Norwegian salmon farmer Lerøy has estimated that around 15,000 salmon escaped from its Sandholmane site in Aukra municipality site earlier this month, it announced a press release yesterday.

On January 5, during a routine inspection, damage to a net was discovered at the site, and the farm's contingency plan was immediately implemented. The company states that nets were deployed to reduce potential consequences, and a dialogue has been established with relevant authorities and stakeholders, including the Directorate of Fisheries. 

Source: fishfarmingexpert l Read the full article here

Aquaculture technology AKVA group has landed an approximate €20m (£17m) technology contract with the Icelandic fish farming company Laxey.

The deal centres on module 2 and “Reuse” technology (also known as hybrid flow-through) for Laxey’s salmon grow-out facility on the Westmann Islands in Iceland.

Reuse is the name given to the on-growing technology used from the smolt stage to fully grown salmon of 6-7 kg ready for harvest. The system constantly exchanges 30% of the system volume with new water, compared to RAS shifting only 1%.

Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer l Read the full article here

Showcasing Sustainable Seafood: Protecting Health and Ocean Resources for Generations to Come

Maruha Nichiro Corporation (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Ikemi Masaru) will participate in the "Living with Food" event, a platform for exploring the future of food in Japan. Organized by Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. and Discover Japan Co., Ltd., the event will take place over ten days, from January 10th (Friday) to 19th (Sunday), 2025, at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo).

As part of its medium-term management plan, “MNV 2024: Creating the Future of the Ocean and Life,” Maruha Nichiro has identified "creating health value and providing food that supports sustainability" as a key priority. At the event, the company will highlight two significant initiatives:

1. Promoting Health through Canned Blue Fish Products:
   Maruha Nichiro will showcase the benefits of its canned blue fish products, emphasizing their potential to address contemporary health challenges. These nutrient-rich offerings are designed to support well-being while appealing to modern dietary needs.

2. Advancing Sustainable Seafood Practices:
   The company will also present its efforts in promoting certified sustainable seafood—products that prioritize both environmental and social responsibility. These initiatives align with global sustainability goals, ensuring the long-term health of ocean ecosystems while meeting consumer demand.

It has been discovered that the Far East Crab Catchers Association (CCA, Vladivostok), which is made up of crab producers in the Russian Far East, has suspended its certification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). 

The suspension has been made for all three types of crab that are subject to certification: red king crab, blue crab, and snow crab (Opilio species). As the association was the only one in the Far East to have been certified for the Opilio species, from now on, no certification for Opilio species from the Far East will be available.

The association obtained certification for the three species on October 12, 2023. The suspension comes after MSC announced in 2024 that it would suspend certification for the three species.

Launched in October, France Terre de Pêches brings together seven producer organizations: OP du Sud, Les Pêcheurs de Bretagne, Orthongel, From Sud-Ouest, From Nord, Sathoan and OP de La Cotinière, which represent 1,000 fishing companies and 5,500 fishermen, reports Vincent Schumeng from Produit de la Mer.

The aim is to promote French fishing in all its aspects. "The French don't know much about fishing," says the coalition's spokesperson, Perrine Cuvilliers - who is also the general secretary of OP du Sud. "We want to show that our fishing is beautiful and diverse, and to break down preconceived ideas." 

The coalition's messages, particularly via its online media, will focus on good practices for fishermen but also on the challenges facing the profession: modernizing the fleet, recruiting young fishermen, etc. "We want to dust off the image of the fisherman and show the importance of this sector in food sovereignty," concludes Perrine Cuvilliers. 

Defending fishing means ensuring that there will be French fish on the shelves. Note that this coalition of POs has no legal status, so funding is collective.

The European Commission has set new, more stringent requirements for avoiding listeria contamination in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods.

The updated rules only apply to RTE foods, which have been the cause of many recent listeria cases in the E.U. and are, thus, considered a high-risk food group. 

The new rules establish a lower contamination threshold and a longer time frame in which producers are responsible for food safety than those that came before. 

Author: Erin Spampinato / SeafoodSource l Read the full article here

Aquabounty’s land-based salmon farming equipment heads to auction.

The remnants of failed land-based salmon farming pioneer AquaBounty are set to go under the hammer in February 2025.

The auction features a range of high-value, unused aquaculture equipment, offering a rare opportunity for industry players to acquire state-of-the-art technology at reduced costs.

AquaBounty, once a high-profile advocate for land-based salmon farming, struggled to overcome the economic and operational challenges of its ambitious expansion.

Source: SalmonBusiness l Read the full article here