Bakkafrost to harvest one million fish over ISA fears
Salmon producer Bakkafrost is to harvest one million fish at a farm site in the Faroe Islands where the presence of pathogenic infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus is suspected.
The presence of pathogenic ISA virus was suspected at the A-73 Hvannasund Norður site in July 2016 and also in January this year, which led to Bakkafrost harvesting 190,000 fish earlier than anticipated and not at optimal harvest weight.
A statement from the company last night said: "As a precautionary action, Bakkafrost has decided to harvest the remaining fish at A-73 Hvannasund Norður. The accelerated harvest is expected to be finished by the end of April 2017.
"Farming site A-73 Hvannasund Norður presently holds approximately one million fish with an average weight of 3.2 kg whole fish equivalent. Consequently, the expected harvest volumes for 2017 will be reduced by around 2,000 tonnes gutted weight.
"The ISA suspicion has not been confirmed, but the farming site A-73 Hvannasund Norður is still under increased surveillance."
In is annual report released this week before the announcement of the new cull, Bakkafrost said the biological situation was the company's "most important risk area" and said it expected to harvest 55,500 tonnes gutted weight in 2017 - "500 tonnes less than the previous forecast and relates to the precautionary harvest in [January]".
