Canada-based Amar Seafood has reached an agreement with Scotland-based Otter Ferry Seafish to acquire the latter company for an undisclosed amount.
Otter Ferry Seafish is an aquaculture company founded in 1967, making it one of the U.K.’s longest-running aquaculture businesses. The company originally developed trout farming, land-based salmon farming, and broodstock and smolt production before moving into other marine species.
“We are very pleased and excited to entrust the stewardship of this historic company to Amar Seafood,” Otter Ferry Managing Director Alastair Barge said in a release. “We know them well and have developed a strong supplier-customer relationship that fits well with our ethos of innovation and sustainability. We can clearly see the benefits that Amar Seafood will bring – not just to the company but to all those involved in the company and the Scottish aquaculture sector as a whole.”
Otter Ferry said it is currently the only commercial marine hatchery in Scotland and is now playing a leading role in establishing production of halibut, wrasse, and lumpfish.
“Otter Ferry have kept the flame alight for halibut as a species over the last 30 years, and we now have a company in Amar Seafood that can more than match our vision for this extraordinary product,” Barge said.
Otter Ferry has also partnered with salmon farmers in Scotland for wrasse production to help control sea lice and specializes in the production of “cleaner fish.”
Amar Seafood operates land-based aquaculture operations farming spotted wolffish and halibut. The company manages everything from egg retrieval from its broodstock to harvesting market-ready fish and currently operates five facilities in Canada, Scotland, and Norway with licensed land-based and sea-based aquaculture operations.
It said it is currently the only operator in North America with developed broodstock of both Atlantic halibut and spotted wolffish. It has also collaborated with companies like Aminor – which started farming spotted wolffish in 2013.
“We are absolutely delighted with our acquisition. We see Otter Ferry as a Scotland-based international hub supporting our operations in Norway and Canada – both as an advanced hatchery producing increased amounts of quality juveniles and also as a valuable industry agri-tech research center,” Amar Group Chair Bjørn M. Apeland said. “We are committed to a phased expansion of the hatchery to enable us to develop our near market ongrowing capacity in Scotland, Canada, and Norway.”
Both companies said Otter Ferry’s staff will continue managing the business while being complemented with expertise from Amar Seafood from Norway and Canada.
“This is an emotional moment for us but, at the same time, a very exciting new chapter for Otter Ferry, and a great day for halibut,” Barge said.
