Fish Farmer October 2021

Fish F armer WELL PLAICED OCTOBER 2021

EXPORTS

Could this be the the next farming success story?

Tackling trade barriers

SECURITY

Avramar vs the poachers

CLASH OF THE TITANS

Climate change

The battle for control of Norway Royal Salmon

Our panel of experts outline the challenges

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12/10/2021 09:28:2511:54 20/08/2020

Welcome

Editor’s Editor’s Welcome Welcome

IT

ierra del Fuego, the southernmost province of Argen�na, has a good claim to the �tle “The end of thethe world.” n a few weeks’ �me eyes of the world will be on Glasgow as leaders gather for the UN Earlier this month the regional legislature of the province voted to ban open net COP26 Climate Change Conference. salmon farming.

Coming toptooffurther the Danish decision lastemergency autumn to If nothing else, the event willon help focusgovernment’s a�en�on on the climate curtail anyour further growth of fish involved farming at and the ongoing struggle of the industry facing planet.

For anyone in sea, aquaculture, however, global warming is – or in Canada to –resist the front closure farms in the Discovery Islands, it poli� is clearer everdo. that the should be already of of mind, irrespec� ve of whatever the ciansthan say and fish farming industry needs to make its case in order just to stay in business.

The oceans are right on the front line of climate change and this is already impac�ng It’s not all gloom, however.weather At the North Atlan� c Seafood Forum – heldand online this yearsuch aquaculture, with extreme events, warming sea temperatures challenges –asNorway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg reiterated her belief that investment in the blue harmful algal blooms and reduced oxygen levels in the sea. economy is a route to saving the environment, not harming it.

Also at the NASF, chiefand In this month’s issue we report on a webinar, held jointly by Fish Farmer magazine execu� ves and analysts alike were in agreement that the industry’s biggest challenge InterMET, which brought together a panel of experts to discuss how climate change isis fiaff nding ways to meet the forPlease their product arguably, good ec�ng aquaculture andworld’s how it growing might bedemand mi�gated. do read–this ar�clethat’s and, ifayou problem to have. can, watch the webinar which is available to view online.

In thisDr issue weHughes report on thethe NASF and present first partScience of a preview Aqua Nor Also, Adam from Sco� shalso Associa� on the for Marine (SAMS)ofargues 2021, of the industry’sthe biggest trade shows. that ifone we are to promote Blue Economy as sustainable we need a clearer idea of what What’s happening in aq The July issue also features profile of Norcod, currently the front runner in the race to “sustainability” means in thisacontext. in the UK and around th revive thethis codissue farming industry. outwhich why Norcod’s Execu� Chris� anplaice Riber, What’s happening in aquacu Also in we report on Find a study points toChief an op� mis�ve, c future for believes mea they model that w in the UK and around the wo farming,this and�on paperhave thataoutlines the works. opportuni�es for marke�ng shellfish from Scotland.

We also focus on two aquaculture projects in Guatemala and The Bahamas that are being JENNY HJUL – EDITOR JENNY HJUL – EDITOR We look at the story behind the drama�c ba�le for ownership of Norway Royal Salmon and supported

by Norway’s Arc� c, andthe onlatest the “Øymerd” project which is se�ng out to why it resulted in victoryKvarøy for NTS; and JENNY HJUL JENNYat HJUL –– EDITOR EDITOR developments in the saga of Brexit and its create a fi sh farm based on a fl oa� ng concrete island.And turning to the Mediterranean, you con�nuing challenges for the UK’s seafood industry.

Steve Bracken SSC’s record results Stewart Graham The final sessions Nicki Holmyard looks at the shellfi sh farmers’ against in tubeworm this issue also can find out how G4S helped one of the biggestba� fishlefarmers the regionand defend its sites features special industry reports on Breeding and Gene�cs, Transport and Logis�cs and Steve Bracken SSC’s record results Stewart Graham The final sessions against poachers. salmon farming sector in Scotland, when it was to he focus this month istopictures on Europe, the internati T HE is coincidence that andwhere videos of unhealthy Sno Fish Farmer went press, there was sti lltold no offi cialonal Li� ingOctober and Cranes.

The issue also includes reports on land-based farming, waste management and the be thewere subject ofScotti a be parliamentary inquiry, embraced the industry willsent soon gathering the (European salmon to news outletsfor just asjoint the Scotti sh news from the shScotland, parliamentary inquiry into salmon sector when itEAS was tosalmon he focus this month istopictures on Europe, the internati T HE is coincidence that andwhere videos of unhealthy Sno Fish Farmer went press, there was sti lltold no offi cialonal Aquaculture Innova�on Summit. As ever, there is farming plenty going onin in aquaculture! opportunity this would provide to explain how it month. operated.

Aquaculture Society) and WAS (World Aquaculture Society) parliament went back to work at the start of this These farming, conducted earlier this year by the Rural Economy Best wishes, be thewere subject ofScotti a be parliamentary inquiry, embraced industry willsent soon gathering the EASinto (European salmon to news outletsfor just asjoint the Scotti shthe news from the sh parliamentary inquiry salmon Current trends In good Julie Hesketh-Laird The industry had nothing to hide and, if given aof fair hearing, could Meet thehealth new chief exe conference, to be staged over fi ve days in the southern French images had litt le to do with the current state Scotland’s fi sh and Connecti vity (REC) committ ee.

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

Aquaculture Society) and WAS (World Aquaculture Society) parliament back to work atto the start of this These farming, went conducted earlier this year by the Rural Economy Best wishes, address much of the criti cism levelled against it. city ofngs, Asto well asand, highlighti ng the latest technological farms -Montpellier. where sea lice are in decline and, inwe fact, at abe five- Meet meeti in nothing private, tolevels consider their report and must Current trends In good Julie Hesketh-Laird The had hide if given fair hearing, thehealth new chief executiv conference, to beto staged over days in theaof southern images had litt le do with thefive current state Scotland’s ficould sh and industry Connecti vity (REC) committ ee.

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

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

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

But asngs the farming in alleviati ng poverty.

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

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

But as farming inThe alleviati ngofpoverty.

Increasingly, ngs anti -aquaculture suspects, as Economy activists. latest thesecame (see ourHolyrood’s newsindustry storyRural onmeeti page 4) became more opti misti c.into Weand now believe that MSPs, perhaps with acceptability of aquaculture the contributi on it makes to global consider its draft report the future of salmon farming. members have been willing to listen to those campaigning to sessions progressed, and eventually farmers’ voices were heard, are broadening their scope, tackling subjects such asthat the committ social and Connecti vity committ ee returned the summer recess we to makes grim reading for the industry asfrom it suggests ee Serving Worldwide Aquaculture Since 1977 food security and saving the planet, aindustry move that is toanti welcomed. the excepti on ofvaluable one or two Greens cahoots with -farming Those who want toWe shut down thein asbe shut down this sector, rather than to those who operate became more misti c. now believe that MSPs, perhaps with acceptability ofopti aquaculture and the contributi on ithave, makes toexpected, global consider its draft report into the future of salmon farming. members have been willing to listen to those campaigning to Also investi gati ngacti initi aties, veswhich inregard thenow developing world, Harrison campaigners, will, on balance, the industry in a Dr favourable stepped their viti involve the within it.up food security and saving the planet, aindustry move that is tobreaching welcomed. the excepti on ofvaluable one or two Greens cahoots with anti -farming Those who want to shut down thein asbe expected, shut down this sector, rather thanthe tohave, those who operate Meet the team Charo Karisa of WorldFish writes about farming potenti al inthe Fish Farmer: Volume 44 Number 07 Volume 44 Number 10 light.

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

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

One committ ee’s fi ndings are not binding.

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

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

Dr Nick Lake Phil Thomas growth that is sustainable.

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

Onein committ ee’s fiin ndings are not binding.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Farmer wish him all the very best for the future.

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

Farmer wish himis all the best9PH for the future.

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

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

T I A TIA

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

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

Cover: Fish farm Cover: The European maintenance ship plaice (Pleuronectes in Skanevik� orden, platessa) Norway Photo: Shu�erstock

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Welcome.indd 3 Welcome - Oct.indd 3

@fishfarmermagazine

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

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

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

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

Janet Machrihanish Orkney farm Marti nBrown Jaff a visit

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

3 Fax: +44(0) 131 551 7901 Bracken, Scott Landsburgh, Hervé Steve Bracken, Scott HervéLandsburgh, Migaud, Editorial Advisory Board: Steve Tel: +44(0) 131 551 1000 Migaud, PatrickJim Smith and Jim Hervé Patrick Smith, PatrickMigaud, Smith, Treasurer and Fax: email: +44(0) 131 551 7901 Bracken, Scott Landsburgh, Hervé Steve Bracken, Scott HervéLandsburgh, Migaud, jhjul@fi shupdate.com Treasurer, Wiliam Jim Treasurer and Dowds William Dowdsemail: William Dowds Marti nofJaff a era Vaccines New player Dawn new Migaud, PatrickJim Smith and Jim Hervé Patrick Smith, PatrickMigaud, Smith, Treasurer and Editor: Jenny Hjul jhjul@fi shupdate.com Treasurer, Wiliam 12/07/2021 15:32:14 Jim Treasurer and Dowds William Dowds William Dowds Head Office: Special Publications, Dawn 12/10/2021 16:11:05 Marti nofJaff a era Vaccines New player new Designer: Andrew Balahura

Contents

Fish F armer In the October issue...

News

What’s happening in the UK and around the world

Processing News

24

Update from the processing sector

Comment

26-27

Mar�n Jaffa

SSPO

28-29

Hamish Macdonell

Shellfish

30-31

Nicki Holmyard

Export

32-35

Sandy Neil

Plaice

36-37

Vince McDonagh

The battle for NRS

38-39

Vince McDonagh

Climate Change

40-43

Report from our expert panel discussion

Blue Economy

44-45

Dr Adam Hughes

Security

46-47

An�-poaching measures in the Mediterranean

Waste

48-49

Fish farming and the circular economy

Innovation

Report from the Aquacuaculture Innova�on Summit

Land Based Farming & Hatcheries Latest developments in the RAS sector

What’s New

Monthly update on industry innova�ons and solu�ons

Industry Diary

All the latest aquaculture events, conferences and courses

Aqua Source Directory Opinion

54-58 60 62

66

Nick Joy

32

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50-52

64-65

Find all you need for the industry

4

6-23

40

54

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12/10/2021 16:14:48

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12/10/2021 09:33:04

United Kingdom News

NEWS...

SEPA to take on bigger aquaculture role

THE Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is set to take on more powers as the lead authority for protecting wild salmon, including a key role in assessing whether new fish farms present a threat to wild fish.

The announcement comes as part of the Scottish Government’s response to the final report of the Salmon Interactions Working Group (SIWG), which was established to provide advice on a future approach to the interactions between wild and farmed salmon.

The SIWG’s main focus has been the potential harm to wild salmon from sea lice, which some believe is exacerbated by the presence of fish farms.

The SIWG report calls for the reform of Scotland’s finfish aquaculture regulatory regime “to ensure that it is fit for purpose, comparable with the highest international and domestic regulatory standards and in line with the Scottish Regulators Strategic Code of Practice”.

The report recommends that District Salmon Fishery Boards should continue to be statutory consultees in the future regulatory regime. It also calls on the Government to undertake a holistic, evidence-based review of the approach to sea lice treatment.

The SIWG also recommends that Marine Scotland should take an overarching role to manage interactions at the local level through the use of agreed standards for current, interim delivery of Environmental Management Plans; and that one single lead body should be assigned responsibility for regulating wild and

6

UK News_v2.indd 6

farmed fish interactions.

The Scottish Government has said that SEPA will take on the lead role as regulator and that development proposals involving increases in the numbers of fish farmed, including applications for new farms or expansion of existing farms, will be assessed using Scotland’s new spatially based risk-assessment framework, which is currently being developed.

The Scottish Government also supports the SIWG’s recommendation that “local engagement mechanisms between finfish farmers and wild fishery managers should be established as a minimum to facilitate pre-application consultation, agree joint local management priorities and projects, act as a forum for information and data exchange, and identify research priorities and request management action as appropriate.”

The new consent regime will also give the regulator powers to demand the relocation of farmed salmon biomass if its current location is seen as hazardous for wild fish.

The Government also announced funding of more than £650,000 to extend the salmon counter network.

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “The funding and broad programme of work announced today demonstrates that we have moved beyond the status quo and shows our commitment to improving the scientific evidence base.

“It underlines the importance of supporting a sector that provides a low-carbon source of

protein enjoyed nationally and internationally, while sustaining well-paid jobs in some of our most fragile rural communities.”

Dr Sam Collin, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas Manager, represented Scottish Environment LINK on the working group. He said: “We’re pleased to see the Scottish Government supports the recommendations put forward by the working group. It has already delivered one of the key recommendations of the working group by appointing SEPA to take on the responsibility of addressing the impact of salmon farming on wild salmonids... we encourage the Government to move quickly on the other recommendations made by the group to ensure needed changes in regulation are made without delay. An important first step towards reversing the decline is to deliver stronger regulation of the aquaculture industry to help reduce the pressure on wild salmon from sea lice and escapes from salmon farms.”

The latest announcements do not, however, provide total clarity on how the future of fish farming regulation will look. The Government’s Wild Salmon Strategy will not be published until December, and the independent report into streamlining fish farming regulation, headed by Professor Russel Griggs OBE, will also not report until the end of the year.

Crown Estate Scotland, which grants leases for marine aquaculture, is reviewing its current arrangements and the Government has asked it to take the latest recommendations into consideration.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

12/10/2021 14:24:26

All the latest industry news from the UK

Researchers developing PCR test for oyster diseases AQUACULTURE researchers in Scotland are developing a PCR method that will help detect the presence of a range of diseases and biofouling species affecting oysters and mussels, in a project that could be a significant boost to the health and wellbeing of the shellfish.

With nearly £200,000 of funding from the Seafood Innovation Fund and the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre, the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute will build a validated testing system that allows oyster growers to proactively test for Bonamia ostreae – a common and potentially fatal disease that is otherwise difficult to detect.

The 15-month project will also receive support from companies and organisations across the oyster farming and research sectors, as well as from practitioners looking to restore the shellfish to their native habitats.

Once present on a site, Bonamia ostreae cannot be eliminated and, historically, it has only been diagnosable after infection has occurred. Access to a rapid, cheap, pre-emptive test will help farmers to make more informed decisions on whether to move oysters to different locations, helping to prevent the spread of the disease.

Designed to be affordable and easy to use for growers, the testing system will also detect the presence of oyster herpes virus and vibrio bacteria, along with biofouling species such as tube worms.

UK postpones new import controls until 2022 THE UK Government has bowed to pressure to postpone new controls on animal-based products imported to the UK from the European Union.

The EU already imposes physical checks and extra paperwork on meat, seafood and other animal-related products imported from the UK, but the UK had delayed the imposition of equivalent controls until 1 October (for additional declarations) and 1 January 2022 (for physical checks).

Announcing what it said was a “pragmatic new timetable”, the UK Govern-

Above: Lorries queuing to board ferries at Calais port

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UK News_v2.indd 7

ment yesterday said that full customs declarations and controls would not be imposed until 1 January 2022, while export health certificates – which involve inspection by qualified veterinary professionals – will not be mandatory until 1 July 2022.

Under the revised timetable:  The requirements for pre-notification of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) goods, which were due to be introduced on 1 October 2021, will now be introduced on 1 January 2022.

 The new requirements for export health certificates, which were due to be introduced on 1 October 2021, will now be introduced on 1 July 2022.  Phytosanitary Certificates and physical checks on SPS goods at border control posts, due to be introduced on 1 January 2022, will now be introduced on 1 July 2022.  Safety and security declarations on imports will be required as of 1 July 2022 as opposed to 1 January 2022.

Full customs declarations and controls will be introduced on 1 January 2022.

Importers and logistics companies, already dealing with extra controls on exports to the EU and staff shortages as a result of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, had called for more time to be ready for the new regulations.

Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, Lord Frost, said: “Businesses will now have more time to prepare for these controls, which will be phased in throughout 2022.

“The Government remains on track to deliver the new systems, infrastructure and resourcing required.”

Ian Wright, Chief Executive of the Food and Drink Federation, has criticised the lateness of the decision, given that businesses had already invested considerable time and expense in preparing for the new measures to be implemented in October.

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12/10/2021 14:27:19

United Kingdom News

Royal visitors meet Organic Sea Harvest team

Above: Alex McInnes (left) meets the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay

HRH Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall sampled smoked salmon from Organic Sea Harvest (OHS) on a visit to meet local businesses on Skye.

The royal couple, accompanied by Lord-Lieutenant Joanie Whiteford, were visiting businesses in Portree, Skye.They met with OSH’s co-founders,Alister Mackinnon and Alex MacInnes, and Chief Operating Officer, Robert Wyvill.

Earlier this year, OSH carried out its first commercial harvest and delivered a fillet of organic smoked salmon to Clarence House, residence of the Prince of Wales.

HRH Prince Charles, whose title in Scotland is the Duke of Rothesay, is a longstanding supporter of the organic movement.

Alex McInnes said:“It was an honour to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay to Skye. I was delighted to share with them our carefully produced organic salmon.We are proud of our product and were thrilled to present it to the Duke, given his long-term devotion to organic farming methods.

“The Duke asked about our salmon farming methods, including our stocking density and how we handle sea lice.

It was a pleasure to talk to someone so knowledgeable and interested in our mission to create top-quality, organic salmon.

He was very positive and commented on our sustainability.”

WiSA launches online forum NETWORKING group Women in Scottish Aquaculture (WiSA) has launched an online forum to connect women working in and with the industry.

The forum is intended to connect the group’s 300-plus members, promote diversity and highlight the range of opportunities for women in the sect or.

The launch follows the success of a similar initiative by the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), which launched a collaboration hub for its consortium members in July.WiSA was founded in partnership with SAIC and launched on International Women’s Day 2019 to celebrate the role of women in aquaculture, promote diversity and support career development.

The digital forum has been funded by Marine Scotland and will provide a virtual space for members to connect with one another, access exclusive events, share career and training opportunities, and engage in discussions around diversity and inclusion in the sector.

WiSA has also announced three new members for its core team: Donald Waring, learning and development manager

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at Mowi; Helena Reinardy, training fellow and researcher at SAMS; and Matilda LomasMacKenzie, biology and cleaner fish co-ordinator at the Scottish Salmon Company.

Teresa Garzon,WiSA chair, said:“The launch of the digital forum is an important milestone for WiSA. More than ever, we have come to recognise the power and value of online connections and

resources during the past 18 months. Our aim is to ensure that aquaculture companies continue to have access to a diverse talent pool that can help the sector to develop and grow, with equal opportunities for all.”

Heather Jones, CEO of SAIC, added:“Aquaculture in Scotland has a wide geographical spread, which only reinforces the need for

equality and fair opportunities for people all over the country.

With an online platform to encourage engagement and discussion, our members can get involved with important conversations around diversity in aquaculture and pave the way for the next generation coming into the sector.”

Find out more online at wisa.sustainableaquaculture.com/ wisa-forum

Above: Mary Fraser, Head of Skills and Talent at SAIC and Secretary of WiSA (L) with Teresa Garzon, Key Account Manager, Patogen and WiSA Chair

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12/10/2021 14:28:22

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W www.neptunemarine.com 12/10/2021 09:35:29

United Kingdom News

Campaigners bring fresh abuse claims

ANIMAL welfare campaigners have lodged a welfare complaint against salmon and steelhead trout farmers in Scotland, following the publication of more secretly filmed video footage.The farm operators concerned have hit back, arguing that the images do not reflect standards of welfare at the farms.

The allegations concern sites run, respectively, by The Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) and Kames Fish Farming on the west coast of Scotland.

The covertly filmed videos appear to show dead or damaged salmon and trout, with sea lice clearly visible.

The pictures have been jointly published by Scottish Salmon Watch, the campaigning organisation set up by anti-fish farming activist Don Staniford, and charity Animal Concern, which Staniford has recently joined.

The filming allegedly took place at SSC’s West Strome site in Loch Carron and the Kames Fish Farming site at Shuna Castle in the Sound of Jura in September this year.

Scottish Salmon Watch said it had filed welfare complaints against Kames and SSC with Police Scotland’s Wildlife Crime Unit, Marine Scotland’s Fish Health Inspectorate and the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) for breaches of the Animal Health & Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 (Section 19: “Unnecessary suffering” and Section 24: “Ensuring welfare of animals”).

The APHA, which is responsible for regulating animal welfare in farming, would not confirm or deny details of any complaint, but told Fish Farmer: “We take breaches of animal welfare legislation very seriously and investigate every allegation that is reported to us. We will always take appropriate action where welfare regulations are breached.”

Previous complaints brought by Scottish Salmon Watch were investigated, separately, by APHA and RSPCA Assured, but not upheld.

SSC said the mortalities were atypical

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and related to recent weather conditions. A spokesperson for the company said “Fish health and welfare is fundamental to responsible salmon farming.

“Operating in the natural environment brings unique biological challenges, some of which have been exacerbated by the current exceptional warmer water temperatures and lack of rain.

“These conditions have caused a sudden and unforeseeable environmental bloom of jellyfish and plankton, and an escalation in sea lice settlement at one of our sites. These environmental factors damaged the gills of our fish, compromising their overall health and their vulnerability to operational handling.

“Unfortunately, there were a number of fish mortalities and they have been disposed of responsibly in line with current regulations.”

SSC stressed that “swift action” was taken and “significant resources” deployed to protect the fish, adding: “We acted in accordance with responsible farming practices and remain committed to the stringent health management of our fish.”

A spokesperson for Kames said: “We are proud of our record on fish health and welfare in all Kames Fish Farming Ltd operations and can confirm that all our sites, including Shuna Castle, are routinely (and very recently) inspected and audited by accreditation bodies such as the RSPCA and also regulatory bodies such as Marine Scotland, amongst others. Neither of these are reporting any issues or concerns as we maintain our focus on quality and sustainable production of our steelhead trout.

“Like any livestock farm, unlawful intrusion and selective filming will inevitably pick up isolated and thankfully rare examples of poorly doing animals. The recent footage featured by Staniford is out of context and not worthy of discussion.”

Study aims to help wild salmon survive climate change WARMER temperatures globally are presenting major challenges to Scotland’s wild salmon population, according to Scotland’s Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon.

The Scottish Government has announced a £550,000 fund, including £150,000 provided by Crown Estate Scotland, for research into the impacts of climate change and pollution on wild salmon, and on ways to mitigate them – including planting trees by rivers in order to create shade for the fish.

The study will involve sampling of juvenile and adult salmon by local fisheries trusts and boards to collect scales and other biological information from fish captured in rivers throughout Scotland.

The data will be used to help target interventions to conserve salmon and increase the numbers and size of wild fish leaving rivers for the ocean.

Over the last 40 years, salmon numbers returning from the sea to Scottish rivers have declined by around 40%.

Announcing the fund at Glen Clova in the Highlands, Mairi Gougeon said: “We take the issue of our declining salmon stocks very seriously, with the reasons for it wide-ranging and complex.

“The investment in monitoring will help us to better understand these pressures.

“We know that high river temperatures during the summer are a pressure on wild salmon and we are identifying priority stretches of waterways to target tree planting, providing living parasols to provide shade and encourage good survival and growth of salmon.”

She said the Scottish Government was working with landowners and land managers to encourage them to take measures such as tree planting to support salmon conservation.

Gougeon added: “However, it is believed that salmon mortality at sea has increased in part due to the effect of climate change on ecosystems and shifts in locations where food is abundant.

“That is why it is vital, especially as we head towards COP26, that we continue to address the double challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.”

As part of her visit to Glen Clova, she planted the first tree in an area earmarked for reforestation.

Above: Mairi Gougeon

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12/10/2021 14:29:54

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12/10/2021 09:38:52

United Kingdom News

Rural Affairs Minister opens Holywood Breeding Centre

Left: Mairi Gougeon (centre) with staff at the Holywood facility Above: The hatchery

SCOTLAND’S Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon, has presided at a long-overdue official opening for AquaGen Scotland’s hatchery at Holywood.

AquaGen acquired the Holywood Breeding Centre, near Dumfries, in March 2019 and the company has invested more than £5m, rebuilding and repurposing the facility for salmon egg production. The official reopening of the facility was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said:

“Aquaculture and its wider supply chain is an essential component of Scotland’s economy, adding valuable jobs and contributing to the local economies in some of our most fragile and rural communities.

“We are working to continually improve the policy and regulatory framework to mitigate environmental impact and at the same time support sustainable growth, and I welcome plans by AquaGen to increase egg production for domestic and export markets.

“I am delighted to see this important part of the breeding sector develop in Scotland, which will support better biosecurity by providing a robust ova supply in Scotland, selected for their performance in the Scottish marine environment.”

She also noted that an estimated 75% of Scottish aquaculture supply chain spend is already in Scotland and the centre would further help the country to reduce its reliance on ova imports.

2020 saw growth halted for Scottish salmon sector PRODUCTION of farmed Atlantic salmon in Scotland was down 5.8% to 192,129 tonnes in 2020, but this was still the second highest level recorded. Farmed brown and sea trout numbers were also down, but there was a small increase in rainbow trout.

The figures come from the Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2020, published by Marine Scotland Science. The annual survey also shows that there was a small decline in the number of staff employed in marine salmon production, which was down 1.27% to 1,630.

The total number of smolts produced in 2020 decreased by 0.9 million (2%) to 50.5 million.

Brown and sea trout production decreased from 25 tonnes in 2019 to 24 tonnes in 2020. Production tonnage of rainbow trout, however, increased by 2% to 7,576 tonnes.

The Production Survey details statistics on the employment and production from Scottish fish farms. It is structured to follow industry trends within the farmed Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout and other species sectors.

The survey also shows that the smolt survival rate for Atlantic salmon for the 2018 input year class increased to 75.9% (2017: 73.8%).

Mortality is included in the number of fish not harvested for human consumption, including escapes. The report notes that approximately 1,600 rainbow trout and 205,000 Atlantic salmon were reported as escaped or likely to have escaped.

More details from the Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2020 will be available in the Fish Farmer Yearbook for 2022, out this December.

Above: Scottish salmon farm

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12/10/2021 14:31:43

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12/10/2021 09:39:46

European News

NEWS...

Mowi obtains €1.8bn for sustainability investment

FISH farm giant Mowi has secured a major “green” credit facility giving it access to loans totalling €1.8bn (£1.54bn).

The company said the new arrangement was linked to its sustainability targets and would last for five years.

The arrangement is with a number of banks including agreements with DNB Bank ASA, Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge, Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Danske Bank A/S, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) and Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank.

Mowi described the move as a significant step towards its goal of 100% green financing.

Interest on the facility is linked to Mowi’s performance against key performance indicators, which are consistent with Mowi’s overall environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy.

Mowi CEO Ivan Vindheim said recently: “At Mowi we have embraced sustainability as an opportunity and are very proud of producing food that is healthy for people and good for local communities and the planet.

“Leading a Blue Revolution is not easy,

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but we believe Mowi’s unique strengths of a global presence, being fully integrated and a front runner on environmental stewardship and innovation will make a positive impact in the world.”

The company said oceans cover 70% of the planet’s surface, yet only 2% of our calorie intake is seafood. This means, Mowi argues, there is great potential for the oceans to produce more sustainable food.

“This plan will allow us to achieve our goal of producing more food from the ocean thus meeting the demands of a growing population while respecting the planet and helping local communities to flourish,” said Catarina Martins, Chief Sustainability Officer at Mowi.

“In committing to leading the Blue Revolution, we have set the bar high and while our sustainability targets will not be achieved overnight, they will be achieved through key innovations, partnerships and a shared vision.”

“The Blue Revolution plan is built around a tasty and nutritious product, financial responsibility and transparency, and taking care of our planet and its people.”

Bakkafrost chief condemns Faroes dolphin slaughter FAROESE salmon farmer Bakkafrost has moved swiftly to distance the company from the controversial slaughter of dolphins that took place on the islands last month.

Islanders on the Faroes have traditionally taken part in whale and dolphin hunts, driving the animals on shore and killing them for their meat. The most recent hunt, however, which saw more than 1,400 white-sided dolphins slaughtered, attracted widespread condemnation around the world and even from some quarters in the Faroes.

Bakkafrost CEO Regin Jacobsen said in a statement: “Bakkafrost condemn this episode and find it totally unacceptable. We confirm that Bakkafrost had no involvement and none of Bakkafrosts’s assets were used.”

The traditional hunt or “grind” normally targets pilot whales, but in this case a large pod of dolphins was driven on shore. The “humane harpoons” normally used to despatch pilot whales were too large for the dolphins, so knives were used, and also the large number of animals in relation to the number of hunters meant that a number of animals were beached and in distress for some time.

The Faroes’ Prime Minister, Bárður á Steig Nielsen, has said that the government will “look closely” at dolphin hunts for the future.

Above: Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. Long-finned pilot whales are the usual targets in the hunt.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

12/10/2021 14:33:35

All the latest industry news from Europe

NTS preparing to become salmon giant NTS is poised to become one of the world’s top 10 salmon farming companies if Norway Royal Salmon (NRS) and SalmoNor come together, it has emerged.

By combining their Above: Charles operations they have the potential to produce at least 100,000 tonnes in Norway plus a further 24,000 tonnes in Iceland through Arctic Fish.

It is thought this will put them at number seven or eight in the global salmon producing league.

The board of NTS has now decided to initiate a strategic dialogue with NRS about a possible merger of NRS and SalmoNor, the salmon farming division of NTS. NTS beat off rivals Mowi and SalMar in a bidding war in June to acquire SalmoNor, a family owned business.

A few weeks later it outfoxed SalMar again to become the largest single shareholder in NRS. NTS said in a Stock Exchange

announcement: “Initial discussions have been initiated between the management of NTS and NRS, but the possible transaction has not yet been discussed with the board of NRS.” Høstlund It was that decision that led to the resignation earlier this month of NRS Chief Executive Charles Høstlund after seven years in charge.

Both the managements of NTS and NRS said they saw significant synergies in a merger, which would lead to the establishment of a “fully integrated, large-scale salmon producer with an attractive licence portfolio in regions with high capacity”.

They further stated that the management of both companies saw a clear rationale for, and value-creating potential in, a “merger of SalmoNor’s operational practices with NRS’s growth opportunities”.

ISA suspected at farm with 925,000 salmon

THE Norwegian salmon company Midt-Norsk Havbruk (MNH) is facing a potentially serious threat over a suspected infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) outbreak at one of its largest sites.

Investigations are currently under way at the MNH Kvingra farm in central Norway which has close on a million fish, according to reports.

The suspicions are yet to be confirmed, but if they prove correct the cost could be very large as the site is home to 925,000 salmon with an average weight of 3.6kg. Infected cages will have to be emptied and the fish culled.

Further tests will be carried out, and if ISA is present then

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travel and other restrictions will come into force to prevent further spread.

It is hoped that any infection can be contained. MNH said it was waiting for confirmation from the new tests, adding that the consequences were difficult to estimate. It will continue to map the possible extent of any infection.

A suspected ISA case was reported at a Norway Royal Salmon site in the Troms and Finnmark region in September.

Confirmation is awaited.

After a period of several weeks without an outbreak, ISA appears to be returning to parts of Norway with a vengeance.

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12/10/2021 14:35:04

European News

Norway seafood exports set to hit 2021 record Seafood Council CEO Renate Larsen said: “A gradual reopening of the markets has given a boost to the demand for Norwegian seafood.

“From a fall in exports at the beginning of the year, we see a sharp growth in the third quarter.

This is the strongest quarterly result of all time and now everything indicates that 2021 will be a record year for Norwegian seafood exports.”

Norway’s salmon farmers sold 912,000 tonnes of fish during the first months of this year, worth a total of NOK 56.9bn (£4.75bn), a volume rise of 14% and a value increase of 10%. The average price per kilo was NOK 57.81, 3% down on last year, although it rose by 7% last month.

September salmon exports increased by 24% to 115,000 tonnes. Seafood Council analyst

Paul T. Aandahl said: “Poland, France and Denmark have been the largest recipients of Norwegian salmon.

Demand for salmon is back on track after a fall in the first 12 months of the pandemic. This is shown, among other things, by salmon prices in September. He said China and Italy had shown the strongest growth.

Farmed trout exports are down, however, totalling 44,400 tonnes between January and September, a decline of 16%.

The value fell by NOK 76m (£6.2m) or 3% to NOK 2.8bn (£239m) over the nine-month period, although the September value was up by 15%.

Out of other species, cod and mackerel have performed particularly well since the start of the year.

Above Bxxxx

Above: Renate Larsen Right: Norwegian seafood

NORWEGIAN seafood exports look certain to well exceed the NOK 100 billion barrier again this year.

Figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council show that for the first nine months of 2021

they already total NOK 84.7bn (£7bn), 10% up on the same period last year, with salmon leading the way.

The total figure for September was NOK 11.8bn (almost £1bn), the highest total yet for a single month.

Grand welcome for Bakkafrost’s new service vessel on Faroe Islands BAKKAFROST’S new farming service vessel, designed primarily to develop farming operations in Scotland, has been delivered to the company in a colourful ceremony watched by up to 500 guests.

The Bakkanes arrived at Glyvrar, the company’s Faroe Islands headquarters, where it was welcomed by company CEO Regin Jacobsen and a group of VIPs at a reception accompanied by brass-band music and cheers.

Bakkafrost purchased the former 241-foot long North Sea energy support vessel earlier this year as part of its value chain investment programme to develop farming operations in Scotland. The vessel had previously been working off the coast of Norway.

After tenders from 10 European and Scandinavian shipyards, including one in Scotland, the contract for adapting Bakkanes as a farming service vessel was given to Faroese company MEST, which has also fitted a delousing system.

Left: The Bakkanes

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www.fishfarmermagazine.com

12/10/2021 14:36:51

All the latest industry news from Europe

Atlantic Sapphire expected to focus on Florida

Above: Bluehouse salmon, Atlantic Sapphire

LAND-based salmon farmer Atlantic Sapphire is circling the wagons around its Florida operation, following a major fire last month that all but destroyed its Danish land farm.

Investors believe the likely insurance settlement of around US $33m will be ploughed into its new land farm project now under construction near Miami, thus avoiding the embarrassment of a new share issue.

Important though it was, Denmark was always going to play second fiddle to the company’s ambitions for Florida.

However, the company’s shares are still down by 20% on the Oslo Stock Exchange and the situation remains brittle to say the least.

CEO Johan E. Andreassen tweeted: “Heartbreaking to see a decade of game-changing innovation gone. Today, we’re relieved that there were no injuries and send our love to the team in DK. We’re proud to see the legacy of all the hard work in DK in the US, where the rest of AS is focused on one thing: EXECUTION!” Atlantic Sapphire has suffered a catalogue of serious incidents since the beginning of the year, although many of these look like sheer bad luck for the company.

They included various technical problems and the recent loss of biomass when the company was temporarily faced with a shortage of liquid oxygen due to a surge in demand from US hospitals under pressure from coronavirus.

The fire struck early on 16 September at the Hvide Sande building in Denmark, part of which was built less than 10 years ago. Now only the smolt plant remains intact.

All the fish at the facility, probably worth around £23m, have been lost, but the biomass at the site was lower than normal when the fire occurred. This was the second incident at the Danish site this summer.

Industry analysts are saying that any money from the insurance settlement will be sent to shore up the US project, in which the company still has great faith.

The RAS sector in fish farming is generally under some pressure, and other businesses in that field will be watching developments at Atlantic Sapphire closely.

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European News_v2.indd 17

PG Flow wins delousing pump contract PUMP specialist PG Flow Solutions has been selected to provide two fish pumps for the refit of BB Orca, a delousing vessel operated by Norwegian shipowner Buksér og Berging.

The Orca is a former platform supply vessel, previously named Olympic Elena PSV, which is 70 metres long and formerly served Above Steve Paulsen (L) and Øyvind Berg the offshore oil and gas sector. It is currently 16-line delousing system supplied being refitted as a delousing vessel

by SkaMik. for aquaculture. Øyvind Berg, Vice-President, Sales PG Flow Solutions, based in & Marketing, at PG Flow Solutions, Vestfold, Norway, will supply two said: “It has not been long since of its PG-Tornado fish pumps. The we first introduced thePG-Tornado Tornado has been jointly developed to the market, and so far the along with Smartline AS, based in response has been overwhelmingly Stokmarknes, also in Norway. positive. Our experience is that the The Tornado has a good lifting aquaculture industry is increasingly height and no moving parts that seeking the most optimal solutions can injure the fish when being for fish welfare and gentle transfer pumped into or out of the vessel. On of fish. This is exactly what PGthe Orca, it will carry the fish to a Tornado and PG-HydroFlow do.”

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12/10/2021 14:37:27

European News

CleanTreat is awarded ASC’s highest rating BENCHMARK’S CleanTreat delicing system has been awarded the highest level of certification for sustainability by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

CleanTreat is a new system only just being rolled out by Benchmark Animal Health.

Combined with the company’s treatment, Ectosan, it involves treating salmon in a closed tank and then applying a water

purification process, which the company says removes all traces of the pesticide.

After an extensive review, the ASC has concluded that CleanTreat merits a score of “zero” – the best possible rating – for environmental impact.

Trond Williksen, Benchmark’s CEO, commented: “Our mission is to drive sustainability in aquaculture and we are delighted to have received the

highest recognition possible by the ASC for our CleanTreat system. We are proud to help farmers and the wider industry take a responsible approach to medicine use and are excited to play a major role in driving sustainability across the industry.”

Ectosan is a controversial treatment, as it is based on the neonicotinoid imidaclopid, which has been associated with the

decline of bee and other insect populations. Imidacloprid is now banned in the European Union for most agricultural uses.

Ectosan has been approved for use in CleanTreat by EU regulators, but members of the European Parliament are trying to reverse that decision.

Meanwhile the green light from the EU means that CleanTreat is currently being introduced for commercial use in Norway.

Havfarm wins Aquaculture Stewardship Council approval THE site that holds the giant Nordlaks offshore platform Havfarm 1 has been certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

The company is fighting a decision by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries not to allow the conversion of its development licences on fish welfare grounds.

Nordlaks has launched an appeal, arguing there is no justification for the Directorate’s decision.

Havfarm 1 is currently positioned in the Ytre Hadseløya locality in the Hadsel municipality in Vesterålen.

Built in China at a cost of £84m, the 385-metre-long platform is officially named “Jostein Albert” after a former Nordlaks chairman. It was brought to northern Norway in June last year, following a 15,000 mile sea voyage that took it around the Cape of Good Hope. It can hold 10,000 tonnes of salmon.

Right The Havfarm 1

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www.fishfarmermagazine.com

12/10/2021 14:38:23

All the latest industry news from Europe

Bounty offered for escaped salmon THE authorities in Norway are still working to track the whereabouts of thousands of salmon that have escaped from a Norwegian fish farm.

The incident, which involved around 39,000 fish, was at a facility north of the Trøndelag region. The site is owned by Midt-Norsk Havbruk (MNH), part of the NTS group that acquired Norway Royal Salmon last month.

The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries said significant numbers of farmed salmon, thought to total more than 8,000, had already been recaptured in the area around the farm.

A recapture exercise, with a bounty for recovered fish, is currently under way. MNH is paying a bounty of NOK 250 (around £20) for every salmon caught.

Bounties are only given for farmed fish caught within a specific areas along the coast of Trøndelag and Nordland. There are also restrictions on sports fishing until the authorities are satisfied that as many escaped fish as possible have been rounded up.

The Directorate was first notified of the incident by MNH towards the end of August. The company discovered a large hole in the net following a period of bad weather.

Since then the Directorate has also been receiving reports of farmed salmon sightings from commercial fishermen and members of the public.

Fish farm security became a major issue in Norway two years ago when more than 300,000 salmon escaped. The Government then ordered the industry to take action or face stiff penalties.

The warning brought big improvements, with just 20,000 escapes in 2020 and fewer than 1,500 between January and June this year.

NRS offshore project moves up a gear

Above: The first sea cage in the Arctic Offshore Farming project from Norway Royal Salmon is now in place at Fellesholmen, north of Tromsø

NORWAY Royal Salmon (NRS) says the first sea cage in its Arctic Offshore Farming project is now in place at its location north of Tromsø.

The large cages are designed to operate in more exposed areas and can withstand a wave height of up to 13 metres. The cage weighs around 3,000 tonnes and a second cage will eventually be taken to the site.

The project was designed by Aker Solutions, which delivers a wide range of products and services to the global energy and marine related industries.

NRS describes the project as “Salmon

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European News_v2.indd 19

Farming of the Future” using ground breaking technology. Arctic Offshore Farming is a semi-submersible offshore fish farm that is specially built for hard weather areas. NRS says the concept is thus able to provide access to waters further from the coast.

NRS Executive Vice-President Klaus Hatlebrekke told the Norwegian regional news site Nordlys: “Through innovation and a willingness to invest in the weather-exposed areas in northern Norway, we have developed the next step for salmon farming.

“This will enable the use of more weather-

exposed locations than is possible with current technology.”

The facility will consist of two cages. Each cage is 80 metres in diameter and 22 metres high. Together, the two cages will hold around 1.2 million salmon.

Outgoing NRS CEO Charles Høstlund said recently: “Offshore aquaculture will give us the opportunity to use new areas and thus help create sustainable growth for the Norwegian aquaculture industry. Through this, Norway will contribute to realising FAO’s (UN) ambitious goals for growth in aquaculture globally.”

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12/10/2021 14:38:54

World News

NEWS...

Biomar invests in Ecuador plant AQUAFEED producer BioMar Group is investing in an expansion of its capacity for producing extruded feed in Ecuador.

The installation, planned in two stages, will bring a total of four new lines with a combined capacity of 200,000 tonnes at BioMar’s facilities in Guayaquil.

The investments are part of preparation for the introduction of new advanced shrimp feed concepts, the company said, which are planned for launch in the market from 2022.

Henrik Aarestrup, VP LATAM, Shrimp & Hatchery, at BioMar Group said: “We are planning for a new range of high-performing products as well as new functional feeds targeting the unique farming practice and environmental parameters encountered in Ecuador. Furthermore, we see larger farmers in the market being ready to start up the process of co-designing tailored product ranges for the markets in the US and Europe.

These will focus on both feed composition and environmental footprint, farming practice and quality of the resulting shrimp, enabling a targeted positioning of the shrimp towards retailers and end consumers. This requires more capacity and more flexibility in our production setup.”

Above: The BioMar site in Ecuador Inset: Franck Bodin

Meanwhile, BioMar has appointed Franck Bodin as Managing Director for the new BioMar Viet Uc feed business unit in Vietnam.

Bodin is an established figure in the Vietnamese aquaculture industry, as he founded aquafeed company Tomboy, which was acquired by Skretting.

Mussels ‘could replace fishmeal’ in prawn feed TRIALS are under way in Australia to see whether wild-caught fishmeal in prawn feed could be replaced by sustainably farmed mussels.

So far, initial tests carried out in Thailand have suggested that farmed prawns and barramundi prefer mussel meal to fishmeal. Dried mussel meal is a compact feed containing 50% protein and a naturally occurring appetite stimulant, betaine.

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World News_v2.indd 20

The trials are being carried out by Australian company Green Blue Health. The mussels will be tested at various inclusion rates in sustainable formulations using poultry by-product and plant-based ingredients to assess growth rates, intake, digestibility, prawn yields and consumer acceptance. The sustainable formulations will also include a seaweed additive currently used in Mexico, Brazil, Korea, and Vietnam.

This will be compared against a commercially relevant fishmeal diet. Black tiger prawns are renowned for being picky when it comes to their feed, Green Blue said. Positive results could also help to improve the palatability of other sustainable protein sources, including insects.

Green Blue’s Technical Director, Karlie Wilson, said: “We see this study as opening the door for inclusion of mussel meal for a number of other aquaculture species, including mud crabs, lobster and barramundi.”

The company hopes that diets with the inclusion of mussel meal will increase the black tiger prawn acceptance of locally available and sustainable ingredients such as by-product meals from protein crop production in Australia.

The study is being conducted at the CSIRO research facilities at the Bribie Island Research Centre in Queensland, Australia. Results should be available early in 2022.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

12/10/2021 14:42:15

All the latest industry news from around the world

Calysta appoints CFO after fundraising round ALTERNATIVE protein producer Calysta has announced two senior appointments.

The company has appointed Keysha Bailey as Chief Financial Officer, while Rabobank veteran Jacqueline Pieters-Zetsma joins the Board of Directors as an independent non-executive board member.

Calysta uses a process involving the fermentation of natural gas to create a protein that can be used to produce FeedKind, its proprietary animal and aquafeed. The world’s first commercial-scale FeedKind® production facility is being developed in China by Calysseo, Calysta’s 50/50 joint venture with feed giant Adisseo.

As CFO, Keysha Bailey brings more than 20 years of strategic financial and operational leadership in both the public and private sectors, including investment and capital markets experience with JP Morgan and Prudential. She was most recently CFO at Rocketship Education in California.

Bailey commented: “I’m delighted to be joining Calysta as the company begins a significant new chapter in its history. I’m looking forward to working as part of the senior team to steer the organisation as it plans to enter the Asian market and works to address the very real challenge of making our global food system more sustainable.”

News of the appointments came days after

Above Keysha Bailey (L), Jacqueline Pieters-Zetsma (R)

Calysta announced completion of a $39m equity financing round, led by bp ventures, to support commercial production of FeedKind protein. Joining bp ventures in the round were Adisseo and AquaSpark, as well as other existing Calysta investors.

Calysseo is in the process of building the

world’s first FeedKind commercial production facility in Chongqing, China, with 20,000 tonnes expected to come onto the market in 2022 with a further 60,000 tonnes shortly thereafter.

Investors in Calysta include bp, Adisseo, Temasek, AquaSpark, Mitsui and Cargill.

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12/10/2021 14:43:03

World News

Mowi estimates Gorge losses could reach 450,000

MOWI believes the number of fish lost in a mass-mortality event at one of its sites in eastern Canada could be as many as 450,000.

The losses are being blamed on low dissolved oxygen levels at Mowi’s farm at the

Gorge, on the south coast of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The provincial Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture posted an update on 22 September with the estimate, which

accounts for around 24% of fish on the site. The department said the incident was “site-specific” and stressed that no abnormal mortalities had been identified at any other sites in the region.

The department said: “Under oversight of the department, the company is taking all responsible steps to address the incident.

Mitigation measures include deeper nets and aeration equipment at the site. Department staff have been conducting sampling and observing seining activities, with the full cooperation of the company.”

The statement added that Mowi had been fully transparent and co-operative with the department throughout the process.

Mowi reported in late September that 212,100 mortalities had been removed from the site to date. Harvesting of the remaining fish at the site began at the start of the week commencing 20 September.

Tasmanian fish farming set to expand offshore THE Australian and Tasmanian governments have agreed to work together on a framework that could see the development of offshore aquaculture in Tasmania.

A memorandum of understanding between the federal and state governments has given the green light to research into the feasibility of expanding fish farming into sites further out at sea. It comes as the industry has faced fierce criticism over the impact of fish farms, especially salmon, in inshore waters.

Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries and Senator for Tasmania Jonathon Duniam, and Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water Guy Barnett said the joint agreement between the Australian and Tasmanian governments would help examine the economic, environmental and operational feasibility of offshore aquaculture.

The research will be led by the Blue Economy Cooperative

Above: Jonathon Duniam

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World News_v2.indd 22

Research Centre (CRC), an independent not-for-profit company funded under the Australian Government’s CRC Program.

Senator Duniam said: “Currently, aquaculture in Australia is operated in state or territory waters, and by moving further offshore – more than three nautical miles – we can harness recent technological improvements and investigate the potential environmental and resource access benefits available from undertaking aquaculture in deeper waters.

“In 2017, the Australian Government committed to developing arrangements for aquaculture in Commonwealth waters, and this is a significant step towards reaching that goal.

“The outcomes of this work won’t just be about Tasmania. This will provide valuable information on the potential for offshore aquaculture for all states and territories.”

He added that aquaculture is currently worth $1.6bn nationally.

By going offshore, Duniam said, the Australian Government is backing growth towards its $100bn Ag2030 goal.

Barnett said: “The Tasmanian aquaculture sector has been a national success story, with the industry growing steadily to provide world-class products while also delivering jobs in regional Tasmania.

“In 2020, Tasmanian aquaculture gross value of production increased by over 7% to $931m and this MOU with the Commonwealth fits perfectly with our recently announced 10-Year Salmon Plan.”

The Tasmanian Salmonid Growers Association, which represents major salmon companies Tassal, Huon Aquaculture and Petuna, said it welcomed the commitment to establish a framework for sustainable aquaculture opportunities in Commonwealth waters.

The announcement was not welcomed, however, by Federal Green Senator Peter WhishWilson, who told broadcaster

7News that the “deeply troubled” industry shouldn’t be given a free pass to the ocean.

He said; “A global tide of marine plastic, climate change, and invasive species are putting radical pressures on the marine environment.

“We are very concerned [by] this national push to farm our oceans when they already face such enormous pressures.”

Tasmania has been deeply divided over the future of aquaculture, with the publication of Toxic, a book by anti-fish farming campaigner Richard Flanagan and billboards condemning the sector, while the Tasmanian Government and the industry itself have robustly defended their record.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

12/10/2021 14:43:57

All the latest industry news from around the world

AUSTRALASIAN aquaculture business the Barramundi Group’s revenue grow by more than 18% year on year for the first half of 2021, but it also reported a net loss of more than S$6m.

Barramundi Group operates in Australia and Singapore. Since August this year, it has been listed on the Oslo Euronext Growth stock market, but it reports in Singapore dollars.

Barramundi’s report for H1 2021 shows revenue at S$17.1m (£9.35m), up 18.2% on H1 2020, which the company said was achieved through higher selling prices in Singapore due to a change in customer mix and sales volume growth in Australia.

In terms of production performance, Barramundi achieved a total biomass of 2,237 tonnes across its Singapore and Australia operations.

The group, however, also reported fair value losses on biological assets of S$50,649 (£27,706) and fish mortalities, accounting for S$1.25m (£686,454). Along with increased finance expenses and currency translation losses, these contributed to a net total comprehensive loss of S$6.52m (£3.57m).

Andreas von Scholten, Chief Executive Officer of the Barramundi Group, commented that the company’s 2021 performance to date was reflective of the changing global palate and a growing demand for responsibly produced protein.

He said: “Our strong sales growth performance in H1 2021 in the midst of a global pandemic

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World News_v2.indd 23

NEW ISOMAX

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Above: Cone Bay Ocean Barramundi

is a testament both to the hard work of our team and a growing consumer demand for sustainably grown barramundi as a protein of choice. Even though we have had to adapt certain parts of the business due to changing business conditions caused

by Covid-19, we are heartened by the fact that demand continues to be strong. In Australia and China, demand continues to outstrip our current production capabilities.”

Meanwhile, Barramundi has also announced a partnership with the not-for-profit organisation World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) Singapore to help improve the group’s two existing sites in the south of Singapore and a new grow-out facility between Lazarus and St. John’s Island.

WWF-Singapore will provide advice and guidance, and it will also help to track progress against sustainability objectives.

Barramundi has also asked WWF-Singapore to help the group pass the benchmark for Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) accreditation – which would make it the first aquaculture business in Singapore to achieve this.

R. Raghunathan, Chief Executive Officer, WWF-Singapore, said: “WWF-Singapore’s collaboration with Barramundi Group is an important step forward in increasing the domestic supply of responsible seafood – supporting both the Green Plan 2030 and the ‘30 by 30’ goal.

“It is also a critical milestone for our Responsible Seafood Action programme, which aims to help Singapore develop into an internationally recognised hub for responsible aquaculture production, while encouraging responsible seafood consumption by engaging stakeholders... we look forward to transforming Singapore’s aquaculture sector together.”

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12/10/2021 14:44:42

Processing News

Processor ISI sees boost for first half revenues Iceland Seafood International (ISI), which has expanded into salmon in a big way in recent months, has posted a healthy increase in profits and revenue for the first half of this year

SALES shot up by 15% to €208.3m while the pre-tax profits more than doubled from €2.2m in H1 2020 to €4.8m this time.

It said there had been strong growth in southern Europe, notably Spain and Italy, and its Irish businesses had performed particularly well during the period.

Ten months ago it completed the acqui-

sition of the specialist artisan Irish smoked salmon business Carr & Sons for €6.5m.

Then in May this year it acquired an 80% stake in the premium-quality Spanish salmon processor Ahumados Dominguez.

The last move was the latest in a series of major acquisitions by this fast-expanding global seafood trader, which

has extensive interests across the globe, including the UK, where it owns Grimsby-based Havelok Seafood.

ISI said the first two months of this year got off to a slow start, but result showed a good recovery after that.

“Sales growth in southern Europe was driven by strong demand in Spain and Italy from March onwards, after easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

“Total divisional sales during H1 2021 at €77.8m were 24.1% up on same period last year. Demand in the HORECA sector is recovering, but activity is still significantly below

Joint venture promotes sustainable shellfish TWO family-owned shellfish businesses in the UK and the Netherlands have teamed up in a joint venture to produce a new range of cooked mussel dishes.

Krijn Verwijs Yerseke BV from the Netherlands (which trades under the “Premier” brand) and UK-based Offshore Shellfish Ltd are the joint owners of Premier Offshore VOF, which was incorporated into Dutch law at the beginning of September.

The owners said the new venture offers “a new vision for rope-grown, pre-cooked mussels, which require just a few minutes in a pan or microwave to produce a restaurant-quality meal”. The new products will be sold alongside Offshore and Premier’s fresh shellfish.

Developed by top Dutch development chef Asher Bachrach, the initial range includes a taste of the Orient with Bangkok Mussels, a traditional French dish with Avignon Mussels, and a taste of Belgium with Classic Mussels.

Offshore Shellfish farms sustainable shellfish in what was previously an environmentally degraded area off the coast of south-west England.

Co-founder and Managing Director John Holmyard said: “It is very excit-

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Processing News_v2.indd 24

ing to be working with such a prestigious and established company as Krijn Verwijs. Our aims and objectives on ‘green’, ‘blue’ marine development match each other well. The new collaboration will be of great benefit to both businesses, and will make our mussels available to consumers across Europe and further afield.”

He added: “It is rewarding to see that our mussel farm has created a habitat that has resulted in an increase in biodiversity and productivity of the area. Our mussel lines and the surrounding seabed provide a wide range of ecosystem services, including food, shelter, nursery areas and protection for many marine species, from shrimp to lobsters, seaweed to sea urchins.”

Offshore Shellfish grows native blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) on suspended ropes in the open sea, between three and six miles away from the shore. Mussels are grown at low density in strong, oceanic currents.

pre-Covid-19 levels.

“At the same time retail sales are increasing, with new retail agreement kicking in during Q2. The sales team in retail were strengthened with recruitment of an experienced sales manager in the period.

“The proposed acquisition of Ahumados Dominguez will strengthen and broaden Iceland Seafood’s retail position in Spain, and opens new opportunities selling high-quality salted cod products in Spanish retail.”

In Ireland operations continued to perform well, showing significant sales growth from previous year. The

“Food-service sales have improved ” Irish entities were well prepared for Brexit, the company said, and in a better position to service local retail customers than suppliers outside Ireland.

The merger and integration of the UK operation continued to be challenging during Q2. The process has been more complex and

costly than anticipated, not helped by external factors such as Brexit, Covid and disruptions in transportation, especially from Asia.

ISI added: “Foodservice sales have improved following easing of restrictions in May and June, but activity is still well below pre-Covid levels. Actions were taken... to improve efficiency.

“With Iceland Seafood’s strong customer base and the new state-of-the-art Grimsby factory, the outlook and potential for the UK business remains strong, whilst this year results will be severely impacted by the situation.”

SalMar chief buys into German seafood business SalMar’S President and CEO, Gustav Witzøe, is continuing his expansion plans by buying into a German seafood business – one that deals in wild-caught fish as well as the farmed variety.

He used his investment company, Kverva Industrier aS, to acquire a 45% stake in lübbert GmbH & Co, based in Bremerhaven.

Lübbert said: “With Kverva by our side, we have access to resources for ever-increasing growth. We are excited to be able to work with one of the industry’s most important and largest players.”

The two businesses have worked closely together for some time and say the new partnership will strengthen these connections while maintaining the independence of the individual companies.

“The investment in Lübbert is an excellent opportunity to strengthen and further support the development for the Kverva companies in the German market. We are very happy to embark on this journey together with the Lübbert

team,” said Olav Holst-Dyrnes, Investment Director with Kverva.

The management of Lübbert will continue as previously, with Sven Braasch and Birte Tutas as managing directors. lübbert deals in a variety of fish, including cod, haddock, tuna and swordfish, and it is a distributor for Norwegian brand Frøya sushi-grade salmon.

Witzøe has been very busy of late launching a potentially exciting offshore farming venture with the technical investment company Aker ASA and buying a stake in Refsnes Laks, a family-owned salmon business in Norway.

However, he missed out on his bid for Norway Royal Salmon, which went to NTS.

Above: Lübbert salmon

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12/10/2021 14:18:21

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12/10/2021 09:46:25

Comment

BY DR MARTIN JAFFA

Meal deals The ‘value added’ packaged salmon meal was an idea that came and went

I

’M in the process of moving office and the move offers the opportunity for a clear-out of files, books and other miscellanea accumulated over 30 years. One of the collec�ons includes several hundred examples of packaging that appeared in retail from the early 1990s onwards. As well as simple labels, there are hundreds of card outers from the packaging of added-value salmon products.

They represent a memory of the past advances of the salmon farming industry in the UK. One of the reasons salmon was selected as a poten�al candidate for farming was its then premium market image. Ini�ally, its scarcity meant salmon could command a premium price, but by the end of the 1980s increased farmed produc�on meant salmon became much more widely available.

The downside was that this availability undermined its market image as well as the price. Salmon farming had evolved from an industry of high margins and low volumes to one of low margins and (rela�vely) high volumes. The price of farmed salmon fell.

The ques�on was what to do. The salmon farming industry blamed Norway for cheap imports and embarked on a dumping case against

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Comment_Martin Jaffa_v2.indd 26

Norway at the European Commission. Meanwhile, salmon processors began to realise that low-cost salmon offered the chance to diversify the market and reach a greater range of consumers. Their approach was to emulate the market development of the broiler chickens. At the �me, salmon farmers focused on selling whole salmon, but broiler producers recognised that chicken breasts, legs, wings etc were more a�rac�ve to consumers than whole chicken for most meal choices. The same approach was taken with salmon as consumers were more likely to buy a couple of fillets for one meal than using a whole fish, even a small one.

However, as the 1990s progressed and while the industry was s�ll pursuing its case against Norway at the EU, the low cost of salmon meant that it was the ideal base for produc�on of a whole range of added-value products, including meal choices. I have provided images of some of the products I found of most interest but at the �me these were just the �p of the iceberg. For example, the Italian range found in most supermarkets expanded from spaghe� bolognaise to cannelloni to lasagne to vegetable lasagne to eventually include salmon lasagne. This acted as an introduc�on to salmon in a dish that was already familiar to consumers. More complex dishes included those giving a variety of ethnic op�ons.

However, the fate of many of these dishes was sealed when salmon farming companies began to be listed on the stock exchange.

Financial analysts were not interested in consumers and what they wanted to eat. Their interest was focused on the share price and

Left: Ini�ally the focus was on selling whole salmon when it was seen as a premium product Above: Various salmon products

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

12/10/2021 15:00:08

Meal deals

this was inevitably linked to the price of salmon. High salmon prices meant high share prices and pleasing the shareholder became more important than pleasing the market.

With �me, salmon prices rose, encouraged by the analysts. Sadly, rising prices meant that salmon was no longer commercially viable for inclusion in added-value products. The value was now on the salmon itself and consequently within a short �me, most added-value salmon products vanished from the consumer shelves.

This was a slow decline during which processors tried to subs�tute farmed salmon with Pacific pink salmon, but the taste was not the same and such products did not fare well.

Added-value salmon dishes have not disappeared completely from the retail sector. Some s�ll exist but they tend to be at the top end of the market because otherwise the sums don’t add up. There are some cheap op�ons, but these tend to be made from trimmed pieces rather than fillet, simply because they are cheaper. They are also established, familiar favourites rather than novel developments.

I have always believed that, as with the poultry industry, the real advantage of added value comes when it is the primary producer that adds the value. Farming companies were not reluctant to take this on board. In fact, it was a processor from Belgium that first saw that integrated produc�on was the way forward and instead of a farming company buying into processing, a processor bought a farm. This arrangement subsequently became of interest to other farming companies and eventually led to interest being shown by others too.

The original Belgian opera�on was acquired by another farming company, specifically because of its processing capability. Today, there is some integra�on of processing within the salmon sector, but its real poten�al is being s�fled by the cost of salmon.

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Comment_Martin Jaffa_v2.indd 27

Although we are now seeing more added value salmon products reappearing in the retail market, the numbers are nowhere near those of the 1990s and early 2000s. The con�nued presence of financial analysts means that the focus remains on what happens to share prices rather than what’s happening in the consumer market.

In the UK, salmon dominates fish consump�on, but established fish consumers tend to be older. Added-value development is the main way to target the younger end of the market, but the industry risks missing out, especially in the long term, as long as the cost of salmon remains too high for widespread processing into innova�ve products that might appeal to the young.

Meanwhile, my collec�on of packs will not be wasted. It has found a new home, with people who also see such opportuni�es in the retail sector. FF

Financial analysts were not “interested in consumers and what they wanted to eat ”

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12/10/2021 15:00:51

Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation

Common

BY HAMISH MACDONELL

purpose

Anglers and farmers are united in a desire to help wild salmon survive

I

t was the angler who first introduced me to the Tweed who came up with it. We were fishing Middle Pavilion, the broad, unhurried beat that sweeps down from Galashiels to Melrose and where, under his guidance, I was about to hook a decent sea trout.

“If someone fishes, you can be sure they’re alright,” he said, mending the line with a flick of his wrist while making it clear that, as far as he was concerned, that was his number one rule for life. Someone who had the patience, decency and courtesy to fish had to be pretty sound away from the water too, that was his code.

It wasn’t a complicated philosophy and, on that balmy May morning when everything was right with the world, it appeared to make sense.

However, since I joined the farmed salmon sector, I have realised there is a dark smudge on that bucolic picture, a blind spot that some anglers have – and it comes in the shape of their attitude to fish farming.

For some on the campaigning wing of the angling fraternity, salmon farms are to blame for the loss of our wild salmon and nothing anybody says will ever convince them otherwise.

This is not the time or the space to rehash all the old arguments – they have been run and re-run far too often over the last few years to do that again. So instead, what about something new? What about the farmed and wild salmon interests working together to find out what’s really happening?

The Atlantic Salmon Trust has launched a major tracking project for west coast smolts. The aim is simple: to find out what happens to these juvenile salmon when they leave their rivers and head out into the sea.

It is an extensive project, taking in rivers from Dumfriesshire to the Western Isles, and the initial results should be available before the end of the year.

But the big difference with this project is that it will be part-funded by Scotland’s salmon farmers – to the tune of more than £1.5m over the next three years.

This, though, is only one part of the investment salmon farmers are making in this area. The independently managed Wild Salmonid Support Fund has been created – and financed – by Scotland’s salmon-farming companies, with the aim of improving habitats for wild salmon.

Trusts and other bodies that work to improve wild salmon habitats are being invited to apply for the funds and the first tranche of £70,000 has already been allocated. It is an initial investment of what will be £1.5m for wild salmon projects over the next five years.

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Hamish MacDonnell SSPO_v2.indd 28

On one level it makes sense for the farmed salmon sector to do all this. If we can find out what is really happening to our wild salmon and if it transpires (as many of us suspect) that farms are not largely responsible for their decline, then perhaps we can all move on and deal with the real reasons behind it.

This investment is also a key part of the commitment our sector made to the Scottish Parliament in the wake of two parliamentary inquiries into salmon farming, in 2018.

MSPs were exasperated with the lack of co-operation and collaboration between the farmed and wild salmon sectors: they wanted us to work together and we have embraced that wholeheartedly. These are not just words. The significant investment that Scotland’s salmon farmers have made, in both the tracking project and the wild salmonid fund, shows that they are really serious about this commitment for the long term.

However, there are other, more subtle, reasons behind the farmed salmon sector’s decision to get involved in this way.

Our farms are full of people who live and work in our remote, coastal environments. Many of them are anglers too – they have a wading boot in both camps – and the loss of our wild salmon matters as much to them as it does to any other angler – perhaps more.

It also matters hugely to us, as salmon farmers, that we are both good stewards of the marine environment and good neighbours in the community.

Anglers and fish farmers share many of the same aims – and we face many of the same challenges – so it is in all our interests that the marine environment – the whole of the marine environment – thrives.

“

Anglers and fish farmers share many of the same aims

”

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

12/10/2021 15:52:25

Common purpose

Above: Group of salmon jumping upstream in a river

Aquaculture has the potential to help lead Scotland’s green recovery from Covid-19.

With its low carbon footprint and the healthy, nutritious seafood it produces, Scotland’s salmon sector really can lead a “blue economic revolution” for the country.

But how much better would it be to do that in harmony with others than retreat back into the bickering of the past?

As we worked together towards the agreement that will see Scotland’s salmon farmers put such a significant sum into this project, it rekindled my faith in that old angling rule of

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Hamish MacDonnell SSPO_v2.indd 29

thumb – that anyone who fishes must be alright.

I realised then that there is a mighty middle ground here, populated by the silent majority from both the wild and farmed fish sectors: ordinary, decent people who want to work with like-minded colleagues to find out what is really happening to our wild salmon.

To me, there is no contradiction. The salmon is Scotland, whether it is a wild fish pulled from a fast-flowing river on a single fly or whether it is farmed, smoked, packaged and sold in shops around the world.

Yes, there will always be some outliers raging in their inflexibility, but for the rest of us, anglers and farmers, it really looks like there could be a new, more collaborative future ahead, a future that could see all those tired old arguments left to rot in the past while real progress is made reviving Scotland’s wild salmon population. FF

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12/10/2021 15:53:06

Shellfish

BY NICKI HOLMYARD

Building up mussels New markets could be the key to growth for Scotland’s shellfish farmers

A

COMPREHENSIVE, 60-page report inves�ga�ng how Scotland’s shellfish producers can access new markets has just been released by Crown Estate Scotland.

It is hoped that alterna�ve markets for farmed Sco�sh shellfish and associated requirements prepared by food industry consultancy SAOS will help the sector to play a bigger role in suppor�ng the economic development of Highland and island communi�es and building Scotland’s blue economy.

It comes on the back of produc�on figures showing that the Sco�sh mussel farming sector has more or less flatlined, with only Shetland seeing even moderate growth in mussels. In 2019 6,700 tonnes of mussels were grown in Scotland with a £6.8m value at farmgate, with 71% of produc�on coming from Shetland.

Scotland’s ambi�ous “Vision 2030” growth strategy for aquaculture aims to double the size of the overall sector to £3.6bn by 2030. The mussel industry is expected to play its part, with a trebling of capacity by 2030 to around 21,000 tonnes per year.

According to the report, sector-wide investment, par�cularly in data capture and analysis, upgrading of current mussel boats and improving skills resources across the supply chain will be required if these targets are to be achieved.

Upscaling of produc�on and added-value processing capability will also be required, although it is noted that capacity already exists. For example, maximising use of all exis�ng mussel leases would allow for a significant increase in produc�on.

The report highlights three areas for poten�al growth and the diversifica�on of markets, including: • increasing sales to the UK retail and foodservice industry; • diversifying into nutraceu�cal products, as has been successfully achieved in the New Zealand mussel industry; and • ge�ng involved in carbon offse�ng schemes and green investment.

“The possibili�es outlined in this report include food produc�on, as well as a host of poten�al markets for Sco�sh shellfish growers to tap in to. We know that diversifica�on can be a key part of futureproofing a sector and this can help deliver real economic benefits to rural communi�es around Scotland,” Alex Adrian, Head of Aquaculture for Crown Estate Scotland told Fish Farmer magazine.

He explained that the latest work builds on a previous report commissioned by Crown Estate Scotland, which looked at the cri�cal mass needed for a viable mussel farming business. It also comple-

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Nicki Holmyard SHELLFISH_v2.indd 30

ments a couple of other studies currently being carried out, which are looking at the feasibility and economics of si�ng large shellfish and seaweed farming opera�ons in Scotland, whether they could be pre-approved and how they might interact with fisheries’ interests.

“Large scale means a mussel farm producing at least 700 tonnes of mussels per year and a seaweed farm covering at least one square kilometre. We have been looking at areas such as the Firth of Clyde and the east coast, but if we encourage and facilitate new development, any increased produc�on cannot put pressure on exis�ng markets, so we needed to inves�gate what other opportuni�es there are for the sector,” Adrian says.

Above: Alex Adrian Opposite: Mussels

Expanding the market Most Sco�sh mussel produc�on is des�ned for the UK market and the report suggests that the biggest opportunity to grow the category in the UK is to encourage exis�ng consumers to purchase and eat more, and to a�ract new consumers in the grocery and out-ofhome sectors. Selling online is a par�cular growth sector that has doubled in the past 15 months.

Messaging around sustainability and the climate-friendly values of mussels should be strengthened to match developing trends.

Displacing imports of mussels from, for example, New Zealand, exploring the frozen mussel category for growth at home and abroad, and tackling the export market are all recommended, making par�cular use of the posi�ve image associated with Sco�sh provenance.

Nutra/pharmaceu�cal products Nutra/pharmaceu�cal products (NPD) account for a growing and lucra�ve market.

Mussel oil for example, now accounts for 12%

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Building up mussels

This can “ help deliver real economic benefits

”

of the mussel export market for New Zealand and contributed NZ$ 51m in 2020 (£25.9m).

To understand the market for this sector, research into the comparative nutrition profiles of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and the green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) is recommended. The information would be used as a basis for NPD and communications for human and animal nutrition products. The establishment of a working group would be needed to explore interest in extraction and biorefining facilities, which would be of interest to other industries such as salmon.

It is noted that production of mussel oil or other high-value extracts should focus on quality rather than quantity, as production levels in Scotland mean that it is unlikely to be able to compete in commodity markets.

Payment for ecosystem services Payment for the ecosystem services (PES) provided by mussel farms was considered in the report, which finds that it would be challenging to offer a blanket payment for shellfish farming per se, despite its benefits.

The PES framework could be used to reward improvements in farming systems that

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Nicki Holmyard SHELLFISH_v2.indd 31

enhance environmental quality, for gathering and sharing data that contributes to wider environmental management initiatives, or where shellfish farms were cited in an area specifically to improve water quality or coastal protection.

The report recommended that the Scottish Government consider these issues in the development of its Blue Economy Action Plan, and Marine Scotland in the proposed Aquaculture Shellfish Growth Plan.

Support in the form of further research could be provided by the Scottish Aquaculture Innovative Centre (SAIC).

Low carbon Mussels have by far the lowest carbon footprint of any animal protein.

This could draw in more environmentally conscious retailers and consumers, and attract new finance into the sector. There is also potential to increase production specifically for carbon capture and environmental improvement, rather than for human consumption.

SAIC was encouraged to provide funding to support development of evidence required to support this approach.

In conclusion, the report identifies that a combination of traditional markets, nutra/pharmaceuticals and carbon capture all offer opportunities for the development and growth of the Scottish bivalve sector, although the current lack of bioprocessing capacity in Scotland presents significant challenges.

Development of a strategy that harnesses all three aspects is recommended to reduce risk and create a more market-responsive industry, with a diverse portfolio of income streams that is better able to withstand economic shocks. FF

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12/10/2021 15:03:49

Export

A long road ahead

Some of the post-Brexit problems faced by UK seafood exporters have been fixed, but there is still plenty to be done

BY SANDY NEIL

I

T’S one thing a�er another. No sooner had the seafood industry started to recover from the export crisis caused

by Brexit than another one, a fuel crisis, added to the list of challenges.

How the fuel crisis unfolds through the next few weeks remains to be seen, but we are now 10 months into the problems facing exports and imports with the EU. With a clearer perspec�ve, we can see where we’ve been, where we are now and where we are going.

First, the story so far. The introduc�on of new border checks and paperwork since the end of the Brexit transi�on period on 31 December 2020 caused disrup�on to exports of fresh fish and seafood to the EU. Firms said they were having their shipments rejected due to forms filled in using the wrong colour of ink or confusion over paperwork. Others reported lengthy delays ge�ng trucks through customs, to the point where produce was spoiling or its value declining as it was not as fresh.

The UK Government set up the Sco�sh Seafood Exports Taskforce in February. Scotland Office Minister David Duguid said its primary aim was to work collabora�vely across UK and Sco�sh governments to increase confidence in the seafood and aquaculture supply chain, by ensuring that medium- and longer-term export issues are resolved.

Core industry members included the Sco�sh Salmon Producers Organisa�on (SSPO), the Sco�sh Fishermen’s Federa�on, the Sco�sh Seafood Associa�on, Communi�es Inshore Fisheries Alliance and Seafood Scotland.

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Seafood exports_v2.indd 32

Six months later in August, the taskforce published its final 17 page report, highligh�ng a commitment to digi�se the system for Export Health Cer�ficates (EHCs) and explore the op�on of a Scotland-based “clearing house” for exports.

This would have ensured that firms could check that all their paperwork was compliant with EU rules before leaving Scotland.

However, the report stated: “Due to EU law it is not possible to have EU customs clearance outside of the EU.” The SNP cri�cised the decision to disband the task force. Karen Adam, SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, said: “A�er just six months and only eight mee�ngs, the Westminster Government’s taskforce has submi�ed its final report so you might expect that the numerous problems faced by our vital seafood industry have been resolved.

“Spoiler alert – they have most certainly not and the job is not even half done.”

David Duguid, then Deputy Secretary of State for Scotland and now Fisheries Envoy following

Top: DFDS is a key haulier for the Sco�sh seafood industry Left: David Duguid Opposite from top: Jimmy Buchan; Donna Fordyce; Trucks on ferry

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12/10/2021 14:49:31

A long road ahead

September’s cabinet reshuffle, dismissed the cri�cisms.

The Conserva�ve MP for Banff and Buchan said: “It’s nonsense for the SNP to dismiss the hard work and many achievements delivered by governments and industry through the taskforce.

“Far from it – so successful was the format in delivering results for an industry essen�al to many of our coastal communi�es, it was agreed by all – including the Sco�sh Government – that ongoing engagement with stakeholders would con�nue and I look forward to chairing the new Sco�sh Seafood Industry Ac�on Group.”

In spite of the spat, ministers from both governments agreed to con�nue discussions with representa�ves drawn from the catching, processing, expor�ng and aquaculture sec�ons of industry, and a new successor group, the Sco�sh Seafood Industry Ac�on Group, met on 1 September.

Issues discussed included the EU’s decision to delay implemen�ng new regula�ons around export cer�fica�on un�l next year, and the industry’s concerns about a shortage of labour in the processing sector.

Duguid said: “There was good news on progress on digi�sa�on of paperwork for exporters and we are raising concerns with the EU about plans that would mean each animal for live export would have to be counted, possibly adding unnecessary stress for shellfish such as crabs and lobsters.”

So how much be�er, or worse, are things now? As the new ac�on group meets around the table, we gathered many perspec�ves from around the seafood industry. Fish Farmer asks them which problems have been solved and which ones remain.

Hamish Macdonell, Director of Strategic Engagement for the SSPO, says: “Everybody working on exports has got used to working with the new systems, so progress is faster and more efficient than it used to be. The issue of extra paperwork has not gone away, but those involved have learned to live with it.

“It is taking about 45 minutes to process every EHC and about two hours for the en�re process in the hubs for each load. There is a plan to digi�se the EHC system to make it more efficient. This is due to happen in the next six months. We hope this will speed up the process.”

Macdonell adds: “Labour is turning into a major issue for the sector, par�cularly in processing. Our members are opera�ng with significantly lower staff numbers than usual, with li�le prospect of this improving.

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“It is difficult to see an easy answer to labour shortages, except for opening up to Eastern European labour once again, which isn’t going to happen.

So the SSPO is working with both [the Sco�sh and Westminster] governments to find out if there are any other solu�ons that could be introduced to ease the pressure this is causing.”

Jimmy Buchan, Chief Execu�ve Officer of the Sco�sh Seafood Associa�on, also believes progress has been mixed.

“Fish is now flowing well a�er a terrible start to the year,’ he tells Fish Farmer. “There were problems on many fronts, with the sector not being fully ready for the change required, the UK Government introducing a system untried and untested on 1 January that was full of bugs and IT problems, as well as a French border control replica�ng similar problems to the UK. It was the first day at school with new class, new teachers – even the janitor was new!

“We can now proudly say that a�er calling on the UK Government to set up a taskforce consis�ng of both governments’ ministers along with stakeholders, we have resolved many of the issues by introducing a be�er digitalised system that can streamline and speed up the paper trail.

The downside is added cost in issuing cer�fica�on of products – more man hours are required even if [the system] is now improved, and small companies can no longer afford to send small consignments.

“We know and understand the system be�er with correctly filled paper work speeding [things up] – [there is now] experience and understanding of exactly what is required. We must bear in mind the EU did not make this easy for us for obvious reasons – that said, the EU exporters to the UK s�ll receive concessions on sending goods into the UK.” Buchan adds: “There is a long way to go on this and un�l we see the EU having to endure the same hoops to jump through, there is no appe�te to make trading easier.”

Seafood Scotland’s Chief Execu�ve, Donna Fordyce, provides an overview of the progress made, and the lack of it, in the sector. “Groupage is now largely opera�onal,” she says, “although this must be viewed in context because many companies have been forced to cease trading as the post-Brexit model is too challenging for them to con�nue.

“A lot of work has been done by Sco�sh and UK governments, and by DEFRA [the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and

Paper“work has

not gone away, but those involved have learned to live with it

”

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12/10/2021 14:50:35

Export

Rural Affairs] to ease ma�ers. Seafood Scotland has also played its part; our Brexit specialists have been working to support the industry, ranging from webinars covering the most common issues to one-to-one support for operators who need specialist advice. The issues around impor�ng have not manifested yet as a result of the postponed introduc�on of the new regula�ons, so we are preparing to provide ongoing support to the industry in this regard early next year.

“DEFRA has made welcome tweaks to the system, which has removed some barriers, but there is no doubt we need an end-to-end digi�sed solu�on to further reduce the �me burden on exporters, par�cularly the smaller operators. Seafood Scotland is in close contact with DEFRA and our understanding is that a new system should be opera�onal early next year.”

However, problems s�ll remain, she added: “The post-Brexit cost burden is significant, with addi�onal costs borne by exporters of between £400 and £500 per consignment when you take into account the labour

34

Seafood exports_v2.indd 34

costs as well as the opera�onal ones. One exporter I was talking to recently has been forced to scale back opera�ons by around 50% because the amount of labour required to prepare consignments for export is too high for him to con�nue at his pre-Brexit level of trading.

Other companies have had to put expansion plans on hold or even cease trading altogether.”

Fordyce adds that labour shortages are having “a huge impact”.

She says: “The majority of Sco�sh seafood processing premises are in rural, coastal communi�es and have always relied on Eastern European workers. Before Brexit, across Scotland as a whole, 52% of the workforce was from Eastern Europe. That rose to 76% in the North East of Scotland, and, in some factories, was as high as 92%.

“I have heard from scores of companies on this issue – for example, one producer is operating with 10 vacancies out of a total head count of 27. Many others are having to turn down work as they simply cannot recruit. On top of that, wages are rising because of the increased compe��on for staff, so that is having a knockon impact too.”

The issue is right across the food and drink sector, Fordyce says, but Seafood Scotland is doing its bit to iden�fy solu�ons across the industry, working with Scotland Food and Drink and other organisa�ons to highlight the career opportuni�es within the industry and to increase the skills base. Fordyce says the “Sea A Bright Future” ini�a�ve – led by the Sco�sh

Above: Salmon packed in ice Left: David Duguid visits Sco�sh Sea Farms Opposite: Ferry at Calais

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12/10/2021 14:53:10

A long road ahead

Seafood Association and Seafish – is a great example of this.

She says: “We need further automation to address the labour issues and I have made this suggestion to DEFRA; specifically, that it should consider supporting further automation via the £100m funding pot they announced in September. However, it is clear that we will need private as well as public sector investment if we are to tackle the longstanding challenges in this regard.”

Another major problem looms ahead for UK importers of seafood, according to Richard Harrow, CEO of the British Frozen Food Federation.

“The type and range of products the industry sends to the island of Ireland presents a unique challenge,” he says.

“The key issue is that Export Health Certificates have normally been used for primary products shipped in large volumes over a distance. Our trade with the island of Ireland is totally different from this, with many complex products in small volumes.

“The Government’s new Command Paper,

They had… no idea of “how the modern food supply chain works ”

which seeks to rewrite the Northern Ireland Protocol, has come about as they realise the enormity of the challenge in meeting the details they signed up to. You do have to ask the question ‘why did they ever sign up to the current agreement?’ They clearly had absolutely no idea of how the modern food supply chain works. This is a real disappointment given just how important the food industry is to the economy.”

In September, the UK Government said that full customs declarations and controls on animal-based products coming in from the EU to the UK would not be imposed until 1 January 2022. EHCs, which involve inspection by qualified veterinary professionals – will not be mandatory until 1 July 2022. The decision means each of these two stages will come into

effect six months later than had been planned, which itself involved a later timetable than was originally set out.

When the changes do come into force, Harrow fears that the requirement to have EHCs signed off by a qualified vet could delay shipments by up to four hours – or even longer. Also, he warns that the need for exporters to pre-notify the authorities regarding all shipments 24 hours before arrival at a UK Border Control Post will create further delays.

Meanwhile, UK producers have cried “foul” since the latest delay extends the period in which the regulations apply to UK producers exporting to Europe, but not to produce flowing in the other direction – further tipping the balance against the UK’s own seafood industry. FF

Catamaran gets new lease of life

I

t has been a busy few months for the team at Ross-shire Diving Services Ltd. While the divers have been kept busy servicing the fish farms, the office staff have been working hard behind the scenes for the second stage audit for ISO 9001:2015, 45001:2018 and 14001:2015.

The following months are looking to be just as busy, with Above: The Ross-shire Diving Services catamaran the beginning of the renovation of the company’s catamaran. The renovations, designed

by Kyle-based naval architect IK Macleod & Associates, are to commence next month, with works to be carried out by local boatbuilders Northwest Engineering Limited from their Russel yard at Loch Kishorn.

The bespoke design converts the existing vessel to a 16m steel

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Seafood exports_v2.indd 35

workboat with 2 Doosan MD136Ti engines rated at 230hp and fitted with Dong I 3-1 reduction gearboxes. The vessel will have an 18.5 tonne meter Palfinger crane on its large working deck, two five tonne capstans and a five tonne towing winch.

It has been designed with a large wheelhouse, four berth accommodation, dive panels and a moonpool for dedicated dive support.

Brian Watson, Managing Director at Ross-shire Diving Services Ltd said: “This will be the first workboat to be built for Ross-shire Diving Services and it was important to us keep the design and construction work in the Highlands, keeping in line with the company’s community focus and values.”

Having the boat centrally located will reduce supply times, increasing fuel efficiency and allowing a fast response for our customers.

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12/10/2021 14:53:54

Flatfish

They know their plaice

Could this be the next species for commercial farming?

BY VINCE MCDONAGH

T

RIALS aimed at breeding plaice under farming condi�ons have proved highly successful, less than two years a�er ge�ng underway. The results have even surprised the scien�sts at Norway’s Ins�tute of Marine Research (IMR), which is conduc�ng the experiment.

Plaice may not be quite as fashionable as it was, say, in the 1970s (in the days before farmed salmon became plen�ful), but it remains a popular whitefish choice among diners.

This is a fish that can live for up to 50 years. However, they are slow growers, which means wild stocks are under increasing pressure. So around two years ago the IMR decided it was to �me to see if they could breed successfully in cap�vity.

It may surprise some people to learn that the first serious a�empt at plaice farming was carried out in 1945, just a�er the end of the Second World War. Fry produc�on was the main goal at the �me and the researchers managed to breed several thousand of them using live shrimp as feed.

It was seen as a major breakthrough, although – un�l today – nothing much more was done a�er the 1940s. Back then there was an abundant supply from the sea so it failed to a�ract much interest from poten�al backers.

Just over a year ago Fish Farmer magazine reported that trials into plaice farming had resumed, picking up where the 1940s researchers had le� off.

Now the 21st century IMR team has just announced that their trials have produced very young fish with no disease, few deformi�es and virtually no serious mortality problems.

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Plaice farming - Vince_v2.indd 36

Using past experience with halibut farming – one of the most difficult species to cul�vate – as a basis for the research, they seem to have created the perfect fry.

IMR researcher Anders Magnor-Jensen says the results have been “absolutely fantas�c”. He adds: “Now we are le� with two family research groups that can give us a brood-stock for the future.”

Magnor-Jensen is now following up the work on larger fish. As he explains: “Biologically, the experiment did present

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13/10/2021 10:17:53

They know their plaice

A WORLD-LEADING RESEARCH GROUP BASED in Bergen, the Ins�tute of Marine Research (IMR) is one of the leading organisa�ons of its kind in Europe, with several hundred employees. Its ac�vi�es are research, advisory work and monitoring.

It has its own research vessels and laboratories that look at the whole seafood food chain from the sea or net cage to the table. Most of its funding comes from various government departments and external grants.

Although the IMR advises the Norwegian government on the ecosystems of the Barents Sea, Norway’s most important fishing area, the rapid growth in fish farming of all types means that more of its work is now focused on aquaculture.

us with a few challenges at the beginning, but we believe plaice may have the poten�al to become a new (farmed) marine species.”

He said results from data base were not yet clear, but growth was comparable to that of halibut during the first 10 to 12 months. However, it seems that plaice grows faster than halibut in the fry stage.

Birgi�a Norberg, another member of the research team, said at the �me of the earlier trials that, thanks in part to previous research, companies are now adding or considering including halibut farming to their commercial opera�ons.

The long-term hope at the Ins�tute is that if results from the current research programme con�nue to be successful – and the team seems very confident – then plaice will be added to the list of commercially farmed species.

It seems that �me cannot come soon enough. Earlier this year Norway, the UK and the EU agreed a new fisheries deal in the North Sea, the main loca�on for the species, which brought a 25% reduc�on in the plaice quota.

Plaice is also found in the Irish Sea and around the coasts of Norway and Iceland.

Mangor-Jensen explained: “We have managed to breed plaice with zero diseases, no mortality and minimal deforma�ons. Fish that survive and grow as well as this means their welfare is good.”

He said that although wild plaice can o�en reach four or five kilos, they are very heavily fished so are o�en very small when caught and are usually lucky to reach half a kilo. The hope is that the farmed plaice will be so large they can produce fillets two or three cen�metres thick (around one inch).

The next stage now is to find out if this type of flounder fish can grow to a commercial size of around a kilo (2.2lbs) before they are three years old.

With an established market and proven success in raising the fish in cap�vity, this could prove to be a very interes�ng species for farmers.” FF

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Plaice farming - Vince_v2.indd 37

seem “They to have created the perfect fry

”

Above: The Ins�tute of Marine Research in Bergen

Plaice facts La�n name: Pleuronectes platessa, derived from the Anglo-French word plai which means fla�ish Family: The flounder family (Pleuronec�dae) Other names: Flounder, fla�ish Max size: 70cm across

Above left: Researcher Anders Magnor-Jensen

Top: Young plaice

growing up

Left and above: Plaice

37

13/10/2021 10:18:39

SalMar v NTS

BY VINCE MCDONAGH

Battle royale

Two fish farming tycoons wanted Norway Royal Salmon, but only one was going to win

T

HEY grew up together on the same remote, picturesque island off the west coast of Norway. Frøya is where they s�ll live although they seldom meet up these days.

Li�le could SalMar chief Gustav Witzøe and Helge Gåsø, head of NTS, know back then that one day they would confront each other head to head in one of the most drama�c power struggles the salmon industry has seen for many years.

The prize was Norway Royal Salmon (NRS) – a medium-sized business but with big ambi�ons – and only one man could win it.

For a few days in August it looked as if Witzøe had it in the bag, with a higher offer on the table for shareholders and the NRS board telling investors on two occasions to reject the overtures from NTS. But Gåsø had a couple of aces up his sleeve, which he used to outmanoeuvre his long-standing rival. They came in the shape of Eva Maria Kristoffersen, who runs the family company Egil Kristoffersen & Sønner, and Ingri Marie Sivertsen from the business investment company Nyhamn. They were also joined by Norway Fresh, another large investor.

Together the two women held just over 20% of the shares and chose to accept the NTS offer of NOK 240 a share, NOK 30 lower than the SalMar price. The decision is es�mated to have cost Kristoffersen more than NOK 130m (£1.1m).

So far she has remained reluctant to explain why she took the lower offer, but her business and that of NTS are known to have a high regard for each other.

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Sivertsen was a li�le more forthcoming, saying she had acted in the best interests of the company (NRS) and the industry.

Perhaps they thought SalMar was becoming a li�le too powerful. Who knows?

Whatever the reasons, it gave NTS a 68% stake in NRS and turned it into one of the world’s largest salmon farming companies.

Up to that point NTS’s fish farming ac�vity, operated by the subsidiary Midt-Norsk Havbruk (MNH) was rela�vely small. NTS is, however, very big in aquaculture support services such as shipping, wellboats and related ac�vi�es through another acquisi�on, Frøy.

With Norway Royal Salmon now part of the family, NTS is set to rival the SalMars and Griegs of this world, especially when it comes to Arc�c Offshore Farming, a subsidiary set up to trial new technology in salmon farming that is currently under development.

Gåsø told the Norwegian financial website e.24 that NTS was no longer an underdog, but one of the world’s largest salmon farmers with an annual produc�on target of 100,000 tonnes.

Above: Gustav Witzøe Left: Helge Gåsø (L) and Fish Minister Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen Opposite from the top: Norway Royal Salmon offshore farm; Eva

Maria Kristoffersen (L), Ingri Marie Sivertsen (R); Frøya Island; Salmar HQ,

Frøya

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12/10/2021 15:12:42

Battle royale

The journey to growth in the fish farming sector started couple of months earlier when Midt-Norsk Havbruk merged with another farm operator, SalmoNor. Gåsø said it felt good to have landed NRS, but the priority now was to consolidate and move on from there .

NRS has already been promised NOK 800m (£68m) in state guarantees towards the construc�on of its futuris�c offshore semisubmersible fish farm and hatchery project.

NRS explains: “Salmon live most of their lives in the open sea. It is only for short periods that they are in the �ords before they go up into the rivers to spawn.

“With Arc�c Offshore Farming, we have developed a fish farm that, as far as possible, gives the salmon the opportunity to be in the open sea.

“By combining Norway Royal Salmon’s knowledge from the aquaculture industry with Aker’s [the specialist industrial investment company] long industrial experience from mari�me businesses, construc�on of offshore installa�ons and fishing, the goal is to solve the environmental and area challenge in the industry.”

NRS says the concept will increase land use in Norwegian waters by loca�ng further from the coast, in addi�on to helping to solve of some of the industry’s environmental challenges such as lice.

So what of Gustav Witzøe? He must have been disappointed at losing out, especially

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the battle for NRS (Vince)_v2.indd 39

when most observers were saying it was almost a done deal. But at least he has the consola�on of announcing, in the same week the NRS saga came to a close, a major partnership deal with Aker ASA to establish a global offshore aquaculture business.

It is currently one of the most talked about developments in the industry. They are se�ng up a joint venture company called SalMar Aker Ocean AS that will take fish farming further out to sea.

Aker is inves�ng close to NOK 1.65bn in three stages with the eventual aim of expanding away from Norway into other parts of the world. Øyvind Eriksen, President and CEO of Aker, said: “The aquaculture industry is at the cusp of a new, more sustainable era, opening up for a new resource base and with green produc�on.”

Of course, SalMar already has a head start on NRS, in that its Ocean Farm 1 project has been under way for at least two years and has already produced 10,000 tonnes of salmon in two stages.

Witzøe said: “SalMar’s focus on the open ocean marked the start of a new era in the seafood industry. Together, we will be at the forefront of ensuring sustainable growth on the salmon’s terms, u�lising the poten�al of the ocean to produce healthier food, deploying digital technologies, cleantech, and using superior supplier industry capabili�es at a cri�cal �me for ensuring sustainable food produc�on in the long term.

“Together, we can take the next technological leap for offshore farming, with a global ambi�on” And SalMar con�nues to grow despite a knockback in the takeover ba�le. Just prior to announcing the Aker deal, SalMar purchased a 45% stake in the specialist family farming business Refsnes Laks. Perhaps Norway’s compe��on authority might have intervened if had been successful in capturing NRS? FF

“Perhaps they

thought SalMar was becoming a li�le too powerful

”

39

12/10/2021 15:13:34

d w e l a b t u e o r r

Our expert panel discussed global warming’s impact on aquaculture

A

As the world’s leaders prepared to gather in Glasgow in November for the COP26 climate change summit, Fish Farmer magazine and online content business InterMet brought together a team of expert panellists to discuss Aquaculture – Mee�ng the Threats of Extreme Weather & Climate Change.

Among sources of animal protein, aquaculture is at the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to carbon emissions, but the industry is also very exposed to the impact of global warming. Extreme

40

Climate Change Webinar_v2.indd 40

s

T

Climate change

weather events, taking place with greater frequency and severity than we are used to, pose a serious threat to the industry. The warming seas also affect oxygen and salinity levels, and come with a prolifera�on of biological threats.

We asked our panel: what are the key impacts from climate change and what, if anything, can the industry to predict and mi�gate them?

And also, what can aquaculture itself do as an industry to help reduce emissions?

Joining the discussion were Anne Anderson of Sco�sh Sea Farms; Daniel Fairweather of insurers Gallagher; Dr Lynne Falconer of the Ins�tute of Aquaculture at the University of S�rling; and Dr Jonathan LaRiviere, CEO of ocean forecas�ng technology business Scoot Science.

Star�ng off the discussion was Daniel Fairweather. He is Execu�ve Director of Livestock, Aquaculture and Fisheries at insurance company Gallagher. He is also a member of the Gallagher UK Environment, Social and Governance Commi�ee, and a trustee of The Shark Trust.

He set the scene with a reminder that many companies will soon have to

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12/10/2021 15:47:37

Troubled waters

was part of a team that focused on salmon aquaculture in Norway. She gave an example of some of their work which involved iden�fying impacts from stressors such as temperature, sea level rise, deoxygena�on, acidifica�on, and precipita�on and runoff from the land to the sea as a result of rain-

THE PANEL Anne Anderson, Head of Sustainability & Development with Sco�sh Sea Farms.

The “ aquaculture

insurance industry has suffered huge losses

”

Left: Climate change Top: Screenshot of the webinar Above: Protest

report on their climate risks and what they are doing to mi�gate them.

Climate change is also a major headache for insurers. Fairweather explained: “We’ve seen two or three years where the aquaculture insurance industry has suffered huge losses, which has resulted in tough insurance condi�ons, a reduc�on in insurance capacity and a change in the insurance mindset.”

“Now, more than ever, it is going to be down to companies themselves, and industries, to take a real look at their risk profile and at emerging risk profiles, and put in place a robust programme to deal with that.”

Farm operators could find that their terms and condi�ons, or even the availability of insurance cover, may change at compara�vely short no�ce.

For those businesses that find it is becoming difficult to find conven�onal cover, he added, there are alterna�ves. These could include “parametric” insurance products – where cover relates to, say, measurable rises in sea temperatures; or “cat in the box” policies, which could be triggered by, for example, a storm of a given intensity affec�ng a specified area. Fairweather advised: “If you find your insurance has changed, speak to your brokers and your insurers. There are solu�ons out there, but things are ge�ng difficult.”

Dr Lynne Falconer is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Ins�tute of Aquaculture, part of the University of S�rling. She gave an overview of some of the considera�ons decision-makers need to consider when looking at climate change impact assessment and adapta�on planning.

She talked about ClimeFish, a research project that ran from 2016 to 2020, financed by the European Union. This large-scale project evaluated effects of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture throughout Europe. Dr Falconer

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Climate Change Webinar_v2.indd 41

Daniel Fairweather

Execu�ve Director, Livestock, Aquaculture and Fisheries with insurance company Gallagher.

Dr Lynne Falconer

Researcher at the Ins�tute of Aquaculture, University of S�rling.

Dr Jonathan LaRiviere

Chief Execu�ve of Scoot Science, an ocean analy�cs and forecas�ng business based in Santa Cruz, California.

Robert Outram Editor, Fish Farmer magazine (chair).

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12/10/2021 15:48:31

Climate change

fall.She said: “We iden�fied 45 poten�al impacts linked to climate stressors and more than 100 poten�al adapta�on responses. With some stressors it is easier to iden�fy poten�al impacts – for example, temperature. There was less informa�on on, for example, ocean acidifica�on.

“It was important not just to iden�fy what we know is going to happen, but also the knowledge gaps and uncertain�es.”

She added: “More people and companies are going to have to start thinking about the risks to their own specific area… there is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach for climate change adapta�on.”

Scoot Science is an ocean analy�cs and forecas�ng business based in Santa Cruz, California, which aims to help fish farmers protect assets, operate sustainably,and increase profits by enabling a more complete assessment of local ocean condi�ons. The company’s dashboard integrates in-pen sensors with external metereological and oceanographic data sources to provide real-�me ocean condi�ons and forecas�ng.

Oceanographer Dr Jonathan LaRiviere co-founded Scoot in 2017. At the webinar, he started by stressing that over the past few decades the oceans have absorbed by far the largest share of global warming. As he put it: “Aquaculture is on the front line of climate change.”

Our lack of knowledge makes aquaculture a risky business. The good news, Dr LaRiviere said, is that the industry has been pre�y good at collec�ng data, and Scoot’s aim is to use that data to help make oceans “manageable, insurable and inves�ble”.

He added: “We were able to help bring a new insurance product to the market because there was already good temperature and salinity data in the area where these customers needed to get some protec�on for what was previously considered an uninsurable risk.”

As he explained, be�er data – and analysis of that data – can also help to a�ract more capital into the “blue economy”.

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Climate Change Webinar_v2.indd 42

Even a “ li�le bit of

data goes a long way

”

Top: Wild fish killed by toxic red algae Above: Green algae Opposite from top: Stormy waves; extreme weather seen from space

Anne Anderson is Head of Sustainability and Development with Sco�sh Sea Farms. She was formerly Sustainability Director at the Sco�sh Salmon Producers Organisa�on, where she led the introduc�on of the sector-wide Sco�sh Salmon Sustainability Charter.

She outlined some of the challenges faced by fish farmers in Scotland as a result of climate change.

These include, she said, water scarcity – perhaps surprisingly – in some parts of the country, as well as storm events and flooding, which can create silt runoff, affec�ng coastal water quality. Fish also face emerging pathogens with increasing water temperatures.

She stressed: “Fish farmers are passionate protectors of the environment – contrary to what some of those people think who are unsure of the place fish farming has in the drive for global food security. The places we farm in, and live in, are places dear to our hearts.”

The panel then took ques�ons from par�cipants at the webinar. First up was a query about funding: does the United Na�ons Environment Programme (UNEP) finance aquaculture, and if not who does?

As Fairweather explained, this isn’t UNEP’s role, but there are banks and investment firms with a knowledge of – and interest in funding – aquaculture; from banks such as Rabobank and the Asian Development Bank to private equity funds such as AquaSpark.

He added: “There are people out there, but I know it is not easy to get funds.”

Taking ac�on to mi�gate the impacts of climate change will be expensive, the panel agreed.

Anderson said: “There is a significant scale of investment required. There is also an energy cost required with some solu�ons.”

Falconer agreed: “It will depend on where you are, the species and the system you are using.

It also depends on your capacity to adapt – not everyone has the same scale of resources.”

There were also ques�ons about weather and ocean data – for example, are there areas of the world where the gaps in measurement make forecas�ng impossible?

LaRiviere said: “Even in the most industrialised parts of the industry, the ocean is commonly treated like a ‘black box’. So, when we talk about the ability to forecast, even a li�le bit of data goes a long way.”

There is now good meteorological data and weather forecas�ng globally now, he added, which means that oceanographers can apply that informa�on to forecast ocean condi�ons.

He explained: “Once you get to know a li�le bit about your water column structure, you can start to run numerical models where the overlying atmosphere interacts with the ocean. So when you have a weather forecast that is doing a pre�y good job three or four days out, you can actually piggyback off that and get a much be�er sense of how the ocean is going to act.”

This, he said, could be applied even to parts of the world where ocean data is limited.

One ques�oner asked whether issues such as soil erosion on land could affect fish farming. Yes, was the answer from Anderson. She explained: “At Sco�sh Sea Farms we have reservoirs surrounded

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Troubled waters

KEY TAKEAWAYS ♦ Many businesses, including those in aquaculture, will soon be required to report publicly on their climate risks.

by forestry, which provide our water intake [for the hatchery]. So land managers need to understand the consequences of their ac�ons and the impact these will have downstream or into the ocean… you need to be aware of what’s happening in your catchment area and you need good local connec�ons so you are aware of what’s happening there. Sensors can pick up so much but there is nothing like a phone call!”

What can aquaculture itself do to reduce greenhouse gases? Some see seaweed farming as a way to lock up carbon in the atmosphere.

Falconer agreed this has poten�al: “There are some interes�ng studies that are looking at variability through the seasons and through the different stages of the life cycle because that affects how much carbon is sequestered. And there are differences in loca�on. Some areas may be more beneficial than others.”

LaRiviere was also hopeful, but sounded a note of cau�on: “Some of the momentum around ocean based carbon capture has glossed over the fact that the ocean can do a tremendous job of capturing carbon, but can also very efficiently release carbon back into the atmosphere.

“There needs to be some strong accoun�ng to ensure that carbon is being locked up for the longer term.”

There also ques�ons about the impact of climate change on inland, freshwater fish farms and on the new genera�on of recircula�ng aquaculture systems (RAS) farms.

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Climate Change Webinar_v2.indd 43

Falconer noted that rising temperatures pose a threat to fish ponds and lakes in tropical loca�ons, while coastal shrimp farms in brackish waters in Vietnam and Bangladesh are vulnerable to cyclones.

Anderson added: “Ul�mately, a RAS is highly reliant on the water quality that it takes in and on its treatment, so something that is too variable lends itself to difficul�es. Exposure to the elements will come regardless of what type of system you have.”

Fairweather commented: “There are some really excellent RAS systems but there are some less excellent ones.

“We’ve seen some pre�y significant losses. These RAS systems have to run at high stocking densi�es and when it goes well, it goes very well, but when it goes wrong it goes wrong very quickly.

“I’m a huge fan of RAS, done in the right way, in the right place and for the right reasons, but you are swapping one set of risks for another.”

The panel also fielded ques�ons about data, the role of ar�ficial intelligence (AI) and the need to exchange informa�on between different stakeholders.

AI has the poten�al to make sense of the huge amounts of data now being collected, the panel agreed, but it is also important for different organisa�ons to exchange informa�on at a human level.

Falconer said: “A lot has happened in the last five to 10 years in terms of making data available, and the salmon sector has played a large part in helping to make data transparent and publicly available.”

Anderson noted: “The rela�onship between the academic sector and the private sector is hugely posi�ve.

LaRiviere noted that Scoot’s customers are happy to share ocean data, although their opera�ng approaches remain commercially confiden�al.

Can harmful algal blooms (HABs) be predicted? As Anderson pointed out, there are areas of the ocean where there is effec�vely no monitoring and they can be very hard to forecast: “Where you get the HABs can be different from one farming cycle to the next. They are difficult to predict and difficult to track.”

However, LaRiviere said, even 12 to 24 hours’ no�ce could make all the difference.

Fairweather added than HABs needed to be a factor in planning new farms: “O�en, the first �me you realise that a site is prone to algal blooms is when you s�ck a fish farm on it, which is really frustra�ng for insurers!”

Finally, are there also opportuni�es? The answer was a cau�ous “yes” – for example, new loca�ons might become available or some exis�ng sites might see higher growth rates – but with serious caveats over the accompanying risks.

One real opportunity for the industry, the panel agreed, is to promote aquaculture as a source of healthy, nutri�ous food,with a low carbon footprint, and this is a message that the industry and governments should be promo�ng. www.intermet.digital is a portal serving the meteorology, hydrometeorology, flood and air quality industries. You can view the climate change webinar at www.intermet.digital/intermetdigitalwebinar4 FF

♦ Climate change – especially extreme weather events – may make it hard for some aquaculture operators to obtain affordable insurance cover. ♦ Iden�fying climate changes risks is highly complex and needs to take local and speciesspecific factors into account. ♦ Be�er data – and sharing that data – will help fish farmers to mi�gate their climate risks. ♦ Using data in the right way means the ocean does not have to be treated as an unpredictable “black box”. ♦ Climate risks affect all kinds of aquaculture – including freshwater farms and land-based RAS facili�es.

Premium farmed salmon, grown with care

Climate change: impacts for farming

Water scarcity

Flooding and storm events

Emerging pathogens

Investor Focus Investors using exposure to climate change as a key metric in investment decision making Firms need to demonstrate long-term resilience to climate change – Directly and through supply chains

4 © 2018 ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER & CO. | AJG.COM

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12/10/2021 15:50:35

Sustainability

A question of definition What does sustainable investment in the Blue Economy mean for fish farming?

BY DR ADAM HUGHES

I

f the marine economy were a country, its GDP would rank about 7th globally in line with France or California. Es�mates of its global value (not including the value of the ecosystem services it provides) range between $1.5trn-2.5trn (£1.1trn-1.8trn), employing 20.5 million people and with a farm gate value of $0.263trn (£0.19trn). Aquaculture is, or course, a major component of the marine economy.

There has been significant debate, however, as to whether all sectors of the marine economy are sustainable – and ques�ons over what “sustainability” actually means in the context of the Blue Economy.

The term “Blue Economy” emerged from the Rio+20 talks and was defined as recognising the ocean space and resources as an essen�al component of global economic growth and prosperity; although it makes the dis�nc�on that the Blue Economy is a conscious de-coupling of socio-economic development from environmental degrada�on.

The phrase, as synonymous with sustainable development, has been adopted by a wide range of governments and non-governmental organisa�ons including the United Na�ons, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and WWF. However, there are large ques�ons over the meaning of sustainability in the context of the marine environment and what sectors or ac�vi�es can be included within the Blue Economy.

It is becoming increasingly important to provide an opera�onal defini�on, or a framework that allows for transparent appraisal of ac�vi�es or sectors of marine industries that can be included within the Blue Economy. This need for an opera�onal defini�on or appraisal framework is being felt not only by policy makers and regulators, but crucially by the financial and investment community. Despite the size of the marine economy there is a recognised lack of capital flowing towards the Blue Economy, and there is also a lack of marine focus to the rapidly increasing environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment that is taking place.

One of the barriers to investment in the Blue Economy, cited by 39% of asset managers, was a lack of defini�on. Financial ins�tu�ons are already highly engaged in the seafood sector but cite climate risk and ecosystem service loss as principal risks for investment. Notably, many financial ins�tu�ons predict their investment in aquaculture will grow in the future, while investments in wild capture fisheries are expected to decrease.

A parallel can be drawn between investors looking for sustainable businesses and sectors in which to invest and consumers looking for sustainable seafood products to buy. Demand from consumers led to a number of sustainability frameworks that went beyond regulatory compliance and that could be a�ached to specific products to be developed. This sustainability was signalled to the consumer by the addi�on of a logo or label to the product that provides assurance to the consumer and market differen�al to the producer.

In terms of the financial sector there are also a number of emerging frameworks that propose to provide an opera�onalised defini�on of “sustainability” against which specific sectors or ac�vi�es within the Blue Economy can be assessed. Some of these frameworks are specific to the Blue Economy, whilst others are more generic but may directly apply to sectors such as aquaculture. Outlined below are three which

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Blue Economy.indd 44

“

There is significant interest in investment in the sustainable economy

”

are directly applicable to aquaculture or have the poten�al to significantly impact aquaculture in the future.

1) The UN Environment Programme’s Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Ini�a�ve (UNEPFI SBE) creates a pla�orm that is focused on banks, insurers and investors to help them develop lending, insurance and investment which supports the sustainable blue economy.

The UNEPFI SBE was founded in 2019 and in its first itera�on it concentrated on five marine sectors including seafood and within this, aquaculture. For each of the sectors, the platform lays out a series of indicators and criteria.

In the case of aquaculture the criteria are based around loca�on and si�ng, pollu�on and water quality, invasive species and escapes, disease, feed, and interac�ons with wildlife.

Depending on how a business’ opera�ons are assessed against the criteria, banks, insurers and investors have recommenda�ons to avoid, challenge or seek out these businesses for investment.

2) The Interna�onal Union for Conserva�on of Nature (IUCN) Global Standard for Naturebased Solu�ons. Nature-based Solu�ons (NbS) are defined by the IUCN as the sustainable management, and restora�on of natural or modified ecosystems, that address societal challenges effec�vely and adap�vely, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits. In our recent paper (www.fron�ersin.org/ar�cles/10.3389/ fmars.2021.711443/full) I and my fellow authors demonstrate how this principle, and the criteria that the IUCN set out as defining NbS, can be applied to aquaculture. Aquaculture is now globally and na�onally an important contributor to food security, so it is clearly addressing a fundamental societal challenge.

If a par�cular aquaculture opera�on can demonstrate that it is designed to provide, and is delivering, human wellbeing and biodiversity benefits, then there is the poten�al for it to be classified as a NbS. It has been demonstrated that aquaculture can be designed to deliver conserva�on goals, increase biodiversity and sequester carbon and as such would fit into the defini�on of NbS. It is clear some types of aquaculture are be�er suited to mee�ng these criteria, predominately low trophic

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A question of definition

Above: How well does finfish farming fit into a “sustainable” vision for the Blue Economy?

species seaweed and shellfish aquaculture, but the conscious integra�on of mul�ple species including fin-fish and lower trophic species to meet mul�ple challenges may also meet the criteria (see aquavitaeproject.eu/).

3) The European Union Taxonomy for Sustainable Ac�vi�es. To create a common understanding of sustainability to support the EU’s targets for climate and energy the EU has created a taxonomy or defini�on of sustainable economic ac�vity. It sets condi�ons that an economic ac�vity has to meet to qualify as environmentally sustainable: (ec.europa.eu/info/ business-economy-euro/banking-and-finance/ sustainable-finance/eu-taxonomy-sustainableac�vi�es_en). The economic ac�vity must make a substan�ve contribu�on to at least one of six objec�ves (climate change mi�ga�on; climate change adapta�on; sustainable use and protec�on of water and marine resources; a transi�on to a circular economy; pollu�on preven�on and control; and the protec�on and restora�on of biodiversity and ecosystems).

In addi�on, the economic ac�vity must do no

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Blue Economy.indd 45

significant harm to any of the other five objec�ves, and comply with minimum exis�ng safeguards. Financial market par�cipants and large companies will be required to disclosure the propor�on of the turnover, capex and opex that is aligned with the Taxonomy. Currently the Taxonomy covers the fisheries sector, but not aquaculture, but there is an expecta�on it will be expanded to include aquaculture.

It is clear that there is significant interest in investment in the sustainable economy and specifically the Blue Economy at the moment, and the current wave of frameworks, defini�ons, criteria and taxonomy are an a�empt to support these investment decisions and to ensure that the investments are in line with sustainable development goals.

The fact that seafood is the highest traded food commodity by value (and within this the trade of salmon cons�tutes one of the largest flows) coupled with the above average performance of major finfish producers, the aquaculture sector presents an a�rac�ve opportunity for ethical investors. However, ensuring that finfish opera�ons are aligned with these new ini�a�ves may require significant work when compared to low trophic species such as shellfish and seaweed: taking an ecosystem approach to management. The integra�on of finfish with other species may offer opportuni�es that be�er align with this wave of sustainable development. FF Dr Adam Hughes is a Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Aquaculture with the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS)

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12/10/2021 15:22:39

Security

Keeping out

the poachers

Securing a fish farm 20 kms out to sea for the Mediterranean’s leading aquaculture company involves a fully integrated security operation

O

n the western coast of Greece lie the clear blue waters of the gulf of Astakos and the bustling coastal town of the same name. It has been a shipping and fishing port since ancient times and legend has it the Cyclops’ cave was situated near Astakos, where Odysseus supposedly blinded the monster, before escaping by ship.

Today, the town is well known for the ruins of its ancient acropolis, for its maritime history and fishing tradition. It is also a hub for tourist ships bound for the islands of Ithaca and Kefalonia.

Sea bass and sea bream are farmed up to 20 kilometres off the coast of Astakos, across an area of 875m2, by the Mediterranean’s leading sustainable aquaculture company, Avramar.

Security group G4S began working with Avramar in 2019. The company wanted to improve the security arrangements of the farms, to ensure that both assets and employees were well protected.

Avramar’s operations Aquaculture is one of Greece’s biggest industries and Avramar, which was formed in January 2021 through the merger of four Greek companies, has 71 fish farming sites across Greece and Spain, 12 fish hatcheries and three fish feed production sites. Avramar’s major fresh fish export markets are the USA, France, Italy and Spain, supplying many well-known European and UK supermarkets.

Avramar currently has twelve static platforms off the coast of Astakos, manned by skilled employees, many of whom are from the local community and often from families who have worked in sea fishing for many generations.

Each of the central platforms manages the fish farms which encircle it

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Avramar security case study.indd 46

Below: G4S speedboat Opposite from top: Avramar farm, Astakos; Pens at Avramar farm, Astakos

and daily the Avramar team, weather permitting, will inspect the farms and feed the fish. Twice a week, Avramar’s specialist divers check the nets and underwater cages to ensure they are in good working order and to carry out maintenance.

Fish farms in the Mediterranean have to contend with poachers in small vessels or even organised criminal gangs. While in many cases the amount of fish stolen may not be significant, these activities can damage the equipment, nets and cages used in the farms. Other boats can also unknowingly stray into a fish farm and cause accidental damage.

Prior to working with G4S, Avramar had employed security officers, using their sight and their wits to assess and spot dangers. Avramar decided that human surveillance alone wasn’t able to react quickly enough to the potential threats that the farms may face; particularly over a large area, the majority of which is open sea.

Fish farm security Panagiotis Lamprintzis, G4S Greece Secure Solutions Project Manager, worked with Avramar for a number of months before the solution was put in place, to understand the range of risks that the farm faces every day. The Covid-19 pandemic delayed the initial start date, but the solution was up and running by July 2020, with measures in place to ensure the relevant public health guidelines were followed.

While the G4S team has extensive experience securing sites large and small across the world, a project of this type in the aquaculture industry was uncharted territory.

Lamprintzis says: “We worked with the customer and proposed an integrated security solution that used the most appropriate technology – in some cases nautical – to greatly enhance how officers could respond to threats or incidents more quickly and effectively. Our solution protects Avramar’s assets and employees, the farms themselves and the fish they produce. What Avramar wanted was a

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Keeping out the poachers

drivers and licence holders.

“This is essential, as driving these boats in open-sea requires great skill, even when the water is relatively calm,” says Lamprintzis. “On some days, particularly in the winter when the weather can be treacherous and a weather warning has been issued, it is illegal for boats of any kind to be at sea.”

more responsive and effective security arrangement, which we have developed in partnership with them.”

Every employee and G4S professional wears a life vest and if a person falls into the water, an alarm is triggered which is linked to the G4S monitoring centre, based on the mainland at an Avramar production site, close to Astakos. The tracker has a GPS signal, which can precisely pinpoint where that person is. G4S has three speedboats, which are used to patrol the farms, as well as react to emergencies and rescue anyone who has fallen into the water.

Manning the speedboats, the G4S officers hold security licences and are experienced speedboat

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State-of-the-art cameras Specialised nautical radar installations and state-of-the-art thermal and optical imaging cameras are used to protect the perimeter of each farm.Vessels which come too close are detected by radar and the system can distinguish whether a detected boat is either “friendly” or “unknown”.

Lamprintzis explains: “All systems are linked to the monitoring centre and an unidentified vessel will activate loudspeakers and a rotating beacon at the farm. Over the tannoy, personnel can communicate to the boat’s captain to move away and if necessary, the G4S speedboat team can attend quickly to the correct location, to ensure the boat doesn’t stray further into the farm.”

Speedboats are also able to patrol the higher traffic routes closest to the farms to ensure the farms’ safety. Where accidental entrance into the farm occurs, G4S professionals can explain and help the vessels, stopping them from veering into the wrong area. Thermal imaging cameras are used at night time, to verify any movement in and around the farm which is unexpected.

Aristotelis Kapetanios, Avramar’s Security Officer, says: “The installed security systems, as well as the services provided by G4S to our company at Astakos farms, are considered satisfactory, and operate and perform according to the initial innovative design and as defined by the risk mitigation plan study.”

Lamprintzis concludes: “The results have been exceptional, with no poaching incidents or damage caused to the farms – accidental or otherwise – since the new integrated security solution was put in place.

Through our approach we have built a trusted partnership with our customer and the result is their peace of mind.” FF

have been exceptional, “Thewithresults no poaching incidents ”

47

12/10/2021 15:19:45

Waste management

Waste not, want not

One person’s disposal problem could be another’s valuable resource

D

ealing with waste can be a major issue for all aspects of aquaculture. Waste – whether in the form of fish faeces, uneaten food or dead fish – represents not only a cost for farmers but also an important part of a farming operation’s environmental footprint.

Fortunately, with the right approach even waste that appears to be nothing but a problem can become a resource with value in its own right. One example is the Outer Hebrides Local Energy Hub (OHLEH), which brings together local energy suppliers with the Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) to recycle fish waste, including trimmings.

The project involves the transfer of waste from SSC’s processing plant on the Isle of Lewis, which is integrated with other local household and garden waste to produce biogas in an anaerobic digester at the CnES Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Creed.The biogas fuels a Combined Heat and Power plant, with some of the electricity generated used to drive an electrolyser which in turn produces hydrogen and oxygen for use at SSC’s hatchery in Lewis, as well as providing fuel for CnES’s hydrogen-powered bin lorry.

(OHLEH) is a multi-sector partnership comprising the SSC, Pure Energy Centre, Community Energy Scotland, and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (CnES).

It was created with support from Local Energy Scotland through the Scottish Government’s Local Energy Challenge Fund.This project was the first of its kind in Scotland and was included on the shortlist for a VIBES Partnership Scotland Award – which recognises environment achievements – in 2019.

Scottish Sea Farms’ hatchery at Barcaldine, meanwhile, not only uses energy from a biomass energy system using locally sourced woodchips, but also recycles fish waste (primarily faeces or any uneaten feed) for repurposing as nutrient-rich agricultural fertiliser to aid crop development.

Both of these are examples of the “circular economy” concept, in which waste or by-product from one process is used as a resource in another process.

Norwegian company Bluecirc – formerly known as Greenshore – specialises in processing waste from fish farming, including sludge, trimmings and morts

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Waste Management & the Circular Economy.indd 48

“

Waste that appears to be nothing but a problem can become a resource with value

”

(dead fish). As well as helping farmers to dispose of waste, Bluecirc is focused on finding ways to process it so that it can be reused.

The company’s treatment for sludge is already in operation, and it is now also developing a solution for processing morts. Its aim is to replace the typical acid-based disposal process with an alternative system in which the fish waste is ground and then dried to become a useable product, for example in agricultural fertiliser.

As the company puts it:“Everyone who handles acid treatment at a fish farm knows what we were talking about. It’s a job no one really wants… a system based on drying is safer, cheaper and easier.”

The new process is subject to European Union approval, and is scheduled to be launched some time next year.

Collecting waste from a hatchery or RAS (recirculating aquaculture system) plant is one thing, but

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12/10/2021 15:40:34

Waste not, want not

Left: The Biokra� plant Below left: Li� Up sludge collec�on system This page from top: Barcaldine hatchery; could this plane run on fish waste?; Barcaldine exterior

how about from a typical open net-pen farm at sea?

The waste from fish farms is one of the reasons why the location of a net-pen farm is seen as a sensitive issue for the environment. It is also used as an argument in favour of closed cages at sea.

LiftUP AS, also based in Norway, has a solution for open net-pen farms that is designed to deal with both morts and “sludge”, that is the combination of uneaten food and fish faeces.

The Combi collector was launched in 2012 and now, tanks and then shipped to a biogas plant. Here, it is converted working together with techinto renewable energy, and a high-absorption agricultural nology from AquaPro, Ragnliquid fertiliser product.

Sells Havbruk and AMOF So far this has been successfully trialled with a leading global Fjell Process Technology, aquaculture company and, LiftUP says, it is now ready to launch LiftUP is hoping to provide a to the market. complete waste solution.

Reusing the waste from fish farms can involve some surprising The new system is designed opportunities. One project under way is based at the Biokraft biofuel to pump waste with a LiftUP Combi plant, near the town of Skogn in Central Norway.This is one of the most collector through an automated system back advanced biofuel facilities in the world, and it is looking to use fish waste from to the barge for filtration, to avoid accumulation on the seabed.The concentrated waste is stored in the aquaculture sector to create “green” aircraft fuel.

The project is being carried out in collaboration with the Norwegian research and innovation organisation SINTEF and is also thought to involve a German partner with considerable experience in producing aircraft fuel from organic materials.

The idea is to combine fish waste with waste from a nearby paper mill and other forestry by-products, to create biofuel that would be suitable for jet aircraft engines.

It seems that, when it comes to applying circular economy principles to aquaculture, that the sky is literally the limit. FF

Sludge collection from open cages For the first time in fish farming history, we can proudly introduce a technology for collecting sludge on full-scale open cage sites.

Results showing a sludge collection of 70% throughout a generation.

We are commited to supporting sustainable aquaculture.

LiftUP combi

Patented combined mort and sludge collector

The system is designed to pump waste with a LiftUP Combi collector through an automated system back to the barge for filtration, to avoid accumulation on the seabed. The concentrated waste is stored in tanks and then shipped to a biogas plant. Here, it is converted into renewable energy, and a high-absorption agricultural liquid fertiliser product.

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The Combi collector enables collection of sludge/ sh waste in open cages

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Aquaculture Innovation Summit

Leading edge

Investors, tech entrepreneurs and academics agree there are huge opportunities ahead

BY ROBERT OUTRAM

B

e�er diagnos�cs for fish health, novel aquafeed ingredients and digital transforma�on for the industry were all on the agenda at the fourth annual Aquaculture Innova�on Summit.

Held this year as an all-online event, the Summit brought together pre-revenue and emerging aquaculture companies; established players and suppliers in the sector; financial, venture capital and private equity investors; government representa�ves and regulators; and service providers and consultants.

Global animal health business PHARMAQ was Digital Innova�on Partner for the Summit, and PHARMAQ’s Nils Arne Grønlie, General Manager and Senior Director Opera�ons, started the event with a reflec�on on what we have learned from the Covid-19 pandemic and how those lessons could be applied to fish health.

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Top: The RAS panel: (from top le�) Jelena Kolarevic, Astrid Buran Holen, Mark Powell and Howard Tang.

Below: The Feed panel (from top le�) Jennifer Kuo, Maye Walraven,

Björgólfur Hávardsson and Larry Feinberg Opposite: Nils Gronlie, Amy Novogratz

PHARMAQ Grønlie said, “detects, predicts, prevents and solves” health issues.

The future of RAS (recircula�ng aquaculture systems) farming was discussed by a panel comprising Howard Tang: CEO of investment firm Peritus Capital; Dr Mark Powell, CEO and General Manager, Marineholmen RASLab AS; Astrid Buran Holen: Head of Development, CAS, with aquaculture tech business Scale AQ; and Jelena Kolarevic, Professor with UiT, the Arc�c University of Norway.

The panel agreed that the most important change in RAS in the past few years has been scale. Jelena Kolarevic warned, however: “You can’t assume that everything that func�oned well before will func�on when the system is bigger. And the risks are also bigger.”

The availability of experienced, competent people in this new field could place limits on the sector’s growth, the panel felt, and the scale and speed of investment in RAS around the world could also put pressure on operators to move too quickly.

Powell said: “The key thing is to assess where the highest risks are – and not to try to do it all at the same �me… the smart companies will go step by step, develop a working model and learn by doing.”

He added: “I think it will always be cheaper to farm at sea. That said, the benefits of reduced environmental challenges, be�er produc�on control and be�er welfare will to some extent offset the market price for these products.”

Price alone might not be the only issue, Kolarevic suggested, since in some regions investment in RAS will be necessary if the industry is to meet demand.

Accessing investment was also the topic for a panel discussion, with Sarai Kemp, VP Business Development, Trendlines Agrifood Tech Fund; Amy Novogratz, Co-founder and Managing Partner, pioneer investment fund Aqua-Spark; Howard Tang of Peritus Capital; Kje�l Haga, Founding Partner of Bluefront Equity and a former partner with Broodstock Capital; and Larsen Me�ler, Managing Director, S2G Ventures.

The panel agreed that investors’ interest in

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12/10/2021 15:32:47

Leading edge food and agriculture, and par�cularly aquaculture, had increased drama�cally in the past few years.

Larsen Me�ler pointed out that in some sectors, such as microalgae, investors need a good deal of technical exper�se in order to write a big cheque with confidence.

Howard Tang said he would like to see more investment opportuni�es in digitalisa�on, ar�ficial intelligence and machine learning.

Kje�l Haga agreed: “I hope that in future we will be able to reply more on technology and not so much on experience. To scale up, we need to trust technology.”

The panel noted that digi�sed trading platforms, and quality and traceability solu�ons also presented some exci�ng opportuni�es.

The future of aquafeed, especially novel ingredients, was also the subject for a panel discussion. The panellists were Jennifer Kuo, Chief Technology Development and Sustainability Officer with Grobest,

one of Asia’s leading feed companies; Larry Feinberg, CEO with biotech business KnipBio; Maye Walraven, Director of Business Development with insect-based feed producer Innovafeed; and Björgólfur Hávardsson MSc, is the Innova�on Manager with the Seafood Innova�on Cluster, based in Bergen, Norway.

Feed producers and farmers are looking to novel ingredients to demonstrate performance and sustainability, but as Larry Feinberg pointed out: “Sustainability means a lot of different things to different folks.”

As well as carbon footprint, novel ingredients also have to show that they use resources like land and water sustainably – and that their producers are capable of scaling up produc�on.

Maye Walraven said: “The industry is looking at performance – for example, more efficient use of land – and also at cyclical ways to produce feed, for example using co-products from other industries to feed insects.”

Feinberg said that single-cell proteins, grown on ethanol, are also a promising new feed element.

Jennifer Kuo commented: “It’s good to see more alterna�ve ingredients in the market now, and at a reasonable price they could replace tradi�onal ingredients. It’s early yet.”

The panel discussing prospects for digital transforma�on in aquaculture was made up of Jarne Elleholm, CEO Stonehaven Incubate; Björgólfur Hávardsson; Bryton Shang, CEO so�ware developer AquaByte; Tore Norheim Hagtun – CEO of fishery and aquaculture so�ware company Searis; David Kelly – CEO of Innovasea, which has developed a fish tracking system; and Dmitry Kozachenok, CEO of digital aquaculture technology company Ecto.

The smart “companies will go step by step

”

Across

Fish welfare taken

We believe farming fish in their natural habitat is a sustainable solution for the future. Some challenges exist, but Remora will brush away at least one of them making fish farming even more socially acceptable by improving fish welfare.

With daily cleaning of the nets; • Fish gills will not be exposed to dissolved biofouling • Copper coated nets can be avoided • Fish will not be stressed from pressure cleaning operations • Co2 emissions from work boats are reduced The Remora solution is effective* and developed with support from Sintef, Norges Forskningsråd, and Innovasjon Norge.

We care for the industry, and drive innovation without increasing your costs. * documented in study by Norce Mithal AS, +47 959 96 888, leiv@remorarobotics.no, www.remorarobotics.no

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Aquaculture Innovation Summit

“

To scale up, we need to trust technology

”

Above: Bryton Shang, Sophie Ryan

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Tore Norheim Hagtun stressed that the biggest challenge for digitalisa�on in aquaculture is making data a useful tool for users at the farm level.

David Kelly said that he sees opera�onal data as the “first wave” of digitalisa�on, with the second wave being longer term use of big data, enabled by the convergence of low cost digital technologies, reliable sensors, advanced video processing and low cost connec�vity to get the data from the farm site to where it needs to be used.

The panel agreed that useful, ac�onable data is key for day to day opera�ons, but also that sharing data on a larger scale could help the industry as a whole.

A panel of experts from PHARMAQ considered the role of diagnos�cs in aquaculture. They were Renate Johansen, Product Manager, PHARMAQ Analy�c; Jan Pe�er Berg, Global Communica�on Director, PHARMAQ; Chris Ma�hews, Business Unit Director UK Ireland, PHARMAQ Analy�c; Carlos Lobos Blumenfeldt, Business Unit Director PHARMAQ Analy�c Spa, Chile; and Terje Tingbo, Head of Commercial Development, Tilapia with PHARMAQ. They discussed the benefits of RAS farming in terms of biosecurity, with the caveat that it is vital to keep pathogens from becoming established in the tanks.

Terje Tingbo commented on other species, especially �lapia – he saw significant demand for diagnos�cs in all �lapia markets. Investment in this has been held back by the fact that �lapia produc�on is very fragmented and it is a rela�vely low value fish, but technology is making diagnos�cs less expensive, he said.

Carlos Lobos Blumenfeldt explained how, a�er some serious biological problems with pathogens at sea, the industry in Chile is now carrying out mandatory, early tes�ng and diagnosis.

Chris Ma�hews agreed that diagnosing health issues early is fundamental, including the ability to run tests even in remote loca�ons. He said: “Internet connec�vity is going to be hugely important, allowing vets to carry out diagnos�cs remotely.”

The closing address was given by Sophie Ryan, CEO of the Global Salmon Ini�a�ve, a collec�ve of leading salmon companies, from around the world.

She noted that choosing a meal is not just about how it tastes now, but also about “goodness” – for the consumer, for animals and for the planet.

And she added: “Perhaps the most important ques�on is ‘Am I a good consumer, and what do my food choices say about me?’”

Ryan argued that it is important for the seafood industry to promote its sustainability creden�als. This must not be “greenwashing”, she stressed, as it is important to show the facts, good and bad.

GSI is sharing exper�se, best prac�ce and inspiring each other to go further, she said: “Perhaps the most important result is a shi� in perspec�ve, to understand that environmental improvements across the whole sector will benefit all.

“It’s good to be good, but it’s really good to be constantly ge�ng even be�er.”

The Summit also provided opportuni�es for online working, as well as a series of round tables on topics from commercialising innova�on to promo�ng sustainability.

The Aquaculture Innova�on Summit was organised by Kisaco Research and PHARMAQ was Digital Innova�on Partner for the event. Fish Farmer magazine was a media sponsor. FF

Luminis wins Innovation Showcase award The closing day of the Summit saw the Innova�on Showcase award – for the emerging company making the best presenta�on – go to Luminis Water Technologies.

Based in Singapore, Luminis seeks to take the aquaculture industry to a new level of efficiency by introducing a range of next genera�on microbiome analy�cal solu�ons addressing water quality problems and early pathogen detec�on. Use of patented equipment, e-DNA and microbiome AI analy�cs help fisheries diagnose mystery ailments which previously have decimated stock and driven opera�ng costs up.

Key takeways  RAS farming offers many advantages, but it carries its own risks and is unlikely to become cheaper than tradi�onal net-pen aquaculture.  Interest in inves�ng in innova�on in aquaculture is higher than it ever has been, but to make a success of it requires exper�se.  Key investment opportuni�es are likely to be found in digitalisa�on, ar�ficial intelligence and machine learning.  Novel aquafeed ingredients hold great promise, but producers will have to show that they can scale up.  The aquaculture industry needs to show consumers that it is truly sustainable.

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

12/10/2021 15:34:33

Harvesting Oceans of Possibilities.

The Damen Landing Utility Vessel 1908 is designed to perform diverse tasks in the aquaculture industry. Its scope includes the transportation of people, cargo and feed, with multiple loading

Pictured here: LUV 1908

and unloading options. Once on location, the vessel supports a wide range of activities including pen maintenance and net clearing.

Find out more on Damen.com

Damen Global Support B.V..indd 53 ADV-4-044-2110 LUV 1908 Fish Farmer A4.indd 1

12/10/2021 09:48:09 10/1/2021 1:42:30 PM

Land-based farming and hatcheries

The next adventure The last few months have been abuzz with activity in land-based systems, but there have also been slip-ups

BY ROBERT OUTRAM

N

EWS of fresh investment in aquaculture has become increasingly dominated by land-based fish farming.

For example, the first recircula�ng aquaculture system (RAS) Atlan�c salmon breeding plant in Spain is just star�ng produc�on. The facility is located in the north of the country in Ramales de la Victoria, in the province of Cantabria. It is designed to produce around 3,000 tonnes of 4–5kg weight fish a year, ini�ally.

The Mexican-owned company Norcantabric is inves�ng around €32m in the project, which has created 50 jobs. The regional government has contributed a further €3m and another €2m has come from the European Fisheries Fund. The Norcantabric system will use innova�ve technology from Danish company Alpha-Aqua.

Meanwhile, in September Columbi Salmon completed a capital-raising exercise that ne�ed NOK 162m (£13.5m). The funds will go towards a plan to build a large land-based salmon farm in the port of Ostend, Belgium.

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Columbi Salmon was founded by the Refsnes family, who were among the early pioneers of salmon farming, because they wanted to see aquaculture with an improved environmental footprint.

The plan is to build a plant with a salmon capacity of 12,000–15,000 tonnes a year. In addi�on to fish, the plant will produce vegetables and le�uce based on waste from fish produc�on.

The water used for producing smolt will be transferred to Columbi’s aquaponics facility, where 4,000 tonnes of salad will be produced annually without using a speck of soil.

And in Chile, Patagonia King Salmon announced that its first harvest was under way at a RAS farm

Top: The Norcantabric site.

Above: Columbi Salmon RAS facility Opposite: Stadpipe produc�on process

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12/10/2021 15:58:21

The next adventure

with a capacity of 100 tonnes per year, with the inten�on of expanding produc�on to 500 tonnes annually by 2024.

The Chilean company, which is owned by Sealand Advanced Aquaculture, is part of a worldwide trend to apply RAS technology, ini�ally developed in the salmon sector for hatcheries and smolt produc�on, to grow-out facili�es that can handle large, adult fish.

In Norway, Nordic Halibut has signed a deal for the construc�on of a new, fully integrated onshore facility able to produce 9,000 tonnes of the prime whitefish.

The new plant will be a fully integrated onshore facility for halibut farming in Tingvoll Municipality in the Møre and Romsdal region of western Norway. The site will handle the whole life cycle from hatch to harvest.

Combined with already exis�ng infrastructure, the company says it has now secured the land capacity to realise its 9,000 tonne (heads-on gu�ed) produc�on target.

Given that RAS farming is inevitably more costly than tradi�onal net-pen farming at sea, why is there so much interest in it? One reason is that land-based sites avoid the biological risks associated with marine farms (such as sea lice, pathogenic viruses and bacteria) and the impacts of climate change. Of course, RAS farms carry their own risks – we have seen large-scale die-offs due to technical problems recently – and if pathogens get

into a system, they are hard to eradicate.

Nonetheless, land-based farming offers the opportunity for expansion in regions where new marine farms are unlikely to receive consent, or where condi�ons are not suitable for the fish being raised, par�cularly salmon.

Aquaculture technology and services group AKVA works with both seabased and land-based fish farms. In August this year, AKVA announced the crea�on of a dedicated Land Based division, headed by Wolfgang Koppe, formerly Director RAS Produc�on Advisory Services (PAS) with AKVA. The land based division has existed for many years and is now led by Johan Fredrik Gjesdal. Wolfgang Koppe is s�ll leading the Produc�on Advisory Service in AKVA, which is a newly created department that will support customers with biological services and training.

Siri Tømmerås, R&D Director Land Based in AKVA group, leads innova�on within land-based farming in AKVA group. She says: “We’ll typically supply the RAS system, the tanks and fish handling systems. We are working on fish handling solu�ons to deal with bigger fish and the size of the plant.”

It’s a global business and Tømmerås says: “People come to talk to us from everywhere.”

Recrui�ng “exper� se in the field is the number one challenge

”

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Land-based farming and hatcheries

Land-based farming with RAS for salmon has historically been linked to hatcheries and smolt facili�es, but increasingly, ambi�ous projects around the world are aiming at managing the whole lifecycle from hatch to harvest.

Tømmerås says: “Grow-out is an important part of the sector for us, and in the future this will be a large part of our business. The smolt market is very important for us, and this is also growing fast.”

Working at the cu�ng edge in terms of both technology and biology brings challenges. As Tømmerås puts it: “This is a new area with known technology, but there are challenges that we have to overcome to reduce risk and increase performance. I know that it will work! But there will be some troubleshoo�ng needed.

“Recrui�ng exper�se in the field is the number-one challenge – ge�ng the right people at the right level, with the right knowledge, at the right tempo.

You need people with theore�cal and prac�cal knowledge.”

It’s also important, she stresses, that staff at the site covering weekends and vaca�ons are just as competent and well trained as the regular team.

The new “ plant will be

state-of-theart

”

From the top: Siri Tømmerås; The Hydrotech filter; Atlan�c Sapphire salmon; The Atlan�c Sapphire Denmark site before the fire

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Tømmerås is confident that RAS systems will account for an increasing propor�on of aquaculture produc�on in future and that AKVA will remain one of the key players. She says: “Our delivery is built on our knowledge, gained from what we have done before.”

Certainly the development of a new kind of aquaculture is not without risks. Atlan�c Sapphire, for example, which has sites in Denmark and Florida, has this year suffered a large-scale mortality event due to “technical issues”, an oxygen shortage scare in the US due to the latest Covid-19 wave, and most recently a catastrophic fire that appears to have done irreparable damage to the company’s Danish plant.

One of the risks that is only just beginning to be understood is hydrogen sulphide (H2S), which can build up in a tank if the filtra�on system is not working properly. High concentra�ons can cause illness or mortali�es, but it is now believed that even lower doses can be harmful to long-term health.

Aquaculture technology business SeaRAS won the Aqua Nor Innova�on award this year for its monitoring system, Aquasense, which can alert operators to levels of H2S which had previously been undetectable. Aquasense works in real �me and also monitors other parameters such as dissolved oxygen levels.

Grow-out sites are, of course, not the only landbased sector to see investment on a large scale.

Hatcheries and smolt facili�es are among the projects currently under way. Construc�on has already started at SalMar’s new hatchery and smolt plant, which will be based at Tjuin industrial area in Steinkjer, central Norway, not far from SalMar’s exis�ng smolt plant in Follafoss.

The first delivery of smolts from the plant is scheduled for 2024. SalMar is inves�ng more than £100m in the project. Announcing the project, the company said: “The new [facility] will be a state-of-the-art plant for smolt produc�on.

The recycling technology reduces freshwater consump�on by more than 97% compared to tradi�onal flow-through systems.

“At the same �me, sludge will be collected so that it can be used in the circular economy, either as a biogas or soil improver. All in all, this minimises the environmental footprint of the plant and is in line with SalMar’s plans for further sustainable development of the industry.”

The RAS system is being provided by recircula�on specialist Kruger Kaldnes, using drum filters from Hydrotech, part of the mul�na�onal Veolia Group. Hydrotech launched the latest genera�on of its drum filters recently at the Aqua Nor trade show in Norway. The latest Hydrotech Drum Filter Value Series models are billed as “smarter, stronger and more economical”.

The new filters incorporate patented Hydrotech ALPHAFLEX™ panels combined with improved solids trough design. The panels increase the capacity of exis�ng drum filters by up to 20% and save up to 95% of the water in the solids trough picked up by tradi�onal filter panels. The design has also been re-engineered to allow for easier operator access and cleaning.

Meanwhile, SIMONA Stadpipe is supplying

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

12/10/2021 15:59:38

Your partner for a more sustainable and efficient salmon production SMJ Aqua has no ties to other vendors, and we value being unbiased.

SMJ has extensive experience, in optimizing operation of new and existing RAS farms.

By assisting our clients throughout the process, we offer them the highest quality deliveries in both technical and biological solutions.

Our services cover everything from conceptual design to the smallest details.

With a clear focus on fish health, sustainability, and technical robust systems, we take pride in meeting our customers’ specific demands.

Through our outstanding know-how about RAS farms, associated systems, and biological matters, we secure cost-effective and sustainable design and operation of aquaculture systems.

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12/10/2021 09:49:27

Land-based farming and hatcheries

piping systems for a large-scale aquaculture project in the Norwegian town of Breivik. The land-based fish farm will require no less than 11,800 metres of pipes. The customer, Salten Smolt, will handle the salmon from the �me it hatches out of the egg un�l harvest and processing. The project began in December 2019, with the first smolt set to leave the farm in summer 2022.

The new farm is a state-of-art closed system. With a total seawater tank capacity of 14,300m3, the farm will be able to supply 10 million smolts per year, and for future expansions up to 18 million. The company, Pure Salmon Kaldnes RAS, one of the major suppliers of such systems, is building the fish farm as a turnkey project for its end customer, Salten Smolt. SIMONA Stadpipe is responsible for the en�re piping system.

Ninety-five per cent of the pipes and fi�ngs are made from high-density PE100 polyethylene. SIMONA Stadpipe will also provide the project with

900 manual valves, in addi�on to other special products produced by the company.

SIMONA Stadpipe’s project manager for the plant, Andreas Losnegard, says: “Today the contract is approximately 90% finished… we aim to complete most of the work we have before we enter the new year.

“The collabora�on with Pure Salmon Kaldnes RAS has been great. They have been solu�onoriented and very helpful throughout the whole project period.”

The degree of ac�vity around land-based systems shows no sign of diminishing. FF

Top left: The SalMar Tjuin hatchery Above: Simona Stadpipe

WATER MANAGEMENT Is the key issue for sustainable and profitable fish farming in closed tanks

Searas offers products and systems that bring a new dimension to water management in fish farming SEARAS REACTOR – optiRAS – is a stand-alone RAS module where water treatment is performed in and above the circular tank. With a flow/volume of 3x/hour through Aquaducts, they skim out small particles and maintain low CO2 and H2S levels with low energy consumption. The outer ring volume contains the biofilter, and water flows through the system driven by Aquaducts. Estimated energy consumption is <2kWh/kg produced fish. The system is fully instrumented with Aquasense.

SeaRAS PED

SEARAS AQUADUCT – A combined degasser, skimmer and oxygenator with large capacity and low energy consumption.

SeaRAS Aquaduct is easily retrofitted into your existing RAS-facility for improving water quality. The Aquaduct is the “H2S remover” the industry has been waiting for. Supplied with SeaRAS Aquasense, the degassing capacity for both H2S and CO2 can be verified.

SEARAS AQUASENSE – the first and only real time monitoring system for water quality that can follow the production and removal of H2S in closed tanks down to <0,05µg/liter water. Aquasense also includes sensors for real time monitoring of CO2, O2, pH, Salinity, TDGP, and Turbidity. Wireless transmission of live data enables easy access from mobile units. The Aquaware SW package presents data in a userfriendly format with direct link to a digital logbook. An automatic check of each sensor calibration is carried out, and data can be exported/ imported to local Scada system. SeaRAS Aquasense was the winner of the AquaNor 2021 Innovation Award.

www.searas.no / Bergen, Norway / eldar.lien@searas.no / + 47 91315367 58

Landbased Farming and Hatcheries_v2.indd 58

www.fishfarmermagazine.com

12/10/2021 16:00:40

SIMONA STADPIPE HAS ALL THE NECESSARY CORE EXPERTISE TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT ADVANCED PIPING INSTALLATIONS FOR LAND-BASED FISH FARMS.

DESIGN/PLANNING DESIGN AND 3D VISUALISATION PROJECT MANAGEMENT TECHNICAL CALCULATIONS SPECIAL PRODUCTION INSTALLATION MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION

CONTACT +47 57 85 68 80 stadpipe@simona-group.com www.simona-stadpipe.com 6750 STADLANDET, NORWAY

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12/10/2021 09:51:03

Products and services

What’s NEW Monthly update on industry innovations and solutions from around the world Benchmark Genetics makes a further investment in external genetic services

Meet your underwater helper

REMORA is a Norwegian-developed autonomous robot that has been designed to help fish farms clean their nets in an efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable manner. Remora manages to do this effectively by using only two brushes.

The robot also acts as a source of information for farmers – its integrated cameras allow for analysis of growth on the net, as well as detecting breaks in the net. Remora has been developed with help of SINTEF, the Norwegian Research Council, and Innovation Norway.

Remora is already available for rent in Norway and will be available in the UK market next year. www.mithal.no

FOR more than two decades, Benchmark has offered consulting services in applied genetics through the brand Akvaforsk Genetics and today the company is a global leader in the field. To further strengthen the company’s position, Adrian Antonsen has been hired as Applied Genetics Consultant, where he will work to assist external breeding programmes for aquatic animals. He brings expertise in bioinformatics, molecular biology, statistics, and programming.

Adrian is a recent graduate from NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, with an MSc in Biotechnology and Systems Biology, and he will join Benchmark’s core genetics team. www.bmkgenetics.com

The world’s most powerful automatic sewing machine

THE world’s most powerful CNC-controlled sewing machine, AMASPLEIS AM902-H/L can sew extremely strong materials with thick sewing thread (up to 5/3). The machine is specially designed for sewing ropes up to 26mm, but can also be supplied with special tools for other types of materials such as web, loading straps etc. The machine can be programmed to follow exactly the pattern the user wants want, either by loading the pattern file or by manually jogging the machine. The seam area is 140x300mm.

When the stitch cycle starts, the machine operates by itself and the operator can spend time on other things, such as preparing the next batch. www.amatec.fish

One system does it all

Elanco hires animal health specialist Alan Dykes

LEADING global animal health company Elanco has appointed Alan Dykes as key Account Manager for the UK, Ireland and the Faroes.

Before joining Elanco, Dykes worked with various animal species around the world for close to 40 years, predominantly in the fields of production and fish health & welfare. With a degree in Biology, and a broad skill set from his production experience, he is well placed to support Elanco clients in all three countries. Dykes said: “I am really looking forward to adding my experience of fish health and welfare to the innovative and dynamic team at Elanco Aqua.” www.elanco.co.uk

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AQUACOM is a leading IT system for maintenance, assets control, quality and planning in the aquaculture industry, with users all around the world. Mørenot’s customers use Aquacom through the whole value chain from hatcheries, smolt sites to sea farms, vessels, barges and processing.

In the last year Mørenot’s focus has been on helping its users to reduce risk for their sea farms and vessels, with a new risk management module. The module is also connected to the company’s operation planner in relation to JSA (job safety analysis) and procedures that are easily shared to operational personnel. Aquacom can also be used as an SMS (safety management system) tool for vessels. www.morenot.com

www.fishfarmermagazine.co.uk

12/10/2021 14:05:31

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recruit?

Post your vacancy on www.fishfarmermagazine.com for only £199 (+vat) per job posting.

Contact Janice Johnston 0044 (0) 131 551 7925 jjohnston@fishfarmermagazine.com

Coming in the next issue...

NOVEMBER ISSUE

• Containment & Predator Protection • Fish Health and Welfare • EAS Madeira REVIEW For more information on opportunities for advertising with editorial content around these subjects please contact: Janice Johnston 0044 (0) 131 551 7925 jjohnston@fishfarmermagazine.com

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BOATS AND BARGES

Making the seas greener

UNTYPICALLY TROPICAL

Warm water prawns in Norway

GENDER AGENDA

Celebrating women in aquaculture

EXPORT BARRIERS Red tape at the border

CAGES, NETS AND PENS

THE PIONEERS

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Industry Diary

Industry DIARY The latest aquaculture events, conferences and courses DECEMBER 21 WORLD AQUACULTURE 2020

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

Aquaculture is growing rapidly in the region and therefore 2021 is the perfect time for the world aquaculture community to turn its focus here.

Singapore December 5-8, 2021

RASTECH CONFERENCE

RAStech 2022 is the venue for learning, networking and knowledge sharing on RAS technologies, design and implementation across the world.

Hilton Head Island, SC, USA March 30-31, 2022

WORLD AQUACULTURE 2021 Merida, Mexico May 24-27, 2022

AQUACULTURE AFRICA 2021 Alexandria, Egypt December 11-14, 2021

AUGUST 22 APRIL 22 SEAFOOD EXPO GLOBAL /SEAFOOD PROCESSING GLOBAL www.seafoodexpo.com/global

Fira, Barcelona, Spain April 26-28, 2022

FEBRUARY 22

WAS NORTH AMERICA & AQUACULTURE CANADA St John’s Newfoundland, Canada.

August 15-18, 2022

WORLD AQUACULTURE 2022 Qingdao, PR China TBD

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San Diego, California, USA February 27 - March 3, 2022

Rimini, Italy September 27-30, 2022

MAY 22 AQUACULTURE UK 2022

MARCH 22 OCTOBER 22

2022 SEAFOOD EXPO NORTH AMERICA/ SEAFOOD PROCESSING

Boston, Massachusetts, USA March 13-15, 2022

Aviemore will once again be the venue for this biennial trade fair and conference. It is undoubtedly the most important aquaculture exhibition held in the British Isles. The show has a tremendous following and with increased investment for 2022 it promises to reach even further across the broader aquaculture markets in both the UK and Europe.

AQUACULTURE AFRICA 2022 Zambia October 17-20, 2022

Aviemore, United Kingdom May 3-5, 2022

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Opinion – Inside track

What a terrible waste it is!

BY NICK JOY

W

HEN I heard that the SNP and Greens had joined hands to merrily dance down the road together, initially I felt hopeless.

Since the reality has come home, I feel worse.

I desperately wish that the Greens were genuinely interested in the environment and a logical and reasoned debate about the future of the world or even Scotland. Sadly I have yet to hear one that involves them.

There is either a view that there is a money tree, from which any policy can be funded, or a discourse on the failures of the capitalist system, which apparently has caused everything bad in the world and nothing good.

Of course, it is fair to say that the capitalist system does not always produce good results. It’s just that the world is so infinitely complicated now; the flow of information and the range of options are enormous. In politics, the need to be seen as being on the right side has become so important that people are condemned almost immediately if they do not “virtue-signal” on absolutely everything.

So where does that leave the poor beleaguered food producer?

I join salmon farming with other food producers because we all face a relatively uninformed public, and politicians who have no time and little interest unless there are votes in it.

Food production takes time, but politics is the story of now, especially in a democracy with a short time between elections.

Producers on the ground have little time to spend educating politicians and so we end up with industry organisations, which are often perceived as malign by the media generally and very specifically by the environmental lobby. These conflated pressures make it extremely difficult to be heard, especially by those who view our work with suspicion.

I do believe the salmon farming industry has been making a very good case for its existence in our local communities. I could name a number of initiatives in Orkney, which have really resonated.

The problem is that these are small communities with few votes. I am not suggesting that these initiatives should stop, not least because these places are where we exist and local support is crucial.

Political parties like the Greens are effectively the mouthpieces of what used to be called “the chattering classes”, mostly urban-based with views on how the world should be, even if it doesn’t fit with the way it actually is.

So when someone tells me that the Green Party have got their hands on the reins or a bit of the reins, I immediately get nervous for those people who have to cope with the countryside as it really is.

I have spent most of my career pushing for greater and greater sustainability in everything I have been involved with, but I have never found the Greens easy to deal with.

The underlying problem that faces the world is not just that the climate is changing, nor that plastics pollute, nor that homes aren’t insulated; it is also that there are

66

Nick Joy OPINION_v2..indd 66

The high “ quality, healthy protein that comes from fish farming is simply irreplaceable

”

a huge number of people and we have to feed them. We have to do that in a way that is sustainable in the long term. And before anyone mentions the word “vegan”, I cannot think of anything less sustainable. Biodiversity would crash and most of the countryside would be covered with plastic, followed by even worse problems with the water table in fruit and vegetable producing regions. It’s just not that simple.

Here’s some things that would shock your average Green Party enthusiast. Biodiversity is best on a mixed-stock farm. Most land is unsuitable for vegetable, arable or fruit farming, certainly in Scotland. If we allow most of our food to be produced abroad, what will happen when shortages occur? Will they feed us or their own people? (I won’t discuss what we have to done to Africa on that basis.)

The high-quality, healthy protein that comes from fish farming is simply irreplaceable. Every time I have asked the question of how it could be replaced, I have had an evasive or vague answer because there is no answer.

In the end it is our job to keep on fighting, however tiresome and exhausting it is. Occasionally there are lights that shine from unexpected places. Such is Jeremy Clarkson’s Farm programme.

Nearly everyone both from country and town enjoyed it. He showed farming as it really is, but also how tough and unprofitable it can be.

In the end we have to find ways to get the public and the politicians to see our reality. If we don’t, we will end up living in theirs! FF

www.fishfarmermagazine.co.uk

12/10/2021 15:36:23

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