Ocean Ecology acquires Tritonia Scientific

Marine environmental services business Ocean Ecology Limited (OEL) has taken a controlling stake in underwater survey specialist Tritonia Scientific. The move follows OEL’s acquisition of marine tech company Ecospan Environmental last year. Tritonia’s key technology involves using georeferenced 3D photogrammetry (G3DP) to evaluate hard substrates beneath and around fish farm sites. G3DP also serves as…

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Young’s profits hit by inflation

Inflation took a big chunk out of the profits of Young’s Seafood last year, the company’s latest accounts show. Turnover increased substantially during the 52 week period ended 27 March 2023, with Young’s recording £625.9m, compared with £552m for the equivalent period in 2022 (although the latter covered just 51 weeks). Profit after tax, however, was just £4.7m against…

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Producers must do better, says welfare group

Animal welfare campaign group Compassion in World Farming has published a “scorecard” rating the major salmon farmers on their performance – and it argues there is still “a long way to go”. The Scorecard has evaluated the public policies of eight salmon producers, representing more than 50% of worldwide salmon production, in terms of their…

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Salmon even more popular with UK consumers, data shows

Salmon’s position as the UK’s favourite seafood has been further strengthened, the latest retail figures show. Sales figures for the year to September 2023 compiled by industry authority Seafish, with marketing group Nielsen, reveal that salmon sales totalled around £1.25bn, up 3.2% on the same period last year. Salmon accounted for around 30% of total…

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Bakkafrost salmon hitches ride on ‘sustainable’ flight

Yesterday a Virgin Atlantic plane carried out the first transatlantic flight fuelled entirely by sustainable aviation fuel – and it was carrying a cargo of salmon from the Faroe Islands. The consignment of fresh salmon came from Faroese producer Bakkafrost, which said its participation in the flight was part of the company’s commitment to reducing…

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Grieg signs new smolt plant construction deal

Grieg Seafood has signed a deal with the construction company Consto, which will be building a new smolt plant for Grieg in Norway’s Finnmark region. Consto said it has been awarded the overall contract for the project and will be responsible for the construction technical delivery as well as the coordination of all performing professional…

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Marel rejects US takeover attempt

Icelandic seafood and food equipment manufacturer Marel has rejected takeover overtures from the US business John Bean Technologies (JBT). The Chicago-based company had offered to buy Marel for around US $2.6 billion (about £2bn) – or around $3.40 per share (£2.68). The Marel board has not ruled out accepting a better offer in future, however.…

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Icelandic salmon company makes two new key appointments

Icelandic salmon farmer Arctic Fish has made two new key appointments. The Mowi-owned company has named John Gunnar Grindskar as its new Chief Operating Officer and Baldur Smári Einarsson as its new Financial Director. John Grindskar, who joins from Mowi in Norway, takes up his post in the next few days, while Baldur Einarson, who has been…

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Innovation body SAIC in talks to secure future funding

Efforts are under way to secure funding for SAIC, the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre, after its main source of support looks set to end in July next year. SAIC, originally known as the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre, has played a key role in funding and co-ordinating research and innovation in the aquaculture space. While it…

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Nordic Halibut on track to hit production goals

Nordic Halibut says it is well on the way to achieving its production target of 4,500 tonnes within the next three years and 10,500 tonnes by 2031. Presenting its third quarter figures for this year the company said a strong approach to biological control had led to a new commercial strategy, which will yield better results…

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