kuchepatov explained: “Two things women in aquaculture desperately need are access to funding and practical experience.

The Kvarøy Arctic Women in Aquaculture Scholarships provide both and signal a strong belief that women will continue to innovate and lead the sector into a bright, blue future.”

Kvarøy Arctic CEO Alf-Gøran Knutsen, said: “We truly believe that gender equality, sustainability, fighting world hunger, and climate change go hand-in-hand. And aquaculture plays a key role in combating all these challenges.”

How to Apply: Application forms and a full list of qualifying criteria are available at the Kvarøy Arctic website (KvaroyArctic.com). Applicants must be 18-plus and submit their completed form with a current CV to scholarships@kvaroyarctic.com by 1900 hrs (US Pacific Time) on 1 July, 2022.

The recipients will be announced on 1 August.

Sea lice treatment Ectosan Vet can be reused FISH health business Benchmark has been granted permission to reuse the treatment water when deploying its sea lice pesticide Ectosan Vet. NoMA, the Norwegian Medicines Agency, has granted a variation to its marketing authorisation which means that treatment water can be used for a second batch of fish, subject to water quality being maintained to the satisfaction of the prescribing veterinarian.

Benchmark said this will increase the efficiency of treatments.

The company stated:

“A producer will be able to treat a salmon farm more efficiently with a solution that delivers more than 99% efficacy, promotes animal welfare, reduces mortality and protects the environment – driving sustainability in the industry.”

Ectosan, which uses the neonicotinoid imidacloprid as a key ingredient, is being used in conjunction with Benchmark’s CleanTreat system, which is designed to ensure that all traces of the pesticide are removed before it is finally discharged into the sea.

The system is, so far,

only authorised for use in Norway.

Trond Williksen, Benchmark CEO, commented: “We are very pleased to have been granted a variation to the Marketing Authorisation from the Norwegian Medicines Agency. This represents

an important milestone for the Company and for the industry. Ectosan Vet and CleanTreat is a much needed solution for the industry which continues to show excellent results with efficacy above 99% as well as good operational efficiency.

It is the first medicinal solution brought to the Norwegian market in over 10 years which addresses one of the biggest challenges in salmon production, while improving animal welfare, reducing mortality and protecting the environment.”

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11/05/2022 16:20:29

EUROPEAN NEWS

Salmon prices shoot past NOK 100 (£8.50) a kilo

Above: Salmon on ice

SALMON prices hit their highest level on record in week 17 of this year, according to the latest data from Statistics Norway.

In spite of disruption from war in the Ukraine and challenging air transport logistics, the export price soared to NOK 107.75 (£9.17) a kilo, an increase of 8.9% on Week 16.

This means that salmon prices are now a staggering 64% higher than 12 months ago. An increase during 2022 had been predicted several months ago, but not on this scale.

As the market is global, it means fish farmers in rival salmon countries like Scotland, Iceland and the Faroe islands are enjoying a similar bonanza.

Sales of Norwegian fresh salmon totalled 14,245 tonnes for week 17, 8.1% higher on the previous seven day period.

Frozen salmon prices were also increased during that week

– shooting up by just over 20% to NOK 96.65 (£8.23) a kilo.

Export volumes too were 34% higher, totalling 236 tonnes.

The April export figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council demonstrate that while markets may be changing, the global demand for salmon shows no sign of abating.

But industry insiders say that current price levels are not sustainable and a correction cannot be far away. So far there is little sign of that happening.

Markets too are changing with sales to France and Italy showing significant increase in consumption. Even Germany, not normally seen as a fish eating country, is buying more salmon.

Salmon companies in Iceland have been reporting recently they are finding it hard to keep up with international demand.

Norwegian Seafood Council appoints new CEO BØRGE Grønbech, director of global operations at the Norwegian Seafood Council, has been appointed as the organisation’s new chief executive, with immediate effect.

He takes over from Renate Larsen, who announced in February that she was stepping down after six years in the key industry post.

She said: “I wish Børge good luck in his new role and I am very happy that he is the person I am handing over responsibility.”

She added: “Even though I have now formally resigned, I will be available to both the board and Børge for some time to come.”

Børge Grønbech has been director of global operations since May 2018 and has been

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employed by the Seafood Council for the past 24 years.

He has held several key positions within the council , including marketing director at the head office and fisheries envoy in Boston, USA. Grønbech has a degree in fisheries with a master’s degree in international marketing and an MBA in Seafood Management.

He said: “I am both proud and grateful to have this opportunity. I look forward to taking on a new role in the Seafood Council and promise that we will continue to deliver on our most important vision, namely to win the world over to Norwegian seafood.”

Above: Børge Grønbech

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European News.indd 18

11/05/2022 16:21:32

Traffic light dispute goes to Norway’s Supreme Court A group of salmon farmers on Norway’s south west coast are to continue their fight against the government’s controversial traffic light control scheme.

Earlier this month a special court of appeal upheld a decision by Oslo’s Ministry of Trade and Industry to place the area known as production zone 04 into the red category which will result in a 6% reduction in their output.

Above The Supreme Court, Oslo.

Now the 25-strong coded production zones, consisting of salmon farming green, where aquaculture expansion can group have said they will appeal their take place virtually unhindered, amber case to Norway’s Supreme Court. or orange, where limited expansion Two years ago the then Norwegian TransporT & shipping is allowed and red where fish farming government introduced a new salmsoLutions with partners activity must be reduced. on farming strategyLogistic by dividing the successfuL The Oslo government’s case was that country’s coastline into three colour

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the scheme is part of a wider strategy to reduce salmon lice and protect wild fish stocks.

The affected companies are arguing that the decision to place them in a red area is an abuse of power and lacks legal authority, despite the government’s ruling being upheld by two of the country’s courts.

The original court hearing last year said the imposition of a red light zone did not mean a permanent ban on growth, hinting that the situation could change if the environmental situation improves.

The companies are expected to argue at the Supreme Court that the Court of Appeal had presented the government’s case wrongly when it came to controlling salmon lice.

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11/05/2022 16:22:13

World News

WORLD NEWS

Atlantic Sapphire achieving ‘major biological improvements’

LAND-based salmon farmer Atlantic Sapphire has announced a significant improvement in biological performance at its Florida site.

Presenting its 2021 annual report, the company also said revenues rose by 170% to almost $17m (£13.2m) last year.

Performance of all the batches introduced to Atlantic Sapphire’s Florida facility almost two years ago has improved, the report said.

The monthly increase in biomass is expected to increase gradually through the first half of this year until the group reaches around 4,200 tonnes of standing biomass.

Atlantic Sapphire suffered a net loss of US $132m (£102.2m) last year on a harvest of 2,374 tonnes, but the company said it expects to reach a

steady state in Phase 1 in Miami during the third quarter of 2022.

The harvest volume in the second quarter is expected to be around 1,000 tonnes, and is expected to increase through the second half of 2022, until Phase 1 produces the equivalent of 9,500 tonnes in annual harvest volumes.

Despite a number of setbacks last year which included a serious fire which effectively destroyed its Danish site, Atlantic Sapphire said it is looking ahead with optimism, with Phase 1 in Florida reaching a steady state and the focus now on Phase 2. The ultimate goal is to produce 220,000 tonnes by 2031.

CEO Johan Andreassen said: “Following a material assessment, we have identified four key areas that we believe are the most important to

Atlantic Sapphire and its stakeholders.

Our ESG report is structured along these four categories: product responsibility, economic responsibility, environmental responsibility and social responsibility.

“Looking at our updated materiality metrics on this slide, we have this year elevated fish health to the top right quadrant.

“This is because we believe that the events of 2021 have increased the importance and impact of fish health and fish safety on our own internal decision-making and on our stakeholders’ assessment of our company and last but not least on the profitability of the business.

“First, we are focused on lowering our salmon fields’ impact on the ocean.

To Atlantic Sapphire, one of our most important sustainability challenges is that the industry today still relies on a limited resource, which is marine ingredients, to feed the fish. Our ambition is to lead the transition of the industry into the ocean – sorry, out of the ocean.”

Chief Finance Officer Karl Øystein Øyehaug said he expects the company to reach break-even with operating revenues covering costs, during the third quarter of this year. He also expects significant cost cuts from economies of scale and “clever learnings”.

Green light for Grieg Newfoundland expansion GRIEG Seafood has been given the go-ahead for further salmon farming expansion in Newfoundland, Canada.

The news came just a couple of weeks after the company officially opened a new hatchery and smolt facility in Placentia Bay in the province.

Provincial Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Derrick Bragg announced that Grieg Seafood Newfoundland is the successful proponent of the Newfoundland Government’s recent Expression of Interest process for potential aquaculture development on the province’s southwest coast.

He said Grieg Seafood Newfoundland was the highest ranked proponent in a thorough, multi-phase procurement process.

The Provincial Government will now begin discussions on a Memorandum of Understanding with Grieg Seafood Newfoundland, which will lay out time-bound milestones the company must meet when developing this area.

The “bays west” area, from Bay d’Espoir west towards the towns of Burgeo and Port-aux-Basques, has the potential to produce between 15,000 and 20,000 metric tonnes of Atlantic salmon and create employment and economic development,

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particularly on the island’s southwest coast.

Minister Bragg said: “Based on Grieg Seafood Newfoundland’s actions to date and its strong proposal for this area, we anticipate it will uphold its commitment to support local jobs, economic development, and the highest standards of environmental sustainability. We look forward to working with the company as it maps out the future development of the bays west region.”

Knut Skeidsvoll, managing director of Grieg Seafood Newfoundland, added: “Expansion in the bays west area represents a key step forward in the growth and development of finfish farming in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

Above: Grieg Seafood Placentia Bay aquaculture facility

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World News.indd 20

11/05/2022 16:10:18

Global Seafood Alliance launches awareness campaign INTERNATIONAL industry body the Global Seafood Alliance has launched a consumer campaign based around its Best Aquacultural Practices (BAP) certification scheme.

The campaign, dubbed “Healthy Fish, Healthy Planet, Healthy You!” is aimed primarily at consumers in the US. It is designed to heighten awareness of the BAP brand and, ultimately, drive sales of responsibly produced and sourced seafood. Along with traditional media outreach, social media and influencer engagement, the program will also offer a toolkit with print and digital assets to make it easy for any retailer or foodservice operator who endorses the BAP program to participate.

Rolling out in phases beginning this summer and culminating with the US National Seafood Month in October, the campaign will educate consumers about the strength of the BAP

label and how it addresses responsible aquaculture production.

The GSA has developed a new collection of BAP marketing assets available to retailers and foodservice operators, including point-of-sale materials and digital content, from graphics

to photography to videos, that can be shared through an endorser’s communications channels, including digital and social media.

Brian Perkins, the GSA’s CEO, said: “Our research shows that consumers are trying to eat better, and that consumers who know BAP, trust BAP. There’s clearly an opportunity here for retailers and foodservice operators to drive their sales of responsibly produced and sourced seafood by further aligning with the BAP program.

We’ve learned that retailers and foodservice operators who make a commitment to sourcing BAP and communicate that fact are also more highly regarded by their customers.”

For more information about how to participate, visit https://info.globalseafood.org/ healthy-you-campaign-lp Above: The GSA consumer campaign

AquaBounty says its GE production is on track AQUABOUNTY Technologies, the US firm producing genetically-modified salmon, has reported an increased financial loss for Q1 of this year, but says its drive to increase production is on track.

AquaBounty said the company made a net loss of US $5.1m (£4.1m)in the last quarter, compared with a loss of $4.2m (£3.4m) in the same period last year. The company was upbeat, however, about its production growth. It harvested 133 tonnes of genetically engineered (“GE”) Atlantic salmon, representing an increase of 46% versus the previous quarter.

The company also generated $963,000 (£780,477) in product revenue in the latest quarter versus $74,000 (£59,974) in Q1 2020.

AquaBounty recently marked the official start of construction works at its new farm site in Pioneer, Ohio.

Sylvia Wulf, Chief Executive Officer of AquaBounty, said: “We continued to see growth in the commercial production of our GE Atlantic salmon in the first quarter, harvesting 133 tonnes of live weight salmon in the aggregate from our farms in Albany, Indiana and Prince Edward Island, Canada – a 46% improvement over the previous quarter.

“As we increase our harvest capacity, our customers are purchasing the entire output. This illustrates the strong demand for our product in the marketplace.”

“To support the robust demand growth we are experiencing, we are working to maximise harvest yields at our current farms, without sacrificing product quality. We are also making exciting progress on our next-generation 10,000 metric tonne farm in Pioneer, Ohio. We have incorporated ‘lessons learned’ from our existing farms into the design and engineering of the Ohio farm.

Pre-construction activities including the construction of roadways, on-site energy infrastructure and land preparation are well underway.

“With the completion of our groundbreaking ceremony in late

April, we are set to begin the next phase of construction work in the near-term, with the continued expectation that the facility will be largely completed, and the stocking of salmon eggs will commence in late 2023.”

She added: “On the financing side, we are progressing with our plan for the issuance of up to $300 million [£243m] in tax-exempt and taxable bonds to support our project. We expect to provide an update in the near-term as we work to finalize the transaction alongside our bond underwriter, Wells Fargo Corporate and Investment Banking.”

AquaBounty’s “AquAdvantage” fish are Atlantic salmon that have had elements of Chinook salmon and another fish, ocean pout, added to their genetic makeup, for better growth rates and more efficient feed conversion.

Top: Sylvia Wulf. Above: AquaBounty tanks

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11/05/2022 16:10:57

WORLD NEWS

Barramundi posts loss but revenue is up

Maine farm proposal turned down over fish egg source PLANS by the Norwegian-owned business American Aquafarms to build a large landbased salmon farm on the US East Coast have been dealt a serious blow.

The Maine Department Marine Resources told American Aquafarms that it would no longer be further processing the company’s lease applications for two 60-acre pen sites off Gouldsboro, because the company had failed to select an approved source for its fish eggs.

The intended supplier of American Aquafarms’ ova has not been approved for the US market – AquaBounty Technologies, which produces genetically-modified (GM) salmon.

Patrick Keliher, Maine’s Commissioner of Marine Resources, claimed that American Aquafarms had failed to provide proper documentation about the genetics and disease-resistance of salmon eggs it said it would buy from AquaBounty’s Newfoundland hatchery, which specialises

in transgenic stock.

He added that escapes were a big issue, because if a fish not of the same genetic makeup gets into the ocean, it could dilute the gene pool of wild Atlantic salmon.

The US $300 million (£232.5m) salmon farm project, which was aiming to produce up to 30,000 tonnes, had attracted strong opposition from the start. Last September more than 100 fishing and pleasure boats took part in a large anti-fish farm demonstration.

Local fishermen claimed the proposed farm could ruin the local lobster fishing industry as well as cause environmental damage. Lobster is the mainstay of the Maine fishing industry.

American Aquafarms has always denied this and argued that its plan, which covers 20 acres of closed pens, will be good for the region, providing many year-round jobs ranging from unskilled labouring to posts requiring PhD level science qualifications.

FISH farmer Barramundi Group has reported a loss for last year, but the company saw revenue up by 15% and an improvement in operational performance.

The Barramundi Group is one of the biggest producers of that species in Australasia. In 2021 it reported an operational EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) loss of SGD $6.35 (£3.65m).This represents an improvement on the operational EBITDA loss of SGD 9.24m (£5.31m) in the previous year.

Group EBIT (earnings before interest and taxation) was SGD $19.22m (£11.05m) compared with a loss of SGD $ 11.34m (£6.52m) for 2020.

Revenue for 2021 was up to SGD $32.7m (£18.8) from SGD $28.4m (£16.33m) in 2020.

Sales volumes (WFE) were 1,951 tonnes in 2021, compared to 1,837 in 2020.

On a net profit level, one-off events, including a write-off of property, plant and equipment and goodwill impairment following a consolidation of the Singapore operations, led to a significantly higher loss than in 2020, despite the better operating performance.

The company said that it continues to be on track to produce 7,000 tonnes by 2026 across its operations in Australia, Brunei, and Singapore. In 2021 the group started preparations for significantly expanding the production capacity beyond 7,000 tonnes.

BioMar snaps up shrimp feeding tech business

MULTINATIONAL aquafeed group BioMar is buying AQ1 Systems, a feeding technology specialist focused on the shrimp farming sector.

AQ1 is a leading supplier of sensor based feeding control technology for aquaculture, specialising in acoustic and

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optical sensing technology. Its systems provide feeding control and sizing solutions, to improve growth, reduce waste and achieve better feed conversion ratios.

The company is headquartered in Derwent Park, Tasmania.

“We have a strong belief that we can bring together knowledge

and tech innovation, offering new advantageous solutions to our customers improving feeding efficiency and sustainability. By optimizing feeding practises, combining intelligent feeding systems, comprehensive analytics, advanced feed solutions, and effective farm management, we can take yet another step in the right direction”, said Carlos Diaz, CEO BioMar Group.

He continued: “During the last years, we have seen that the use of intelligent feeders in shrimp farming can optimise feed efficiency, production yield, and sustainability, when introduced along data-driven farm management. Adding BioMar feed solutions and technical knowledge to the equation opens new opportunities”.

BioMar said AQ1 will continue as an independent company with its own commercial set-up, business systems, and distribution channels, servicing both BioMar customers

and customers with other feed providers. Existing AQ1 customers will not experience any changes to their service and agreements with AQ1.

Ross Dodd, Managing Director and founder of AQ1, who will stay in the role, said: “We very much look forward to the collaboration with BioMar and their parent company Schouw & Co who have significant investments in electronic and mechanical engineering. We believe this will enable us to develop new markets and create value from an extensive combined knowledge base and global reach.”

The move reflects BioMar’s increasing interest in the shrimp industry. In March last year, the group took a majority stake in a leading Vietnamese shrimp feed producer,Viet-Uc.

Left: The SF200 Wireless Controller

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World News.indd 22

11/05/2022 16:12:42

Proximar strikes exclusive distribution deal for Japan Proximar Seafood, the Norwegian company building a land-based salmon farm near mount Fuji, has entered into a distribution agreement with one of Japan’s largest distribution companies.

The deal is with the marubeni Corporation, which is known in Japan as a sōgō shōsha or general trading company. Founded in 1858, marubeni is one of Japan’s oldest businesses. it will become the exclusive distributor for all atlantic salmon produced at Above: Proximar signing Proximar’s mount Fuji raS (recirculating insight and access, reducing risk and aquaculture system) site now in the final increasing pricing power.” stages of completion.

He added: “The agreement with marubeni CEo of Proximar, Joachim Nielsen, said: provides Proximar significant resources in “Teaming up with marubeni is a key part of terms of sales and marketing, and we share our partnership strategy and brings us one the same views in terms of our products’ step closer to supplying fresh salmon to the attractiveness.”

Japanese market.

The agreement covers sales of all volumes “We now have a sales and distribution produced by Proximar for the Japanese partner in Japan with superior market market and has an initial term of 10 years.

Both parties will be actively involved in the marketing efforts, with the aim to build a strong premium sustainable seafood brand.

Kazunari Nakamura, General manager of marubeni’s Fresh Food department said Japan, which consumes 60,000 tonnes of salmon annually, is only 57% self-sufficient in seafood, so securing a stable supply is of great significance.

“Together with Proximar, we will continue to take on the challenge of ensuring a stable supply of atlantic salmon for Japanese consumers,” he added.

The construction of Proximar’s facility will be completed next year but its hatchery will start operation towards the end of this year, with harvesting to begin from mid-2024.

For 2024, the expected harvested volume is around 2,500 tons (head on gutted weight), increasing to targeted 5,300 tons (head on gutted weight) when operating at full capacity in 2027.

Salmon farmers to consult First Nations after court ruling

following days and weeks ahead.”

The association will be waiting to see how the federal government reacts to the court judgment.

The court has ordered the Canadian government to reverse its decision order the closure of up to 19 salmon farms in the Discovery Islands region of British Columbia, by the end of June this year.

If the ruling had gone ahead, the area would have lost millions of dollars in revenue and hundreds of jobs. The salmon farming industry contributes more than CAN $1.6bn each year to the BC economy.

Three of Norway’s largest salmon companies – Mowi, Grieg, and Cermaq – who have operations in BC, were among the businesses who joined the court challenge.

The court set aside the decision of former fisheries minister Bernadette Jordan, declaring she had violated fair procedure when she first made her announcement in December 2020.

THE British Columbia Salmon Farmers Association says it will be reaching out to Canada’s indigenous First Nation groups to find out how they want to proceed following the Canadian Federal Court’s ruling in April.

The First Nation tribes have been divided over open net fish farming, with many in favour but others against, claiming it is damaging the wild salmon stocks along the Fraser River.

The BC Salmon Farmers Association, which represents more than 60 businesses and organisations within the province, described the ruling as a positive development in supporting thousands of job for both the coastal Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

It added: “We will be reaching out to First Nations in whose territories we operate to review this decision and will have more to say in the

Top: Discovery Islands BC Above: Bernadette Jordan (L) Canadian Federal Court (R)

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11/05/2022 16:13:30

Processing News

PROCESSING NEWS

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Food processing equipment group Marel acquires Kansas firm Wenger International fish and meat processing equipment manufacturer Marel has taken over Wenger, a US-based business leader in extrusion systems for producing pet food, aquafeed, and food for consumers.

Above: Marel. Right: Marel fillet; Wenger feed. Below: Wenger Optima single screw extruder

THE move extends the Iceland-based Marel’s reach into the pet feed, plantbased food and aquafeed sectors. It will form the basis for a new business segment, based on the Wenger platform, making a fourth pillar alongside poultry, meat and fish. The new segment will be focused on the sizeable and attractive growth markets of pet food, plant-based proteins and aqua feed. On a pro-forma basis, this new business segment will account for around 10% of Marel’s total revenues and 12% of combined EBITDA. Founded in 1935, Wenger is based in Kansas. It has 500 employees and revenues in 2022 are expected to be US$190m (£153m). The total investment for the acquisition is $540m (£435m).

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions such as anti-trust and approval of Wenger’s shareholders.

Marel said it sees great opportunities and is committed to invest in the combined business to accelerate growth. The acquisi-

tion is expected to be margin and earnings enhancing. Planned initiatives include expanding manufacturing capacity to respond to high demand in Wenger’s core markets. Aftermarket revenues represent over 40% of Wenger’s revenues, and Marel’s global reach and digital platform will support a more proactive aftermarket approach to better service customers around the world, the company said.

Arni Oddur Thordarson, CEO of Marel, said: “Wenger’s passion for innovation and commitment to high-quality solutions, in addition to their excellent customer focus and talent management, are the key attributes Marel is proud to partner with. Wenger is a true leader in its field of providing solutions and services to the pet food industry and aqua feed industries, and has in recent years made its mark on the fast-growing plant-based protein consumer market with best-in-class solutions positioned right in the centre point of the value chain.”

Trevor Angell, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wenger, commented: “During our interaction, it was apparent that there is great strategic and cultural alignment between Wenger and Marel.

Our shared values and vision, our care for customers and employees, and the combined technical strengths of the two companies will create tremendous value in global food production. We are pleased to be joining forces with Marel, and we are excited for the opportunities our friends and teammates will experience.”

The latest news is just part of a string of acquisitions for Marel. In July 2021, the company struck a deal to acquire Valka ehf, a fish processing business also based in Iceland, and earlier, in February that year, it acquired a 40% stake in Stranda Prolog, the Norwegian supplier of salmon processing solutions.

Marel has also reported orders at a record level for Q1 of this year. The company saw orders up to €421.7m (Q4 2021: €400.7m [£356.6m], Q1 2021: €369.4m[£312.4m]) while the order book stood at €619.0m [£523.6m] (Q4 2021: €569.0m [£481.3m], Q1 2021: €455.3m [£385.1m]).

Revenues were also at a record level, with €371.6m [£314.4m] recorded (Q4 2021: €367.4m [£310.8m], Q1 €2021: €334.0m [£282.5m]). Profitability was down, however, thanks to cost pressures including inflation, supply chain issues and staff absence due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

EBIT (earnings before interest and taxation) were €31.3m [£26.8m] (4Q21: €41.0m [£35.1m], 1Q21: €38.0m [£32.5m]) and net profit was €21.7m [£18.6m](4Q21: €28.5m [£24.4m], 1Q21: €21.2m [£18.2m]).

is great strategic “andThere cultural alignment ”

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Processing News - NEW.indd 24

11/05/2022 16:03:49

Bleikers Smoke House under investigation THE UK’s National Food Crime Unit is investigating Bleikers, one of the country’s leading salmon smoke houses, which has gone into administration after losing a major supermarket contract.

The North Yorkshire based company was a supplier to the Aldi group, which abruptly pulled its business from the North Yorkshire seafood supplier earlier this year.

Gavan Wafer, head of investigation at the unit, which is the law enforcement arm of the Food Standards Agency, said in a statement that the investigation was related to a number of alleged issues including concerns about the country of origin on some of Bleikers’ smoked salmon products.

He added: “The NFCU has acted on intelligence it received and which has resulted in one arrest being made.

“It is vitally important that we ensure food is safe and what it says it is and that consumers and food businesses are confident in the authenticity of food they are buying. We would like to take the opportunity to thank North Yorkshire Police for assisting in the investigation and supporting this operation.”

Although Bleikers supplied other retails, Aldi was thought to account for more than 50% of its business.

Established in 1993, Bleikers Smoke House Ltd had an annual turnover of £14m and reported a pre-tax profit of £312,000 in the year to 30 April 2021. Gross profit margin had also risen during that period.

The company describes itself as one of the country’s leading branded suppliers of ready to eat seafood, with salmon playing a key role. At its height it employed almost 90 people in the Northallerton area, but many have since been made redundant.

In its most recent annual report, Bleikers said the UK’s exit from the European Union had resulted in economic uncertainty, adding that it was looking to mitigate the risks related to this.

And in February managing director Charlie Alexander went on a national television news channel to warn about the threat of soaring

Nolan takes on new role at Mowi

MOWI has appointed Scott Nolan to the newly created position of Operations Director, Processing and Sales (UK and Ireland).

Nolan (pictured) is currently Processing Director for Mowi Scotland Ltd. In his new position, he will report jointly to Ben Hadfield (COO Farming, Scotland, Ireland & the Faroes) and Andreas Soraa (MD, RMT).

Mowi said the new role is intended to ensure the company achieves the highest level of operational efficiency through coordination across the business unit, leveraging synergies from Mowi’s integrated value chain.

Nolan rejoined Mowi just over two years ago. He said: “I am very excited to take on this

new role, with focus on further integration of our processing and sales divisions. I will continue to work closely with our processing teams, and look forward to further engagement with our dedicated teams in sales and their valued customers.

“It is also an exciting time to be leading our sales group during a period of growth and with more and more Mowi salmon products being sold in new markets to organic and Aquaculture Stewardship Council certified standards.”

Nolan will continue to lead on the redevelopment of the company’s Blar Mhor salmon processing site to build capacity to more than 80,000 tonnes. The Blar Mhor expansion will use stateof-the-art robotic technology for handling and grading salmon and, Mowi said, much of the work will be undertaken without closure of the facility.

Above: Scott Nolan

production and energy costs to seafood companies.

The joint administrators, Martyn Pullin and Phil Pearce of FRP Advisory, have said they are continuing their efforts to find a buyer for the company and its assets.

Joint administrator Martyn Pullin said in a statement: “Bleikers was a family operation with a track record of supporting both major and independent retailers.

The loss of a significant contract left the business in a difficult financial position. Regrettably, the insolvency has meant that the business is no longer able to continue trading and redundancies have been made.

He added: “We are now focused on exploring options to sell the business and its assets and encourage any interested parties to come forward.”

Bleikers’ website has since been deactivated.

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11/05/2022 16:06:05

COMMENT

Making a (fish) meal of it Researchers have argued that consumers should eat more wild caught fish, rather than feeding them to salmon – but is this realistic? By Dr Martin Jaffa

H

ow does it feel to be part of an industry that squanders wild fish stocks to produce our farmed salmon? This was the headline in a recent article in the Guardian newspaper. It seems that our appetite for salmon is causing millions of tonnes of nutritious mackerel, sardines, and anchovies to be wasted as fish feed when it could be eaten directly by consumers. What the article fails to mention is that no-one is stopping anyone eating these wild fish and certainly those fishing these species would probably be more than happy to sell fish for direct consumption, but the reality is very different from the picture painted in the Guardian article.

The article was prompted by the publication of a new paper from a group from various universities including Cambridge and Lancaster as well as head of research at the campaigning group Feedback, an organisation dedicated to transforming our food system. Unfortunately, their method of operation when it comes to fish is to attack selected users of fishmeal rather than encourage people to eat the fish instead.

Feedback have consistently misunderstood the fishmeal market by believing that if salmon farmers stopped using fishmeal, the wild fish used in its manufacture would be left in the sea. The truth is that fishmeal is a commodity and at the right price, there would be others queuing up to use it instead. Wild fish is widely used in animal feeds including for pigs, poultry, cats, and dogs, yet it is

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only salmon farmers that are the subject of their ire. Undoubtedly, this is because it is fashionable to attack the salmon farming industry.

Since the paper was published in March, there has been much written about how the authors have misunderstood the nutritional aspects of salmon feeds. However, I was instead attracted to the alternative production scenarios they have proposed aimed at maximising the nutrient use of the wild fish. In all, they compare four scenarios, the first of which is to continue as is. The second is to feed salmon only with fishmeal that has been recovered from trimmings and redirect the wild caught fish saved to human consumption. The third and fourth scenarios use fish trimmings to feed the salmon but then consumers are expected to eat either mussels or carp as a replacement for some of the salmon.

I can understand the choice of mussels as these are already farmed in the UK, although whether they are really a replacement for salmon is questionable.

However, it is the choice of carp that leaves me puzzled.

I suspect that the paper’s authors decided on carp because it is a fish, and it is farmed.

However, I think what has really attracted Above: Carp farm them to carp is that they believe that the Left: Anchovies on ice fish can be grown on cereal-based feeds that don’t include fishmeal. The paper actually states: “Carp require no fishmeal or fish oil and can use cereal-based feeds.”

This implies that fish flesh can be created by carp from cereal feed. Sadly, this is not true.

The best description of traditional carp

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farming is “extensive warm water pond culture”. It is more like terrestrial arable farming than salmon farming. The farming part is not about cultivating the fish but cultivating protein rich planktonic animal life on which the fish feed.

The cereal feeds are carbohydrate-rich and are a supplement to the natural feed in the pond. The protein in the animal plankton can be used for growth but also for energy. The addition of cereal-based feeds to the pond encourages the fish to use the carbohydrate for energy allowing all the protein to be used for growth. This is known as protein sparing.

The problem in proposing carp as an alternative to salmon is that there is a limit

There is a limit to how much carp can be grown extensively

to how much carp can be grown extensively. If the ponds are stocked beyond their carrying capacity, then the plankton will be grazed out before they can reproduce. If this happens, then protein needs to be included in the feed, usually soya but also fishmeal. Carp farming then becomes more like salmon farming and is not the production system that the authors describe as requiring relatively little cereal-based feed.

Carp ponds also need heat to help the plankton, and the fish, grow. In Asia, this is not so much of a problem but in Europe, growth is seasonal. The authors describe it as a seasonal delicacy but what they don’t say is that in Eastern Europe carp is traditionally eaten at Christmas or New Year. The fish is thus harvested for this specific purpose rather than being continuously available. Without high protein feeds and heated water, it is difficult to understand how carp could be considered as a viable alternative to salmon.

Of course, the biggest problem with the thinking behind this research is the failure to understand that even if the aquaculture industry stops using fishmeal, the wild fish will not be left in the sea, as the fishmeal will be redirected to feeding terrestrial animals instead. Fishmeal is a commodity product and if one user cannot incorporate it in the feed for whatever reason, then others will be queuing up to use it instead.

E M P O W E R I N G

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11/05/2022 16:02:13

SALMON SCOTLAND

New school of thought Pupils in Stirling are taking part in a trial programme to see how salmon can become a delicious highlight of the school lunch menu. By Hamish Macdonell

A

bout 18 months ago, my son texted me a picture from school of salmon fillets among the choices on offer for lunch.

At first I was delighted, but then I looked at the picture. There were a load of fillets that had been cooked badly (they were dry and looked over-cooked) and dumped unceremoniously in an aluminium bucket to be served up at lunchtime, almost certainly with chips and nothing else.

I asked my son how he and his friends had responded to the salmon on offer.

“Everyone ignored it, it didn’t look very appetising,” he said.

He was right, it didn’t. It was so depressing that such an opportunity had been missed. The caterers had the chance to introduce a new generation to healthy, nutritious, locally sourced food, food which would boost their brain power, give them important vitamins (including vitamin D, vital in a place like Scotland) and the benefits of omega 3 oils. They had blown it by being unimaginative and lazy.

But what if we could do it better? What if we could provide all those benefits but do it by engaging the pupils with interesting recipes, attractive meals and the right information? And what if we could prove, at the same time, that providing locally sourced, nutritious protein was not prohibitive in terms of cost?

Just as my son and his friends were shunning the salmon on offer at their school, a Salmon Scotland project was gathering pace which – we hoped – would answer all those questions and more.

It finally became real on a quiet, chilly morning in March this year when the first load of 20kg of Scottish salmon fillets was delivered by Scottish Sea Farms to the Raploch Community Campus in Stirling.

That was the start of a 12-week experiment, straddling the Easter break, which is providing pupils in six of the seven secondary schools in the Stirling Council with the chance to choose a salmon dish, once a week for lunch (the seventh school is being used as a control sample with the school getting the nutritional information about salmon but not the fish).

But, crucially, the salmon is not just being over-baked and dumped in an aluminium dish to be ignored by the pupils.

The caterers at Stirling have come up with 21 imaginative recipes

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– each of which not only conforms to strict national school guidelines, but is also inventive and attractive.

These are just some of the dishes the pupils in Stirling are being offered over the next few weeks: lime and ginger salmon with noodles, Moroccan-spiced salmon and rice, Oriental salmon with Asian slaw and salmon rosti.

Then there are the more traditionally childfriendly options like breaded salmon goujon baguettes, salmon wraps and cold salmon pasta.

Home economics classes are running a video, telling the pupils about salmon and giving them basic nutritional details while all parents have already received information about the project in an email leaflet, sent out over the holidays.

One of the most important parts of the

Above: Two school students, Audrey McQuaid and Warris Ahmed (both Dunblane High School), with Maryellen Cullen, Catering Supervisor, Dunblane High School Below: The Salmon Scotland S�rling leaflet

SCOTTISH FARMED SALMON:

OMG3

- GOODNESS ON A PLATE -

2 OF YOUR DAILY VITAMIN D NEEDS

TIMES THE DAILY RECOMMENDATION FOR MARINE OMEGA-3 FATS

OF YOUR DAILY PROTEIN NEEDS

OF THE DAILY RECOMMENDED VITAMIN E INTAKE

FOOD STANDARDS SCOTLAND RECOMMEND WE STIRLING EAT FISH TWICE WEEKLY, SUSTAINABLE SALMON IN ONE OF WHICH SHOULD BE OILY.

Over the course of 12 weeks, from March to the end of June, HEALTH BENEFITS SALMON salmon will OF beSCOTTISH served once a week

in your school.

We have devised 21 recipes to show how tasty and appealing this Scottish 20% OF great YOUR DAILY NEEDSseafood

can be.

We want to find out how young people take to the prospect 20% OF YOUR

of eating salmonDAILY and NEEDS how they respond to information on its nutritional and health benefits, some of which are explained in this leaflet.

We hope this project will improve the availability of locally sourced, healthy Scottish salmon across the public sector in Scotland.

Serving up Scottish Salmon in Stirling’s Schools

GOOD FOR MUMS - GREAT FOR KIDS

Scan here to find out more about Sustainable Salmon

Your school is taking part in a pilot project, run by Salmon Scotland and Stirling Council, to find out if locally sourced, nutritious Scottish seafood can be offered in schools at an affordable cost.

PREGNANT AND BREASTFEEDING MUMS CAN PASS THESE NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS ONTO THEIR BABIES WHICH HELPS SUPPORT BRAIN AND EYE DEVELOPMENT

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project is a detailed survey which is being conducted to find out what the pupils knew about salmon and seafood before the trial, what they learn over the course of it and how they respond, both to the food and the information provided with it.

About 1,000 students have signed up, making it the biggest such survey of its type conducted in Scotland. We won’t know the full results until some time after the project is completed but it is already clear that there is a lot to be learned from it.

Everyone knows there are considerable health benefits from eating oily fish once a week. What we didn’t know was how to make this happen. By the end of this trial, that should be much, much clearer.

Early indications suggest that uptake of healthy oily fish is much lower in more deprived areas and that children from poorer backgrounds are much more likely to miss out on the health benefits of eating seafood.

It has been something of a long and hesitant road getting to this point

The Scottish Government, which wants to drive the take-up of more locally sourced, healthy food, will be very keen on the full end results but so will other branches of the public sector.

So the next step should be to roll out this project to schools all over Scotland and there is no reason why it should stop at schools, why not involve hospitals, care homes and prisons too?

It has been something of a long and hesitant road getting to this point. The Stirling project was due to be rolled out two years ago but the Covid restrictions, which closed school dining halls and kept students at home, forced its postponement several times.

Even at the start of this year, when we decided to launch, as planned, in March, we didn’t know whether the restrictions would be brought back scuppering our project yet again.

But it is not only under way now, it is providing us with a wealth of information and data which we can use to help ensure this is not just a pilot project, but it is the start of something far bigger.

The benefits of regular salmon consumption has been known for some time. What the Stirling project will do is assess take-up, response, feasibility and cost in a public sector context.

Indeed, what started as an idea raised during a single telephone call has morphed into something real, positive and genuinely inspiring. It is crucial, though, that when this project finishes next month, it has to be the start of something bigger.

Everyone wants to see locally sourced, healthy nutritious seafood available to the widest group possible. We are currently showing this can be done, albeit in one small project. The challenge now is to make sure the Stirling Salmon in Schools trial is a beacon, guiding the way for others to follow. If we seize this opportunity, the long-term benefits, for the entire country, really could be significant.

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11/05/2022 15:59:40

SHELLFISH

Climate solution

Aquaculture is one industry that can actively reduce greenhouse gases, a report has found. By Nicki Holmyard

S

Figure 1

eafood from marine farms using the right practices represents a climate-friendly option for consumers. So says a joint study by the University of Adelaide and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Climate-Friendly Seafood: The Potential for Emissions Reduction and Carbon Capture in Marine Aquaculture, published in Bioscience, makes the case that aquaculture could be influential in actively reducing the drivers of climate change, and even has the potential to achieve zero or negative emissions.

The study looked at how greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon sinks associated with fed finfish, seaweed and bivalve shellfish farming could be mitigated, and concluded that the hunch that eating farmed seafood could benefit the planet can be substantiated by science.

Using their findings, researchers outlined actionable, planning and operational changes for industry and governments, to help mitigate GHG emissions and facilitate carbon sequestration during on-farm production.

“We’ve used the results of our analysis to carve out clear, climatefriendly principles for the marine farming industry and governments,” Dr Alice Jones, Industry Research Fellow at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, and the study’s lead co-author, says.

Aquaculture has already overtaken fisheries as the main provider of aquatic animal products, and now accounts for 52% of global

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Shellfish.indd 30

Below: Figure 1 - The influence of farming prac�ces on local marine carbon dynamics, with factors driving variability in GHG emissions within and between these sectors.

Opposite from top: Figure 2 - Poten�al pathways for greenhouse gas emissions reduc�ons from fed finfish mariculture; Figure 3 - Poten�al pathways for greenhouse gas offsets, carbon storage and sequestra�on from seaweed and bivalve mariculture; Mussel farm, France; Fisherman with mussels; Oysters; Pearl oysters, Indonesia

consumption. Marine aquaculture (mariculture) is responsible for 37.5% of this production and 97% of the world’s seaweed harvest. Over the last 50 years, the industry has grown at a rate of 7.5% per year and is predicted to increase significantly over the coming decades.

As a result, the researchers surmise: “Responsible development of aquaculture is a key strategy to meet growing food demand, nutritional needs and to achieve food security within planetary boundaries.”

The report also says: “[The] ecosystem approach to aquaculture will be critical to mitigating the climate impacts of a scaleup in mariculture.”

“If these principles are adopted, this study could be game-changing, not just for marine applications, but for other types of food production as well,” Heidi Alleway, Global Aquaculture Scientist at The Nature Conservancy and a lead coauthor says. “We see an opportunity here, to shape aquaculture to be at the forefront of addressing climate change impacts from food production.”

The report notes that all aspects of aquaculture, from feed production through farm practices to processing and transportation, are implicated in emitting GHGs. Better practices are needed to reduce emissions, it says, but the greatest opportunities for high-volume reductions are in the upstream and downstream parts of the supply chain. As such, improvements are suggested to make feed production and supply and post-harvest transportation more climate-friendly.

The researchers also found that interactions between mariculture operations and surrounding marine environments influence GHG emissions, particularly through the degradation of seafloor habitats and the associated release of stored carbon as environmental GHG emissions. The loss of seagrass habitats due to excess

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11/05/2022 15:56:35

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Figure 3

Figure 2

Addressing climate change requires all hands on deck

nutrient inputs from fish farming is given as an example of aquaculture causing damage to an important “blue” carbon sink.

Conservative estimates consider that this damage adds as much as 16% to the total annual global emissions from aquaculture.

Importantly, the paper points out that lifecycle assessments for GHG emissions from mariculture do not typically account for environmental GHG emissions, whereas they are included in assessments for land farming.

The report’s guidance on developing aquaculture/mariculture in a sustainable manner suggests that adding seaweed culture to existing operations can help to mitigate environmental degradation and lead to operations becoming emission neutral. However, it also points out that the ultimate fate of the end product is key for achieving positive carbon outcomes.

For seaweed aquaculture to be an effective source of carbon sequestration, the report suggests that the siting of farms is crucial, as well as the ultimate use of seaweed. Moving farms further offshore for example, could result in greater fuel use in vessels used to service seaweed lines.

Large amounts of carbon are stored in seaweed biomass, but once a plant is harvested, that carbon is either released or

transferred up the food chain. Turning seaweed into commodities, such as bio-plastics or bioproducts to improve soil health, therefore offers a more climate-friendly outcome. Studies are underway to permanently sequester carbon in seaweed by depositing it in the deep sea, although research is needed to investigate the impact on deep sea ecosystems.

Recommendations for fish farmers to reduce or avoid GHG emissions include: making improvements in feed use and efficiency; switching to renewable fuel and clean energy sources; using durable materials for farm infrastructure; and improved siting of operations to reduce nutrient inputs and waste.

The report advises that consumers can help reduce emissions by being more conscious of where seafood comes from and by eat more farmed shellfish and seaweed. These products have no emissions associated with feed production, although packing and shipping contribute to overall emissions.

“Addressing climate change requires all hands on deck, and food production has historically accounted for a major share of global greenhouse gas emissions,” Robert Jones, Global Lead for Aquaculture at The Nature Conservancy and a co-author of the study, says.

He added: “We are calling on the aquaculture sector to further its commitment to join the fight to address climate change. This study shows aquaculture has a major role to play and provides a road map for implementation.”

Looking to the future, the researchers hope to help in aligning the industry with carbon accounting, offsetting and crediting schemes focused on achieving demonstrable GHG emissions reduction or carbon sequestration. This process is currently hampered by a lack of specific policy frameworks and knowledge gaps, which prevent effective carbon accounting.

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11/05/2022 15:57:29

EXPORT

Stuck in the slow lane A pilot scheme suggests that digitising export paperwork could save producers time and money by Sandy Neil

S

ince the end of the Brexit transition period, increased bureaucracy has added an extra £3m each year to the cost of exporting salmon to the European Union.

So says Tavish Scott, Chief Executive of Salmon Scotland, who says progress towards developing a long-promised digital Export Health Certificate (EHC) system needs to be speeded up.

The new system for EHCs is due to replace the costly paper process companies are currently having to endure, but there is, as yet, no date for its implementation.

Scott said trials of a new online system – with consignments of salmon being sent to the EU using digital certificates – have shown already what can be achieved in terms of efficiency and reduced costs.

The farmer taking part in the pilot study was Cooke Aquaculture Scotland, one of the leading producers of Scottish salmon, and the largest supplier of organic Scottish salmon. It exports to more than 16 countries worldwide and more than half of the salmon it produces is destined to European markets via Boulogne-sur-Mer in France.

Cooke’s Supply Chain Manager, Gillian Devine, says: “Compared to the pre-Brexit trading arrangements, there’s no question that we are experiencing tariff and non-tariff barriers in our trade with Europe.

“Trucks are leaving distribution hubs in central Scotland later due to the number of checks and paperwork that are required to complete

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the EHC and Ched-P [the Common Health Entry Document for consignments of products of animal origin] paper documents required for all EU countries, which is why a digital EHC is so important.

“Operation Brock (the UK Government’s traffic management plan) is in place at the moment, which is causing huge tailbacks on the main roads to Folkestone and Dover.

We believe this is due to high demand, the current cancellation of P&O crossings, and Covid, all coinciding with the Easter holidays.

“The reality of Brock is that many drivers are running out of driving time and they then have to be rescued. This creates enormous stress: for us as the supplier; for the customer as they have no idea if and when they will receive their goods; and for the driver who is then stranded with perishable goods in their load.”

Devine adds that there are now onerous physical checks at SIVEP, France’s veterinary and phytosanitary border inspection office, that can take a long time.

She says: “The changes introduced in January 2021 were a huge shock to the system in the UK and Europe, where perishable goods went from being ‘day one for day two’ before Brexit to ‘day one for day four to five’ in the early days.

“Now that things have settled down they typically track around ‘day one for day two’ albeit much later in the day, but in recent weeks ‘day one for day three’ is normal. The value and volume of salmon exports from Above: Beatrice Wishart Scotland to the EU have held up, but we’ve MSP visits Cooke undoubtedly lost orders to competitors from Aquaculture, July 2021 other countries as a result of the increased Opposite from top: hassle of importing from Scotland.

Cooke Aquaculture; “The situation has improved over time O’Toole trucks as processes became embedded and companies got to grips with the new requirements, but it still takes more time and costs more money to export to the EU than it did before Brexit.

“We don’t have as much confidence as

”

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colour of ink, it creates one digital signature saving so much time and removing the room for error.

“The transporter processes the documents for Food Standards Scotland’s environmental health officers, which can be uploaded onto the EU’s Traces system and produce the CHED-P (Common Health Entry Document) using a unique reference code produced by the digital EHC. “This also saves time and duplication of effort as this will populate information from the EHC into the Ched which will match-up we’d like about when our product will arrive the documents in Traces. This will be much in Boulogne-sur-Mer or with our customer, more helpful to the Douane manning the EU and this experience changes on an almost customs border and the SIVEP officials to find daily basis.” and process the export documents on their How, we asked, could these challenges be own system. overcome?

“We believe the pilot has been an “Good lines of communication between unqualified success for all parties. [It is] producers, customers, transporters, DEFRA subject to agreement between DEFRA, the and other agencies governing the supply of French Government and the EU, but I believe fresh fish into Europe,” Devine explains. this will help UK and EU to have a more “Digitising the export process is something sustainable process for the future.” that could, and should, have happened Seafood Scotland’s Chief Executive before now, and before Brexit. If there is Donna Fordyce agrees: “It seems to have one benefit of Brexit, it will be that all these been successful in that the digital approach challenges have created a solution that works resulted in significant time savings, primarily on both sides of the channel.” at the distribution hub in Scotland but also at The UK Government has also agreed a plan the hub at Boulogne-sur-Mer in France. We to fast-track between 70 and 100 truckloads have heard that vets certifying the salmon of perishable foods a day, with priority for live in Scotland found the digital system much and fresh seafood and day-old chickens. This, easier to use and quicker to complete. says Devine, has never been implemented.

“Another encouraging outcome was that She adds: ”Saving an hour or two on when the salmon arrived at the Border paperwork in Larkhall or Bellshill is for Control Post in Boulogne, the digital nothing if our trucks are only going to be held in a Kentish layby for 12 hours or longer.

“We need digital EHCs to be recognised and rolled out on both sides of the channel as quickly as possible, and we need the UK Government to get to grips with the freight transportation issues that continue to dog our side of the channel.”

Devine describes the pilot study of a digital EHC system, which Cooke operated in collaboration with logistic business O’Toole Transport, as “very encouraging”.

As she explains: “The same information is required but it is much more intuitive, better organised and more user-friendly on the digital system – instead of up to 30 stamps on a paper copy, making sure to use the right

‘paperwork’ was already in the system for the vets there to refer to, aiding the speed of clearance for onward dispersal of seafood products. This outcome should help with the roll out of the digital approach for nongroupage exports, which in practical terms means salmon.

“A further pilot is now being planned for export products that are normally exported under the groupage scheme. That will be a bit more complicated of course – requiring potentially two EHCs, one for fish, and another for shellfish - but we are optimistic that the groundwork has been laid to move forward.”

Fordyce says that in the long run, what is needed is a pan EU-UK agreement of equivalence of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS), which would negate the needs for any checks at all. Scottish food and drink producers, including Seafood Scotland, are pushing for this as an industry.

She argues: “Failing that, the next best situation is one where you can maximise the permitted time for each part of the supply chain, while reducing errors at each stage. This twin approach would take care of most of the issues that come up. Further simplification of the customs process would also help, e.g., doing away with import VAT. “We are aware that commercial technology suppliers are looking at whether a truly end to end digitised system is possible – which would be ideal, but the industry has a way to go in terms of understanding how the chain fits together, and where individual responsibilities lie.

“Certainly, the EU is geared to accepted digital information and legally they are allowed to do so, but it would need agreement between the EU and British Government.”

Fordyce concludes: “Brexit can be characterised as ‘pain by a thousand cuts’ because of the creeping changes which have continued to appear. Just when you think you have everything sorted, along comes another bit of legislation which changes things again.”

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FEED

Feed evolves The content of aquafeed is changing, but slowly, a new report finds.

by Vince McDonagh

T

he ingredients in salmon feed are changing – and for the better, according to a new report from the Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research (Nofima).

It is generally accepted that fish farming has one of the lowest carbon footprints of any human food production chain.

But, as critics are quick to point out, feed represents one of the biggest environmental impacts of the process.

Now Nofima says a more sustainable picture is slowly emerging through the use of completely new ingredients, with insect-based products to the fore.

This is the fifth time that 2010 Nofima has compiled an overview of ingredients used in Norwegian salmon feed. Results have been updated at regular intervals since then.

This latest project documents the utilisation of feed resources in Norwegian salmon and trout farming over 12 months.

It says such updated documentation are important for the aquaculture industry, the general public and the authorities because it allows them to make the right, responsible choices.

It was also important for the media, consumers and environmental organisations, and can be used in teaching and scientific publications.

The volume of salmon and trout produced in 2020 was calculated from figures in publicly available data through the Directorate of Fisheries and Statistics Norway.

Data for consumption of feed materials were provided by the four major Norwegian feed companies (BioMar AS, Cargill, Mowi

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Above: Black soldier fly larve Right: Fish feed Opposite from top: Feed; Bjørnar Skjæran; Bente Torstensen; Nofima scien�sts

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Feed AS and Skretting AS).

Nofima says the changes may be small, but they are nonetheless important. Turid Synnøve Aas is a researcher in feed at Nofima and one of the authors behind the report, which she believes provides a basis for decision makers on how they can use resources and manage them in the best possible manner.

She says, in many ways, the composition

It is… crucial that more manufacturers use new, sustainable raw materials

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Feed make up

of feed for Norwegian farmed salmon has changed little since the first report in 2016.

In her latest report, she says the most important development is that new ingredients such as insect meal, single cell protein, fermented products and microalgae are now being included in feed, albeit still as a very low percentage.

Aas says: “These accounted for a small proportion, only 0.4% of the total volume of salmon feed, or 8,000 tonnes in total.”

In 2020, a total of 1.98 million tonnes of ingredients were used and 1.47 million tonnes of salmon and 0.9 million tonnes of rainbow trout were produced.

She adds: “The report provides a basis for decision-makers on how we can use the resources and manage them in the best possible way.”

It nicely dovetails with government goals that more salmon feed should be produced from Norwegian resources, and that all feed should be from sustainable sources.

Nofima says its report provides key indications of how progress in fish feed is doing from the start.

Fisheries and Marine Affairs Minister, Bjørnar Skjæran, said: “Feed is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the aquaculture industry.

“It is therefore crucial that more manufacturers use new, sustainable raw materials. In the next few years, we must see a sharp increase in the use of

sustainable raw materials produced in Norway. This can lay the foundation for a new industrial adventure along the coast.”

Only around 8% of fish feed ingredients (mainly oils and fishmeal) are being produced in Norway which means 92% were imported.

The Minister added: “The government has a goal that all feed for aquaculture will come from sustainable sources by 2030, and we will thus create a new industry in Norway. If we are to succeed in finding the best and most effective solutions, industry, research and politics must work together.”

The Nofima report does not state whether the ingredients now being used are sustainable, but the majority of marine raw materials have all been certified under various outside schemes. And all soy protein was certified as being non-genetically modified.

The researchers have also documented the country or area of origin for almost all the ingredients. The report shows that just over 10% of these ingredients came from Russia in 2020.

Rainbow trout was also included for the first time and while there were some small differences, the results were more or less the same.

Salmon feed in 2020 consisted of 12% fishmeal, 10% fish oil, 41% vegetable protein sources, 20% vegetable oils, 13% carbohydrate sources and 4% micro-ingredients. In addition, 0.4% of new ingredients such as insect meal and microalgae were used.

Bente Torstensen, former researcher in fish nutrition and now head of the aquaculture division at Nofima, thinks that despite the relatively small improvements, the results are important.

She explains: “There is a huge volume of an ingredient needed to make up a large proportion of salmon feed.

It’s very demanding, but it’s underway. We cheer on big and small producers who invest and dare to take a chance, because they determine how much and how fast the salmon’s diet can change.”

The research was carried out by Nofima and supported by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry’s research fund (FHF). The report Utilization of feed resources in Norwegian farming of Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout in 2020 is available online at nofima.com/publication/1997301/

THE present report is an update from a 2020 study when salmon feed was made up of 12.1 % fish meal, 10.3 % fish oil, 40.5 % vegetable protein sources, 20.1 % vegetable oils, 12.5 % carbohydrate sources and 4.1 % micro ingredients.

In addition, 0.4 % of ingredients such as insect meal, single cell protein, fermented products and micro algae. While the composition of feed has changed considerably in recent decades, the pace of those changes have slowed considerably since 2016.

Call to use less fish

A recent study by three English universities says an extra 6.1 million tonnes of seafood would be available for human consumption if it wasn’t used in salmon feed. Led by scientists at the universities of Cambridge, Lancaster and Liverpool and the environmental organisation Feedback Global, the study says using fish by-products such as trimmings for salmon feed, rather than whole wild-caught fish would deliver major nutritional and sustainable benefits.

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INNOVATION

In the pink

Innovation funder Aqua-Spark is backing a company that has developed a new, natural source of astaxanthin

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n award-winning company that has developed a process to create astaxanthin from microalgae has received a capital injection from Aqua-Spark, the funder set up to support innovation in aquaculture.

Kuehnle AgroSystems (KAS), a Hawaii-based company, has closed its Series A funding round with Aqua-Spark, its new investor.

Astaxanthin is commonly used as a pigment and antioxidant in aquafeed for salmonids and shrimp, and as a highly potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory with many documented health benefits in human nutraceuticals. These markets combined are estimated to be valued at around US$1 billion (£810m) per annum.

Among pipeline products enabled by the KAS patent is a source of highly nutritious human protein and essential fatty acids from Chlamydomonas algae.

As an algae strain and ingredients development company, KAS has patented a novel platform process for the sustainable fermentation production of multiple economically relevant algae. For their lead product, this process is combined with KAS’ unique non-GM strain

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of Haematococcus pluvialis to enable KAS to produce high levels of natural astaxanthin, affordably and at scale.

Dr Heidi Kuehnle, co-inventor of the technology, Chief Technical Officer and co-founder of KAS, said: “This pivotal technology has the potential to revolutionize algae production for pigments and protein by not only slashing operational cost, cropping time, and water footprint today but with the potential in the future for recycling the gas generated during fermentation to produce feedstock to be fed back into the fermentation process.”

KAS has been working on the development and commercialisation of its algal natural astaxanthin for over five years.

Above: Amy Novogratz, Aqua-Spark Below: Kuehnle’s algae products

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Blue economy takes off Dr Claude Kaplan, CEO of KAS, said: “With Aqua-Spark coming on board, we can now fully exploit the opportunity to bring our novel, affordable, sustainably produced astaxanthin to the salmon and shrimp markets and, ultimately, replace synthetic astaxanthin.

We are extremely excited to work with Aqua-Spark, and their other portfolio companies, and to be able to tap into their vast expertise and networks as we look to bring our aquafeed and nutraceutical products to market in 2022.”

Aqua-Spark’s mission is to transform the global aquaculture industry into one that is healthier, more sustainable, and more accessible.

In the wild, salmonids and shrimp consume astaxanthin from plankton and zooplankton, which gives them the antioxidants they need to thrive and enhances their pigmentation to produce an appealing pink colour.

To ensure farmed salmonids develop a colour similar to wild salmon, astaxanthin alternatives are used as a feed additive. Synthetic astaxanthin, which is produced from petroleum sources, is the most common additive but there is a market for natural astaxanthin.

Due to a more efficient manufacturing process and its natural chemistry, KAS says its product will be a much more affordable and customer-preferred source of natural astaxanthin.

Launched in 2014, Aqua-Spark is an investment fund with a mission to transform the global aquaculture industry into one that is healthier, more sustainable, and more accessible. The fund invests in aquaculture companies across the value chain—spanning farming operations, alternative feed ingredients, disease-battling technology, and consumer-facing aquaculture products. These companies are solving some of the industry’s big challenges while bringing returns that are comparable to today’s traditional industry.

Aqua-Spark says its portfolio works as an “ecosystem”, with the companies agreeing to collaborate on optimal solutions, and working together toward this shared vision of a more efficient global aquaculture industry. Since 2015, the fund has invested in 25 complementary SMEs. Thus far, Aqua-Spark has €300m (£256.6m) in assets under management, dedicated to investments in elements of the aquaculture industry that will make fish farming sustainable. The goal of the fund is to ultimately make sustainable practices widespread and profitable enough that this becomes the only way to farm fish.

Mike Velings and Amy Novogratz, co-founders of Aqua-Spark, said: “We’re excited to welcome KAS to our portfolio because we believe producing salmonids fed with natural astaxanthin will not only improve their health but also help to shift consumer perception of the farmed species.

“KAS is poised to have a valuable impact on the sustainable farming of salmonids, by making natural astaxanthin more affordable for farmers who already use it, and by encouraging more farmers who use synthetic astaxanthin to switch to the natural variant.”

In 2021, Kuehnle was named as the winner of the Seafood Innovation Award at the North Atlantic Seafood Forum.

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This pivotal technology has the potential to revolutionise algae production

Ahead of next month’s Blue Food Innovation Summit, Larsen Mettler, Managing Director of S2G Ventures, talks about investment opportunities in the sector Before heading up S2G Ventures, Larsen Mettler was previously an owner and the Chief Financial Officer of Silver Bay Seafoods, and a Director at KeyBanc Capital Markets where he led the firm’s Seafood Investment Banking and Corporate Lending practice. He has also held various positions with the United Nations.

He is one of the speakers at the Blue Food Innovation Summit (14-15 June) and the organisers caught up with him ahead of the event.

Q: What is the current state of investment in blue food production and ocean ecosystems?

A: Financial capital is beginning to flow into the blue economy at an uncharted pace across the capital stack. This is due to the hard work of entrepreneurs who are bringing new technologies to the forefront which sustainably de-risk the industry.

Q: Are there any particular areas of innovation that you are excited about?

A: Digitisation and automated technologies are bringing a new suite of meaningful solutions for the largest pain points in harvesting, processing, and distribution.

Innovations in Ocean data will enable the collection and processing of information over the next decade to exceed that collected in the history of humankind. The impact of this data will drive a deeper understanding of interrelated ecosystems, and what we must do as a species to form a symbiotic relationship with our planet.

Q: Which areas of the blue economy still lack sufficient funding, and how do we attract further investment into the space?

A: While new capital is rapidly coming into the industry, it is still wildly underfunded across all sectors. The growing alignment of shared values and goals across industry, government, and consumers will further attract capital and demonstrate substantial financial returns.

Q: We are delighted to have you involved with the Blue Food Innovation Summit – Who are you hoping to meet? Are there any areas of the agenda (besides your own panel) that you are excited for?

A: I’m very excited to learn more about the efforts of those focused on blue carbon and how we can support them. The Ocean is the most underutilised tool in our battle against greenhouse gases, however we must leverage its power in a well informed and sustainable manner.

At the Blue Food Innovation Summit, to be held in London on 1415 June, Larsen Mettler will join the panel discussion “Investment Models: Attracting ESG, VC & Growth Capital into Blue Food Production” alongside Sander Visch, Senior Analyst & Managing Director, KONTALI; Amy Novogratz, Managing Director, AQUASPARK; Carsten Krome, Managing Partner, HATCH BLUE; Jonas Skattum Svegaarden, CEO, KATAPULT OCEAN; Karsten Sæthre, Senior Vice President: Seafood, DNB. For more information go online to www.bluefoodinnovation.com/ agenda/

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TECHNOLOGY

Game changer Cermaq’s iFarm represents a radical vision for monitoring and control in aquaculture

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sing artificial intelligence and machine learning, an experimental fish farming system aims to identify each individual fish in a pen, recording health and growth data for each one.

The company operating the iFarm is Cermaq, one of the world’s leading salmon and trout farmers, with operations in Norway, Chile, and Canada.

“If successful, the iFarm will be a game changer for fish health and welfare in salmon farming,” the company says.

The iFarm project, which is planned to run over five years, is a collaboration between Cermaq, the technology company BioSort, and the farming equipment supplier Scale AQ. The very first iFarm fish was stocked in Cermaq’s Martnesvika sea site in autumn 2020. In February this year, it announced the first iFarm fish were on the way to market. The first iFarm fish was harvested at Steigen processing plant and has been sent to customers in Europe and Asia.

The following month came another big announcement. In a world first, Cermaq had tested a sorting mechanism that sorts the fish in a net pen, to provide customised follow-up for the fish.

“Seeing the difference between fish is crucial for improving fish health and welfare in the net pens and will be a big step forward for increased survival in salmon farming. The goal of iFarm is to improve fish health and fish welfare through artificial intelligence and machine learning. An important step on the way is to be able to sort out fish that need adapted follow-up,” Cermaq says.

BioSort has developed a “sorter”, a machine that will be able to sort and separate individual fish based on specific characteristics

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of the fish, using machine learning and artificial intelligence.

BioSort’s Managing Director, Geir Stang Hauge, says: “To my knowledge, no one has previously sorted swimming fish in a net pen before, so this is a big step towards individual-based handling of fish.”

BioSort has been working on the development of the sorter for two years. The iFarm sorter, which is controlled by a number of underwater electric motors, was first tested in BioSort’s lab and pool at its offices in Oslo, then in the sea outside Oslo, before it was installed and tested in net pens at Cermaq’s sea site in Vesterålen in Northern Norway.

“The purpose of this first test was to show that the sorter actually manages to sort swimming fish in a net pen, and it worked as we hoped, so it was a successful test,” said Hauge.

Currently, the sorter is controlled manually, but the goal is for it to be autonomous so that it, together with

Top: BioSort being loaded into the iFarm Above: Geir Stang Hauge Opposite from top: iFarm installed at sea; Karl Fredrik O�em

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the sensor system in iFarm, can make its own decisions based on defined criteria.

However, that is a complicated and extensive development that will take time.

“Now that we have shown that it is possible to sort out swimming fish, the work will be intensified,” Hauge added.

“The development team takes the learnings from this test to the development of the next generation prototype of the sorter that will be able to function under even more conditions.”

We wanted to know more, so we put some questions to the project manager at Cermaq’s iFarm, Karl Fredrik Ottem.

“The iFarm concept is based on open pens, and the trials are also done in open pens in this innovation,” Ottem says. “The fish are kept at 10 metres below the surface with a roof net, and to get to the surface to fill their swim bladder, the fish must swim through the iFarm camera sensor, where we aim to scan, recognize and record data on each specific fish.

“The advantages of managing the fish in this way is that it enables us to monitor their health and welfare status, and to adapt follow-up to individual fish, instead of the whole salmon pen.

“Another advantage is that the fish are kept below 10 metres depth, where they are less exposed to sea lice, resulting in less need for lice treatment.”

Ottem explains that the key challenges of iFarm operations are related to the more complex net arrangements and integration with the sensor houses, which means more need for resources when starting and finalising a production.

“It is also key to get the fish to adapt to new equipment in the pen, and to get the fish to adapt its swimming pattern to the iFarm setup. We have not yet reached the stage in the project where we have started reporting data, but we aim to report data on growth, sea lice, lesions, disease, and tie this to a health journal for each fish.

“Identifying individual fish and recording their health will enable us to treat only fish that need it, and not the entire salmon pen, hence, reducing the stress load on the fish dramatically.

“We are now in phase 2, where we have a complete iFarm setup on an entire sea site for the first time. Here, we are testing different geometric designs of the sensor house to test which house the salmon prefer. During this phase we will also start testing a prototype of the sorter that is meant to sort aside the fish that need adapted follow-up.”

For each fish that the iFarm analyses, it relies on the ability to process data from many cameras, seeing the animal from different sides, and on its capacity to run machine learning algorithms locally to make a decision to sort out fish or not.

As Ottem explains: “This is extremely computationally intensive and the electronics to make this possible, specialized for AI calculations, is driven forward by self-driving cars and other autonomous robotic systems, and was not available a few years ago.

“The project itself with the trials adds a lot to costs obviously, but if successful, the iFarm concept will contribute to saving costs in the long-term, because it will improve fish health and welfare, and reduce the need for stock treatments.

“If successful, iFarm is a system that can be implemented in all existing sea sites.”

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Seeing the difference between fish is crucial for improving fish health and welfare

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11/05/2022 15:41:50

ICELAND

Declaration of trust Samherji’s latest investment represents a demonstration of confidence in the potential of one of Iceland’s remotest regions. by Vince McDonagh

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he Öxarfjörður region on the North East coast of Iceland, encircled by volcanic mountain ranges, is about as remote as a traveller to that country is likely to get.

The local community numbers fewer than 200 inhabitants. Sheep farming was the main activity until recently, but thanks to the expansion of an important salmon farming project by the seafood company Samherji, the area is coming back to life.

It is a perfect example of the role aquaculture is currently playing in reviving the economy of forgotten communities.

The company is spending two billion kroner, around £12m, expanding its nearby land-based fish farm at Silfurstjarnan.

Investment in aquaculture in Iceland is moving ahead at pace although it is still some way behind rival countries such as Scotland and the Faroe Islands Practical work at Silfurstjörn began at the end of January, taking production to about 3,000 tonnes per year.

Samherji says five new pots will be built, which will be about half the size of the largest existing pots. Some of the nearby land will also be used for environmental improvements such as land reclamation and forestry.

Local people are full of enthusiasm. lga Gísladóttir, who manages Silfurstjarnan’s processing house said: “We are talking about an extensive project that has been in preparation for quite some time.

“About thirty people work here and with the expansion of the station, activity will increase and the number of jobs will also increase.

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Above: The Öxarfjörður construction team.

Opposite: Olga Gísladóttir and staff member Arnar Freyr Jónsson in Silfurstjörnan’s processing house

“The economy is based on food production, as conditions are favourable in many ways. The sparsely populated areas in Iceland have had to defend themselves; there are fewer people in many places and this applies to Öxarfjörður,” she added.

Iga said she hoped the new jobs being created would help stop the drift of young people away from such communities: “What we are doing is increasing people’s faith in the area.”

The weather has improved during the last few weeks allowing activity to be stepped up.

Thomas Helmig, Samherji’s Director of Aquaculture, says that the locals’ knowledge of fish farming is extensive, and the expansion is in many ways a declaration of trust towards the staff and the district.

He adds: “This is a very exciting project and we are making great strides towards modernisation and automation.”

Fish farming on the site began almost 30 years ago, he points out, so it is time to invest in improvements.

Helmig says: “With this expansion, operations will be more efficient in most ways

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Opposition continues

There will be a lot going on here in the next few months and the plan is for the new pots to be taken into use next autumn. The sun rises in the sky in many ways.”

This farm has been a leader in the farming of new species in Iceland, such as char and halibut, but in recent years the emphasis has been on continuing to produce salmon and char.

The facility, which includes a hatchery and salmon farm, is today one of the largest producers in the world of salmon raised on land.

It is located in a geothermal area near the sea where there is good access to both fresh and ice-salt water and fully salted sea.

The slaughterhouse serving the farm is operated by Silfurstjörn, where slaughtering, processing and packaging of all the company’s production takes place.

According to Statistics Iceland, the country harvested 53,000 tonnes of farmed fish last year, an increase of almost 25% or 12,500 and job security will increase. tonnes.

“Aquaculture in the world has been Aquaculture now employs more than 600 people which is a lot in growing rapidly in recent years and I do not country with a population of 330,000. Income is estimated at around expect anything like that to continue in the ISK 35 billion (£212m). coming years.

About 90% of all fish farming in Iceland is salmon farming, “Here in Öxarfjörður, the conditions for land farming are good in many ways, so I am accounting for 46,458 tonnes last year. The char catch was 5,390 tonnes and the rainbow trout fishery was 951 tonnes. optimistic and full of anticipation.

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What we are doing is increasing people’s faith in the area

Not everyone in Iceland welcomes the expansion of fish farming. More than 30 sports fishing associations recently called on the authorities to “abandon all aquaculture plans at Raufarhöfnalso

by Bjorg Capital in the north east of the country. They claim the site is in a protected area. Bjorg Capital has plans for a 10,000 tonne salmon farm in the area.

The associations claim that the investment company’s plans run counter to scientific advice regarding the effects of sea trout farming on wild salmon stocks.

Power on tap GEOTHERMAL power is giving Iceland a on the Resource Park, next to the Reykjanes geothermal power plant. major advantage over some of its international rivals. The country is awash with hot springs Samherji Fiskeldi, the group’s aquaculture arm, said the goal is “to and will play a key part in the development of a produce a wholesome £263m Samherji salmon quality product with a low plant near the capital, ecological footprint”.

Reykjavik.

The site will have the capacity to harvest up to Samherji has had entered into agreement with 40,000 tonnes of salmon in HS Orka, a leading three stages over the next independent power decade. Work is expected generator, to develop to start within the next Above: Computer image of Samherji’s RAS salmon farming year or two. proposed new land based-salmon farm

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SEAFOOD EXPO GLOBAL

Back in style Seafood producers and buyers were reunited in Barcelona for a trade event on a grand scale. By Robert Outram

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he world’s biggest seafood trade event has been hailed as a success in its new venue, the Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía. Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global had been on hold since the last show in 2019, and even this year it still had to overcome the twin headwinds of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic – which meant there was very little representation from China, usually one of the biggest exhibitors – and the war in Ukraine. There were no Russian companies at the Expo and there was a greatly reduced presence from Ukraine itself.

Even so, the event organisers, Diversified Communications, estimated that more than 26,630 seafood buyers and suppliers from all around the globe attended the event, and the Expo saw 1,550 exhibiting companies from 76 different countries. A total of 39,847 m2 of net exhibitor space was spread over four halls and the Galleria at the Gran Via venue.

While exhibitor numbers were down compared with the 27th edition, held in Brussels in 2019, visitor numbers were up, representing an all-time high for the Expo.

The Expo saw suppliers and industry buyers from around the globe coming together in Barcelona. During the three-day event,

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the aisles were packed with seafood, equipment and service professionals.

High-volume buyers from retail, foodservice and distribution who took part in the event’s Key Buyer program included: Aldi (Austria, UK, US, Ireland, Germany) Bidfood (Lithuania, Spain, Czechia, Italy, UK, Poland, Hong Kong, UAE, Australia, Netherlands, Slovakia), Carrefour (France, Belgium, Romania), Costco Wholesale (UK), Delhaize (Belgium), Food Lovers Market (South Africa), IKEA (Sweden), Hellofresh (Germany, Denmark, UK), Kesko (Finland), Lidl (Spain, UK), Makro (Spain, Portugal, Czechia), Mercadona (Spain), Metro (Turkey, France, Germany, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovakia), Sodexo (UK), Subway (UK), Sysco (France, Ireland, UK), The Cheesecake Factory (US) and Whole Foods Market (US).

Liz Plizga, Diversified Communications’ Group Vice President, says: “After two years without the event, it was a successful and productive debut in Barcelona. In a year challenged by geopolitical issues and Covid-19 restrictions, being able to host an event 98% the size of the largest edition ever held is a testimony that the industry was ready to get back together in person.

“Exhibitors and visitors have expressed their satisfaction with the exhibition space, its services and the city of Barcelona. And they also demonstrated the importance of

Exhibitors and visitors have expressed their satisfaction with the exhibition space, its services and the city of Barcelona

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participating in the event to present and source new products and generate new business opportunities.”

Diversified Communications had selected Barcelona as the Expo’s new location after many years in Brussels, because of the capacity of the venue itself and also because the city of Barcelona offered more in terms of transport infrastructure, accommodation and other facilities for visitors. This edition of the Expo was worth an estimated €100m (£85.4m) to Barcelona’s economy, the organisers have estimated.

Comments to this magazine from attendees suggest that new visitors and Expo veterans alike were very happy with the space and facilities at the Gran Via venue, which looks set to be the home of the Expo for some time to come.

presented by more than 65 leading International industry experts.

The conference addressed topics analysing the main challenges faced by the seafood industry. Other topics included business prospects, aquaculture, innovative sustainability projects and initiatives dealing with climate change and its effects on the maritime ecosystem.

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global collaborated with Barcelona’s food bank, Banc dels Aliments, to collect seafood products donated by the exhibitors after the show. More than 50 volunteers visited different stands to gather seafood products in a logistics device equipped with refrigerated vehicles for optimal transportation of food.

Next year’s edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global will take place in Barcelona, Spain, 25-27 April 2023 at Fira Barcelona Gran Via. See www.seafoodexpo.com/global

The latest product innovations and the future of the industry

Opposite: The entrance to the Expo Top: Hall 2, including the Iceland Pavilion Above: Do not exit – a reminder to visitors Right: Seafood on display

The global expo showcased the latest developments and trends in the seafood industry, highlighting health, sustainability and the commitment to climate-friendly foods, easy-to-prepare and new flavours products.

The event’s prestigious awards competition, Seafood Excellence Global Awards, recognized the best products represented at the Expo (see page 44 for details of the winners) This year’s edition featured a comprehensive Conference Programme, offering more than 20 educational sessions

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SEAFOOD EXPO GLOBAL

AWARDS

A matter of taste Innovative and delicious products were recognised in the Seafood Excellence Global awards

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lobeXplore of France and Pescanova España of Spain won the top prizes in the 2022 Seafood Excellence Global awards at Seafood Expo Global.

Among the other awards, a joint venture between two family-owned shellfish businesses, Krijn Verwijs Yerseke BV of the Netherlands and England’s Offshore Shellfish, scooped two special prizes.

The competition recognizes the best products exhibited at Seafood Expo Global, and the awards were presented at a reception at the Expo on the evening of 26 April.

The award for Best Retail Product was presented to Pescanova España for its entry, Salmon Noodles. This product represents a new market category of pastas made with fish that are high in protein, a natural source of omega-3, and low in fat. The noodles are sold chilled and can either be mixed with a preferred sauce, or consumers can try the easy chef-developed recipe on the back of the package.

The judges noted the “nice flavour and texture” of the pasta, its “fresh, natural appearance”, and the attractive package design.

GlobeXplore won the grand prize for Best HORECA (hotel/ restaurant/catering) Product for its Seaweed Spread – Yuzu and Ginger. This product is a subtle and exotic mix of sea lettuce, ginger and yuzu designed to accompany both vegetable and meat dishes.

Completely prepared and ready to use, it can also be the inspiration

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for chefs to create their own original seafood recipes. The judges particularly noted the “unique, yet delicious flavour” with definite afternotes of yuzu and ginger.

Krijn Verwijs Yerseke and Offshore Shellfish, which joined forces last year to create Premier Offshore VOF, won the Seafood Excellence Global special award for Retail Packaging for its product “Bangkok” – Mussels in Fresh Sauce with Lemongrass and Ginger, a convenient meal for one or starter for two with a chef-made sauce that can be prepared in just three minutes. The dish includes best-quality rope-grown mussels presented in a light Thai-style broth that can be served with udon noodles, pasta or rice. The packaging includes high quality photography in an attractive design with comprehensive consumer information and is 100% recyclable.

Krijn Verwijs Yerseke/Premier Offshore also won the Seafood Excellence Award for Best Seafood Product Line for its line of BAP-certified and organic mussels in fresh sauces. The line includes “Bangkok” – Fresh Sauce with Lemongrass and Ginger, “Classic” – Fresh Sauce with Thyme and Rosemary, and “Avignon” – Fresh Sauce with Wild Garlic. This line was recognized by the judges for the overall quality of the product, “the consumer appeal of all flavours”, and the beautiful, eyecatching package design.

Pescanova España’s Salmon Noodles was also awarded the Seafood Excellence Global special award for Innovation.

Left: Pescanova’s Salmon Noodles Below: Mussels in fresh sauces

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The award for Health & Nutrition was presented to Balfegó & Balfegó SL for its Balfegó Bluefin Tuna Loin. JC Mackintosh won the award for Convenience for its Smoked Wild-Caught Bluefin Tuna Carpaccio.

The winners of the 2022 Seafood Excellence Global awards were chosen from a field of 38 finalists representing 13 countries.

The judges for the 2022 Seafood Excellence Global competition were Debby Verheyen (who chaired the jury), Retail Business Partner

for Seafood and Frozen Food for Ahold Delhaize in Belgium; Daniel Diaz, Seafood Purchasing Manager for La Sirena stores in Spain; Nicholas Baroux, Seafood Director for Supermarché Match in France; Sebastian Kiel, Fish and Seafood Product Manager for Chefs Culinar in Germany; and Paula Merrigan, Head of Purchasing for Yo! Sushi in the UK.

Seafood Futures Forum

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The judges particularly noted the unique, yet delicious flavour

Eight years to save the ocean Business should lead when it comes to sustainability, not follow

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he United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 sets a deadline of 2030 to take our use of the world’s oceans to a sustainable level, ending overfishing and unlawful fishing, and ensuring that marine and coastal environments are properly managed.

That leaves us just eight years, and the question addressed by a senior panel at the Seafood Futures Forum at the Seafood Expo Global was: how can this be done?

The discussion started with a video address from Peter Thomson, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean.

He warned: “If we take care of the ocean it will take care of us, but human pressure on the ocean is reaching unsustainable levels… there can be no healthy planet without a healthy ocean.”

It’s a massive task, but as Rupert Howes, CEO of the Marine Stewardship Council explained, there are already examples of how it could be achieved. The MSC has, for example, been working with the South African hake industry to help it to become more sustainable. Now, there have been around 2,000 measurable improvements and the region’s two hake stocks are back at sustainable levels. Bird bycatch, once a serious problem, has now been reduced by 90%.

In his keynote speech, former J.Sainsbury CEO Justin King CBE argued that business has a critical part to play in achieving the UN goals. And while there is a place for collaboration, he said, competition – “the most powerful force in our democracy” – could achieve even more.

King said: “Collaboration tends to set a low bar… competition does the opposite. And competition attracts money.”

He also said that business should lead the way to better practices, rather than waiting to be led by consumers, and should focus on the kind of questions consumers may be asking in future.

King said he believed that celebrating good practice – on the principle that “what gets rewarded gets repeated” was more effective than simply punishing bad practice.

Targets, he added, needed to be a mix of big targets – which are necessary but sometimes demoralisingly hard to achieve – and achievable small targets to ensure that momentum continues.

As he pointed out, Sainsbury’s was one of the first retailers to adopt MSC certification. He urged: “Help us to compete – help the good guys win.”

In a general panel discussion moderated by Natasja Ven Den Berg, participants address the question: can we save the ocean in just eight years?

From the top: Peter Thomson; Jus�n King; Hake fishery, South Africa

Minna Epps, Director of the Global Marine and Polar Programme, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, stressed that challenges are far-reaching: “The ocean is more sour, warmer and ultimately breathless. We don’t realise how we are changing the chemistry of the ocean.”

Jose Luis Jaregui is Sustainability Manager with Echebaster Pesquera, a Basque tuna fishing company with a fleet of six vessels. He talked about how his company worked to achieve MSC certification and added that next year, when Echebaster goes for recertification, he hopes to be able to go beyond the MSC requirements.

Michaela Reischl, Head of CSR, Lidl Spain, said: “We have to be ambitious.”

Already, 80% of seafood sold by Lidl in Spain is MSC-certified, but as Rischl put it: “We don’t want to make our customers choose between sustainable and unsustainable products. We have to provide a 100% guarantee.”

Business has the responsibility and the capability to lead the way, Justin King concluded. He said: “Risk capital is the most powerful force we can unleash on this problem.”

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SEAFOOD EXPO GLOBAL

United Kingdom

Spreading the word Producers from Scotland and the rest of the UK were well represented at the Expo

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espite a broken arm – from a slip in her hotel room – Natalie Bell was upbeat when she spoke to Fish Farmer at the Expo. As Head of Trade Marketing at Seafood Scotland, she is a key part of the team championing Scotland’s quality products, and she is very happy, not only with the strength of the Scottish presence but also with the reception they have received.

She said: “We’ve been in Brussels for the last five years up to 2019. It’s great to see the volume of exhibitors here. There are 18 companies on our stand and more with their own stand. It wasn’t hard to recruit! The stands filled very quickly.”

The Scottish Pavilion – which served as a showcase for the companies exhibiting, a kitchen for cookery demonstrations and a meeting point – took a week to put together ahead of the show.

Bell said: “We’re showing that we are here, and ready for business!”

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Above left: Seafood Scotland stand Above right: Wales chef Opposite from top: Scotland Chefs; Seafish chef; Wester Ross hot smoked salmon; Label Rouge; Seafish stand

As in previous years, DFDS arranged a dedicated truck to deliver its customers’ product to the Expo.

David Cranston, Export Operations Manager with DFDS said: “After a few weeks of preparation giving clear guidance to customers on the necessary post Brexit customs and sanitary control documentation, our truck departed our depot in Larkhall, Scotland on Thursday 21 April.

“Following a smooth sanitary control and customs clearance in Boulogne sur Mer on Friday, we worked with our transport partners for Spain, OLANO, for the final leg of the transport from Boulogne sur Mer to Barcelona. Using our contacts with

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I’ve been very impressed with the scale of the show

LOWE refrigeration, who our customers book storage space with, we had already investigated the procedures to ensure our truck would be unloaded on arrival to the exhibition centre on the Monday morning of 25 April. We also had key staff from DFDS waiting at the show to ensure the processes were being followed.

“Our customers were delighted with this service given the successful delivery of the product to the show. DFDS had also moved product which was used for reception dinners for industry representatives so, needless to say, the safe arrival of the product was greatly appreciated.”

At the Scottish Pavilion John Kelly, Operations Director with Sutherlands of Portsoy, was particularly promoting Portsoy’s smoked salmon and steelhead trout. This was his company’s first time at the Expo.

He said: “I’ve been very impressed with the scale of the show and the level of interest that we’ve seen. We are definitely looking to grow our exports – in terms of exporting to the Continent it’s mainly seasonal at present, and we’d like it to be all year round.”

Natalie Woolnough, Head Buyer with the St James Smokehouse, said: “We’re doing a roaring trade with buyers coming in. I’ve been very happy with the level of interest so far.”

More than half of St James’ business is export. The company is looking to expand its production facilities to meet demand.

Loch Duart was one of the salmon producers represented at the Seafood Scotland pavilion. Adam Gray, Marketing and Communications Manager, Loch Duart: “We’ve been very busy with enquiries and some potentially big deals!”

Since acquiring its new processing facility, Loch Duart is able to sell fillets, as well as chilled whole salmon.

Su Cox, Communications and New Business Development Director with the Scottish Salmon Company, said: “What the buyers are asking us is: ‘Where can we get more salmon? How much can you supply, and when?’”

Gilpin Bradley, Managing Director, Wester

Ross Fisheries, is an Expo veteran. He believes that perceptions have changed over the years as buyers and consumers have become more aware of the identity and provenance of specific products.

He commented: “Branding has become more important over the past 10 years. It’s not just ‘Scottish salmon’ now.”

The Seafood Scotland stand also hosted demonstrations of recipes for salmon, scallops, crab and other produce at the show, with a team of chefs and food technologist Catriona Frankitti.

Meanwhile, Seafish, the public body supporting the UK seafood sector as a whole, co-hosted the first ever UK seafood pavilion at the Expo.

Seafish partnered with Defra’s GREAT Food and Drink campaign and the Government’s Seafood Trade team, as well as the Department for International Trade (DIT) to fund and subsidise some of the associated space, design, and build costs of the pavilion. Five UK seafood companies shared the UK seafood pavilion stand, and the UK Minister for Exports Mike Freer also hosted a reception at the Expo.

In addition to the booths for seafood companies, the pavilion had a lounge and reception area for any businesses attending the Expo to visit and use for meetings. Seafish and DIT hosted events including opportunities to meet with key international buyers and DIT Trade Specialists, and seafood demonstrations were also held at the onstand demo kitchen.

Marcus Coleman, CEO with Seafish, told Fish Farmer: “There is a lot of enthusiasm to get together again and meet old friends.”

“It’s the first time there has been a UK-wide presence at the Expo.

Seafish and DIT have also produced a marketing toolkit for DIT’s 100-plus staff in markets globally who are dedicated to helping British businesses.

“It will equip those supporting the agriculture, food and drink sector with the information they need to promote UK seafood in international markets.”

Wales also hosted its own pavilion with a range of great Welsh seafood represented. Nia Griffiths, North Wales Seafood Cluster Manager commented: “The Expo is a fantastic place to present Welsh products on a global stage. Part of the challenge has been to get the message across that we have our own unique offering. We would not get this opportunity anywhere else.”

After a difficult period for the industry, she said, it had been very busy on the Welsh stand.

Visitors had the chance to sample a range of produce including laverbread (a traditional offering based on seaweed) with scrambled eggs, Welsh spider crab and lobsters in garlic butter.

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SEAFOOD EXPO GLOBAL

Expo roundup

Hot topics The conference programme for Seafood Expo Global 2022 focused on the global economy, technology and sustainability in the seafood industry

F

or those hoping that the return of the Expo as an inperson event might herald the end of a turbulent time for the global economy, keynote speaker Megan Greene had little to say that was comforting.

Greene is a Senior Fellow with the Mossovar-Rahmani Centre for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School, a Senior Fellow with Chatham House and a columnist with the Financial Times.

In a talk titled “Uncertainty Abounds” she painted a picture of the post-Covid world. The upside is that recovery, from the initial impact of Covid-19 and the lockdown measures adopted around the world as a result of it, has been faster than Greene and many other economists had predicted.

The downside is that this recovery has, for most economies, been accompanied by the return of inflation as labour costs and commodity prices have spiralled. Only in Japan has inflation been, if anything, too low.

Meanwhile, Greene said, the Eurozone and the UK have been facing inflation driven principally by rising energy and food costs, while in the US it has been driven by other factors including a huge fiscal stimulus by government to keep the economy going through the pandemic, which Greene said had turned from “tailwind to headwind” for the economy.

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Greene said she was confident that the US is not heading for recession – in the next 12 months, anyway – and she expected to see a “tepid recovery” in Europe.

For the seafood industry, prices have been rising but so have costs. Continuing supply chain problems arising from China’s hardline “zero Covid” strategy and energy and other commodity price hikes as a result of the war in Ukraine and the resulting sanctions on Russia.

Greene also warned that while rising commodity prices will help some emerging economies others are at serious risk of default.

Also in the conference programme, a panel of senior figures in the finance sector discussed the role of venture capital in helping the seafood industry to grow and develop. The moderator for the panel was Larsen Mettler, Managing Director – Oceans and Seafood and the other participants were Georg Baunach of Hatch Blue, Chris Gorell Barnes of Ocean 14 Capital, Carlos Esteban of Faber Blue

Above: Canada stand Left: Seafood display Opposite from top: Larsen

Me�ler; Megan Greene; the Expo was an opportunity to meet; stands at the Expo; the Fira Barcelona Gran Via south entrance

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Pioneers Fund, Christian Lim of SWEN Blue Ocean, Amy Novogratz of AquaSpark and Nutreco’s Erik Tveretaas.

Amy Novogratz explained that her fund’s strategy had evolved, with the realisation that it was not enough to invest in “sustainable aquaculture” – it’s necessary to ensure that sustainability is part of the whole supply chain, including feed, traceability and logistics.

Christian Lim said that to make an impact, funds needed to work together and the investee companies also need to collaborate, with each other and with larger companies.

Chris Gorell Barnes argued that “sustainability” is not enough, adding: “We have to make sure that we regenerate the ocean.”

His fund, Ocean 14, requires every potential investment to have a detailed impact action plan as well as a financial plan, linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (which addresses the state of the marine environment).

Georg Baunach at Hatch Blue said that the salmon sector, dominated by large, consolidated players, was less open to radically new technology and more focused on incremental cost reduction. In contrast, he said, shrimp production, with a large number of smaller businesses, was a sector in which technology could make a significant difference.

What areas did the panel see as especially promising for innovation in the seafood industry? Carlos Esteban picked the application of artificial intelligence, for example systems to give early warning of harmful algal blooms.

Other key areas suggested by the panel included sustainable feed alternatives, improved traceability, the digitisation of aquaculture and the use of eDNA (environmental DNA) to analyse ocean life at a low cost.

Other sessions at the conference included a discussion of A Greener Blue, a new, digital, open source platform being developed in association with Google that

” Seafood Expo Global (4) roundup.indd 49

captures the sustainable production practices and ecosystem benefits provided by producers across the globe; a session on ethics in seafood supply chains; a presentation on the WaSeaBi project, an EUfunded initiative to find better ways to use the “sidestreams” from fish processing; an update from the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation; and a discussion on how far we can realistically expect to be able to replace marine ingredients in aquafeed.

Technology, sustainability and the seafood industry’s “licence” to operate were key, interlinked themes for Barcelona 2022 and are likely to be talking points for the foreseeable future.

We have to make sure that we regenerate the ocean

Scotland scores GOAL for 2024

Above from left: Global Seafood Alliance COO Brian

Perkins, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon and Seafood Scotland CEO Donna Fordyce

In a deal concluded at the Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) has selected Scotland as the host country for its 2024 conference.

The GSA event, known as GOAL, will include a conference with international speakers focusing on production, sustainability, innovation and market trends alongside delegate visits across Scotland to learn more about, and from, the country’s seafood industry.

Previous hosts of GOAL include France, Chile and Dublin with this year’s event taking place in-person at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, USA, over 3-5 October.

The responsible seafood conference, which has never been held in the UK before, will be cohosted by Seafood Scotland and the GSA at a venue to be determined.

The bid to host the conference was put together by Seafood Scotland who will work with the Scottish Government and other industry bodies to deliver the event with the Global Seafood Alliance.

The GSA’s COO Brian Perkins said: “Scotland has a rich tradition in both aquaculture and wild-capture fisheries, and we see it as an ideal fit for GOAL 2024.”

Perkins shared news of the bid win with Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, as she visited Scottish seafood producers on the Scottish Pavilion at Seafood Expo Global.

Gougeon said: “I am delighted that Scotland’s bid to host the prestigious Seafood Alliance Conference in 2024 has been successful and look forward to welcoming delegates from across the globe to this important event.”

She had also taken the opportunity to visit government and businesses in Catalonia to discuss sustainability, local food chains and production. In two days of meetings with government and business, she discussed how Scotland and Catalonia are tackling food, rural affairs and climate change issues.

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WASTE MANAGEMENT

Circular solutions One person’s waste can be another’s useful product, it seems

E Above: Proton from Deep Branch Opposite from top: FØRKA truck, Sterner, Cermaq biogas plant

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nvironmental campaigners are often critical of producers, but one thing on which both groups can agree is that waste is a bad thing – for profits and for the planet.

The aquaculture sector is increasingly finding new ways, not only to deal with its own waste issues but also to make productive use of the waste from other industries.

One of the most obvious applications of the latter is to use waste heat from operations in other sectors to provide energy and heat for fish farming, particularly in RAS (recirculating aquaculture systems) farms.

RAS sites use a lot of energy and if they can be sited close to another facility that produces heat as a by-product, that can help to cut costs and reduce the site’s carbon footprint.

Earlier this year Nippon Gases Norge won a contract to supply oxygen to SalMar’s new smolt plant and hatchery, in central Norway.

The deal, with SalMar Settefisk, also involves the use of surplus heat from Nippon Gases’ air gas plant.

Karl Christian Aag of SalMar Settefisk said: “This fits in very well with our ambition to create the world’s most modern hatchery.

“We will use the heat from Nippon Gases to create the best growing conditions for 23 million smolts a year.”

Data centres also generate a large amount of surplus heat and, if it is not dealt with, this can be damaging to an IT installation. Last year, shellfish producer Norwegian Lobster Farm announced it had entered into an agreement with IT data storage firm Green Mountain on the reuse of waste heat from one of Green Mountain’s facilities, in Rennesøy, Norway.

The project represents an innovative example of the circular economy, with waste heat from the data centre reused for food production. The seawater in Norwegian Lobster Farm’s RAS facility

needs to be kept at 20C, which is by a fortunate coincidence the same as the temperature of the waste water used by Green Mountain to cool its computers. A new lobster production facility will be built next to the data processing centre.

CEO of Norwegian Lobster Farm, Asbjørn Drengstig, said: “In practical terms, this means that we can scale up production, reduce technical risk, and save both capex and opex. In addition to the environmental benefits, of course.”

Eating the carbon footprint As well as heat, carbon dioxide emissions – which are a major component of greenhouse gases – are being used to benefit the aquaculture sector.

Earlier this month BioMar, a leading aquafeed producer, announced that it had entered into a strategic agreement with Deep Branch, which has developed Proton, a single cell protein, for the feed sector.

Deep Branch uses clean and renewable carbon and energy sources to create ingredients for a more sustainable food system. Using CO2 from industrial processes, together with hydrogen, the process is used to grow microbes, forming the basis of an animal feed that can be used as an

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alternative to plant-based proteins like soya.

Not only does Proton make use of CO2 that might otherwise contribute to global warming, it could also reduce dependence on the soya industry, thereby helping to protect the world’s forests.

To kick off the partnership, Deep Branch will transport Proton from its facility in the Netherlands to BioMar’s Technology Centre in Denmark to produce Proto-based feed until the end of 2022. The companies will conduct a full suite of nutritional assessments in Denmark, Norway and the UK to test the protein-rich ingredient. These tests will focus on performance, digestibility and other parameters essential for fish health and growth.

Commenting on the partnership, Deep Branch’s CEO Pete Rowe said: “The world needs to move from making pledges to taking action, and we are passionate about industrial ecology underpinning the next generation of food production. We see BioMar as a key partner in bringing Proton to market as its ambitious targets and commitment to collaboration fully align with ours.”

“Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum.

We have a unique opportunity to create new value chains and ensure this is a net positive for all stakeholders. Our partnership with BioMar will create a powerful message for potential upstream partners that supplying hydrogen and carbon dioxide to our facilities can directly decarbonise our food systems.”

Paddy Campbell, VP Salmon at BioMar Group, added: “At BioMar, we’re constantly seeking innovative raw materials that don’t compete with human food production and using nutrients from by-products that minimise waste. So we’re excited to have established this strategic partnership with Deep Branch.”

Meanwhile, how about the waste generated by the aquaculture sector itself? The most significant element of this is “sludge”, a catch-all term for the mix of fish faeces and uneaten food that needs to be disposed of, although morts can also represent a waste problem.

In the Faroes, salmon producer Bakkafrost’s biogas plant uses waste from the company’s hatcheries to produce power for the local community.

Production started in December 2020, with the first specially equipped truck arriving at Bakkafrost’s Strond hatchery to pick up bio-organic residual waste. The waste was transported to Bakkafrost’s biogas plant FÖRKA. At the time, Rógvi Jacobsen, operations manager at the Strond hatchery, said: “This is a huge step towards our goal to utilise all material from our salmon production. We are privileged to be among the first movers in

the Faroe Islands to use biological waste to produce green energy.”

The plant is fully operational now, and has been throughout 2021, the first year of full production. The input in 2021 was 13,723 tonnes of biological waste from the Faroese salmon industry, and in addition 143 tonnes of other biological waste was delivered and utilized for energy production by FÖRKA. The output in 2021 was 7,532 MWh of electricity (equivalent to the annual usage of 1,506 Faroese homes), 8,292 MWh in heating, (equivalent to the annual usage of 346 Faroese homes), and 34,271 tonnes of liquid fertiliser for agriculture.

Bjarki Johannessen, Sustainability Analyst & Communications Partner with Bakkafrost, says: “The plant has made a huge difference regarding waste management at Bakkafrost. Instead of using energy to handle biological waste, we now produce renewable energy. In 2021, FÖRKA received around 11,000 tonnes of biological waste from Bakkafrost farming operations, which is a significant proportion of the total waste from Bakkafrost farms.”

Could a similar process also be put in place at Bakkafrost’s other locations, for example Scotland where the Scottish Salmon Company is part of the Bakkafrost group?

Johannessen says: “We are continuously looking to implement sustainable solutions throughout our value chain. In Scotland, our main priority at this point is investment into RAS technology at our land based hatcheries, resulting in an over 90% reduction in both waste and water consumption, and we aim to have our RAS facilities in Scotland 100% powered by locally produced renewable energy.”

In Norway, salmon producer Cermaq began trials with a biogas plant back in 2017, using sludge from one of its smolt plants. The plant did not achieve full production capacity until 2021 when it was expected to produce 500,000 kwh (kilowatt/hours) annually.

The plant is designed and operated by water treatment company Sterner, and uses an Anaerobic Baffle Reactor (ABR) to convert waste from the smolt plant, biologically, into gas that can be used in power generation.

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The world needs to move from making pledges to taking action

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WASTE MANAGEMENT

RAS goes green

Above: Processing plant Above right: Rasel Mahmud

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Shrimp production also generates organic waste that needs to be disposed of – or better yet, used productively.

That’s the plan for two Cheltenham-based entrepreneurs, Litu Mohiuddin and Rasel Mahmud who aim to produce shrimp for the UK market, in the UK. The company is called Land Ocean Farm.

Mohiuddin and Mahmud built up a restaurant business and were becoming increasingly frustrated with the inconsistent supply and quality of shrimp for their chefs.

Surely, they thought, it would be better to produce shrimp in the UK, nearer to the home market. The species they had in mind, L.Vannamei, is probably the world’s most popular shrimp. The drawback is that it is a largely tropical species, which requires a land-based farm and plenty of energy to heat it.

The idea took shape over the first Covid-19 lockdown, when the restaurant trade effectively shut down. Initially working with an entrepreneur in Bangladesh, the two business partners learned about the techniques and challenges of shrimp farming, and they are now raising capital for a RAS farm, which they expect will be located in Scotland.

Land Ocean Farm has already recruited an experienced and highly qualifies team, including – as Technical Director – Dr Malcolm Dickson, formerly Country Director, WorldFish.

The company has been working with Farm491, the Royal Agricultural University’s

Instead of using energy to handle biological waste, we now produce renewable energy 52

agritech innovation and incubation hub.

As well as consistent quality and traceability, the project’s environmental impact is an important consideration, according to Rasel Mahmud, Project Leader.

He says: “The circular economy is at the core of all we are hoping to do.”

The RAS plant will be located close to a conventional farm (not a fish farm) and will work closely with local farmers, using heat from anaerobic digestion plants powered by farm waste, and using crop by-products to make fish feeds. The plant will also use the fish waste it generates to make compost, adding nutrients to their soil.

Mahmud stresses: “It will be important to have access to a site where green, renewable energy is available.”

With the RAS process there should be zero discharge of water, and a heat recovery system will ensure the most efficient use of energy possible.

If fundraising goes according to plan, he says, the plant could be up and running with shrimp in place by the end of 2023.

Collecting waste The plants mentioned above use organic waste from land-based farm facilities, where it is easier to collect. But what about net-pen farms at sea? High-energy sites will have much of their waste dispersed by the tides and currents, but in general collecting waste from the cages is problematic.

Norwegian company LiftUP AS says it has the solution. The company produces, sells and installs equipment that removes dead fish, waste and sludge from the fish cages. The company is located in Eikelandsosen in Bjørnafjorden municipality, and was the first in the world to launch this type of treatment system.

LiftUP has invested significantly in the development of systems for sludge collection from cages. The concentrated waste is stored in tanks and transported to a biogas plant, where it is converted into renewable energy and a high-quality fertiliser product.

Last year LiftUP became part of the Framo Group, which manufactures pumps and is itself part of the Alfa Laval engineering group. The move should give the Norwegian start-up wider scope to market its product to the aquaculture sector.

Finally, fish processing also generates waste which can, with the right technology, be made more valuable.

The WaSeaBi project, funded by the European Union, aims to develop solutions that will enable processors to turn raw materials – currently seen as waste or low value sidestreams from production – into marketable products.

WaSeaBi, which involves a number of research institutions, is working with the commercial sector and taking a whole chain perspective, aimed at creating: bioactive peptides for nutraceutical, food and feed applications; protein-based food ingredients; and savoury ingredients and mineral supplements for food and feed.

For example, currently mixed waste from filleting typically goes into one “bin” and is treated as a low value by-product. Researchers in the project believe that a rethink of the filleting technology could produce multiple sidestreams, separating out – for example – guts, heads, backbones and tails as well as the fillets themselves.

Also while this waste is normally stored in a farm that gives it a very short life in terms of value, changing the pH (the acidity/alkalinity) of the waste or using antioxidants can extend its useability and its value.

Our grandparents used to say “waste not, want not” and modern technology is finding new ways to put that into practice.

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PACIFIC TRADING AQUACULTURE LTD - CLIENT CONTENT

SPAROS and PTAqua join forces to offer fish hatcheries custom-made nutrition PTAqua to use premium SPAROS feeds specially tailored for a variety of fish species

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ore fish hatcheries will now have easy access to tailored feeds by SPAROS, through the wellestablished distribution platform provided by Pacific Trading Aquaculture Ltd (PTAqua). The bespoke feed products will be of great benefit to hatcheries focusing on larval fish stages of species such as seriola, meagre, seabass, seabream and especially ballan wrasse.

SPAROS’s products are a response to the increasing need for innovative nutritional solutions for both traditional and emerging aquaculture species.

Ian Sutton, Joint-CEO of PTAqua, says: “There is a growing demand for tailored feed products in aquaculture to sustainably boost productivity while maintaining good fish welfare standards.

This is particularly important for emerging markets and species such as ballan wrasse and seriola, as it can help overcome production bottlenecks in terms of fish growth and survival. Our mission is to provide hatcheries with the best nutritional solutions and SPAROS products fit the bill perfectly.”

Premium products from SPAROS are formulated for specific fish species using top quality and highly digestible ingredients that help fish hatcheries to excel in performance and quality. These feeds are produced using cold extrusion and microencapsulation technologies to ensure maximum protection of water-soluble nutrients, such as taurine, while fulfilling larvae nutritional requirements.

Luis Conceição, co-founder and R&D director from SPAROS, says: “At the larval stage, not all fish species thrive on the same microfeed. What works for gilthead seabream may not work for Senegalese sole or ballan wrasse. There are significant improvements in fish performance when you tailor the formulation of the pellets’ physical properties to each fish species. Through collaboration with research institutes and feedback from our customers, we have focused on diversifying and tailoring feeds for different fish larvae, which translates into significant performance benefits in the long run.”

From SPAROS’s portfolio of hatchery feeds, PTAqua will distribute WINFast – premium feeds for fish species such as seriola, meagre, seabass and seabream – WINWrasse – the first customised commercial earliest stage microdiet for ballan

”

These are exciting times for hatcheries – particularly in the Norwegian, Mediterranean and Middle East markets

Top right: Ian Su�on Right: Luis Conceição

wrasse larvae – and ENRico, an all-in-one enrichment feed for Artemia and rotifers.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with PTAqua to provide SPAROS nutritional solutions that will ultimately support the sustainable growth of aquaculture,” adds Luis. “These are exciting times for hatcheries – particularly in the Norwegian, Mediterranean and Middle East markets – that will now have easier access to our premium products and high-level technical support through PTAqua’s strong presence in these regions.”

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COASTAL WORKBOATS SCOTLAND LTD - CLIENT CONTENT

In it for the long term

Shipbuilder committed to supporting the Scottish Aquaculture sector

C

oastal Workboats Scotland Ltd and its sister companies, Coastal Workboats Ltd and Coastal Workboats Support Services Ltd, are growing into a multifaceted group of businesses with the aquaculture sector at the core of the management team’s focus.

The current group of companies was founded in 2011 and today has evolved into a leading builder of steel and aluminium commercial workboats and provider of associated support services.

The company’s latest LUV2208 workboat build for Kames Fish Farming continues the close association with Damen Shipyards following on previous 16 metre and 19 metre Damen designed LUV

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Top: 3D CAD Vessel Above: Service Van with Engineers alongside Opposite from top: The Tiffany II; Design and Fabrica�on Services

(Landing Utility Vessel) deliveries into the Scottish aquaculture market.

The collaboration with Damen Shipyards has proven highly successful and hence a further four 2208LUVs will be built for stock during 2022/2023.

Brian Pogson, Founding Director, comments: “This is an exciting time for Coastal Workboats. We have worked closely with Damen Shipyards to bring to the market high quality UK built aquaculture service vessels and we see great future potential to support the aquaculture sector going forward. However, we also see our customer relationships as long-term partnerships and hence we have developed a Planned Maintenance Service model which will be offered through our Coastal Workboats Support Services business.”

Considerable time has been spent behind the scenes to develop a new Planned Maintenance System cloud-based software application designed specifically for workboats and with ease of use in mind.

Combining this with mobile service vans and qualified marine engineers, the business aims to provide a vital support function, reducing unplanned downtime and increasing productivity of marine assets.

Brian goes on to say: “We have a lot of in-house knowledge from the vessel construction process and see it as a natural extension to be able to offer our clients an annual service and maintenance contract post vessel delivery. However, our system is also designed so that we can easily offer the same service to other operators with workboats not built by ourselves, the only difference being that a vessel audit would be required to capture the different machinery and equipment onboard. The service can be extended to capture other marine assets – for example, feed barges – and is not limited to propelled vessels.”

Investment is also being made into the core management team to support the expansion, with a Purchasing Manager recently joining the business in Devon to oversee group procurement and a Business Development Director joining in Scotland to focus on the group’s growth north of the border.

“We see the Aquaculture market in

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Scotland as a core focus area for the business in the years ahead. Not only have we appointed a Business Development Director based in Scotland, but we have also established a small base in Argyll to store service vehicles and equipment and on a larger scale we are in active discussions around a new vessel fabrication site in Scotland which should see us being able to build steel workboats in Scotland within 2023,” Brian continues.

The business is also very conscious of any contribution it can make towards an industry-wide awareness of environmental impact and the need for reduction in emissions.

“From a vessel construction perspective, we are looking at how we can reduce emissions at our potential new Scottish fabrication site with features such as rooftop solar PV (photovoltaic) panels and electric charge points suitable for supporting electric forklifts. We have also invested in the development of a new zero emission aluminium electric RHIB design that we feel will be ideally suited to supporting the aquaculture sector and are extremely excited to get this new product

” Coastal Workboats Scotland Ltd.indd 55

onto the market,” adds Brian.

Through the group’s Coastal Pure business unit, the focus is on offering the market zero emission aluminium workboats on a long-term lease arrangement, whereby the cost of the more expensive electric propulsion technology can be managed more efficiently by spreading it out as part of a farming operations monthly OpEx (Operating Expense).

Not content with simply building steel and aluminium vessels, offering a Planned Maintenance Service, and introducing new zero emission workboats onto the market, the group has also been investing in its Technical & Design Support capabilities.

The addition of Solidworks 3D design capability not only benefits the shipbuilding side of the business, but means associated technical and design support services can be offered to third parties including naval architects and other manufacturers.

In terms of the aquaculture market, the Technical & Design Support division sees opportunities to support an evolving industry where sea production infrastructure is increasing in size and complexity.

Installation of larger model vessel deck

we also see our customer relationships as long-term partnerships

cranes, installation of other vessel deck equipment items, and feed barge generator renewal with different generator models are examples of tasks which may require technical design support to ensure continued structural integrity of the main asset.

With a recently updated website www. coastalworkboats.co.uk and updated social media platforms, the business has also purposefully increased its communication efforts this year to keep the industry more up to date with the latest developments and services.

For any queries or enquiries please get in touch with the team on sales@ coastalworkboats.co.uk or reach out directly to Business Development Director Robbie Cook on robbie@coastalworkboats.co.uk

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

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THE WELSH PERSPECTIVE

Wales is surrounded on three sides by the sea and has a long and proud history in fishing Earlier this year two members of the Senedd, the devolved legislative assembly for Wales, visited Scotland to find out more about its aquaculture sector. Here, they report on their impressions. by Mabon ap Gwynfor MS and Rhun ap Iorwerth MS

T

he overnight sleeper train from Crewe to Fort William is a pleasurable experience in the bleak winter months. On awakening from our slumber, we looked out on pristine white landscape dotted by deer grazing on the foothills of the Grampians along the West Highland Line.

Fort William was only a stop on the journey to see some of the salmon farms and other infrastructure associated with the salmon industry in Scotland. On leaving the town with BBC Gael providing a soundtrack to the journey, we drove past the Fort William Shinty Club and the newly built Police Station and housing estate on one side and aquaculture factories on the other.

We’d visited this part of Scotland to learn more about the salmon industry and wider aquaculture in the country, and how it contributed to the economy and social fabric of Highland communities.

Wales is like Scotland in many ways, but on a much smaller scale.

Our rural and coastal communities have suffered depopulation.

The communities that we represent in Wales have some of the

56

lowest incomes per household throughout the UK. West Wales and the valleys are amongst the poorest communities (relatively speaking) in northern Europe.

We also have a chronic lack of well-paid employment and affordable housing. This leads to depopulation, loss of community and culture and an over-dependence on uncontrolled tourism. Things need

Top: Mabon ap Gwynfor MS

Above: Rhun ap Iorwerth MS Opposite: A misty day on the west coast of Scotland

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to change. We need to develop new industries that build on our skills and natural wealth.

This is why we came to the Highlands, to see how salmon farms had developed over a 50-year period to being a major employer, and making a significant economic and social contribution to the local communities and the nation at large.

We visited hatcheries, farms on sea lochs, and R&D centres. Sadly, the harvesting had to be abandoned due to bad weather. We saw small communities where a significant proportion of the residents worked in the industry, ensuring the shops and schools remained open, and we heard of plans by businesses in the industry to build houses for their employees, in areas where people are priced out of the housing market.

We also heard how Scottish branding added value to the product, with an estimation that the Saltire added 20p per kilo to the end product.

The innovation was an eye-opener, with new branches developed within the industry such as feed factories employing hundreds in remote island communities, to breeding wrasse and lumpfish to tackle sea lice, and the millions pumped into these innovations and others to allow the industry to grow and become more sustainable.

Wales will never compete with Scotland on salmon. We don’t have the sea lochs,

and we have warmer waters along our coast. But we have a significant shellfish industry, with whelks, mussels, and cockles.

Lobsters, crabs, seabass, herrings, and many other delicious species can be found in our seas, with tuna specifically on the increase. But our aquaculture is chronically under supported.

Wales is surrounded on three sides by the sea and has a long and proud history in fishing. There’s no reason why we can’t develop a thriving indigenous aquaculture industry here, from the hatcheries to the supermarket shelves, creating jobs and strengthening our remote coastal communities.

Of course, the Scottish salmon industry has its detractors, and we in Wales must have our eyes wide open when it comes to ensuring environmental sustainability as well as economic prosperity.

We would, anyhow, be unlikely to follow the Scottish model.

We have expertise here already in on-land RAS (recirculating aquaculture systems) fisheries. Plants near the eastern tip of the island of Anglesey, at Penmon, are a vital part of the Scottish salmon supply chain, producing cleaner fish to swim among the salmon, as a measure to control lice. These skills and expertise could – and should - be developed in fisheries producing fish for our tables. There’s real scope to create jobs in production and processing.

Scotland has developed what was dubbed a crofting hobby into a world-renowned industry, producing high quality, high protein food adding value to the economy and communities. Salmon is of course in the top five fish, while whelks or herrings are far from staple household foodstuffs. But food cultures change, fashions change, and with leadership and investment there’s no reason why we can’t grow an aquaculture sector in Wales based on our strengths and built on sustainability, welfare, and resilience.

The Scottish Highlands gave us much food for thought.

Mabon ap Gwynfor MS represents Dwyfor Meirionnydd and Rhun ap Iorwerth MS represents Ynys Mon.

”

The Scottish Highlands gave us much food for thought

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SEAWEED

Red alert

Farmed red seaweed has enormous potential, but a failure to address genetic diversity could put that at risk By Elizabeth Cook, Nidhi Nagabhatla and Louise Shaxson

M

illions of smallholder farmers across 48 countries depend on seaweed for their livelihoods. This column outlines what’s currently happening in this little known industry and explains seaweed’s potential as a crop that can make a considerable contribution to the pursuit of key development objectives. But like the global banana industry, seaweed production is based on very limited genetic diversity. This is increasingly problematic as climate change affects where seaweed can be grown, with serious consequences for some of the world’s poorest families living in coastal communities.

The world is waking up to the potential of seaweed. Since the 1950s, seaweed production has rocketed from half a million tonnes per year to over 35 million tonnes today, according to the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation’s publication Global seaweeds and microalgae production, 1950–2019. That represents a 15-fold increase in just over half a century. The total value of the global seaweed market is estimated at US$15 billion (£11.5bn).

Different types of seaweed have different uses. Some are staple foods in many Asian countries, but the so-called “red seaweeds” produce carrageenan, a gelling agent that is extensively used in the food, beauty, and pharmaceutical industries. It can help to absorb carbon in the oceans, reduce the amount of methane emitted from cattle, replace fossil fuel derivatives with alternatives such as bioplastics and biofuels, and provide “functional foods” that deliver essential nutrients for a healthy diet. No wonder there’s talk of seaweed as a “wonder crop”.

But these apparently healthy figures mask two significant problems in the seaweed industry. The first is that, like the global banana

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industry, red seaweed production is based on very limited genetic diversity.

While there are many different varieties of banana (as many as 84 varieties in Uganda alone) the global industry has continued to rely heavily on just one – the Cavendish, which was bizarrely first grown in the hothouse of an English stately home.

Commercial banana production was wiped out in the 1950s by a strain of Panama wilt fungus. The Cavendish variety proved to be resistant to that particular strain and hence was planted everywhere, but it is now proving highly susceptible to a new strain that emerged in the 1990s.

Like bananas, seaweed is very easy to grow.

You break off a few stems from the crop you have just harvested and tie them to a rope anchored to the seabed. After about 45 days, you’re ready to harvest and the cycle repeats.

Also like bananas, what you have grown is, genetically, the same as its parent. Seaweed does reproduce sexually, which increases genetic diversity, but that needs to happen in a lab rather than a farm, because the seedlings get washed away by ocean currents.

Because this vegetative propagation is so easy and because red seaweed is resilient to being transported over great distances, a global trade in seedlings was established quickly in the 1950s. It first took off in Indonesia, before spreading to China, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines, and onwards to other countries like Tanzania.

Like the banana industry, only a few species were used to establish commercial farms.

And like the banana industry, the global red seaweed industry is genetically uniform.

This wasn’t a problem until climate change started to affect seaweed production.

Warming sea temperatures cause stress for seaweed, and increase its susceptibility to pests and diseases. In Zanzibar, for example, the maximum recorded temperature of inshore coastal waters has risen from 31C in 1990 to 38C in 2020.

The value of the Tanzanian seaweed crop declined from US$4.3m (£3.3m) in 2015 to US$2.4m (£1.8m) between 2016 and 2020.

Above from top: False Irish moss; Elizabeth Cook; Nidhi Nagabhatla; Louise Shaxson Left: Red seaweed, Tarakan Sea Opposite: Bananas

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”

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has been looking at banana production for many years, but until 2021, there was no international body overseeing seaweed health. There were also no global regulations on how seaweed propagules should be traded to promote the exchange of healthy crops, maintain genetic diversity including within wild populations, and reduce the risk of introducing pests and diseases to new areas.

The second problem is that seaweed is often grown by some of the poorest people in coastal communities. More than six million smallholder seaweed farmers and their families, across 48 countries, depend on seaweed for some or all of their livelihoods, but they’re struggling to deal with the effects of climate change.

Seaweed is a good crop for poor farmers, as it only requires a few cheap inputs: some ropes and wooden pegs, plastic ties to attach the seedlings to the ropes, and somewhere to dry it. Because seaweed needs little upfront investment, and because it only takes 45 days from planting to harvesting, it is an ideal crop for people who have few other income-earning opportunities.

In the Philippines, seaweed has provided a good livelihood for several generations of farmers. Elsewhere, seaweed is mixed in with fishing, shellfish harvesting, some landbased agriculture, and small-scale trading.

But as in Tanzania, climate change is forcing many farmers to reassess whether they can continue to farm seaweed.

This is particularly likely to affect women farmers: cultivating seaweed is often a whole family affair, with women making equally important contributions to planting,

cleaning, and drying. As seaweed production moves into deeper, cooler waters, however, it needs boats and the ability to swim – both of which are often out of reach for women who struggle to take out loans to buy a boat or who, for cultural reasons, haven’t been taught to swim well.

Climate change is also likely to affect the poorest farmers disproportionately. They often grow seaweed on contract to larger farmers, taking what prices they can get.

Government programmes tend to automatically overlook both women and poorer farmers, registering only better-off men.

This means that the all-important information about how to farm seaweed sustainably won’t reach those who are actually doing the farming.

A sustainable red seaweed industry could make a great contribution to four of the Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 13 (climate change), and SDG 14 (life below water). But to do so requires a whole-system change, learning quickly from the banana industry.

Smallholder seaweed farmers need to be able to replant with genetically diverse and biosecure seedlings. This means building biobanks to maintain genetic diversity and to breed improved cultivars. It means researching where genetic diversity exists in the wild and how to breed from it.

But it also means a wider effort to understand who exactly are the seaweed farmers, and what economic and environmental risks they face. It means encouraging the development of alternative seaweed products so that farmers aren’t dependent only on volatile carrageenan prices and can make longer-term investments that help them manage their risks sustainably. And it means emphasising the traceability of seaweed products, using mechanisms such as blockchain to recognise and reward sustainable, inclusive, and gender-sensitive seaweed production strategies.

This is an ambitious agenda, but it’s essential if the global seaweed industry is to fulfil its considerable potential.

Elizabeth Cook is Professor in Marine Biology, specialising in Marine Invasive Species and Biosecurity at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Programme Leader for the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Aquaculture, Environment and Society PLUS (EMJMD ACES+) and Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.

Nidhi Nagabhatla is a Senior Fellow and Cluster CoordinatorClimate and Natural Resources at United Nations University – CRISBelgium.

Louise Shaxson trained as a natural resources economist and has had a long and varied career as researcher, research manager, policy advisor and management consultant.

This article first appeared on globaldev.blog/

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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

What’s NEW Monthly update on industry innovations and solutions from around the world Eurostone - Anti-predator netting from Vónin FOR some time, the anti-predator netting Eurostone has been tested in full-scale cage nets at Scottish farm sites, and the results are great.

The netting’s special attribute is that it has a stone fibre which the seals can’t bite through, and therefore the salmon are protected from attacks. Other attributes are that it keeps its properties in the water, has a good sinkability, no antifouling is needed and, not least, it is recyclable. If you would like to know more about the Eurostone netting you can contact the Vónin sales team. www.vonin.com

Environmentally friendly solutions for pure and disinfected water BIO-UV Group, a leading water treatment specialist for over 20 years, designs and manufactures UV, ozone, AOP (advanced oxidation process) and salt electrolysis disinfection systems.

The Group’s products provide a high standard of disinfection thanks to safe and sustainable technologies that yield clean water in an environmentally friendly manner.

The BIO-UV Group product ranges offer easy-to-install and spacesaving solutions to meet the demanding needs of the aquaculture industry: UV closed reactors and open channel UV reactors; and ozone generators for fresh and saltwater areas in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), as well as for wellboats.

UV and ozone systems destroy the bacteria or viruses that cause illness in species, thereby reducing mortality rates and simultaneously protecting the environment by improving wastewater. By keeping the water clean, aquaculture operations can optimise renewal of water in ponds, reducing water consumption. www.bio-uv.com

Revolution in extra resistant nets for aquaculture FIBRAS Industriales S.A. (FISA) has introduced its new netting for aquaculture, the result of constant research and innovation from the Lima-based company. XtraCore+ is the name of this new technology, which promises to take a step forward for the marine industry. XtraCore+ is constructed of a first and second layer of braided HDPE, with a core that is a third inner layer of polyester filaments with an addition of DSM’s super-strong ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), which gives it a higher coefficient of friction, helping its durability against adverse climates, highly demanding tides and currents and, above all, attacks by wildlife, such as sea lion bites. www.fisa.com

Brimmond Group invest in new stock marine cranes for purchase BRIMMOND recognise that current long lead times for new marine cranes from all manufactures are causing major issues for clients. As the exclusive UK and Ireland provider and servicer of Heila marine cranes, Brimmond Group have decided to introduce various size cranes into our stock to reduce lead times.

With larger models currently in production, Brimmond have four smaller Heila HLM range cranes available for immediate delivery including: • 8 tonne-metre (txm): Heila HLM8-2S with remote control • 10 txm: Heila HLM10-3S • 13 txm: Heila HLM13-3S with 900kg winch • 20 txm: Heila HLM20-3S with 2,500kg winch Please contact Paul Dingwall or Stuart Gilligan for further details by emailing sales@brimmond-group.com

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INDUSTRY DIARY

Industry DIARY The latest aquaculture events, conferences and courses MAY 22 WORLD AQUACULTURE 2021

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Merida, Mexico May 24-27, 2022

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AQUACULTURE EUROPE 2022

www.aquaeas.org The European Aquaculture Society’s annual conference focuses on “Innovative Solutions in a Changing World”.

Seawork is a “one stop shop” for buyers, providing access to the commercial marine and workboat markets. It is the largest European commercial marine exhibition held at the prestigious Mayflower Park venue in Southampton, SO14 2AN, United Kingdom. www.seawork.com

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Rimini, Italy September 27-30, 2022

AUGUST 23 AQUA NOR 2023 www.aquanor.no/en/

Trondheim, Norway August 22-25, 2023

Southampton, United Kingdom June 21-23, 2022

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11/05/2022 12:16:39

OPINION – INSIDE TRACK

Maybe things aren’t so bad…

By Nick Joy

A

t the New Year I wrote about the possibility of Ukraine being invaded. How much I wish the sources I had been reading were wrong! That such a proud and resourceful people should be put through such a pointless and vicious war is a tragedy akin to Greek mythology rather than our times.

I have been transfixed by the reporting of it because I have a very close friend who is Russian. Just before the war started we spoke, and he said that it was very unlikely that Putin would invade as almost every Russian claims kinship with someone in Ukraine.

He has ancestry from Ukraine, and after the start of the invasion he was like a broken man, talking of “that man” – meaning Putin – in the most derogatory terms. I was, and am, afraid for him as such language can put you in jail for 15 years and Russian jails are not friendly places. He, like many of his fellow citizens, is trying to leave Russia because there is no place for reasonable people in a society that will not allow dissent.

Meanwhile, the Russians tried to take Kiev and we all prayed that its citizens would hold out under such terrible circumstances.

With incredible bravery, they did, and the Russians withdrew.

Now, here comes the point that brings this into our world of fish.

Within four days of the Russian withdrawal I was amazed to hear that Kiev was looking for salmon supply from Loch Duart again!

Now, how utterly amazing is that? The resilience of people faced with some of the darkest times you can imagine is utterly mind-blowing. So before I move on, here’s to the Ukrainians, their fight, their courage and their sheer dogged determination to keep their country their own.

The war has disrupted the global economy enormously but some things remain the same.

China’s dominance of almost everything continues, and until the West decides to go back to producing stuff, we will be giving our money to someone else.

What has become more obvious is the impact of Ukraine’s farming being so badly disrupted. Wheat supplies are going to be heavily impacted and this will affect Europe as we have previously imported a great deal from Ukraine, including not only wheat but also rape and other oil-bearing seeds. It was heartening to see Ukrainian farmers are still trying to sow their fields as this gives hope for the future. Who knows who will benefit from that production, in these awful times.

I am not well-versed enough to predict the consequences of a long drawn out war, but there are some things which are macro enough for most people to accept their likelihood. The first one, which we have already seen, is that things will get more expensive both at a cost level for business but also at a sale level. Initially it is likely that this will improve profitability but of course costs will feed through and that will no doubt put pressure on profits.

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”

It was heartening to see Ukrainian farmers are still trying to sow their fields

More interesting is to try to estimate how the general restriction in food supply will affect the global markets and thus global food prices.

Generally, the UK is reducing its beef and sheep production, not as a reaction to calls for less meat production but more due to worries about how government will react to the mounting pressure from so-called environmentalists. Rather like salmon farming, beef farming requires a long-term commitment and herd reductions cannot be reversed in a short period. So once government starts to tamper with agriculture and aquaculture the effect on the food market could be very dramatic and long-lived. Just like Ukrainian wheat production, lower beef production will affect demand for alternative commodities, particularly in terms of protein, which cannot be a bad thing for seafood consumption.

Seafood prices are doing extremely well at the moment, as I know to my cost from visits to my local fishmonger. By the way, isn’t it wonderful that the doom-mongers who said all fishmongers would close were utterly wrong! In fact, supermarkets are finding it harder to deal in fresh seafood, apart from salmon, and I guess that’s primarily because of market volatility.

I am sure that there will be those that say it is due to people not wanting to eat it. If that is true then why is John Dory £42.00 a kilo in my local fishmonger? Oh, and it runs out incredibly quickly.

So whilst there is terror and destruction in one part of the world, there is always another way to look at it. To quote an old tenet “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good!”

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

Nick Joy OPINION.indd 66

11/05/2022 14:45:18

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