Aquaculture for all

Weekly Overview: Movements in the Aquaculture Sector

Crustaceans Health Sustainability +4 more

ANALYSIS - In this week's news, Norwegian fish farming giant Marine Harvest announced that it was looking to takeover rival company Cermaq in order to create create a global seafood leader, writes Lucy Towers, TheFishSite Editor.

Lucy Towers thumbnail

The offer was conditional on Cermaq dropping its plans to take over the Peruvian feed company Copeinca.

Cermaq however rejected the offer, seeing its future firmly in acquiring Copeinca.

Since then Marine Harvest has purchased 692,544 further shares in Cermaq ASA at NOK 104 per share.

In Canada, the Nova Scotia government is planning to make changes to its aquaculture regulations. The new framework will protect coastal communities, making sure aquaculture grows in a sustainable way.

Similarly, the EU is planning a set of guidelines, to be implemented through the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), to boost Europe's aquaculture sector.

The sector has the potential to grow but is currently facing challenges.

Shrimp farmers in Asia welcomed the news that the cause of Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) has been identified.

Although presence of the disease generally led to better prices, it has impacted heavily on the industry, causing moralities over 70 per cent.

Researchers from University of Arizona identified that EMS is caused by a unique strain of bacteria, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which is transmitted orally, colonises the shrimp gastrointestinal tract and produces a toxin that causes tissue destruction and dysfunction of the shrimp digestive organ known as the hepatopancreas.

Create an account now to keep reading

It'll only take a second and we'll take you right back to what you were reading. The best part? It's free.

Already have an account? Sign in here