Anti-fouling agent sparks concerns

Fish farm cages

A new environmental toxin has been found in farmed salmon in Norway, but for the moment the authorities are keeping an open mind on what action to take because the amounts are so small.

The substance is the anti-fouling agent tralopyril – also known commercially as ECONEA – which is being used to replace copper in the cages as a non-metal paint.

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Andfjord signs deals for water treatment and ROVs

illustration showing plans for Andfjord flow-through facility

The Arctic land-based fish farmer Andfjord Salmon has signed two agreements to secure sludge collection and processing for its current construction phase at Kvalnes. The Trøndelag-based company Meox will deliver remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs), while water treatment company Sterner will deliver processing systems.

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European shellfish industry warns of ‘crisis’

two men at low tide, oyster farm

Europe’s shellfish industry has the potential to solve many key policy challenges – but the industry itself is in “crisis”.

That was the warning last week from the European Mollusc Producers Association (EMPA), which held its first event in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, launching a manifesto for the industry’s sustainable development.

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Nordic food packaging businesses agree merger plan

Fishing vessel with crane and fish boxes

BEWI, a leading provider of food and seafood packaging components, is set to merge its traded food packaging business with STOK Emballage (“STOK”), forming a combined Northern European packaging solutions group.
BEWI will receive a cash consideration of €20m (£16.7m) in addition to an ownership position in the combined entity of around 15%.

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‘Egg’ cage companies prepare to shed staff

A large number of people at the companies behind the “Egg” closed containment fish farm system look set to lose their jobs.

Some involved in the Egg – also known as “Eggett” – system are being redundant while others are likely to be stood down at least temporarily, at both the technology company Ovum and the production company company Herde Kompositt.

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Mitsubishi invests in trout ‘Gigafactory’

Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation has bought into the Finnish aquaculture technology company Finnforel.

Mitsubishi, a large conglomerate with a range of industrial interests, already owns the salmon farming group Cermaq, which operates in Norway, Chile, Scotland and Canada.

Finnforel is an innovative agritech company, focused on farming rainbow trout in what it says is a sustainable way. It has pioneered a comprehensive concept which encompasses the entire value chain—from advanced selective breeding programs to its feed, farming, processing, packaging and branding of its fish products.

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Mowi Chairman to step down

Ole-Eirik Lerøy, Mowi’s long-serving Chairman, has announced he is stepping down from the board of the salmon farming giant.

He has been an integral part of the business for more than 15 years. It was also announced yesterday that his successor will be shipping executive Ørjan Svanevik.

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