Norway moves ahead on offshore farming development

The Norwegian government says it will be assessing the potential environmental impact of fish farming on the three pilot areas it has identified as suitable for offshore aquaculture. Last year the government named three possible locations, but now it wants to see if they are suitable for salmon farming. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and…

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SalMar to operate world’s first hydrogen-powered workboat

What is claimed to be the world’s first hydrogen-powered workboat is preparing to go into operation for a Norwegian fish farmer. The vessel (pictured) has been developed by Moen Marin, the largest supplier of aquaculture work vessels in collaboration with Moen Verft and Marin Design, and with the support of the Norwegian government technical support…

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Farmed trout gaining in popularity – Seafood Council

Sales of farmed trout, for so long a good second best to salmon in the popularity stakes, are on the rise. The Norwegian Seafood Council reports trout showed a large growth in volume last month and sales seem to be gathering momentum. Trout is more popular in certain countries, notably the United States and Thailand,…

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Norwegian salmon mortality rate up again

A record 62 million farmed salmon died in the sea phase in Norway last year, an official survey has shown. The figure is six million higher than in 2022, according to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, corresponding to almost 17% of the total number of released in Norway that year. Edgar Brun, Director of Fish Health…

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Måsøval to challenge compensation award

The Norwegian salmon farmer Måsøval has decided to appeal for more compensation after the company was awarded almost £1m against the Norwegian government over an incorrect pancreatic disease diagnosis. Måsøval had originally claimed NOK 29.8m (£2.3m) over the incident which took place in August 2019. The company was forced to slaughter tens of thousands of…

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Norway’s seafood exports see great start for 2024

Fresh seafood on crushed ice at fish market. Raw salmon fillet on display counter at store.

High salmon prices at the start of this year helped to maintain a strong export performance despite lower volumes, the Norwegian Seafood Council said today. Seafood exports for Norway in January totalled NOK 13.3bn (around £1bn), 5% up on January last year. Christian Chramer, the Seafood Council’s CEO said it was a good start to…

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Smash and grab

Farmed salmon are facing a new threat in the form of hungry bluefin tuna, reports Vince McDonagh Norway’s salmon farmers are facing a new threat from a powerful predator. Large tuna fish are breaking into fish farm facilities, allowing thousands of salmon the opportunity to escape. It is no longer an isolated problem. Salmon companies…

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Cermaq ordered to cut production in Nordland

Salmon farmer Cermaq has been ordered to reduce activities by a third at one of its sites in Nordland, Norway – and it is not happy. The instruction has come from the Nordland state administrator which has ruled that production must be reduced from 5,400 tonnes to 3,600 tonnes. Cermaq said that while the decision…

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Salmon prices on the march again

Fresh salmon prices in Norway are starting to rise sharply again, according to the latest figures from Statistics Norway which monitors trends on a weekly basis. During week 4 prices rose by 4.6% to NOK 104.48 per kilo (£7.87) and that was for the period before the storms in the north of the country hit…

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Weather in north of Norway hits salmon trade

Salmon businesses in northern Norway are facing serious disruption this week as storms sweep through the region. Nordland is facing several days of severe weather with salmon companies battening down the hatches. In some areas the weather has been at hurricane level. Transport is at a standstill, so even if production were possible, there would…

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