Iceland calls snap general election

Beautiful reflection of the parliament house Althing of Reykjavik in lake Tjornin

The Icelandic Government has collapsed and a snap general election has been set for 30 November. The result could make a difference for Iceland’s growing aquaculture sector, with rival parties taking very different stances on its future.

Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson surprised everyone at the weekend when he announced the end of the current coalition between his Independence Party and the Progressive and Left Green parties. He plans to stand again for government. 

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Cod farming industry welcomes first wellboat

Norway’s rapidly growing cod farming industry has received its first dedicated wellboat in what has been seen as an historic event.

Watched by several hundred people, leading cod farming company Ode “christened” the Ronja Ode at its Skansekaia headquarters in the centre of Ålesund at the weekend.

The event marked the beginning of a unique collaboration between the two local companies, Ode and the wellboat company Sølvtrans. Ronja Ode is the world’s first dedicated wellboat for transporting farmed cod and represents a significant step forward in the development of the cod farming industry.

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Barramundi Group seeks six-month breathing space

Singapore-based Barramundi Group has applied for a form of insolvency protection while the company attempts to carry out financial reconstruction.

On 11 October the fish farming group made an application to the High Court of the Republic of Singapore for a “Moratorium Order” which would give it a period of six months’ protection against a winding-up order or the appointment of external administrators.

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Fouling solution

The Stingray E230 is rugged and reliable

Lindgren-Pitman’s innovative net cleaner Stingray E230 Series ROV removes all fouling, minimises fish stress and reduces CO2 emissions by eliminating 90% of conventional fuel consumption.

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Novo Holdings buys into lice laser company

Device in fish farm pen shooting a laser beam

Life sciences company Novo Holdings is to take a majority stake in aquaculture technology company Stingray Marine Solutions.

Based in Oslo, Stingray specialises in intelligent aquaculture technology serving the salmon industry and has developed a laser-based system to kill sea lice.

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Arctic char farm wins government support

Many fish swimming in water

A fish farm looks set to be built in the heart of Canada – with official help and approval.

The Manitoba provincial government has promised support for the Sapphire Springs Inc Arctic Char aquaculture and processing facility near RockWood Municipality, north of Winnipeg.

Sapphire Springs, which is just four years old,  says the CA $145m (£80.5m) project will create at least 100 jobs plus 120 indirect jobs and would help boost the local economy.

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Don’t miss our Land Based Strategy webinar

An impressive amount of investment is pouring into land based fish farming around the world, from Scandinavia and the Middle East to Florida and Japan. But can the technology and biology combine to ensure this industry has a profitable future? Next week, in the latest in our Aqua Agenda series of webinars, we’ll be asking:…

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Norwegian anglers face new restrictions

The Norwegian Environment Agency is to limit recreational salmon fishing next year, as fears about wild stocks continue. From next year, the directorate will plan for a more cautious start to salmon fishing, where more locations can be opened up for fishing later if enough salmon arrive in the rivers.

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