April 8, 2010

Ireland to start world's first organically raised salmon

Ocean Harvest Technology, an Irish based company, has announced that it is to start commercial production of a new salmon feed ingredient, derived from seaweed, which will enable the production of the world's first organically farmed salmon.

The new feed, named OceanFeed, replaces the synthetic additives currently used in commercial salmon feed and improves the health, taste and appearance of the salmon, said Patrick Martin, CEO of Ocean Harvest Technology.

There has already been tremendous interest from the world's leading aquaculture feed producers, and the first year's production has been optioned by EWOS UK, one of the world's leading salmon feed producers.

The new feed allows salmon to be raised in a wholly natural way, which enables the continued development of an environmentally sustainable food source in aquaculture.

The company plans to set up a plant in the west of Ireland that will have the capacity to supply the world's leading centres of salmon farming in Scotland, Norway and Chile.

As an industry, salmon farming in the UK has taken significant criticism in terms of environmental impact. The new organic feed offers potential breakthrough in terms of product quality and environmental benefit for EUR6-billion (US$8 billion) farmed salmon industry.