Lice infestation forces Iceland slaughter

Thousands of salmon in western Iceland have been prematurely slaughtered due to high lice numbers. The worst hit area is around Tálknafjördur in the southern Westfjord region. MAST, the Icelandic Veterinary Institute, reported two weeks ago that lice infestation in the area had increased to unprecedented levels and ordered special measures to be taken. Iceland’s main…

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Soil Association set to tighten organic standards for salmon

Fish farmers and the public are set to be consulted on changes to the standards that allow farmed salmon to be described as “organic”. The Soil Association, which sets the bar for organic food production in the UK, is looking to update its standards to strengthen provisions for the welfare of Atlantic salmon and cleaner…

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Million kroner fine imposed on slaughter ship owner

THE owner of the slaughter ship Norwegian Gannet has been fined just over a million kroner (around £75,000) by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority for breaching fish welfare rules by reducing the voltage strength on its stunning equipment. However, the Hav Line, the vessel’s operator, has argued in defence that the action was taken in…

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Iceland orders special measures to tackle rising lice numbers

Veterinary authorities in Iceland have ordered additional measures to be taken in the Westfjords region, its main salmon farming area, following reports of high numbers of sea lice. While Iceland has not been lice-free, the industry there has not suffered to the same degree as Norway, for example. But all that could be changing for…

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Farmers rise to the challenge

Despite natural environmental challenges, the hard work and dedication of farmers and production companies has improved survival rates for farmed salmon through 2023. So says Salmon Scotland Chief Executive Tavish Scott in his latest column for Fish Farmer, in which he explains how understanding the mortality problems that came to a head last year has…

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Concern as BKD spreads in central Norway

Bacterial kidney disease (BKD) has been detected at several locations in central Norway since the start of the year, the country’s Veterinary Institute has reported, and its spread is slightly puzzling marine veterinarians. Salmon farms are mainly being affected but there has been at least one incident involving a trout farm. The development is the…

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Grieg Q3 costs rise and harvests drop

Grieg Seafoods today reported a greatly reduced 2023 third quarter harvest and considerably higher production costs. In one case costs soared way above NOK 80 a kilo (£6). The company has also been hit by various biological issues in Norway. The  three month July to September period harvest (gutted weight) was almost cut in half…

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New focus for Marine Scotland’s Farmed Fish Health group

Government agency Marine Scotland has set out priorities for a ‘refreshed’ Farmed Fish Health Framework: the causes of fish mortality, impact of climate change and development of treatments. The steering group for the 10 year framework, a collaboration between the aquaculture sector and Scottish Government and its advisers, will be chaired by The Scottish Government’s…

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