Tuesday, August 28, 2012

28/08/12: BAP; plankton bloom; EU Commission to investigate Spanish aquaculture company

Welcome back!  We had a Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK so we were off enjoying the last of the summer sun yesterday.  But don't fear, we're back with the latest aquaculture news:
  • Best Aquaculture Practices grows with first certified feed mills in Chile
The Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) program welcomes BioMar Chile S.A.'s Alitec Pargua and Planta BioMar facilities in Pargua as its first certified feed mills in Chile.

"We congratulate BioMar on this 'first,'" BAP Vice President of Development Peter Redmond said. "These plants comprise an important link in the chain of responsible salmon production by combining safe and responsibly sourced feed ingredients with best production practices."

BioMar Chile is part of the Danish BioMar Group, a leading supplier to the aquaculture industry. BioMar provides feed for salmon, trout, seabass, sea bream and eels. Roughly one out of four fish farmed in Europe and Chile is fed BioMar fish feed.

Alitec Pargua has an annual production capacity of 132,275 tons (120,000 metric tons), while Planta BioMar Pargua can manufacture close to 187,400 tons (170,000 metric tons) of feed for salmon and trout. Certification of a third operation in Castro with 66,150 tons (60,000 metric tons) of annual capacity is in progress.  More information... 
Electric blue plankton blooms off Ireland
Electric blue plankton blooms off Ireland (Photo credit: vinny12)

  • Concern over the impact of plankton bloom on Irish aquaculture:
The Irish Farmers' Association's Aquaculture section has expressed concern at the impact of this summer’s unusual plankton blooms around the coast on seafood farming companies. Aquaculture Executive, Richie Flynn, said that a combination of natural environmental events have impacted severely on many businesses.

 Richie Flynn said, “IFA have members who have had shellfish stocks killed by rarely occurring algae that arrived in conjunction with the unseasonal weather. We know of more that have been prevented from harvesting by other blooms, with damages running into many thousands of euro and mortalities on some sea farms hitting up to 80% especially in the northwest.”

  • European Commission opens investigation into Spanish aquaculture company:
Spain notified its intention to provide aid to the company Ultracongelados Antartidá, which processes aquaculture products and is part of the Group Pescanova, to modernize its facilities.
The Commission is opening a formal investigation essentially because it has doubts in relation to the compatibility of this type of aid with the internal market in particular when large companies are concerned.  More information...

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