After announcing that it acquired a 100 percent stake in Mexico-based bluefin tuna producer Baja Aqua Farms, Umami Sustainable Seafood on Thursday said it expects to harvest about 1,400 metric tons of bluefin tuna valued at USD 25 million in the second half of 2010.
Umami expects to produce about 400 metric tons of bluefin at its Kali Tuna operation in Croatia and 1,000 metric tons at its Baja Aqua Farms operation.
“It is gratifying to see our harvest generating significant cash flow to assist in the operational expansion of our business, as well as strong operating results,” said Umami CEO Oli Steindorsson. “We believe that the acquisition of Baja has elevated our bluefin operations to higher standards and we will continue to harness the benefits of our sustainable operating platform to generate superior financial results.”
Morpol benefits from share sale
European salmon processor Morpol on Wednesday announced that sales of 15.2 million new shares to Norwegian and international investors raised profits of NOK 311.6 million. The subscription price was set at NOK 20.50 per share.
The funding will be used to finance further growth and for general corporate purposes.
King crab research nets USD 460,000
Biologists at the Alaska King Crab Research, Rehabilitation and Biology program — who are developing technology to raise red and blue king crab in hatcheries as a way to rebuild collapsed stocks in parts of Alaska — are receiving USD 460,000 in grants.
Researchers will use the funds to study how juvenile king crab cope with predators, find food and interact with other marine organisms, including other crab. Over the next two years, researchers will conduct experiments aimed at better understanding the role of habitat, crab body size, prey density, predator density, water conditions and predator types on the survival of juvenile crab. Lab experiments will be done at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Ore. Field experiments will be conducted in Yankee Cove, near Juneau, Alaska.
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