A Benchmark Genetics facility in Iceland has had to deal with a change of scenery after a nearby volcano began erupting on 19 March.
The volcano, at Fagradalsfjall in Iceland, caused minor earthquakes as it spewed lava in the area. Benchmark Genetics announced that the company has been relatively unaffected by the eruption.
“In this area, we have our salmon and lumpfish farms,” the company said in a release. “All our farms are safe and all planned shipments will go according to the plan.”
The company added that the eruption “is very small” and that the lava is running away from the farms, and that prevailing winds are also keeping any gasses emitted away from the farm sites.
“We can get to all our farms, feed, oxygen, water supply, and electricity are OK and no signs of any changes as it is right now,” the company said. “Our farms are up and running and in no danger, fish/eggs OK.”
According to the NASA Earth Observatory the eruption was small but bright enough to be picked up by NASA and NOAA satellites. Surveys indicate that the fisher was initially 500 to 700 meters long, and “successively built up and then broke down mounds of cooled lava called spatter cones.”
“Aside from crowds of onlookers and a possible archaeological site, not much has been threatened by the lava so far,” NASA said in a press release.
Photo courtesy of DanielFreyr/Shutterstock
