Salmon Evolution ASA (OSE: SALME) has officially commenced operations at its Phase 2 facility at Indre Harøy, marking a critical expansion in land-based aquaculture.

The company confirmed the successful completion of the first smolt release for this phase, reporting that the fish have adapted well and feeding has already begun under stable operational parameters.

With Phase 2 now online, Salmon Evolution is significantly scaling its production. The company plans to release approximately 2.8 million smolt at Indre Harøy in 2026. This represents a massive 60% increase from 2025 levels.

"When completed, Phase 2 will more than double capacity at Indre Harøy, being a real game-changer," said Trond Håkon Schaug-Pettersen (pictured), CEO of Salmon Evolution.

The expansion leverages four years of data from Phase 1. Together, these phases create an unmatched operational platform designed to transform the company's earnings capacity and establish a leader in sustainable, land-based salmon farming.

Kverva Finans, the investment vehicle owned by Gustav Witzøe, has increased its holding in Måsøval after acquiring a further 2.1 million shares.

A fresh shareholder register shows Kverva now owns 12.74 million shares in Måsøval, equivalent to 10.4% of the company, according to Finansavisen.

The latest purchase follows confirmation last week that Kverva had acquired a separate 10.6 million share block previously held by Odin Norge.

Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here

The UK government’s funding programme for fisheries and coastal communities has been ill thought out and poorly communicated, according to a report from MPs in the UK Parliament – and Scotland’s funding allocation may have been set too low.

The conclusions come from a report published today by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs?(EFRA)?Select Committee of the House of Commons.

The report, “Resetting the relationship with fishing communities”, outlines how the Government can help the UK fishing industry thrive after a number of unforced errors. 

Author: Robert Outram / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here

Lerøy Seafood chief executive Henning Beltestad warns of increasing international competition and the need for Norway not to lose its lead in aquaculture.

Everyday life as the head of a large seafood company is busy, but it gets a little extra hectic during the world's largest seafood fair in Barcelona. For Lerøy and chief executive Henning Beltestad, it is one of the most important meeting places for both new and existing customers.

Author: Ulrik Tallhaug Sydnes / fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here

Seafood New Zealand is urging all sector participants to raise their voices as the Fisheries Amendment Bill enters a critical phase in Parliament. With the Select Committee now accepting public submissions, the industry has until April 29th to provide essential feedback on the proposed reforms.

Last year, 300 industry members participated in initial consultations. Now, Seafood New Zealand emphasizes that even greater engagement is needed to ensure decision-makers understand the practicalities of working on the water.

Key Aspects of the Bill:

• Modernization: Updating systems to better integrate current technology and data.

• Sustainability: Strengthening protections for fish populations and the marine environment.

• Privacy Protections: Formalizing the exclusion of raw onboard camera footage from the OIA, maintaining the status quo where MPI releases data quarterly.

The organization stresses that if those in processing, science, and fishing do not share their "real-world experience," the outcome may be shaped by those who do not understand the NZ sector.

In the heart of Western Victoria, the Budj Bim cultural landscape stands as a testament to the sophisticated engineering of the Gunditjmara people. Featuring one of the world’s oldest and most extensive aquaculture systems, the site has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of early Indigenous populations.

Using the ancient basalt lava flows from the dormant Budj Bim volcano, Indigenous farmers constructed a complex network of channels, dams, and weirs to trap and harvest eels. Recent carbon-dating findings estimate that at least one of the five major systems is approximately 6,600 years old—predating the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge.

In 2019, the site earned a prestigious spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Notably, it was the first Australian site inscribed exclusively for its cultural significance, honoring the enduring connection between the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners and their ancestral lands. This recognition validates a history of sedentary farming that lasted for millennia, proving that these ancient "fish traps" were part of a highly organized, permanent society.

Karachi is set to become the heart of Pakistan’s blue economy with the establishment of a comprehensive Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Centre. Functioning as a complete “Aqua Ecosystem,” the facility will integrate the entire supply chain—from sustainable catching and farming to high-tech processing and international export.

Managed under the vision of Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, the center will feature hatcheries, quality testing laboratories, and aquaculture trial units. A primary focus will be placed on high-value species, including shrimp, tilapia, seabass, and pomfret.

To overcome coastal space limitations, the project will deploy IoT-based Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS). This cutting-edge technology utilizes sensors and real-time analytics to treat and reuse water, drastically reducing waste. While Chaudhry acknowledged risks like water pollution and disease, the project aims to mitigate these through controlled farming and habitat protection.

By fostering partnerships with universities and private investors, the initiative expects to boost seafood exports and create vital jobs in logistics, research, and processing.