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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£14m for Scottish aquaculture and fishing sectors

Businesses in the salmon, shellfish and seaweed aquaculture sectors – as well as the fishing industry – are among the recipients of a further £14m of financial support from Marine Fund Scotland in its 2023/24 funding round, announced today. Marine Fund Scotland was set up by the Scottish Government following Brexit, to replace funding for…

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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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Together against AMR

Antimicrobial resistance is not stopped by national borders, argue Henrik Duesund and Dr Patrik Henriksson By 2050, 10 million people could die from bacteria and other microorganisms resistant to antibiotics. Even countries and regions that make limited use of antibiotics will be affected. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat to human and animal health…

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Iceland PM takes over responsibility for fish farm reform

Iceland’s Prime Minister, Katrin Jakobsdottir, has taken over temporary responsibility for the reform of the country’s aquaculture industry and general fishing responsibilities. The move comes after the Food Minister Svandis Svavarsdottir, the person normally in charge of these issues, revealed she has breast cancer and is taking indefinite leave. The Prime Minister (pictured, above) said:…

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Aqua Agenda: Fish Health webinar

Thanks to all who attended Fish Farmer’s first Aqua Agenda webinar this week. We had a great panel – Iain Berrill, Head of Technical with Salmon Scotland, Charles Allan, head of the Scottish Fish health Inspectorate and Ronnie Soutar, Head of Veterinary Services with Scottish Sea Farms – addressing the pressing issue of fish health…

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Fish farmers facing huge fines – if guilty

The six Norwegian salmon companies accused by the EU of price fixing could collectively face fines totalling NOK 13 billion, almost a billion pounds sterling, it has emerged. The EU Commission says they broke competition rules by sharing information on prices and other matters. Potentially, the fines could total 10% of their global annual turnover…

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Salmon’s ‘big six’ to challenge EU price fixing claims

Norway’s “big six” salmon companies have all strongly denied an accusation of price collusion made by the European Commission. The Commission claimed yesterday that the companies broke competition rules by sharing information on prices and salmon volumes. It has sent what is known a statement of objection, also known as an SO, to each of…

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