Ocean Matters hits two million lumpfish milestone

Mowi owned cleaner fish producer Ocean Matters harvested 2,000,000 lumpfish in 2019, a new milestone for the company and a UK record.

The Anglesey based firm, acquired by Mowi last year, was set up in 2015 on the site of an old turbot farm and harvested its first lumpfish in 2016.

In 2017, Mowi bought the neighbouring farm, Anglesey Aquaculture, which once produced sea bass. It has rebuilt this facility as a ballan wrasse recirculation unit, which is due to become operational this month.

Ocean Matters production manager Daniel Phillips described the lumpfish production as ‘an incredible milestone’.

‘I’m really proud of the team that made it happen, all their hard work and dedication made this possible,’ he told Mowi newsletter The Scoop.

‘The sustainable production of lumpfish plays a significant role in the welfare of our salmon farmed across Scotland. We look forward to another great year in 2020.’

Dougie Hunter, head of cleaner fish and technical services at Mowi, said of Ocean Matters’ success: ‘What an amazing achievement in our first year. To have a guaranteed supply of cleaner fish is really important for our business because it is an important part of our strategy to control sea lice.

‘In 2020, our aim is to produce even more high quality lumpfish and continue to expand our customer base.’