Benchmark land site ready for first broodstock
UK firm Benchmark has announced that its new land-based salmon broodstock facility in Norway is now ready to house its first batch of broodstock.
The 10,000 square-metre facility will receive delivery of the first stock in November from Salten, the joint venture partner of Benchmark's subsidiary SalmoBreed, that has been growing SalmoBreed's genetic material. Salmon eggs from this stock will be produced early autumn 2018 and first test batch sales are expected two months later.
The new facility will deliver eggs throughout the year for the entire production cycle and will be the first of its kind to do so in Norway. Smolt from SalmoBreed's breeding station in Lønningdal will also be delivered in November. This new site, which is based on Benchmark's Icelandic model, is fully-biosecure and has the capacity to produce over 150 million ova per year.
The build of the facility is on schedule and is expected to reach full capacity by autumn 2019.
Benchmark chief executive, Malcolm Pye, said: "SalmoBreed Salten will be the world's most advanced facility. This additional capacity will allow us to take up our production to meet the increasing demand for disease free, year-round salmon ova."
'Robust breeding programmes'
He added: "Norway is a leading player in salmon and there is a continuous drive towards improvements in production efficiency traits, disease resistance and product quality. Benchmark are well-placed to address this through our robust breeding programmes that are proven to tackle some of the industry's biggest challenges."
In June 2016 SalmoBreed Salten applied to produce 2,540 tonnes of broodstock, 200 tonnes of land and the rest in the sea, having been both encouraged and guided by Norwegian Fisheries Minister Per Sandberg. But when the decision finally came it was for just 50 tonnes on land, enough for just 50 million ova. SalmoBreed has appealed against the decision.
The facility is able to produce more than that because it can use existing Salten licences for 200 tonnes of on-land broodstock.
Eggs produced at the new facility will be supplied to Scotland. A SalmoBreed spokesperson said: "Being a controlled and closed compartment, we will be able to hold an ISA free segment which is a requirement for export to the UK."
