Mowi has hailed the acquisition as an important addition to its cleaner fish programme – increasing their capacity to produce fish that eat sea lice on farm-raised Atlantic salmon.
The Ocean Matters hatchery currently produces lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus), one of two fish species that have proven to be effective cleanerfish. The company also cultures ballan wrasse at other facilities.
“We entered the cleaner fish space a bit late, however thanks to our committed staff, loyal customers and supportive investors Ocean Matters became the largest in the UK and one of the largest world-wide,” says founder/MD Werner Forster.
“Our ability to design and build RAS systems combined with prior RAS operating experience played a factor as well,” Forster added.
Mowi has been Ocean Matter’s largest customer and collaborator since inception. We’re quite pleased to know Ocean Matters has graduated on to the Mowi family where it will certainly receive all the support required to continue on its current path.”
“This purchase provides us increased capacity for cleanerfish production with great potential for future development as well,” says Dougie Hunter, head of cleanerfish and technical services at Mowi Scotland. “I would like to welcome the new hatchery staff into the Mowi family.”
The use of cleanerfish is now a major part of the company’s successful sea lice control strategy and part of a larger integrated pest management programme at its marine salmon farms that includes other non-medicinal sea lice management solutions such as freshwater baths and mechanical removal.
Dougie adds: “We will continue to develop our cleaner fish programme, and assess our future requirements to ensure we are making best use of our production facilities.”
Mowi will continue to operate the new purchase under the Ocean Matters name.
