February 19, 2008

Marine Harvest to downsize Chilean operations due to ISA
 

Norway's salmon production company, Marine Harvest has announced its decision to downsize its operations in Chile's region 10 due to continuous fish disease problems.

Outbreaks of Primarily Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) have affected Marine Harvest's fourth quarter productivity for 2007. The disease is pressurising all business in region 10 as it is difficult to control and is hindering production and efficiency.

Marine Harvest's most feasible option in the short term appears to be restructuring. The move will have an impact on production and profitability, but other business units of the company have been performing well.

Marine Harvest's acting president and CEO, Leif Frode Onarheim said that although region 10 has serious biological problems that demand much effort, the company is confident that they would succeed.