Confusion in Scotland over ‘key worker’ status

SCOTLAND’S food producers have urged the devolved government to provide clarity, in line with the rest of the UK, over which members of staff can be defined as key workers. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, national advice has been issued identifying key workers as including those involved in the production, delivery and sale of…

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Ferry curbs to safeguard rural life

MEASURES to safeguard Scotland’s rural communities have been introduced in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced over the weekend that ferries will no longer take visitors to the islands. Only locals and those travelling to and from the mainland for essential supplies or business will be permitted…

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Wellboat pioneer invests in land based

SØLVTRANS founder Roger Halsebakk has jumped on the land based salmon bandwagon, investing in Norwegian company Salmon Evolution. Halsebakk, owner of Ronja Capital, the world’s largest wellboat business, is the biggest new investor in the project, which aims to farm 36,000 tonnes of salmon using flow-through technology. Salmon Evolution announced today that it had raised…

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Salmon transported in empty passenger planes

WITH air travel bans in place, salmon farming companies in Norway are finding alternative ways of getting their product to market. And one option has been to use passenger aircraft devoid of passengers, but which are equipped with cargo carrying holds and pallets, even if it means charging extra for salmon to cover the extra costs.…

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Postponed boat show ‘will take place this year’

THE Seawork boat show in Southampton, scheduled for June 9-11, has joined the growing list of coronavirus casualties. Organiser Mercator Media announced yesterday that the exhibition has now been postponed, adding ‘we are doing all we can to ensure the events can take place in 2020’. ‘Our experienced team can react swiftly to developing events…

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Fourth seafood minister this year for Norway

NORWAY has its fifth fisheries and seafood minister in just over 18 months – and the fourth this year. Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen takes over from ex-journalist and current labour minister Torbjørn Røe Isaksen, who was appointed in a stop-gap capacity last month after Geir Inge Sivertsen resigned in a row over severance payments. Two weeks earlier, Harald…

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Iceland raises farmed fish quota by 34,000 tonnes

ICELAND has dramatically increased the amount of farmed fish that can be produced in the country each year. The Marine Research Institute (MRI) has recently carried out an updated risk assessment and set a figure of 105,000 tonnes, most of which is certain to be salmon. This compares with the MRI’s earlier maximum of 71,000 tonnes. However,…

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Supermarkets join forces to keep food on shelves

SUPERMARKETS are to work together to help feed the nation during the coronavirus outbreak, after the government relaxed competition laws. The move allows retailers to share data with each other on stock levels, cooperate to keep shops open, or share distribution depots and delivery vans. It would also allow retailers to pool staff with one…

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Aberdeen Skipper show postponed

THE list of cancelled – or postponed – industry events in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak continues, with news today that Scottish Skipper Expo 2020, scheduled for May 15-16, will not now go ahead. The show, due to be held at the P & J Live arena in Aberdeen, will be staged at a…

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Open farm event shut – for time being

PLANS by Scottish salmon farmers to open their sites to the public in spring  have been put on hold in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The new ‘Open Farm’ initiative involved all of Scotland\’s salmon producers and would have seen 16 farms across the Highlands and islands providing a total of 64 tours throughout…

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