Salmon ova centre on track for June opening
An under-construction incubation centre that will significantly increase the capacity of salmon ova supplier Benchmark Genetics Iceland is on schedule for opening in June, the company said.
The centre next to the company’s existing broodstock and incubation facilities in the town of Vogarvik, on the southwest coast of Iceland.
Planned to be in operation from mid-June 2021, the new facility will hold an annual capacity of 300 million ova.
10,000 incubators
The facility will hold 10,000 individual incubators, each of which will have eggs from a single female fish, a system that Benchmark says secures the highest levels of biosecurity in line with the company’s standards.
“The new incubation centre is based on the existing production philosophy of Benchmark, to ensure the highest levels of biosecurity and supply of high-quality and genetically improved eggs all year round,” said Dr Jonas Jonasson, head of production in Benchmark Genetics and chief executive of the Icelandic operations.
Largest contract
Earlier this month Benchmark Genetics, which is part of UK-based Benchmark Holdings, announced what it said was potentially its largest-ever contract to supply Pure Salmon, which is developing on-land salmon farms worldwide.
Pure Salmon has ambitions to produce 260,000 tonnes of salmon annually and the contract’s potential volume represents more than 80 million eggs per annum at full capacity, with first delivery of ova expected in 2022.
Other recent contracts for Benchmark, which is the only foreign ova producer allowed to supply eggs to Chile, include five-year deals with Nordic Aqua Partners (China), World Heritage Salmon (Norway) and AquaCon (US), along with a seven-year deal to supply Salmon Evolution (Norway).
