Scottish Government ‘listening’ to HPMA protests

The minister leading a controversial proposal to bar commercial activities from a tenth of Scotland’s coastal waters has vowed to listen to rural and fishing communities that have come out strongly against the policy. Mairi McAllan, Net Zero and Just Transition Secretary, has overseen a consultation process on plans for Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs).…

Read More

Three Bakkafrost Scotland sites awarded ASC status

Three Bakkafrost Scotland salmon farm sites have been awarded the prestigious Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification. Bakkafrost’s operations in Sgeir Dughall, Glennan Bay and Gob a Bharra have all received the certification. The company has also obtained ASC Chain of Custody certification for all three of its processing facilities on the west coast. The Aquaculture…

Read More

Salmon Scotland says HPMA proposal threatens jobs

Industry organisation Salmon Scotland has called on the Scottish Government to think again on controversial plans for “Highly Protected Marine Areas” (HPMAs) that would see 10% of Scottish waters out of bounds for any form of commercial activity. Salmon Scotland, which represents salmon producers and the industry’s supply chain, said the government should not put…

Read More

Send tax plan back, Norway’s employers urge parliament

The Norwegian business employers’ organisation NHO says the “ground rent” salmon tax plan should go back to the government for a fresh look. It made the plea to Norway’s parliament, the Storting, during its finance committee’s open hearing about the tax. The new tax bill, which mostly affects the larger companies like Mowi and SalMar,…

Read More

Scotland starting to shine again for Mowi

Mowi Scotland more than doubled its EBIT or operating profit during the first three months of this year, the international Mowi Group’s Q1 trading update shows. The Scottish division achieved an EBIT of €2.45 per kilo (£2.15) against €1 (£0.88) a year ago – the second highest in the group. Once again Norway was the…

Read More

‘Clean energy’ wellboat power plant commissioned

The world’s largest and probably most environmental land based power plant for wellboats has been officially opened on the island of Hitra near Trondheim. The ceremony also marked the inauguration of two new wellboats for the Leroy Seafood Group’s Midt operation, which has a nearby salmon plant. The power plant (pictured) means that vessels can discharge…

Read More

SalMar, Måsøval report contrasting Q1 harvest numbers

Two Norwegian salmon farming companies, SalMar and Måsøval, have just released 2023 first quarter harvest trading updates. SalMar recorded a slight increase, slaughtering 48,500 tonnes during the January to March period, from 45,000 tonnes in the same period last year. Some 42,000 tonnes came from its Norwegian farms while 6,600 tonnes was slaughtered at its…

Read More

The April 2023 issue of Fish Farmer is out now online

The April 2023 issue of Fish Farmer is out now online and you can read it here. Last year was a tough one in Scotland for salmon, and for salmon farmers. As part of Fish Farmer’s fish health special this month, we talk to the experts about the reasons behind the spike in mortalities we…

Read More

Norway kick starts offshore aquaculture consultation

Plans to move fish farming further out to sea off the Norwegian coast have moved a big step forward. The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries has opened a new consultation to assess views on the potential impact of offshore aquaculture on the environment in the three areas already set out late last year by the Directorate.…

Read More

STIM selected as UK distributor for Benchmark lice treatment

Aquaculture biotechnology company Benchmark Animal Health has entered an exclusive UK distribution agreement with STIM Scotland Ltd for the lice treatment Salmosan® Vet. The agreement was signed on 28 March, and will take immediate effect with the stock now transferred to STIM’s Glasgow warehouse ahead of distribution. Salmosan® Vet is a market leading azamethiphos treatment…

Read More