New kid on the block relies on familiar face to stake a place in Scotland
Norwegian fish farming supplier Bio Marine is seeking to establish itself in Scotland and Ireland, and has hired experienced industry representative Chris Mitchell to spearhead its sales push.
The company aims to sell its self-developed lice skirts, deep water upwelling technology, environmental management, and underwater lighting in pens.
Mitchell, a fisheries biologist with extensive experience in the UK aquaculture sector, will be the company's representative in the UK and Irish markets.
“We are pleased to welcome Chris to the team, a versatile and experienced industry professional, who with his expertise in fish health will be able to spearhead our efforts in the British market,” Bio Marine export manager Nils Hovden said in a press release.
According to Hovden, the salmon industry in Scotland has much in common with Norwegian salmon farming. There has been considerable consolidation in the last couple of decades, and today the industry consists of a handful of large companies as well as some traditional players that are growing well. In Ireland, the situation is much the same, albeit on a somewhat smaller scale.
Helping solve challenges
“The industry in the UK is more integrated in the value chain and there is an increasing focus on fish welfare among consumers. We therefore see opportunities for our solutions to help improve the cage environment and thus fish welfare,” said Hovden.
“Although there are differences in cage design and size, our systems can be adapted to meet most needs. We are also aware that rising temperatures have presented salmon farmers in the west of Scotland and Ireland with challenges which we believe our technology can help compensate for.”
Mitchell has previously held business development roles at Landcatch, Pharmaq, and most recently WellFish Tech, so he has a broad and relevant practice, said Bio Marine. He is also a Norway enthusiast after many trips to the northern counties and regularly takes his holidays in the Hardanger region.
Originally from Sussex, Mitchell has lived in Scotland for several years and will be working out of Stirlingshire.
