Marine Harvest has sold its 31.3 percent stake in breeding company Aquagen to Aquagen’s majority owner EW Group GmbH for NOK 173 million (USD 31.3 million, EUR 23.6 million).
The sale was triggered by Marine Harvest’s decision to focus its breeding activities around the Mowi strain, which it has carried out breeding of Atlantic salmon based on Mowi strain for more than 40 years.
The Mowi strain has demonstrated good survival and low feed conversion ratio. The breeding methods have further led to a higher resistance to several salmon diseases. Marine Harvests efforts in this area of the value chain have been significantly enforced during last years and will be a focus area going forward. The company expects applied science to lead to several improvements in breeding methods.
Marine Harvests strategy is to be a leading force within sustainable salmon farming and the company has 89 on going research projects.
The share sale will not alter Marine Harvest's cooperation with Aquagen.
On Monday, Marine Harvest’s smoked salmon division, Delifish on Monday said it is issuing a voluntary recall on a line of cold smoked salmon products potentially tainted with Listeria monocytogenes, sold across U.S. foodservice and retail outlets.
The product’s manufacturing date stretches back to fish products between 5 September and 17 October. The salmon was sold in California, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico under nine different names.
The recall includes the following products:
Black Bear of the Black Forest Smoked Salmon
Food Service Cold Smoked Salmon Trim
Einstein Darn Good 4-ounce retail package
Food Service Whole Smoked Side
Silver Source Smoked Salmon Foodservice
Royal Fjord Smoked Toppers
Royal Fjord Sliced Smoked Salmon Loin
HEB 4-ounce smoked salmon package
