Seafood industry in call to scrap “employer tax”

Norwegian industry organisation Seafood Companies is urging the government to remove the employer tax on the seafood industry so more salmon and other fish can be processed at home. Much of Norway’s salmon, for example, is processed hundreds of miles away in Poland and Denmark. Robert H. Eriksson, managing director of Seafood Companies (“Sjomatbedriftene” in…

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Cermaq deploys laser defence against sea lice

Cermaq Norway is deploying 140 lasers in its fight against salmon lice, the company has announced. It says laser technology has proven to be effective against salmon lice and gentle on the salmon. After extensive evaluation in two locations in Finnmark and at Nordland, the system will be put into use at other suitable facilities…

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Near 50% drop in Bakkafrost Scotland harvest

The Bakkafrost Scotland third quarter harvest will be down by almost half the total of last year, a trading update from the company has revealed. The total figure is 4,100 tonnes, 2,900 tonnes from Scotland North and 1,200 tonnes from Scotland South. This compared with a total of 8,100 tonnes during Q3 last year. Although…

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Weak krone drives Q3 salmon export record for Norway

The value of Norway’s salmon exports rose by 13% to NOK 31bn (£2.3bn) during the July to September quarter, the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council show. The volume of 347,000 tonnes was marginally lower (-1%) on Q3 last year. While this represents a third quarter record, once again currency exchange rates played a…

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Scotland’s salmon production fell 18% in 2022

The latest figures from the Scottish Government confirm what the major salmon producers’ reports have already made clear – the biological issues experienced last year resulted in a significant fall in Scotland’s salmon production. The Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2022 shows that production of Atlantic salmon in Scotland was 169,194 tonnes, representing an 18%…

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Salmon survival rates improve despite warmer seas

Scotland’s salmon farmers have finally had some good news to report on survival rates. Preliminary data for September 2023 indicates that survival was above 96.5%, up on the 95.3% recorded in September 2022. The improvement comes after several mitigation measures were adopted by farmers to further boost animal welfare amid the climate change challenge, including…

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Cermaq names constructor for NOK 850m smolt plant

Cermaq has awarded the construction contract for its new £64m (NOK 850m) RAS plant at Sørøya, near the North Cape of Norway. The established and highly experienced turnkey company Total Betong has been selected to carry out this major RAS (recirculating aquaculture system) project in one of the most northerly parts of the country. The move…

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Arnarlax parent lists on Iceland Nasdaq

Icelandic Salmon, the parent company of Arnarlax, has been listed on Iceland’s Nasdaq First North Stock Market for the first time, with a value of around ISK 71bn (almost £420m). The company, in which the Norwegian salmon giant SalMar has a majority stake, had previously been listed on Norway’s Euronext Growth market. The opening price…

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Iceland’s anglers set for anti-fish farming rally

Iceland’s sports fishing organisations are planning a mass protest against open pen salmon farming this weekend. They have issued a rallying calls to members and anti-fish farm activists to gather in the capital, Reykjavik, on Saturday. The protest is largely in response to a large salmon escape from an Arctic Fish farm in August, but…

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Thistle Seafoods optimistic despite profit slump

Despite a big drop in profits last year, the Scottish company Thistle Seafoods has issued an upbeat assessment on future prospects for the business. Profits were down by 90% from £3.3m in 2021 to £303,000 during the year, largely due to higher raw material costs and external factors. Thistle bought the Dawnfresh factory at Uddingston near Glasgow…

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