Benchmark signs World Heritage Salmon deal

Benchmark Genetics has agreed a five-year deal to provide 20-25 million ova annually for World Heritage Salmon (WHS), which is developing a land-based aquaculture facility in an abandoned mine.
The WHS project is based in Sunnylvsfjorden, Norway, which was once a centre for extracting the mineral olivine. WHS plans an annual production of up to 100,000 tonnes of salmon.
Benchmark and WHS have also agreed to exchange experience and expertise related to land-based farming, including both the project phase and the smolt and grow-out facilities’ operational phase.
The projected facility in Sunnylvsfjorden will consist of 15 tunnels with tanks. Each of them will constitute independent biological zones. Roger Hofseth, Chairman of WHS, said that biosecurity is one of the reasons for choosing BG as a supplier.
He explained: “Their strategy with land-based broodstock and egg production and a comprehensive screening program gives us the security we need for reducing the biological risks for our production.”
He also said that the company has chosen to secure genetics at an early stage because it believes that this is one of the most important input factors for the success of land-based production in the future.
Geir Olav Melingen, Commercial Director at Benchmark Genetics, said: “We look forward to working with World Heritage Salmon in the years to come. They have chosen an exciting technological solution that differs from other land-based projects with whom we have agreements. Competence exchange is essential to create progress in product development and make improvements and adjustments in the production. Therefore, the exchange of experience is an element included in this contract.”