Bakkafrost Scotland recovery continues into 2024

Bakkafrost says its Scottish arm is on a steady but positive road to recovery, despite the latest trading update which shows a year-on-year fall in production for this year’s first quarter. The Scotland division has reported a harvest of 7,300 tonnes for the January to March period. This compares to 8,100 tonnes a year earlier,…

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Film star DiCaprio joins anti-farm campaign, faces backlash

A-list Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio has become the latest celebrity to come out against open net pen fish farming in British Columbia – but his stance has sparked a backlash from indigenous groups who want to save the industry. The star of many hit movies including Titanic and The Great Gatsby (pictured, photo by Siebbi)…

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Aqua energy company seeks partner

Norwegian aquaculture-related energy company Fjord Maritime is looking for a “strategic partner” to expand both at home and on the international stage. Fjord Maritime, which is a supplier of sustainable energy solutions to the industry, said it is conducting a capital expansion to strengthen its position nationally and internationally. The current owners and shareholders have…

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Norway set to tax foreign aquaculture workers and businesses

Norway is  preparing to impose a production tax on foreign-owned aquaculture businesses, it emerged at the weekend. The tax, which will also affect employees, will apply to those companies which farm offshore in Norwegian waters, on the continental shelf. Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (pictured) has submitted his proposals for public and parliamentary consultation. Vedum…

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Safety first

A report from Norway finds the aquaculture sector is still reporting a high level of industrial injuries. Vince McDonagh reports A growing number of Norwegian aquaculture staff are worried that their work is damaging their health. It is not so much a fear of being killed or serious injury – although that danger exists  –…

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Underwater Contracting adds more Falcons to its fleet

Scottish-based marine support services business Underwater Contracting (UCO), already owner of the world’s largest fleet of Saab Seaeye Falcon ROVs, has added to its pool through the purchase of five new machines. The deal gives UCO a total of 38 Falcon systems. The company, based in Aberdeen in northeast Scotland, is a leading provider of…

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Grant helps novel sea lice vaccine research to next step

A small sea louse from a salmon river

Hopes for an effective vaccine against sea lice have been boosted with the news of a grant that is helping research into a further stage. Partners from the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture, AQUATRECK Animal Health SL and Moredun Scientific have been awarded almost £50,000 from the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), after the…

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Now Norwegians changing minds on fish farming

Round fish farm pens in blue sea, mountains on horizon

Norwegians are becoming increasingly negative about salmon farming, according to new polling. The survey was carried out by Norwegian broadcaster NRK public radio and follows a series of reports about large salmon death numbers from various biological issues. But the industry organisation Seafood Norway believes that views would be different if there were more positive…

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Norway slams the brakes on cod farming growth

cod fish swimming in blue sea

Norwegian regulators have called a temporary halt to further cod farming applications, particularly those at new locations. The sector has been growing so fast that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) wants time for everyone to draw breath and examine any biological or related implications. Whether growth resumes will depend on an assessment of the…

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