Salmon Evolution primed for big Q4 harvest
Land-based fish farmer has doubled standing biomass since end of June
In a production update, Norwegian land-based fish farmer Salmon Evolution writes that it is experiencing strong biological performance with good growth and "normal mortality" across all fish groups.
However, the company says nothing about what it defines as normal mortality.
As of 30 September 2023, the company had standing biomass of around 2,100 tonnes (live weight), up 101% since 30 June 2023.
Net biomass production for the third quarter was 1,290 tonnes LW and the company says it has seen a steady increase throughout the quarter, resulting in a quarterly run of around 1,600-1,700 tonnes LW as of the end of September. This corresponds to around 70-75% of steady state volumes.
The company’s eighth batch of smolts was stocked during the quarter two more batches are scheduled for stocking in the current quarter, supporting further increases in biomass production and steady state production volumes of 7,900 tonnes of HOG per year by the end of the year.
NOK 72 per kilo
The company harvested 185 tonnes (head on gutted) during the third quarter, after pushing some of the planned volumes to the fourth quarter to optimise harvest weights and price realisation.
The superior share was 96% and there was close weight concentration. The average price received for the fish was NOK 72/kg HOG.
For the fourth quarter, the company plans to increase harvest volume significantly, slaughtering the rest of batch 3, all of batch 4 and parts of batch 5.
“We are very satisfied with the still strong biological performance. During the third quarter, we saw both all-time high biomass production and standing biomass.” Said Salmon Evolution chief executive Trond Håkon Schau-Pettersen.
“Together with production costs trending in the right direction due to higher production and a historically strong salmon market, we are very much looking forward to the fourth quarter and our significant increase in harvest volume.”
