THE Hoganess Salmon sites in Shetland that are currently under investigation following the death of up to 6,000 farmed salmon last week have been suspended from existing certification schemes operated by the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO), Scottish Quality Salmon and Shetland Aquaculture.

A NEW series of online modules to educate young people about the aquaculture industry has been launched by animal health and nutrition company Alltech and the Irish agri-food educational body, Agri Aware.

THE Scottish SPCA is investigating the death of up to 6,000 farmed salmon at a fish farm in Shetland, according to a report by Shetland Marine News.

The ex-farm value of the Shetland salmon sector is to top £145million in 2010, an increase of 15% from the previous year (£126m in 2009), according to Shetland Aquaculture.

FOLLOWING Norway's recent announcement of record seafood  exports, it has now emerged that Norwegian fish is taking over the seafood market in the United States. Sales of Norwegian salmon to the US in particular have rocketed since the Chile salmon disease outbreak 18 months ago. But it also being helped by the oil crisis in the Gulf where large areas of water have been clsoed off to fishing, leading to a seafood shortage in some areas.

Marine Harvest ASA has appointed Ola Brattvoll (born 1968) as Group Director for the new Business Unit Global Sales & Distribution. The new Business Unit will be in operation from 1. January 2011.

Putting Scotland’s £400 million salmon farming industry, and the rest of the industry worldwide, on a more sustainable footing is the aim of new draft global standards published yesterday.

THE Irish Sea Fisheries Board, BIM, has opened applications for The Commercial Aquaculture Development Scheme.

TESTING of a new bleeding method in combination with superchilling has shown very promising results for pre-rigor filleted farmed cod.

ANIMAL nutrition and fish feed giant Nutreco has recorded “excellent” revenues of €2.25 billion (£1.88 billion) for the first half of 2010. Pre-tax profits were €84 million and an interim dividend of €0.50 in cash or shares was declared.

MARINE Harvest today confirmed plans for an extraordinary general meeting on August 23, following yesterday’s announcement of the company’s performance in the first half of this year.

THE Scottish Salmon Company (SCC) have acquired the shares in West Minch Salmon Limited, a leading independent salmon farming company based in the Outer Hebrides.

THE effects of higher salmon prices are now noticeable even in the US where the number of supermarkets offering farmed salmon on promotion is noticeably down, according to a firm of industry watchers.

YOUNG’S/FINDUS has hit back at a newspaper report which claimed fish stocks would near extinction by 2050.

SCOTTISH Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead revealed today that some of the so-called emergency measures, imposed by the European Commission on the West of Scotland, are under review.

IN CONNECTION with the presentation of its Q1 2010 results, Marine Harvest released a statement saying it guided a total harvest volume of 68,000 tonnes of “head on gutted equivalents” for Q2 2010. The figures include salmonid species only.

THE Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has helped fishermen at Selsey on the English south coast to publicise a problem they are having with non-native American lobsters.

TODAY, the European Commission is holding a large stakeholder seminar focussed on "The Reform of the Market Policy on Fishery and Aquaculture Products".

SCOTTISH Sea Farms Ltd, sole supplier of Lochmuir™ Salmon to Marks & Spencer was given double recognition  in M&S’ annual Plan A awards ceremony which took place at the Royal Highland Show in June.

THE Scottish Salmon Company Ltd (SSC) has announced the successful completion of an exchange offer to acquire all the shares of Lighthouse Caledonia ASA (LHC).

BIRDS EYE have confirmed that it is interested in acquiring Findus Italy, the big European frozen seafood and frozen food business.

Scottish Sea Farms Ltd (SSF), one of Scotland’s leading fish farming businesses and sole supplier of Lochmuir™ Salmon to Marks & Spencer was given double recognition  in M&S’ annual Plan A awards ceremony which took place at the Royal Highland Show last week (24 June 2010).

THE Marine Stewardship Council is holding a meeting titled “The Sustainable Seafood Arena and the MSC” on 28 September.

NORWEGIAN aquaculture research organisation Nofima says its attempts to overcome the lice problems that have plagued the country’s salmon industry are “in full swing”.

LAST week, Lord Steel presented a 17,000 signature salmon farming petition to the Scottish Parliament.

THE master and owners of the Newlyn beam trawler Nellie, pleaded guilty to a total of seven logbook offences at Camborne Magistrates Court on 24 June.

THOMAS Farstad, currently acting CEO of Marine Harvest, has been appointed as the new president and CEO of Aker Seafoods ASA.

NORTHERN Ireland’s Fisheries Minister Michelle Gildernew has met with EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki in Brussels, ahead of next week’s Fisheries Council which will be held in Luxembourg.

FISH farming must play a significant role in future food security.

EVENT organisers and participants have heralded this year's Flavour of Shetland event on Victoria Pier, Lerwick a great success, despite the elements.

A DEAD sperm whale has been found floating 77 miles south of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

FISH feed company Skretting has announced it has developed a feed concept for bluefin tuna that brings ever closer the goal of breeding and rearing this much sought-after fish in captivity.

SNP MEP and Party President Ian Hudghton has called on the EU to avoid red tape and centralisation which would be damaging for Scotland’s aquaculture production as plans were discussed in Strasbourg for an EU Aquaculture Strategy.

You can now read the whole of Fish Farmer Magazine online as a digital edition as soon as it is published.

It costs £44 per year and you will have access to the magazine archive for the duration of your subscription. This archive normally contains the last six issues.

Click here to go to the subscription page for more details and a sample issue

The Aquaculture Communications Group (ACG) is currently planning an Aquaculture Investment Mission/Tour in conjunction with Aqua Sur 2010 October 20-23 in Puerto Montt, Chile. Here is your opportunity to experience the premiere Chilean aquaculture industry event, with about 300+ stands representing more than 900 companies from over 40 countries looking to do business in Chile.

SNP MEP and Party President Ian Hudghton has called on the EU to avoid red tape and centralisation which would be damaging for Scotland's aquaculture production as plans were discussed in Strasbourg for an EU Aquaculture Strategy.

ON THE final day of the AquaVision conference in Stavanger, Norway, Professor Frank Asche said he expected aquaculture to become the dominant seafood supplier within a decade or two.

LIFEBOAT crews from Kirkwall and Dunbar are to be presented with special awards for exceptional bravery by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution at the charity’s Scottish Annual Meeting in Perth today. The awards will be presented by Admiral The Lord Boyce, Chairman of the RNLI.

THE Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is seeking detailed proposals from qualified consultants to review MSC Scheme Documents.

Aquaculture needs to invest more in its reputation. That was the conclusion of an instant poll during the aquaculture conference AquaVision in Stavanger, Norway, on Tuesday 8 June. Voting in the audience were the top leaders of the world’s main fish farming companies and aquaculture stakeholders.

BC Salmon Farmers Association Executive Director Mary Ellen Walling has been honoured by her local business community with the non-profit business leader of the year award, granted this weekend.

Aquaculture UK 2010 at Aviemore succeeded as a place to do business, to network and to catch up with all the latest developments.

SCOTTISH manufacturer Fusion Marine has won an order to supply aquaculture equipment for a new tilapia farm in Ghana in the first modernisation project of this type for the West African country.

A YEAR after OCEAN2012 came to life, and coinciding with World Oceans Day tomorrow (8 June), the 70-member coalition dedicated to transforming European fisheries policy is launching the first ever European Fish Week.

DUE to an increased use of the delousing agents diflubenzuron and teflubenzuron in fish farming in 2009, the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research has examined additional filets from a total of 205 farmed fish for residues of diflubenzuron and teflubenzuron, on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. These extra samples are in addition to the regular surveillance of these substances in fish farming. The results of the additional analyses showed no residues of diflubenzuron or teflubenzuron. This is consistent with the result from the regular surveillance programme.

TORGER Børresen and Joop Luten, president and vice-president of the EU-supported SEAFOODplus Research Platform, say aquaculture has a key role to play in delivering healthy food for consumers.

THE Institute of Aquaculture will hold its second research conference at the University of Stirling on Monday 28 June 2010.

GRANTS worth almost £1 million have been awarded to a number of English fishing companies from the European Fisheries Fund and Marine Management Organisation, formerly the Marine and Fisheries Agency.

THE restocking of a large salmon-growing area off the south-west coast of Shetland has been hailed as an example for “best practice in action”.

SEAFISH, the authority on seafood, has responded to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) Trilogy Report.

THE Norway based salmon farming company, SalMar ASA has agreed the conditions for the purchase of 75% of a smaller company, Raumagruppen AS.

THE 18th annual European Seafood Exposition and 12th annual Seafood Processing Europe just came to an end following an exciting three days, 27 through 29 April, in Brussels, Belgium.

THE top executives of global aquaculture giants, Marine Harvest, AKVA Group, Marine Farms and Nutreco are all on the speakers list at the aquaculture business conference AquaVision 2010 in Stavanger, Norway, 7–9 June.

AN operation by wildlife crime officers has been launched to crack down on the illegal destruction of Scotland's freshwater pearl mussels.

THE Norwegian seafood company, Taste of North, have used Nofima’s sensory panel to have their new juniper smoked salmon steaks product analysed.

THE Marine Accident Investigation Board (MAIB) has carried out a preliminary investigation following the grounding of the wellboat, Ronja Skye on Morvern in February this year.

A NEW seafood firm, Argyll Smokery, is launching in Dunoon supplying produce under the Highland Mary brand.

Don’t ignore the risks – wear a lifejacket – that’s the message to fishermen at Fishing 2010 from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

NEWLY discovered colonies of an endangered mussel, the depressed river mussel, suggest better chances of survival and point to healthier rivers and streams in Kent, according to the Environment Agency.

THE world’s largest fish farming company, Marine Harvest, has extended their co-operation with feed company BioMar and signed a contract for the delivery of fish feed over several years.

NEW Zealand's aquaculture and fishing industries are looking to China and its vast population to boost business. Several fish farming companies have already joined forces to market New Zealand seafood to the Chinese mainland.

he Marine Institute recently held an open day on board the national Research Vessel Celtic Explorer for schools from all over Galway city and county at Galway docks.

Lighthouse Caledonia, Scotland's largest independent salmon farming business, has announced record results for the first quarter of 2010, following improved levels of production and strong market conditions.

Delivery by Fusion Marine of new Triton Open Sea salmon pens to Marine Harvest signals commitment to stock security.

Lighthouse Caledonia is one of the major players within the Salmon Farming Industry to adapt the concept of non toxic antifouling. Micanti has introduced its non toxic antifouling in August 2009 in the salmon market.

NORTHERN Ireland’s Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster, has encouraged the local renewables sector to build partnerships and take advantage of the multi-billion pound global marine energy market.

CANADIAN salmon producers have responded to growing demands from environmental organisations to move salmon production to on-shore ‘closed containment’ systems by explaining their position on the subject.

THREE New Zealand salmon products have been judged by international taste awards experts as being ‘exceptional’ with a further three called ‘remarkable’.

SALMON farming and fish feed company, Cermaq has delivered strong Q1 2010 results.

THE winners of the 2010 Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards were revealed at an awards ceremony last night, held at the Benromach Distillery in Forres.

THE total value of seafood exports from Norway in April totalled NOK 3.7 billion (£404 million), an increase of 10% compared to April 2009, according to the latest figures from the Norwegian Seafood Export Council.

THE US authority with responsibility for fisheries, NOAA is restricting fishing for a minimum of ten days in federal waters most affected by the BP oil spill.

EUROPEAN fisheries ministers and stakeholders will be discussing the future shape of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy at two major events in Spain over the next days however Scottish Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead has expressed his anger at not being allowed to participate in the most important meeting.

THE undersea habitat of one of Scotland's most rare and endangered sea creatures is to be explored and charted in detail for the first time by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

AS part of its long-term ‘Fish for Life’ commitment to sustainable seafood, the Findus Group yesterday announced its ambition to buy all the wild-caught fish for its Young’s and Findus retail brands across Europe from fisheries independently certified to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard by 2012.

THE Spanish sturgeon farming company, Piscifactoría Sierra Nevada (PSN) has been certified by Friend of the Sea for its sustainability.

Seafish, the authority on seafood, today announced the publication of new research into the supply of Icelandic cod and haddock to the UK.

A NEW climate-population model developed by scientists at the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to study rising ocean temperatures and fishing rates on one east coast fish population could also forecast the impact of climate change and fishing on other fisheries. The model is one of the first to directly link a specific stock with future impacts of climate change.

Rope grown mussels produced by the Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group (SSMG) have become the first farmed seafood in the UK to achieve the prestigious Friend of the Sea (FoS) certification providing independent confirmation of the sustainability of its aquaculture operations.

LARGE fish farms may not have a bigger environmental impact on the seabed than their smaller counterparts, according to a University of Aberdeen study.

GOVERNMENT TO LEAD APPEAL TO SUPREME COURT

Effective April 1, 2010, Rodrigo Torrijo will assume the responsibility of General Manager of Troutlodge :: Chile, replacing the outgoing John Dentler. Mr. Torrijo has previously served as the Sales & Development Manager for Troutlodge in Chile since June 2009. Mr. Torrijo will continue in this capacity as part of his General Manager duties.

The Board of Directors of Marine Harvest ASA and Åse Aulie Michelet have reached agreement that Michelet will step down as CEO effective March 23 2010. A process to identify her successor has been initiated.

BRITISH Seafood's surprise High Court levy victory against Seafish has thrown the entire industry into turmoil.

THE entire UK seafood processing industry was celebrating today after it was announced that the British Seafood group had won its appeal against paying a levy to Seafish on imported fish.

The group, which was placed in administration last month, lost its case against Seafish last summer over its refusal to pay around £2-million in back levies. It immediately launched an appeal which the High Court allowed in a near sensational judgement yesterday.

THE owner of fish farming company West Minch Salmon has said that business should be back to normal soon after a fire affected part of their processing factory at Gramsdale in Benbecula last week.

Aquaculture equipment manufacturer Fusion Marine has won orders worth £2.4m to supply salmon pens and associated equipment from three Scottish fish farming companies.

In a recent Scottish Parliamentary debate, the future of Aquaculture was discussed and Scotland’s achievement in dramatically increasing its export of high quality salmon was recognised. Dr Richard Simpson MSP for mid Scotland and Fife, praised the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture for leading the way in this increasingly important field.

An IFA Aquaculture meeting of oyster farmers from every corner of the coast was held in the Marine Institute headquarters in Oranmore, Galway today (Friday) to discuss health, environment and trade issues. The meeting was chaired by John Evans of the Marine Institute and is a follow up to a national growers’ meeting held in September 2009 hosted by IFA.

Lighthouse Caledonia plans to refurbish and reopen the Marybank processing plant in Stornoway this summer, with the creation of around 90 jobs.

THE Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, is calling for contributions to the development of a worldwide overview and databank on Codes of Practice, Codes of Conduct, Management Practices and Technical Guidelines in aquaculture.

An innovative new device that could help save fishermen’s lives by warning of vessel instability is likely to provide a focal point of interest at this year’s Fishing 2010 exhibition in Glasgow.

ANOTHER part of the troubled British Seafood Group is under the control of administrators.

CHILE has started the long job of rebuilding its shattered fishing industry following the devastating earthquake nearly two weeks ago.

SEAFISH, the UK industry authority on seafood, is stepping up its interest in aquaculture, one of the fastest growing sectors in marine food.

THE United States has confirmed that it will continue its support for a proposal to ban all international commercial trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna.

THE UK government was today begged by campaigners to end its careless approach to buying seafood.

THE Scottish based salmon farming company, Lighthouse Caledonia ASA has announced the resignation of OddGeir Oddsen as Managing Director of the company.

ONE of Iceland's largest seafood businesses has issued a statement stressing in strong terms that it is not affected by the British Seafood collapse even though its main shareholder, Mark Holyoake, is also founder and head of British Seafood.

The regulated marketplace Fish Pool ASA recently launched salmon options as hedging and investment instruments for its members.

THE administrators handling the affairs of the Five Star Fish company are thought to have received a number of preliminary inquiries about buying the business, it was disclosed last night. But so far there have been no firm offers.

EXHIBITION space for Aquaculture UK 2010 on May 19th and 20th at the MacDonald Aviemore Highland Resort in Scotland is sold out - 10 weeks ahead of schedule.

KAIPARA Oysters, an exciting new brand of organic New Zealand oyster produced in the strong, pristine waters of the outer Kaipara Harbour on the northwest side of North Island in New Zealand, is about to be launched into international foodservice and retail markets.

STANDARDS designed to minimise the potentially negative impacts that shrimp and abalone aquaculture can have on the environment, farm workers and communities near aquaculture farms were posted today for the first of two public comment periods.

THE Seafish Marketing Communications team has won two awards at the Communicators in Business (Scotland) awards.

The seafood industry was hit by a major thunderbolt last night after it was disclosed that one of its star performers the British Seafood Group had gone into administration.

Asmund Baklien, one the most experienced fish health profiles of Norway, has joined Novartis Aqua Norway as its National Account Manager.

SALMON prices are climbing faster than at any time for several years, according to the latest global data.

Aquaculture Europe 2010, to be held in Porto, Portugal from October 5-8, 2010 puts the focus on the future of marine aquaculture in Europe. AE2010 is organised by the European Aquaculture Society and hosted by the Portuguese Marine Sciences Associate Laboratory CIMAR (CIIMAR Porto and CCMAR Faro).

Scotland’s largest independent salmon farming business has posted strong results during Q3.

The Oslo based company with major operations in Scotland, Norway, Canada and Chile achieved operational earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of NOK 625 million (£67 million) in Q3, compared to only NOK 103 million in the corresponding quarter last year. Earnings per share was NOK 0.18 compared to NOK -0.51 in the third quarter of 2008.

A GROWING list of functional feed ingredients is delivering potential for productivity, health promotion and sustainability in aquaculture.

Following today’s Royal Assent for the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, Natural England heralded the legislation as a once in a lifetime opportunity to enhance and protect the marine environment.
Dr Helen Phillips, chief executive of Natural England, said: 'The Marine and Coastal Access Act will be enormously important for our marine environment, which urgently needs greater protection from the overexploitation and damage that has been inflicted upon it.

Skretting has launched an upgraded Gemma Wean marine larvae feeds that are literally green. Simultaneously the range of Gemma pre-grower diets for marine species has been rationalised.

Salmon farming company Marine Harvest is set to create more than 40 jobs in the Western Isles as it announces plans to invest £40m to expand its Scottish operation by developing new farming locations further off shore.

Campaigners’ seeking an end to what they believe is the slaughter of thousands of seals in Scottish waters by the salmon industry every year today released the results of a new poll revealing that the majority of the UK public want better protection for UK seals and for retailers to stop buying salmon from producers that shoot them.

HAVSTERK AS and LIFT UP AKVA AS have signed an agreement appointing LIFT UP as the sole distributor of the new HAVSTERK morts barge. During the upcoming AQUA NOR exhibition in Trondheim, August 18th to 21st, a morts barge will be shown.