June 7, 2016

Improved biology in Chile with predictable and sustainable volume growth will benefit Norway's salmon industry, Cermaq's CEO Jon Hindar said at the Seafood conference in May.

Norway and Chile accounted for 80% of global supply in 2015, and other regions are too small to materially impact global market balance and prices.

Hence, a prolonged negative growth scenario in Chile can lead to loss of demand for salmon unless growth in Norway can compensate.

The SRS bacteria is the main problem in Chile, leading to low price and quality realisation and a concern regarding the high use of antibiotics. An effective vaccine against SRS is needed. Hence, Cermaq is engaged in R&D to support vaccine development as well as running systematic trial of new vaccines.

It is definitely possible, but there are no "quick fixes" for a recovery of Chilean salmon farming towards becoming a sustainable industry, Hindar concluded.