Cooke Aquaculture Chile Challenges Court-Ordered Production Suspension

Cooke Aquaculture Chile, the Chilean salmon farming arm of Canadian seafood company Cooke, was ordered to suspend operations at nine of its farming sites for one production cycle, per various local media reports.

The company rejected the fine and said that the roughly $37,000 penalty was “disproportionate” as it stemmed from an alleged delay of providing statistical information by one or two days, according to the publication Salmonexpert.

Cooke clarified that the authority's requirement that the data be submitted weekly was fulfilled, as established by current regulations...

Tom Taylor Appointed Executive Director of Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association

The Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) announced that Tom Taylor has been appointed as its new executive director, effective March 24.

Taylor will take the helm of ACFFA with over two and a half decades of experience in the aquaculture industry. The ACFFA described Taylor as a “highly regarded seafood industry leader who brings extensive expertise in fish farming operations.”

Previously, Taylor has worked with multiple industry boards, including as chair of the board of directors of ACFFA since 2018...

Nordic Halibut Secures Processing Deal with Pure Norwegian Seafood

Nordic Halibut (NOHAL) signed a deal with Pure Norwegian Seafood (PNS) to allow the halibut farmer to use PNS’ processing facilities at Averøy.

The two firms also entered into an agreement that will see PNS’ principal shareholder, Masoval, according to which NOHAL is allowed to purchase 100% of the shares in PNS. The deal's price was not made public and is subject to the agreement between Masoval and other minority shareholders of PNS.

Nordic Halibut said the processing facility is key to scaling up production volumes in the coming years...

BioMar Acquires Full Ownership of Norwegian Research Center to Boost Aquaculture R&D

Aquaculture feed company BioMar has acquired full ownership of LetSea, a fish farming research center in Norway.

BioMar said it has taken over the remaining shares from KapNor and the move “reinforces (its) position as a global leader in research and development for fish feed and strengthens its innovation capacity within aquaculture feed solutions.

After partnering for years, BioMar said it can advance its work on waterborne feeding, developing feed ingredients and its work to improve fish performance, health and welfare...

Grieg Seafood Completes Successful Placement of Perpetual Green Hybrid Bond

On February 27, 2025, British Columbian (B.C.) salmon farmer Grieg Seafood ASA announced the successful placement of a new perpetual green hybrid bond issue of NOK 2 million ($177.6 million) with a first call date after four years.

Bond details

Proceeds for the bond—which has a coupon, or interest rate, of three months at a Norwegian Inter-Bank Offer Rate (NIBOR) of 5.75%—will go towards financing Grieg’s green projects, as further defined by the Green Bond Framework.

Among its financial activities will be the refinancing of existing...

NWAA Sues Washington DNR Over Commercial Net Pen Ban, Citing Flawed Rulemaking

The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) filed a lawsuit against Washington State’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for its ban of commercial finfish net pen aquaculture in state waters.

NWAA President, Jim Parsons, said DNR, led by its former Lands Commissioner, “Conducted a predetermined and inadequate rulemaking process that ignored the best-available science and ignored the intent of the State Legislature when it set forth a new law allowing for the production of native species in commercial net pens...

Dunleavy Proposes New Legislation to Allow Finfish Farming in Alaska

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy introduced legislation that, if passed, would allow finfish farming in inland, closed-system bodies of water. The move would end, at least in part, the state's 35-year ban on fish farming.

The bill, HB 111, doesn’t allow salmon farming and prohibits the cultivation of pink, chum, sockeye, coho, chinook, and Atlantic salmon. It also requires that all finfish be sterilized so they wouldn’t be able to reproduce if an escape occurred.

Furthermore, the legislation requires any potential farm to be enclosed within a natural...

Ecuadorian Shrimp Companies Unite Under “Ecuador First Class Shrimp” Brand to Expand Global Reach

Ecuadorian shrimp companies have adopted the “Ecuador First Class Shrimp” brand as they look to promote the 60-year industry at trade shows and beyond.

The new brand, created with the help of Ecuador’s National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA), aims to tell the industry's story. It focuses on characteristics like sustainability, quality, and innovation.

The Ecuador First Class Shrimp brand will be on display at the upcoming Seafood Expo North America show and was on display at some trade shows...

Mowi Fish Farm Loses 27,000 Salmon in Storm-Related Incident

The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (Fiskeridirektoratet) said 27,000 farmed salmon escaped from a Mowi site in Storvika Vest in Troms this past weekend.

Mowi Seawater Norway AS reported an escape incident on the night of February 9, where a cage was damaged during a storm. The directorate was on site to carry out inspections to begin the week and supervise according to typical procedures.

The fish in the cage in question have been moved and counted, and the company estimates that approximately...

2025 Awards Announced for Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation

The Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation (KGASF) recently announced its 2025 aquaculture scholarships, with awards going to four Indigenous students, all of whom represent federally recognized Tribes.

The KGASF was established in honor of Kurt Grinnell, a Native American leader from the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe in Washington State. Grinnell viewed aquaculture as a solution to Tribal food security, and Indigenous reconciliation and wellbeing.

Through the annual scholarship program, the Foundation provides financial assistance to Tribal and First Nations students who wish to pursue careers in aquaculture and natural resources...

Shrimp Farmers in India Cite Struggles as Vannamei Seed Prices Rise

Vannamei shrimp seed prices have risen of late, causing headwinds for shrimp farmers in India, according to media reports.

The New Indian Express reported that shrimp seed prices in the Nellore region have been driven up by increased demand for high-quality seed and broodstock. Nellore is in Andhra Pradesh, the main hub for Vannamei shrimp production in India.

The publication noted that farmers have become uncertain about the profitability of shrimp farming as seed prices rise daily. As a result, the farmers...

Regal Springs’ Sustainability Alliance with Honduran Government Benefits Local Communities

Honduran tilapia producer Regal Springs Honduras, also known as Aquafinca St. Peter Fish, recently renewed its strategic alliance with the Government of the Republic of Honduras and the national electric company Empresa Nacional de Energia Eletrica (ENEE).

Once again, the entities will work team up to facilitate local sustainability and protect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems within Honduras.

A major aspect of the partnership is collaborating to strengthen key operations in the country’s hydroelectric dam El Cajón, which is the fifth largest dam in the Americas and situated in Lake El Cajón...

Japan's FY2023 Land-based Aquaculture Shipments Hit 6,392 Tons, Small-scale Production Dominates

According to the Fisheries Agency, the shipping volume from land-based aquaculture in FY 2023 was 6,392 tons. Of this, 4,802 tons were finfish, 15 tons were shellfish, 657 tons were algae, and 919 tons were other. The figures were announced on January 22. The agency has implemented a notification system for land-based aquaculture since April 2023; this is the first time the shipping volume has been announced, reported Minato Shimbun. The figures exclude eel farming, which requires ministerial permission, and...

European Public Prosecutor Investigates €4M Fraud in Aquaculture Funding

Nine individuals and five companies were charged with aggravated fraud to obtain €4 million ($4.1 million) for the aquaculture sector, funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), per the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). 

The EPPO said the issue revolves around five cooperative societies suspected of submitting false documentation and fictitious insurance policies to obtain funds for new fish tanks and a vessel for the aquaculture sector.

During the application procedure, the EPPO sanctioned one of the companies with an anti-mafia preventive measure, which barred...

Proximar Seafood Overcomes Biofilter Challenges, Optimistic About Future Production 

Land-based salmon farmer Proximar Seafood said it experienced a pair of biofilter incidents in Q4 of 2024. While the incidents didn’t lead to any abnormal mortalities, feeding was reduced to maintain water quality, the company said in its sixth production update published on January 7. 

The company, which farms the fish in Japan, said the reduction in feeding has led to lower growth, but mortality remains low, and fish health was cited as good. Proximar Seafood noted that the implementation of the ozone system has solved the issues...

8F Asset Management Secures $460 Million for RAS Salmon Facility in Japan

8F Asset Management based in Singapore, the parent company of Soul of Japan of Tokyo, which aims to produce Atlantic salmon using a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) in Mie Prefecture, has raised 460 million US dollars or 72.678 billion yen for the construction and operation of the facility. The company announced this on January 6. The amount raised includes 33 billion yen ($209.10 million) received from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation in June 2024, and an additional 39.7 billion yen ($251.55 million) has been raised, according...

Ecuador’s SSP Celebrates Seven Years of Shrimp Sustainability

The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) is celebrating its seventh anniversary as a global benchmark entity for responsible shrimp production.

SSP is comprised of leading shrimp producers in Ecuador’s booming shrimp farming sector, which currently dominates the global shrimp market.

“Leading by example has not only been a strategic foundation but also our greatest source of learning,” said SSP Director Pamela Nath, commemorating another year since the organization’s 2018 founding.

The Partnership’s certification program plays a vital role in how the SSP moves the needle on shrimp farming. At its core, SSP certification...

Chile’s Salmon Council Signs 50-Year Plan to Promote the Salmon Farming Development Board

The signing took place within the framework of the first session of the 50-year Salmon Plan.  

The Salmon Council participated in the formation and signing of the commitment of the "Table for the Development of Salmon Farming".  

The author of the initiative is the mayor of Puerto Montt, Rodrigo Wainraihgt. His plan, with many others in the area as well as public agencies, private companies, and NGOs, is to establish a strategy for the sustainable development of salmon farming in the future...

Senator Cassidy Urges Treasury to Block Funding for Foreign Shrimp Farms

The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA), an organization representing the domestic shrimp industry, commended a recent letter from US Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who called on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to block taxpayer dollars from financing foreign shrimp aquaculture projects.

Cassidy, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, urged the Treasury Department to “take all necessary actions to prevent any future funding of shrimp aquaculture development, which would exacerbate the financial crisis facing U.S. shrimpers.”

According to the letter, Ecuadorian shrimp producers and exporters...

Oregon Considers Following in Washington’s Footsteps with Aquaculture Legislation

The Oregon Legislature is considering a bill that would ban open water finfish aquaculture, a move some say is a preemptive strike based on Washington’s ban last year. 

House Bill 2965 sets requirements for raising fish as food for humans and creates a related fund for managing those efforts.  

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Mark Gamba, a Democrat from the Portland metropolitan area and co-sponsored by other Democrats. The first hearing on the bill was held on Wednesday this week, in the Committee on Agriculture, Land Use...

Alaska House Leaders Oppose Governor’s Plan to Allow Fish Farms, Dunleavy Responds in Video

The debate over whether to lift a 35-year ban on fish farms in Alaska continued yesterday. On Friday, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy proposed HB111, which would keep the ban on salmon farming but allow Alaskans to raise other finfish, in closed water systems, potentially for sale. 

Yesterday, Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, issued a written statement after reading the bill.

“Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, our coastal communities, and fishing families across the state are suffering through historically...

Okamura Foods to Triple Trout Farming by 2030 with JPY 19 Billion Investment

According to the Minato Shimbun report, Okamura Foods of Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture, has announced a plan to invest 19 billion yen ($12.52 million) in capital investments, mainly aquaculture, over the next six years, from this fiscal year to the fiscal year ending June 2030, when the company will have increased domestic trout farming production by 3.4 times the current fiscal year’s forecast, amounting to a total of 12,000 tons. This is according to the company’s medium-term management goals, which Okamura Foods announced on February...

Salmon Evolution Achieves Record Harvest and Strong Financial Results in Q4 2024

Salmon Evolution said it generated NOK 149.5 million ($13.3 million) in revenues for the final quarter of 2024, translating into a group EBITDA of NOK 9.2 million and a Farming EBITDA of NOK 15.3 million.

“We are very pleased by ending 2024 with a new harvest record and strong KPIs, highlighting the significant milestones we have achieved the last 12 months”, CEO of Salmon Evolution, Trond Håkon Schaug-Pettersen said. “2024 have further strengthened our position as the leading land-based salmon farmer globally...

Cermaq Norway’s Top Executive Knut Ellekjær Steps Down After Eight Years

The top executive of Cermaq’s Norwegian operations decided to leave the company after eight years at the helm. 

Salmon farmer Cermaq announced that Knut Ellekjær would step down as head of Cermaq Norway’s operations, with Kristin Hurum set to take over. 

"After 8 years, it is the right time to pass the baton on. It has been fantastic years in a strong, committed and competent organization, with major investments, and doubling of volume and turnover with a clearer responsible profile. We have designed and are now launching a new...

Innovasea Introduces New Seabream Algorithm for Biomass Solution

Innovasea, a global leader in technologically advanced aquatic solutions for aquaculture and fish tracking, announced today the first commercially available seabream algorithm for biomass estimation.

This algorithm, part of Innovasea’s AI-powered biomass solution, BiomassPro, was rigorously tested and proven to deliver over 95% accuracy in real-time with gilthead seabream weight estimations for Aquafrais Cannes. Located off the coast of France, Aquafrais Cannes has been a leader in French aquaculture for over 35 years, advancing sustainable methods for growing high-quality seabream and sea bass...

Atlantic Sapphire to Rent-Out Danish Facility; Feed Costs Impacted by Trump’s Tariffs

Land-based salmon farmer Atlantic Sapphire announced that it has entered into a short-term lease agreement with Maiken Foods AS to rent out its Danish facility.

Maiken will facilitate a pilot for its fish farming solution as its time as a tenant. During the lease period, Maiken will have a purchase option for the entity which will allow the company to create a large-scale land-based salmon farming operation.

In 2021, Atlantic Sapphire was hit with a major fire at its...

Amar Seafood Obtains Licenses for Halibut Farm in Trøndelag, Norway

Norwegian-headquartered aquaculture company Amar Seafood was recently granted licenses to farm Atlantic halibut in its facility in Frøya, Trøndelag, Norway.

Currently, Amar Seafood operates five fully licensed aquaculture facilities across Canada, Scotland, and Norway, harvesting head-on-gutted groundfish: the Spotted Wolffish and Atlantic halibut.

The Frøya site will be repurposed for halibut farming, as well as for research and development for Amar, with a focus on testing and improving equipment and operational solutions...

Cooke Chile CEO Clashes with Environmental Authority Over Salmon Farming Concessions

The battle between Cooke Chile, the Chilean arm of Cooke Aquaculture and Chile's Superintendency of the Environment (SMA) rages on.

In a handful of social media posts, Cooke Chile’s CEO Andres Parodi indicated that issues between the company and the SMA have not gone away.

“We are approaching the fourth year that the SMA does not allow us to work two concessions for salmon farming, granted by the State,” Parodi wrote at the start of his LinkedIn post.

Parodi highlighted the trouble...

Dubai’s Aqua Bridge Group Steps Into Greek Aquaculture with AVRAMAR Takeover

Dubai-based Aqua Bridge Group has confirmed its acquisition of the Greek arm of AVRAMAR.

AVRAMAR is one of the largest aquaculture players in Greece, primarily focused on farming seabass and seabream. Mohammad Tabish, the founder and CEO of Aqua Bridge Group, posted about the deal on LinkedIn.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported us over the past six months. Your unwavering commitment, belief in our vision, and tireless efforts have been instrumental in reaching this milestone,” Tabish wrote...

Mowi Scotland to Transition from Loch Arkaig After 35 Years

Mowi Scotland announced that it was unable to come to an agreement on a lease extension at Loch Arkaig, one of its oldest freshwater sites in Scotland. The company has farmed at the site for over 35 years.

“We will cease farming here in April but take forward experience and strong scientific evidence showing that there is no detrimental environmental impact from farming salmon here,” the company said in a blog post recapping its 2024 operational highlights in Scotland.

The company will move to a pair of new production sites...