Expansion plans for fish health firm that stops bacteria talking
A company supplying products for farmed finfish that it says strengthen natural defences, optimise nutrition, and support welfare during critical periods is aiming to expand into Europe, and into a new species, shrimp.
Blue Vision Health (BHV) says its products for salmon and tilapia disrupt quorum sensing, a biological process of cell-to-cell communication that bacteria use to coordinate group behaviours based on population density.
The company adds that such disruption can help prevent harmful bacterial behaviours, making infections easier to manage and reducing the need for antibiotics.
It says its technology platform has already demonstrated strong commercial success in key aquaculture markets, particularly in Chile and Brazil.
Targeting Norway
BHV is preparing to expand its activities into Norway, while simultaneously advancing innovative programmes for the global shrimp farming sector.
The company was part of Dutch health consortium Animal Health Vision (AHV) - which uses quorum sensing disruption to support terrestrial farm animals - but is now an independent company following the acquisition of AHV’s livestock activities by Elanco.
“Our mission is clear: to help producers improve profitability through better biology,” said BHV chief executive Hans den Bieman, whose 30-year career in aquaculture includes senior roles with feed producer Nutreco and salmon farmer Marine Harvest (now Mowi).
“By supporting natural resilience, health, and performance, we enable more sustainable and productive aquaculture operations.”
Den Bieman is also a director of Chilean smolt producer Sealand Aquaculture, based in Calbuco, Los Lagos region. The hatchery has supplied more than 60 million smolts each to Chilean's second- and fifth-largest salmon farmers - Multi X and Blumar, respectively - over the past decade.
He added that BHV’s quorum sensing technology “opens exciting new possibilities for supporting animal health and production performance in a way that aligns with the biological principles of nature”.
