Robot will ‘transform fish vaccination’

A STIRLING based aquaculture company has won funding to create a ‘transformational’ fish vaccinating robot. Aqualife, in partnership with the government backed Agri-EPI Centre, secured £250,000 from the Seafood Innovation Fund, awarded by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), to develop and launch the robot by the end of next year. The…

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Salmon businesses ‘must be closer to society’

THE chairman of Grieg Seafood said aquaculture companies must become closer to society if they want to be better loved and appreciated. Per Grieg Jnr said: ‘We must understand that we have a responsibility, that we have a social contract, a ‘licence to operate’. We must understand the spirit of the times.’ According to the newspaper…

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Aquaculture student in national awards shortlist

A SHETLAND based aquaculture student has been named as a finalist in the British Education Awards. Emma Rochester, who is enrolled on the NAFC Marine Centre\’s level 3 Modern Apprenticeship in Aquaculture, works for Cooke Aquaculture on Yell. She was nominated for the award by the NAFC’s section leader for aquaculture training, Stuart Fitzsimmons. He…

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Community grant is boost for brigade

THE 1st Stornoway Girls Brigade will be able to make an even bigger impact with their drama productions after receiving funding for new sound equipment from the Scottish Salmon Company (SSC). The brigade, of more than 40 girls from P1 to S6, meets weekly, taking part in a range of activities to develop their confidence…

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Salmon farmers in talks over wild fish fund

REPRESENTATIVES from the Scottish salmon farming sector and fisheries trusts have been holding talks aimed at establishing a fund to help halt wild stock decline. The ongoing bilateral discussions, between the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation and Fisheries Management Scotland, have focused on salmon conservation, according to the minutes of the Salmon Interactions Working Group. The…

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Scottish seafood processors raise standards  

A DRIVE to improve standards across the seafood processing sector in Scotland has paid dividends. Nine companies have achieved the new Scottish Seafood Association (SSA) Standard and of those, six are being assessed for SALSA (Safe and Local Supplier Approval) accreditation. The SSA Standard is an initiative that involves the training of staff, guidance on…

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Fewer, bigger farms ‘will address lice problem’

NORWAY’S Institute of Marine Research is proposing a 33 per cent plus reduction (22 per cent in biomass terms) in the number of salmon farming sites in the west of the country, which it says could play a key role in dealing with problems. The targeted areas extend from Karmøy in the district of Rogoland to the middle…

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Salmon prices drop in coronavirus slump

SALMON prices fell back sharply in Norway at the weekend with the coronavirus outbreak in China largely to blame. China is a major and expanding market for Norwegian frozen salmon but with the city of Wuhan, population 11 million, where the virus first hit, in virtual lockdown and travel severely restricted in many other cities and…

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Organic farm plan defeated by Skye locals

PLANS for two organic salmon farms on Skye were rejected by councillors after a campaign against the development by locals, the Press and Journal reported. Organic Sea Harvest, which already has approval for two sites – at Invertote and Clunacnoc, had submitted proposals to Highland Council for a farm of 12 x 400ft cages just…

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New Norwegian fisheries minister named

NORWAY’S new fisheries minister is Geir Inge Sivertsen, according to reports on Norwegian news channels this morning. The Conservative politician was Secretary of State in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and was mayor of Lenvik municipality in Troms from 2011 to 2019. Prior to becoming mayor, he was CEO of Nor-Team Entrepreneur Business at…

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