Archive for March 2021
Full steam ahead
In January of this year the biggest wellboat yet constructed was launched at the Sefine Shipyard, in Turkey. The Gåsø Høvding is 83.2 metres long and 30.9 metres wide, with a total well volume of 7,500 cubic metres. It was commissioned for Norwegian shipping operator Frøy Group and designed by Møre Maritime, using technology from…
Read MoreFish health predictor shows high accuracy level
An application that can help fish farmers to predict disease outbreaks has been found to have 93% accuracy or more. The developer, Manolin, has announced its results after a year tracking health challenges for salmon farmers across Norway. Manolin’s fish health forecasting tool was launched in February 2020. It uses machine learning to predict the…
Read MorePost-Brexit funding for the marine economy leaves Scotland short-changed, minister says
Scotland’s “blue economy” is set to lose out under the new funding regime brought in to replace support from the European Union, according to the Scottish government. Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said the £14m annual budget allocated to Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) falls short of the £62m which would have been available under EU…
Read MoreNorwegian ministry looks to streamline regulations
Norway’s Seafood and Fisheries Minister has recruited a small team of fish farming industry experts to help him get rid of outdated regulations. Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen wants to simplify many of the rules which govern the sector and replace them with legislation more in line with the needs of the future. Instead of turning to…
Read MoreInvestors back growth for Icelandic trout farm
A group of young investors in Iceland have come together in an enterprising new fish farming venture. The move is another example of the rapidly growing interest within the country in aquaculture development. The investors are operating through a holding company, V SIF Equity Farming ehf. (ÍSEF), whose main goal is to build up a portfolio…
Read MoreStrong and sustainable
Flugga Boats, based in Shetland, has focused on sustainability, safety and useability to create workboats that are efficient and practical. The company has built six boats for Grieg Seafood, four with a forward cabin and two with an open aft cuddy. The boats use OXE diesel outboards which are remarkably fuel-efficient. Farm operators rate the…
Read MoreResearch veteran joins algae feed firm board
Biotech firm MiAlgae, which uses a whisky co-product to create algal oil for aquafeed and pet food, has appointed global food and pet care specialist David Macnair to its board. The Edinburgh-based business creates eco-friendly, nutrient rich animal and fish feed by repurposing “waste” co-products from the whisky distillation process. Macnair was formerly Global VP R&D, with Mars…
Read MoreSalmon farmers say ‘We couldn’t do it without you’
Salmon farmers are taking out a full page advertisement throughout the Scottish press to say “thank you” to communities in the Highlands and islands for their support for the industry through the Covid-19 pandemic. The advertisement – in the form of an open letter from Tavish Scott, SSPO Chief Executive, to communities – will appear…
Read MoreNew look for an old tradition
2020 turned out to be the ideal year to launch a refreshed brand of premium fresh and smoked trout Kames is the oldest family-run fish farm in Scotland, established in 1972 by Stuart Cannon, a farmer’s son from Lincolnshire in search of his own adventure. Stuart always had a passion for trout and was the…
Read MoreOTAQ takes a bigger stake in Minnowtech
Marine technology group OTAQ has increased its equity share in Minnowtech, a US-based company that has developed an imaging tool to count farmed shrimp. OTAQ has opted to concert its 6% convertible loan notes into ordinary shares in Minnowtech and has invested a further $150,000 (around £108,000) in the company’s equity, taking its total stake…
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