The groundbreaking 'Bay Area Lingding,' recognized as the world's first smart far-sea aquaculture platform, has been officially named.

This innovative vessel, equipped with a pollution-free seawater exchange system, is undergoing final construction in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China, with sea trials scheduled for April and official delivery anticipated in June.

Bakkafrost, the prominent Faroese salmon farmer, has announced substantial first-quarter harvest volumes, showcasing significant production growth, according to a recent stock exchange disclosure.

The company, with operations in the Faroe Islands and Scotland, reported a total harvest volume of 25,200 metric tons. This impressive figure is attributed to an average salmon weight of 5.1 kilograms in the Faroes and 6.7 kilograms in Scotland. In comparison, the company harvested 14,294 metric tons in the Faroes and 7,263 metric tons in Scotland during the same period last year, demonstrating a notable year-over-year increase.

Bakkafrost also reported stocking 3.2 million smolts in the Faroe Islands and 600,000 in Scotland, ensuring continued production capacity.

Notably, the Faroe Islands experienced zero event-based mortality costs in the quarter, while Scotland's mortality costs decreased significantly to DKK 8 million (approximately $1.16 million USD), down from DKK 18 million in the first quarter of 2024. (Note: Exchange rate used is approximate).

The company is set to release its comprehensive first-quarter report on May 19th.

Despite these positive production figures, Bakkafrost's stock has seen a decline of nearly 30 percent over the past year, closing at NOK 490.80 on Tuesday.

Austrian food-tech start-up Revo Foods is launching “EL BLANCO”, an alternative to black cod made of fungi protein and microalgae oils. The product is produced with a new 3D extrusion technology, giving an attractive look of scaled fish filets. This product shows the versatility of 3D Extrusion Technology to create filet-, and steak-like products at scale.

Following the successful launch of “THE FILET – Inspired by Salmon”, Austrian food-tech company Revo Foods is now introducing its newest innovation: EL BLANCO – Inspired by Black Cod. EL BLANCO is a whitefish-filet alternative for black cod. 

Source: Fish Focus l Read the full article here

A consortium of companies in Norway and Iceland have put into use netting that’s been derived from recycled fishing gear.

Nofir has joined with AKVA Group Egersund Net, Aquafil, Grieg Seafood and Hampiðjan to developed and produced this first net for salmon farming use, made using nylon recycled from used nets, fishing gear and other products. The filaments are made from regenerated nylon from ECONYL, and the project is supported by Handelens Miljøfond.

The first net has been made for a Grieg Seafood facility.

Source: Worldfishing l Read the full article here

Farmed salmon contributed £187 million to the economy of Scotland’s Western Isles in 2024, according to figures from industry body Salmon Scotland.

The value reflects sales from farming operations in the islands, which support 420 full-time jobs — making salmon farming one of the largest private sector employers in the region.

The figures come in the wake of a Scottish parliamentary rural affairs committee report, which called for stronger regulation of the sector. Some stakeholders have pushed for a moratorium on new farm sites due to environmental concerns.

Source: SalmonBusiness l Read the full article here

Bioled Photoperiod, a leading Chilean innovator in aquaculture photoperiod systems, has forged a strategic representation agreement with Tilad Group, a Riyadh-based conglomerate specializing in sustainable solutions across diverse industries, including aquaculture.

This partnership marks a significant step in bringing Bioled's cutting-edge technology to the rapidly expanding aquaculture sector in Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

The alliance will facilitate the deployment of Bioled's advanced equipment and services in both existing and future aquaculture projects, promoting greater efficiency, responsibility, and sustainability within the region's burgeoning industry.

Cristina Navarro, General Manager of Bioled, emphasized the agreement's strategic importance, stating, "This milestone enables us to introduce our technology to a dynamic and fast-growing market. Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of major aquaculture initiatives, and we are confident that we will serve as a pivotal partner in enhancing both productivity and sustainability for local producers."

Franco Cerda, Head of Aquaculture at Tilad Group, echoed this sentiment, adding, "We recognize the exceptional quality and impactful nature of Bioled's solutions and believe they will deliver substantial value to our clientele. This alliance reinforces our unwavering commitment to advancing state-of-the-art technologies within Saudi Arabia's aquaculture industry."

A decline in salmon production in the Magallanes region of Chile has led to the loss of 1,500 processing jobs, an industry spokesman has said.

Carlos Odebret, president of the Magallanes Salmon Farmers Association, highlighted the job losses in a call for the government to address challenges to the sector’s growth.

More than three years ago, the Magallanes salmon industry recorded its peak production, reaching 180,000 tonnes. Last year, salmon production was 100,000 tonnes, a 44.4% drop.

Source: fishfarmingexpert l Read the full article here