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Salmon Evolution production ‘stabilizing’ following AGD outbreak

High mortality rates caused by an amoebic gill disease (AGD) outbreak in April at its Indre Harøy land-based facility appear to be under control, according to Salmon Evolution. The company also reported that it has has gradually ramped up production at the site.

The company took “swift and appropriate actions to remedy the situation… and has implemented a number of actions to minimize the risk of such event happening in the future,” the Norway-based company said in its first quarter report to the Oslo Stock Exchange in May 23.

“We are pleased to see that the decisive actions taken over the last weeks is now stabilizing the situation and enabling the Company to transition back to production modus,” said Trond Håkon Schaug-Pettersen, chief executive of Salmon Evolution.

In late April, Salon Evolution’s shares dropped 10 per cent after increased fish mortalities amounting to 310 metric tons occured at its Phase One farm. The deaths reportedly occurred due to an AGD outbreak in selected fish batches and ranged from 0.3 per cent to 7.9 per cent per batch, the company said.

The remedial measures taken by the company included cutting temperatures and feeding, increasing ultraviolet concentration in the intake water, and accelerating harvests.

The company also implemented a number of actions to minimize the risk of such an event happening in the future. This includes on-site freshwater production capabilities to be installed over the next couple of weeks, reducing response time to a minimum going forward and also enabling precautionary freshwater treatments with fish transfers.

“The freshwater treatment appears to have had a good effect, and the situation is now stabilizing with daily mortality back to normal levels post freshwater treatment. The company has also recommenced feeding across the farm and is closely monitoring the situation,” a press release from Salmon Evolution said.