Now ISA is suspected at Måsøval site

Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) is suspected at a Måsøval salmon farming site in Norway, the company said yesterday.

The news comes just days after the company announced buoyant 2024 first quarter results.

If confirmed, it is likely to mean the premature harvest of around 396,000 salmon with an average weight of 5.6 kilograms, but the financial impact should not be that great.

Måsøval disclosed the unwelcome development in an Oslo Stock Exchange announcement yesterday.

The company said: “Confirmation on sampling results will first be confirmed after further testing, the detection of virus is treated internally as a confirmation.

“Strict measures have been implemented to contain the virus and prevent further spread. Måsøval will harvest the site to reduce biological risk. Fish on site numbers are 396,000 with an average weight of 5.6 kg WFE [whole fish equivalent].

“The site was originally planned to be fully harvested in week 26 thus the change in harvest plan will have limited effect on volumes and cost and is expected to have little effect on price achievement.

Based in central Norway Måsøval has both significant farming operations at sea and in-house smolt production.

Just a few days ago the company unveiled higher first quarter revenues of NOK 402 million (£30m) despite battling against jellyfish, winter storms and cold sea temperatures during the period.

The news is the latest in an increasing number of suspected and confirmed ISA cases in Norway.

Yesterday Bakkafrost confirmed an ISA outbreak in the Faroe Islands, the first instance of the disease in that jurisdiction for a long time.