Scottish Sea Farms names new Regional Manager to build on Orkney success

Scottish Sea Farms has appointed a new Regional Manager for Orkney, completing the restructure of its Northern Isles operations following the acquisition of Grieg Seafood Shetland in December of last year.

Duane Coetzer takes over the reins from Richard Darbyshire – formerly long-serving Orkney Regional Manager, then, from 2020, Northern Isles Regional Manager with responsibility for both Shetland and Orkney – who will now focus exclusively on the company's expanded estate in the Shetland Islands.

Mr Coetzer brings to the role 18 years' experience of finfish farming, having held senior positions including Site Manager and Seawater Area Manager with several producers in Scotland and, most recently, in Australia where he was General Manager of Marine Operations at Petuna Aquaculture in Tasmania.

Scottish Sea Farms Managing Director Jim Gallagher says, 'Finding someone to maintain and build on the region's strong performance under Richard's tenure was never going to be an easy task. However, in Duane, I believe we have found the right experience and skill set.

'He understands first-hand the challenges that we face as farmers, along with the many different aspects of running a successful farm and region, from site set-up, feed optimisation and fish health, to record keeping, budgeting and production forecasts, along with leading and developing different teams.

'I would like to take this opportunity to thank Richard for the years he has dedicated to growing our Orkney region and the legacy he leaves: a skilled, dedicated team that is widely respected across the business for consistently delivering some of our best survival figures, average weights and percentage of superior grade fish.

'I would also like to thank our Orkney team for maintaining this high performance while Richard has been integrating into his own new role as Regional Manager for Shetland.'

Commenting on the appointment, Mr Coetzer says, 'I am excited to be joining Scottish Sea Farms and to be a part of the Orkney team especially; I believe our combined work ethic and skills will only enhance the strong results already achieved.

'Company-wide, I see values that align very closely with my own: the importance placed on fish health and welfare, the desire to actively contribute to our local communities, the care shown towards the environment and the ambition to become carbon neutral.

'Scottish Sea Farms are doing some really interesting work in each of these areas, and it's inspiring to be a part of that.'

Mr Coetzer, originally from South Africa, takes up his new role tomorrow, Friday 1 July 2022.

For more information about Scottish Sea Farms visit the website, HERE.

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Grieg Seafood receives first fry into expanded RAS facility

Grieg Seafood's Gold River Hatchery Expansion project, termed RAS 34, was completed earlier this spring and can now report that they have received the first transfers of Atlantic salmon fry into the facility.

The aim of the project is to keep the fish in the hatchery for an extended period of time, allowing them to grow up to weights between 200 grams and one kilogram. Traditionally, smolts are released back into the sea at around 100 grams.

"By holding the fish at the hatchery for an extended period of time and allowing them to develop beyond the previous transfer size of 100 grams, we see immediate benefits for the farmed populations," says Scott Peterson, Freshwater Director with Grieg Seafood. "The larger smolts are better able to adapt to the transfer to ocean conditions, have less mortality overall and show higher resistance to naturally occurring pathogens and parasites in the ocean."

Image credit: Grieg Seafood

He goes on to add that "additional size trials" will be incorporated once the company is more comfortable with the technology.

The total cost of the project sits around US$24.75 million, using local people as project contractors and workers. The project has been ongoing for three years, with the expanded facility now having a combined capacity of 900 tonnes.

"The completion of the facility marks the culmination of years of planning, construction, trialling and now finally production," explains Rocky Boschman, Managing Director for Grieg Seafood. "In total, the project represents an investment of US$25 million and the creation of almost 60 fulltime site positions at the peak of construction. The new facility will effectively double our smolt capacity at our hatchery."

For more information on Grieg Seafood visit their website, HERE.

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Shrimp farming and the RAS system

Shrimp is one of the most in demand crustaceans worldwide, which is why Derwent want to pay special attention and shed some light on the cultivation of one of the most consumed aquaculture products. There are more than 2000 species of shrimp, although only a few have shown great potential for cultivation and are those that are marketed worldwide. 

The species that are most cultivated today are Litopenaus vannamei and Penaeus monodon. Although it is true that there are other species that have been widely cultivated in the past, such as Fenneropenaeus chinensis and Marsupenaeus japonicus, these have been displaced due to problems with different pathologies, in addition to the fact that L.vannamei and P.monodon have shown genetic advantages in terms of growth rates and resistance, at the same time they present ease for the development of lines free of specific pathogens.

Currently there are different systems and techniques for shrimp farming. The tools available for farming continue to improve and evolve to increase the quality and sustainability of shrimp farming. Currently available growout technologies are evolving towards two main trends, in addition to traditional extensive pond culture, RAS systems and biofloc technology. These systems represent an evolution towards the reduction of water consumption, at the same time that they allow Derwent to move the production centers to the consumption areas, making the industry more sustainable by reducing the costs and effects of transport.

Derwent work to develop RAS systems for different aquaculture species, presenting a series of advantages over other systems, such as increased biosecurity and traceability and a significant improvement in production efficiency, with high densities and temporary production control. This allows better planning and access to the market according to the market needs. The main disadvantages are a higher initial investment cost and the need for technical experience in handling. Although with the evolution and cheaper technologies and the experience of companies such as Derwent and Dibaq, RAS technologies will be more present in the aquaculture market every day.

For more information visit the Derwent website, HERE.

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Five young chefs announced as this year’s BIM Taste the Atlantic Ambassadors

Five young chefs have been announced as the Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) Taste the Atlantic Young Chef Ambassadors for 2022. The programme, now in its second year, was created by BIM, and is a collaboration with Chef Network and Fáilte Ireland as a way to give emerging young chefs in-depth experience of the Irish aquaculture, seafood, and coastal tourism sectors. During the immersive four-month programme, each of the chefs will embark on a seafood journey along the Taste the Atlantic trail, familiarising themselves with the salmon, oyster and mussel producers working along the Western seaboard.

This week the chefs visited seafood producers in the West of Ireland, including a visit to the Burren Smoke House, Co Clare where owner and producer, Birgitta Curtin gave a demonstration at her Irish salmon smokery. This was followed by a visit to Flaggy Shore Oysters in Co. Clare where the chefs learnt about oyster production, and a visit to Moran's Oyster Cottage in Kilcolgan, Co Galway to further their understanding of the importance of oyster production in the area.

Additional field trips to Connemara and West Cork are included as part of the programme and the chefs will spend two days developing their culinary skills with Michelin star chef JP McMahon at his Aniar Restaurant in Co Galway.

Master fishmonger Hal Dawson will also provide training to the chefs in fish quality and preparation skills at the BIM Seafood Innovation Hub in Clonakilty, Co Cork where they will also attend a culinary business workshop.

One of the unique features of the BIM Taste the Atlantic Ambassador programme is the pairing of chefs with seafood producers helping them to gain a deeper understanding of the provenance of Irish seafood.

The programme will culminate with an event at the Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival in September.

Details about the 2022 young chefs are as follows:

Roann Byrne, Commis Chef, Bryanstown Social, Drogheda (Louth)
Aged 21 and originally from Drogheda, Roann showed an early ability in baking and enterprise by establishing a cake business while still in secondary school. Having completed Baking and Pastry Arts in Technology University Dublin, she discovered a love for the kitchen and progressed into a BA in Culinary Arts, which she completed this year. Roann was nominated for the programme by Mikey Sweeney, former Head Chef in Bryanston Social where she has worked for the last 2 years. Roann is looking forward to visiting seafood producers during the programme as she is passionate about the role chefs can play in promoting local produce on menus.

Rebecca Sweeney, Head Chef, Hooked Restaurant (Sligo)
Rebecca is 23 and from Kilcolgan, Co. Galway. Rebecca has a degree in Culinary Arts Management from ATU Galway, and has spent time working in Adare Manor, Co. Limerick. She recently took up the position of head chef at Hooked Restaurant in Sligo, where she has worked for the past 2 years. She was nominated for the programme by Hooked owner Anthony Gray. Rebecca has seen the food and tourism scene develop in Sligo in recent times and is driven to grow its food tourism potential. Over the last two years she has developed relationships with local seafood suppliers and would love to grow that list and gain new ideas, explore new methods, and bring something different to the food scene in her adopted county.

Robin Martin, Chef de Partie, Mulcahy's Restaurant (Kerry)
Hailing from Kenmare. Co. Kerry, Robin is 24 years old and has spent several years working in the hospitality industry both back and front of house. Discovering that his passion was for the kitchen, Robin returned to education to train as a chef and this year completed year two of a Higher Certificate in Culinary Studies in MTU Cork. He was nominated for the Taste the Atlantic young chef programme by his lecturer Breda Buckley. He is Chef de Partie in Mulcahy's in Kenmare where he has worked for the last three years. Robin is passionate about sustainable cooking, and wild and foraged food. He is keen to learn more about aquaculture and working more closely with producers.

Stephen Cronin, Chef de Partie, The Bayview Hotel, Ballycotton (Cork)
Stephen, aged 21, is originally from Ballycotton and has completed 2 years of a Batchelor of Business in Culinary Arts MTU Cork. He was nominated by Kieran Scully, who has been his lecturer at college and his also his Head Chef at the Bayview Hotel where Stephen has been working over the past two year. Having grown up in the fishing village of Ballycotton, Stephen is eager to learn more about aquaculture and the seafood sector along the Wild Atlantic Way and to work closely with producers to promote the best of Irish produce on menus.

Torin Small, Chef de Partie, Lough Erne Resort (Fermanagh)
Aged 24, Torin is originally from the small village of Annacloy in County Down. He studied at SERC in Downpatrick and is learning his craft at Lough Erne Resort in Co. Fermanagh, where he has worked for one year to date. Torin was nominated by Lough Erne Resort Culinary Director Noel Mc Neel. Torin has the opportunity to use lots of local products from great suppliers in his work and is looking forward to seeing what the Taste the Atlantic Seafood producers have to offer and how those produce can be used to produce fine dining dishes.

For more information about BIM visit the website, HERE.

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Taiwan SMART Agriweek & Taiwan International Fisheries and Seafood Show 2022 postponed to September 29

Taiwan SMART Agriweek & Taiwan International Fisheries and Seafood Show, scheduled to be organised from September 1 to 3, will be postponed from September 29 to October 1, 2022, at 4/F, Tainex Hall 1. In addition, the online exhibition will also be delayed from September 29 to October 29, lasting for 31 days.

As the epidemic trend is easing, aligning with the relaxation of the latest epidemic measures and re-opening the border, My Exhibition Co., Ltd, decided to postpone the Taiwan Smart Agriweek and the Taiwan International Fisheries and Seafood Show from September 29 to October 1. The online exhibition will also postpone from September 29 to October 29. The exhibition has already invited buyers from Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and other countries to participate in the matchmaking successfully. With the new date, we expect to attract 15,000 domestic and foreign professional buyers from more than 30 countries to visit the shows. 

"Go Smart, Grow Together" is the core vision of Taiwan Smart Agriweek. The exhibition will have four pavilions: AGI TECH, AGRI LIVESTOCK, AGRI PLUS+ and AGRI FOODS to showcase the latest technology about intelligent agriculture, sustainable & circular livestock, eco-friendly farming, smart livestock farming, precision livestock farming, nutrition and health, agriculture, cold-chain, food processing & integration service. Furthermore, in conjunction with the "Taiwan SMART Agriweek," "Taiwan International Fisheries and Seafood Show" is the only fishery B2B trade show in Taiwan. These two exhibitions aim to provide a one-stop solution and help all parties in the industry to have a seamless smart transformation.

During the exhibition, there will be online/offline matchmaking meetings, dozens of professional forums, cooking shows, lucky bags distribution and many other activities. To continue the upsurge of the exhibition, we will hold the "Animal Precision Nutrition Forum OMO" in Tainan  from October 26 to 27. We welcome all the agriculture, aquaculture and livestock industry practitioners and the general public to visit.

For more information visit the Taiwan Smart Agriweek website, HERE.
Or visit the Taiwan International Fisheries and Seafood Show website, HERE.

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Kemin celebrates anniversaries in Europe, Middle East and North Africa

Kemin Industries, a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services, is celebrating six decades in business with its "61 since '61"-themed anniversary, commemorating 61 years since the company's founding in 1961. This year also marks 50 years of serving the animal nutrition and health industries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (EMENA). Celebrations in EMENA for both milestones will take place this month at Kemin's regional headquarters in Herentals, Antwerp, Belgium.

Initially formed to provide feed flavors, crop preservatives and antioxidants to farmers in the Midwestern United States, Kemin's portfolio and reach has grown immensely over 61 years. Kemin founders, R.W. and Mary Nelson, started the business in an old wool barn in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., where the multinational, family-owned-and-operated company remains headquartered. Just 11 years after launching Kemin, the Nelsons expanded their business overseas with the first international office in Herentals, still home to Kemin's EMENA region headquarters. 

'Since entering Europe 50 years ago, Kemin has grown significantly. We currently employ 296 specialists in the EMENA region, 158 of which are based in Belgium. These employees are involved in R&D, product development, logistics, marketing, sales, production, support functions, customer services and so much more,' says Stefaan Van Dyck, President, Kemin Animal Nutrition and Health – EMENA. 'Our region produces 131 specialty products, 105 of which are produced in our Belgium facility, and our employees and products serve nearly 1,000 unique customers.' 

The company's scientific expertise and ability to react quickly to market needs and trends has attributed to its ongoing success and growth. Today, Kemin operates in more than 90 countries and applies its technologies and skills in molecular science across a variety of industries to offer products with functional benefits that enhance the health and safety of people, pets, production animals, plants and the planet. Six decades later, Kemin remains focused on transforming the quality of life.

'For the past 50 years, we've seen many changes and challenges in our industry, such as antibiotic-free production, food safety legislation, a ban of animal proteins in feed and so much more. Since the beginning, Kemin has adapted products and practices to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers, and our experts have dedicated their knowledge and creativity in research to create new solutions. We continue this legacy today,' says Mr Van Dyck. 

Kemin believes in ongoing innovation for solutions—both products and services—to ensure sustainability, feed a global population and assist customers. Embracing digital transformation with an increased focus on superior services, Kemin is expanding its offering to deliver data-driven insights to customers. Using technology to achieve its vision and help make customers more profitable and sustainable is Kemin's key focus in upcoming years.

For more information visit the Kemin website, HERE.

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BioMar commits to the most ambitious pathway toward net-zero

In the recently launched Integrated Sustainability Report, BioMar announces its commitment to the 1.5°C pathway for reducing carbon emissions. BioMar is the first global aquafeed supplier to adopt the 1.5°C pathway toward net-zero under the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). 

The IPCC has stated that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions need to halve by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050 to avoid the worst effects of climate change. To achieve this vision, private and public entities must follow an alignment of reductions to keep global warming to less than 1.5°C. 

'As aquaculture feed represents around 80 percent of the carbon footprint of farming, it is essential to our farmers that BioMar makes a strong commitment and accelerates the drive to net-zero. In this year's Sustainability Report, we lay out in detail our reduction pathway while disclosing where we are today. We thoroughly explain the robust scientific methodologies and reporting systems that we are using,' states Vidar Gundersen, Global Sustainability Director, BioMar. 

In last year's Sustainability Report, BioMar announced an ambition to reduce GHG emissions by one-third by 2030. To make this reduction a reality, BioMar has developed a long-term master plan focusing on operations and broader supply chain partners to create innovative solutions that allow us to reach our reduction targets. The new report states that in scope 1 and 2, a 4.2 percent year-on-year absolute GHG emissions reduction target will be achieved, while a 30 percent reduction in scope 3 is required. 

The SBTi is a program for driving and validating ambitious GHG reductions in the private sector. More than 2200 organisations have committed to the SBTi, representing one-third of the global market capitalisation. 

Circularity and restorative practices are the themes for this year's Sustainability Report with numerous examples of upcycling and novel ingredients that will play a major role in the sustainable future of the aquaculture industry. BioMar has a strong focus on people and communities in this year's report. Together with the launch of the new 2030 ambitions and a revised Code of Conduct, a strong commitment has been made in the areas of responsible pay, capacity building and diversity & equality. 

For more information visit the BioMar website, HERE.

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Project to build autonomous containerships secures funding

The project 'SeaShuttle' has now secured NOK150 million in funding from Norwegian state enterprise ENOVA. The project is led by transport and logistics group Samskip and marine robotics specialist Ocean Infinity.

First announced at Nor-Shipping in April, the partnership between Samskip and Ocean Infinity will be looking at constructing and operating ships, as a step towards zero-emission logistics.

The project envisions two hydrogen-powered SeaShuttle ships operating emissions-free between Oslo Fjord and Rotterdam. Each will be powered by a 3.2MW hydrogen fuel cell.

"Samskip is very proud to take the lead role in pioneering the SeaShuttle initiative, as part of its 'making green logistics easy' strategy," says Are Gråthen, CEO, Samskip Norway. "Securing this funding provides a platform to make emissions-free container shipping a reality. Together, Samskip and Ocean Infinity will also accelerate their plans to advance autonomous ship technologies, and remote operation of ships and cargo handling equipment. These ships are the first part of an exciting collaboration with Ocean Infinity."

Image credit: Samskip

ENOVA, which currently operates under Norway's Ministry of Climate and Environment, is promoting the development of more environmentally friendly energy consumption and technologies based on sustainable energy.

Thanks to the funding, both companies can move forward in the project by contracting two new 500ETU ships installed with a main propulsion solution that can be adapted to run on hydrogen. As a back-up, a diesel electric propulsion plant will be on board.

"Ocean Infinity's enabling technologies can facilitate green corridors but also the broader decarbonisation and transformation of maritime operations," explains Christoffer Jorgenvag, CCO of Ocean Infinity. "The emphasis today is on the SeaShuttle vessels, which are just part of Ocean Infinity's overall strategy of unlocking innovation to deliver truly sustainable maritime operations."

For more information on Samskip visit their website, HERE.

For more information on Ocean Infinity visit their website, HERE.

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AquaBounty hires Chris Beattie as chief scientific officer

Transgenic-salmon farmer AquaBounty has announced the appointment of former Merck Animal Health and AKVA executive Dr Chris Beattie as its new chief scientific officer.

Mr Beattie will join the US company next month and will lead AquaBounty's research and development, compliance, and regulatory functions.

'We are pleased to have Chris join AquaBounty as we continue to build our experience and capabilities. He will bring tremendous insight to the design and construction of our farm in Pioneer, Ohio, and will continue to strengthen our expertise in breeding, genetics, and fish health,' says AquaBounty chief executive Sylvia Wulf.

'Dr Mark Walton, AquaBounty's current chief technology officer, will be assisting Chris with direct focus on critical regulatory projects for the business as he transitions into retirement. We express our sincere gratitude to Mark for his technical contributions and continued leadership in the regulatory space for the organisation.'

R&D pipeline
Mr Beattie, who is originally from northeast England, has a degree in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of Glasgow, and a PhD in Fish Physiology from the University of St Andrews. He started his career with feed manufacturer Skretting, and joined Merck Animal Health (now MSD) as head of global aquaculture in 2015.

He was responsible for setting the R&D pipeline direction and executing the global aquaculture strategy. He managed the global marketing and technical service activities of Merck's aquaculture portfolio and led the Precision Aquaculture Team, developing computer vision-based machine-learning solutions for aquaculture producers.

Prior to joining AquaBounty, Mr Beattie was leading the North American and Australasian business for Norwegian aquaculture supplier AKVA group.

Genome BC
He currently sits on the board of ViAqua Therapeutics, the Aquaculture Strategic Advisory Council of Genome BC and volunteers as a business mentor at the University of British Columbia in the Faculty of Land Use and Food Systems.

AquaBounty produces Atlantic salmon that reach harvest size more quickly than conventional fish because they inherit traits that resulted from a one-time genetic modification 30 years ago. The traits are passed through the male line.

The company has an on-land farm in Indiana and is building a 10,000-tonnes per annum recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility in the village of Pioneer, Ohio.

For more information about AquaBounty visit the website, HERE.

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First smolt release for Andfjord Salmon

On June 25, Andfjord Salmon finally released smolt into their land-based pool at Kvalnes, Andøya. This comes after months of planning, with the company preparing to release the smolt at the beginning of June. Read about that, HERE.

"Release of first smolt is obviously an important and enjoyable milestone for Andfjord Salmon," says Martin Rasmussen, CEO of Andfjord Salmon. "The operation was well prepared and was executed in a safe and predictable manner."

Around 200,000 smolt at an average weight of 120g were released into the pool, which were supplied by Nordland Akva AS.

The company is aiming to develop the world's most sustainable fish farming facility of its kind, by utilising a flow-through system to recreate salmon's natural habitat on land. They will be producing salmon with a low energy consumption and smallest possible environmental footprint.

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Roger Mosand (chairman) and Martin Rasmussen (CEO)

"Our concept is centered around recreating the salmon's natural habitat on land, as far as it is practically possible to do so," adds Mr Rasmussen. "We are now entering a period with increasing amount of natural light and rising temperatures. This is good for fish health and development."

The released smolt has adapted to its new surroundings after being released into the pool earlier today. The biological conditions in the pool are as planned.

Andfjord Salmon currently holds a license to produce 10,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon at Kvalnes, equivalent to a target production of 19,000 tonnes.

"This has been a great start, but the hard work starts now. We look forward to proving the many excellent benefits of our land-based fish farming facility in the coming months and years," concludes Martin Rasmussen.

For more information on Andfjord Salmon visit their website, HERE.

Image credit: Andfjord Salmon

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Jerónimo Martins invests in Andfjord Salmon

Portugal-based food industry group Jerónimo Martins has invested NOK173.9 million in Andfjord Salmon through a private placement. With this investment, Jerónimo Martins becomes one of the largest shareholders in the fish producer, with an ownership share of 10.1%.

"We are investing in a promising and truly innovative sustainable business project that is fully aligned with our corporate responsibility priorities," says Pedro Soares dos Santos, Jerónimo Martins Chairman and CEO. "Andfjord Salmon's project is focused on using efficient technology to produce salmon … with less impact on natural resources, therefore contributing to conserve and sustainably use the ocean, the sea and marine resources."

By investing in Andfjord's sustainable production, Mr Soares dos Santos said he hoped it would work as a "learning curve accelerator" when it came to learning the best practices in aquaculture operations.

Andfjord Salmon is aiming to develop the world's most sustainable fish faring facility of its kind, with a flow-through system that is key to recreating salmon's natural habitat on land. The hopes are to produce salmon with low energy consumption and the smallest possible environmental footprint.

The company's sustainability efforts were an important factor in Jerónimo Martins' investment in the company. It currently invests heavily in sustainable food production and distribution and has been recognised by Disclosure Insight Action at a leadership level in Climate and Water Security programmes. The group is the only food retailer in the world to score an A- in most commodities linked to deforestation: palm oil, cattle and soy.

"We are delighted to attract such a major industrial investor to Andfjord Salmon. We consider it an advantage to have an owner that possesses extensive competence about international food industry sales, marketing, logistics and distribution. Hopefully we can tap into this know-how when we are ready to bring our salmon to the market," says Martin Rasmussen, CEO of Andfjord.

Andfjord Salmon is planning to release smolt in its first pool at Andøya this month, with excavation work for the next pools happening now. It holds a license to produce 10,000 tonnes of salmon. More information about this can be read about HERE.

"Jerónimo Martins Group's approach to sustainable food production and operations is highly impressive," adds Mr Rasmussen.

For more information on Jerónimo Martins visit their website, HERE.

For more information on Andfjord Salmon visit their website, HERE.

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Marubeni signs agreement to become exclusive distributor of Proximar's salmon

Proximar Seafood and Marubeni Corporation have signed an agreement which will oversee Marubeni as the exclusive distributor in Japan for the Atlantic salmon produced by the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) Proximar is in the process of constructing.

Construction for the RAS facility began in the first half of 2021 and is located at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan. This key location means the company, once the facility is complete and operational, will be able to supply fresh Atlantic salmon to local Japanese markets, with a reduced carbon footprint. Construction of the hatchery and nursery is expected to be complete by 2023.

Project Manager Peder Sollie said that the quick progress they are making with the project is a result of collaboration.

"I believe the project being on track is a result of the close cooperation between our main contractors and Proximar's experienced project management team," he explains in a 2021 report released by the company. "The project involves teams from Japan, Israel and Scandinavia, which complement each other and provide an exciting working environment."

Marubeni General Manager of Fresh Food Department Kazunari Nakamura with Proximar CEO Joachim Nielsen

 

 

The agreement between Proximar and Marubeni covers all sales of all volumes produced by Proximar for the Japanese market, with an initial term of 10 years. Both companies will be involved in marketing efforts and aiming to build a strong, premium sustainable seafood brand.

RAS technology is not geographically restricted and has a low environmental impact when considering water pollution and the run-off of farmed fish. As a market, Japan's appetite and demand for Atlantic salmon continues to grow, with a strong preference for freshness and appreciation of local seafood.

Marubeni has also invested in Danish Salmon, one of the world's largest RAS-based Atlantic salmon producers, since April 2020. As the exclusive distributor of Proximar's Atlantic salmon, Marubeni will be expanding its environmentally friendly food business and supporting the supply of sustainable food.

"Teaming up with Marubeni is a key part of our partnership strategy and brings us one step closer to supplying fresh salmon to the Japanese market," says Joachim Nielsen, CEO of Proximar. "We now have a sales and distribution partner in Japan with superior market insight and access, reducing risk and increasing pricing power. The agreement with Marubeni provides Proximar significant resources in terms of sales and marketing, and we share the same views in terms of our products' attractiveness."

For more information on Proximar Seafood visit their website, HERE.

For more information on Marubeni Corporation visit their website, HERE.

Image credit: Proximar Seafood

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Blue Ocean Technology signs contract with Purecod to deliver sludge systems

Sludge systems provider Blue Ocean Technology has just signed a contract with Purecod for the delivery of a Plug & Farm sludge and water treatment facility. Purecod is the world's first cod farming company using closed pens in the sea.

Purecod was granted the first closed-pen cod farming permit back in March of this year and marks a milestone for aquaculture. By farming cod in closed pens, the company guarantees fish grow optimally in a natural environment, away from predators or parasites. By including a double containment barrier, this minimizes the risk of fish escapes and reduces interaction with the surrounding environment.

The facility in question will be delivered and installed at Røneset, where Purecod will begin farming operations in the second half of 2022. The plant is designed for a low environmental footprint as it focuses on energy-efficient solutions and downstream solutions.

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Blue Ocean Technology's Plug & Play system

"This is a pioneering facility in closed-cages aquaculture at sea, with full control of all discharges and the entire value chain," explains Hans Runshaug, CEO of Blue Ocean Technology. "This is a paradigm shift in cod farming. For the first time ever, sludge from cod farming can be utilised as a resource. And for the first time, we are delivering a plant for full integration in a feed barge. We are very enthusiastic about this contract."

Cod will be farmed in closed pens developed and delivered by Purecod's sister company, Closedpen AS.

"Sludge collection and repurposing is one of the most important advantages of closed pen fishing farming … having the right equipment is a critical element for success," says Mikael Rønes, CEO of Purecod. "Blue Technology offers a solution that perfectly fits the needs of our operations and will allow us to remove and dewater sludge efficiently and with low energy consumption."

Blue Ocean Technology also recently entered into a contract for the delivery of its Plug & Farm systems to Landeldi, which was regarded as an "easy choice," according to Runar Thor Thorarinsson, ED of Sustainability and Innovation at Landeldi.

For more information on Blue Ocean Technology visit their website, HERE.

For more information on Purecod visit their website, HERE.

Image credits: Blue Ocean Technology

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Canada’s Salmon farmers respond to decision to renew farming licenses in BC, Canada

The decision is a key validation of the importance of the salmon farming industry to rural, coastal communities and procedural fairness, but greater certainty is needed to build Canada's Blue Economy and to secure a popular and critical Canadian affordable and sustainable food supply.

The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) and the BC Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) believe that the federal government's decision to renew the licenses of salmon farms in British Columbia and establish a process for the salmon farms in the Discovery Islands is good for Canadians. The government's own science evaluation process, and multiple independent peer-reviewed science processes, have concluded that salmon farms have minimal effect on wild fish abundance and that farmed and wild salmon can and do co-exist in the Pacific Ocean.
 

Image credit: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory on Flickr
(CC BY-SA 2.0)

"The renewal of licences in British Columbia is a positive first step and confirms the voices of Industry and First Nations, in whose territories we operate, have been heard," says Ruth Salmon, Interim Executive Director of the BC Salmon Farmers Association. "This announcement will give us the opportunity to work with all levels of government, including First Nations, to secure a future that will benefit Indigenous and non-Indigenous coastal communities, meet the global demand for healthy, affordable seafood, and support the continuation in protection and restoration of wild Pacific salmon."

'Canadians and the world need a climate-friendly, affordable, and secure food supply at a time of significant food and living cost inflation,' says Timothy Kennedy, President and CEO of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA). 'While we are encouraged that licences have been renewed, we genuinely needed a six-year license term that reflected our production cycle. Longer license terms would have provided the confidence to further invest in innovation and technology, leading to continued operational and sustainable improvements, job creation for coastal communities, and greater food security.'

Farm-raised salmon is the most popular seafood choice of Canadians. We know that 97 percent of salmon produced in Canada is farm-raised, which is key to sustainably meeting the growing demand for Canadian salmon, while at the same time reducing pressure on limited wild stocks. Salmon farming in Canada is highly regulated, achieves third-party environmental certification standards, creates long-term economic growth for rural, coastal, Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, employs 14,500 Canadians, and generates over $4 billion in economic activity annually.

'Global demand for fish is growing as is the demand for sustainable, low-carbon solutions. Canada should be the best in the world at farming salmon, and in doing so we can ensure Canada has a secure supply of this important food protein,' says Ms Salmon. 'The decision is an important validation of peer-reviewed science and procedural fairness. We will work with governments and partners to create long-term value to contribute to Canada's Blue Economy and secure home-grown fresh food supply,' concludes Mr Kennedy.

Visit the CAIA website, HERE.

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Joint venture to create sustainable shrimp farming

Billund Aquaculture and Aquapurna have united on a project to create more sustainable shrimp farming by using an automated and tech-driven production model.

As an agritech start-up founded in 2020, Aquapurna aims to "develop the most advanced method of land-based shrimp farming to provide the world with delicious shrimp while protecting the planet."

Billund and Aquapurna have been working together for the last two years on a joint venture to build the next generation of land-based shrimp farms. Aquapurna operates the only R&D centres in Europe dedicated to sustainable and cost efficient land-based farming. Through the venture, the companies hope to improve existing practices and technologies and bring change to the aquaculture sector.

Shrimp farming has, reportedly, had a negative impact on the environment and other species, particularly in developing companies, as reported by WWF. Creating a land-based shrimp farm seeks to reduce this impact.

Image credit: Billund Aquaculture

"The overall problem is that shrimp farming is one of the most, if not the most, environmentally unfriendly way of producing seafood. Comparing the average imported Asian shrimp to that of mass domesticated cattle in South America, the CO2 footprint of shrimp is up to ten times worse than beef," explains Aquapurna's CEO and co-founder David Gebhard.

"This is why we have developed a production model that does not emit pollutants or involve using antibiotics. Ultimately, it's highly scalable and cost-effective which puts us in pole position to transform an industry that's long overdue for change," he adds.

According to Gebhard, working with Billund Aquaculture will facilitate "a cost efficient, RAS-based system for large scale shrimp projects in Europe and similar regions."

The next steps in the joint venture are Aquapurna's plans to scale up its existing hatchery, Lakshimi, where it is currently raising broodstock and shrimp nauplii. On top of this, they will be building a large-scale Lighthouse Project that strives to start land-based shrimp farming by developing a state-of-the-art RAS grow-out unit.

"The technology for land-based shrimp farming is not yet suitable for creating large-scale facilities," says Bjarne Hald Olsen, Operations and Business Development Manager for Billund. "However, we believe that Aquapurna's expertise in shrimp farming, combined with our experience in developing RAS for different aquaculture species will set us on the right path to producing shrimp in a more sustainable way in a very short time."

R&D is the 'backbone' of the project where the companies will be intensifying their R&D efforts to create a market leading technology.

For more information on Billund Aquaculture visit their website, HERE.

For more information on Aquapurna visit their website, HERE.

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Zero system-wide impact from Huon Aquaculture’s salmon farming in Storm Bay, Australia

The second independent broadscale environmental monitoring report into salmon farming in Storm Bay has determined that fish farming has not had a system-wide influence on water quality, soft sediment, inshore reef or deep reef habitats.

Conducted by the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) the Broadscale Environmental Monitoring Program (BEMP) report assessed the potential farming impact of both Huon Aquaculture's Yellow Bluff marine lease and Tassal's West of Wedge marine lease.

Huon's CEO, Philip Wiese says the purpose of the BEMP was to document, on an ongoing basis, broadscale spatial and temporal trends in key environmental parameters.
 

Image credit: Apasciuto on Flickr
(CC BY 2.0)

'Pleasingly, these results showed healthy sediments, high species diversity and a healthy canopy cover at all reef sites,' says Mr Wiese. 'There was no evidence of change in the inshore and deep reef communities of Storm Bay, despite limited occurrences of enrichment status species such as epiphytic and filamentous algae.'

Mr Wiese says that while there were elevated levels of chlorophyll a at some of the 20 test sites these were all located near active marine leases, although the report also indicated the elevated levels may be the result of other nutrient inputs from the Derwent Estuary, 'Like any farming, fish farming creates localised, short-term effects which is why all leases are fallowed regularly, year-classes of fish are separated and also why every operational marine site is regularly surveyed by ROV (average every 3-4 weeks), on top of baseline surveys and annual underwater video surveys – which are provided to the EPA.

'Storm Bay is a dynamic water system and one that is well suited for fish farming, which is why Huon was the first salmon farmer to move into the waters in 2014. The impacts of farming are well understood both beneath pens, 35 metres outside the leases, and now we are better understanding the broader farming area, through this important monitoring tool,' he says. 'The results of this BEMP reinforce the results from the first BEMP issued in July 2021 which confirmed no impact on surrounding habitats in Storm Bay had been detected.'

Research across Storm Bay is ongoing through the State Government commissioned suite of environmental modelling research undertaken by IMAS and CSIRO.

Mr Wiese says that the results are publicly available via the EPA website, 'People can see for themselves, from a reliable and independent research institution, that 7+ years of salmon farming has not had an impact.'

The BEMP was initiated in August 2019 to provide knowledge and information about the surrounding habitats in Storm Bay while a similar BEMP program has also been operating in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon Estuary since 2009.

Visit the Huon Aquaculture website, HERE.

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Event held by the University of Stirling to stoke interest in seafood

In a move to encourage Brits to eat more seafood, food educators will be meeting at the University of Stirling this week and inviting them to join in a series of talks and tastings.

The event, Seafood Matters UK is a free two-day event which will feature activities such as 'Come Dine with Cat', where seafood enthusiast and educator Catriona Frankitti is striving to get children to enjoy pickled herring and tinned mackerel.

Ms Frankitti, who runs seafood workshops in schools, spoke of the importance of introducing young children to seafood early.

"Our tastes are formed before we reach five years old," she explains. "Nutritionally, oil-rich fish is great for heart, skin and bone health, yet most of us don't eat anywhere near the UK recommended amount. My workshop aims to get children and parents thinking about seafood in a new light."

Image credit: University of Stirling. Catriona Frankitti running a seafood workshop.

Experts from the University of Stirling's Institute of Aquaculture alongside universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Lancaster will host sessions including 'Blue Fashion – don't just eat seafood, wear it!' and 'Cheap and tasty seafood dinners – analysed for nutritional and environmental impact.'

In addition, Forth Valley College chefs and Start Up Stirling food bank will be showcasing winners of a competition they ran, to create the best fish supper from donated items. Chefs worked with the food bank to create recipes using often-donated items such as canned fish, which were not often chosen by clients for cited reasons that they didn't know what to cook with them.

"Our student chefs were excited to take up the challenge of coming up with healthy and tasty meals using less well known and cheaper seafood products that can be found in supermarkets and are products regularly donated to Start Up Stirling," says Gareth Davies, Chef Manager at Forth Valley College.

"Not only will Seafood Matters raise awareness of the tasty health benefits of including seafood in people's diets, but it has also increased the knowledge and skills of our students, who are finding out much more about the fruits of the sea," he adds.

"The herring, mackerel and mussels of the UK's coasts used to be a staple in our diet, but somehow have fallen out of favour. The point of this event is to say, given the cost of living and environmental crises we face, can we afford to ignore this cheap, delicious and nutritious food we have in our own larder?" wonders Organiser Professor Dave Little, from the Institute of Aquaculture.

Seafood Matters UK runs at the University of Stirling's Pathfoot building from June 23 to June 24, with public activities taking place between 5 and 7pm on Thursday, June 23.

For more information on the University of Stirling visit their website, HERE.

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Investment raised by Umitron will strengthen its worldwide services

Umitron has raised SGD$15 million in investment sourced from investors and commercial banks, to fund overseas development for salmon and shrimp farming.

Currently, Umitron offers three global services for aquaculture: Remora, Eagle and Pulse. Remora is an AI software service for feeding that can be installed at large-scale fish farms without needing additional equipment. Farmers are provided with a relatively easy installation, by installing it on the computer they use at their site and connecting it to existing cameras in pens.

In addition to easy installation, the service also has AI technologies which are able to perform appetite analysis without requiring a stable communication environment or local servers. Thanks to the software's real-time feed monitoring and dead fish detection capabilities, farmers are provided with a useful tool to optimise feeding protocols and better manage production performance.

Umitron Eagle provides the first real-time AI analysis solution for shrimp farming. It offers a solution to sector experiencing fast growth but being restrained to limited technological improvements. Challenges have revolved around overcoming poor water transparency and digitising fish production.

Image credit: Umitron

Eagle enables the farmer to assess shrimp production conditions using customised AI algorithms to track real-time biological conditions and other factors. This includes appetite analysis, health and growth conditions, and biomass. The company plans to expand it into Southeast Asia, India and China in the near future.

Finally, Umitron Pulse utilises satellite remote sensing technology to acquire high-res data for aquaculture applications. Parameters collected include seawater temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll concentration, wave height, winds and currents.

By detecting small changes in the marine environment, the platform helps with producer operations such as feed amounts and timing, harvesting and logistics and helps to mitigate events causing mass mortalities such as harmful algal blooms or temporary farm closures, by detecting issues early on.

It provides a 48 hour forecast, latest location data and two years of historical data which can be applied to long-term planning and risk mitigation. This service is in use in more than 20 countries worldwide.

Thanks to the financing received, the technology company hopes to strengthen and enhance the services it offers worldwide. It will accelerate establishing local subsidiaries and business development in key salmon production regions such as Northern Europe, Chile and Southeast Asia.

Umitron recently conducted a life cycle assessment on its production of red sea bream and found an encouraging reduction in GHG emissions. More information on that can be found, HERE.

For more information on Umitron visit their website, HERE.

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