Bakkafrost harvests salmon early at suspected ISA site

Atlantic salmon producer Bakkafrost Group has taken the decision to harvest all of its remaining fish at site A-73 Hvannasund Nordur early as a precautionary action due to the continued suspicion of pathogenic infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus.

The site has been under increased surveillance since July last year, when it was initially suspected of being infected with the virus, while tests taken this year by the Faroese Veterinary Authority again resulted in the suspected presence of the disease.

To date, ISA has not been confirmed at the site.

The accelerated harvest is expected to be finished by the end of April. The site presently holds approximately one million fish with an average weight of 3.2 kg whole fish equivalent.

Consequently, the expected harvest volumes for 2017 will be reduced by around 2,000 metric tons (MT) gutted weight. Prior to this development, the Faroese salmon producer had forecast a 2017 harvest of around 55,000 MT.

The Faroese company achieved an operational earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of DKK 1.2 billion (USD 173.9 million, EUR 161.4 million) last year, up from DKK 1 billion (USD 144.9 million, EUR 134.5 million) in 2015. Its 2016 harvest totaled 47,542 MT of salmon (gutted weight), down from 50,565 MT in the previous year.

Subscribe

Want seafood news sent to your inbox?

You may unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time. Diversified Communications | 121 Free Street, Portland, ME 04101 | +1 207-842-5500
None