CORPORATE NEWS
BOOST TO GROWING AQUACULTURE
BiorMar to build aqua feed plant in Australia's Tasmania
BioMar Australia plans to develop a A$56-million aqua feed production facility in Tasmania, providing a significant boost to the state's growing aquaculture industry.
Paddy Campbell, managing director of BioMar UK said the proposal would bring world-class, state-of-the art fish feed innovation and production facilities to Wesley Vale in northern Tasmania.
"Once operational, the facility will produce up to 110,000 tonnes per annum of aqua feed product to support the aquaculture industry, expecting to create 55 full-time jobs and an additional 30 jobs across the region through indirect support, operational, port services and logistical roles," Campbell said.
The BioMar Group, a leader in the research and development of sustainable, high performance feed, holds a well-established position in Tasmania as the leading supplier of high-quality fish feed for Atlantic salmon, since entering the local market in 2003.
At present one in every three farmed salmons in Tasmania is fed BioMar fish feed products, which are currently being exported from Scotland.
"We are very grateful for the Tasmania Liberal Government's commitment of A$2.3 million towards this project and the support of the Office of the Coordinator-General in securing the site in Wesley Vale", Campbell said.
Campbell said the proposed site for the aqua feed production facility is the former particle board manufacturing mill located at 329 Mill Road in Wesley Vale.
"This development proposal will also remediate and revitalise the Mill Road site, which has remained empty and abandoned for some time now", he added.
Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman announces new BioMar feed factory.
BIOMAR PHOTO
ASIA OPERATIONS UNDER FOCUS
Neovia acquires US probiotics firm Epicore
Neovia has announced the acquisition of 100% interest in Epicore, a North American company specialising in the manufacture of larval feed and probiotics on the global aquaculture market and, more specifically, shrimp.
With the acquisition, Neovia intends to develop its aquaculture business and offer new natural and sustainable solutions for livestock farming: probiotics, which are living micro-organisms that are naturally present in the body. They help balance intestinal flora and stimulate immune
defences. These natural solutions help to reduce stress and mortality rate of shrimp to promote sustainable growth in shrimp ponds.
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Epicore manufactures feed and probiotics for the shrimp market. Founded in 1987, the company's headquarters and its production facility are located at Eastampton, New Jersey. The company has a leading expertise in the manufacture of liquid feed for shrimp larvae and recognised global expertise in the production of probiotics.
With an estimated world production of 3.6 million tonnes, the shrimp market has been steadily growing for more than a decade. However, in recent years, the market has slowed or even stagnated in some countries due to the appearance of several diseases (Early Mortality Syndrome, White Spot Syndrome Virus). In response to these major health challenges, shrimp farmers have had to adapt their production model and adopt new measures to control their ponds more effectively: water quality control, biosecurity, better quality larvae, and the use of probiotics.
Epicore under Neovia will bring its leading-edge expertise in probiotics fully in line with its holistic approach to aquaculture, which ranges from feed to pond management.
William Long, CEO of Epicore said, "We are delighted to be able to share our expertise in probiotics with a large international group like Neovia. The strength of its R&D expertise and its international innovation network will allow us to develop new applications for the international aquaculture market and other markets together".
Asia is one of Neovia's main development areas and aquaculture is one of its priority businesses. With Epicore, the Group has additional resources to accelerate its growth in the Asian shrimp industry. Four out of the world's top five shrimp producing countries are located
in this region: China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Hubert de Roquefeuil, CEO of Neovia said, "With the acquisition of Epicore, Neovia's aquaculture business will achieve its critical size to accelerate its international development, especially in Asia where we can rely on the Group's presence and our recognised aquaculture expertise in Latin America (Ecuador, Brazil, Mexico) and Vietnam".
A 'HARVEST-FUL' ACQUISITION
Marine Harvest buys into Northern Harvest
Marine Harvest has announced that it has entered into a share purchase agreement worth C$315 million with Northern Harvest, a leading East Coast Canadian salmon farmer. The acquisition price is on a cash and debt-free basis.
Northern Harvest is fully integrated with its own broodstock, smolt/hatchery, farming sites and processing operations. The potential acquisition supports Marine Harvest's long-term strategy of being a world-leading and integrated producer of seafood proteins.
Nothern Harvest expects to harvest 19,000 tonnes (GWE) of salmon in 2018, and currently has 45 farming licenses in Newfoundland and New Brunswick. It has an additional 13 farming licenses in application mode.
The transaction is subject to approval by relevant competition authorities and customary closing conditions.
TRANSPARENCY IN COMMUNICATION HIGHLIGHTED
Thai Union receives Best Sustainability Report Award from SEC
Thai Union Group PCL has received the 2017 Best Sustainability Report Award from the Thai Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Thai Union was one of eight companies that received the distinction.
In June last year, Thai Union released its annual Sustainability Report, publicly detailing the company's performance from January through December 2016 against key performance indicators and targets outlined in SeaChange®, Thai Union's sustainability strategy.
The report details how Thai Union's strategic approach to sustainability is transforming the way the seafood industry operates worldwide. It covers the sustainability progress of Thai Union on every aspect of its business: from how the company looks after the oceans to how it manages waste; from the responsibility Thai Union takes for its workers to building brighter futures for communities where the company operates.
Thai Union's Sustainability Report 2016 was prepared in accordance with the internationally recognized sustainability reporting guidelines known as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Guidelines G4 and its Food Processing Sector Supplement (FPSS). The report is in agreement with the GRI G4 Guidelines – Core option.
"Thai Union takes great pride in the transparency of its communications with stakeholders, customers and the industry," said Dr. Darian McBain, Thai Union's global director for sustainable development. "Transparency is vital, so the global seafood industry knows what works as we move forward to combat global and regional issues - this report is an important part of that process."
The Sustainability Report 2016 in English and Thai is available at Thai Union's website: http://www.thaiunion.com/en/sustainability/report.
Patarachai Sonthikhant (right), Thai Union's sustainability manager for people and community
development, accepts a trophy for 2017 Best Sustainability Report from Thailand's Office of the
Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday. THAI UNION PHOTO
