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Ocean Matters’ lumpfish harvest reaches 2M

UK-based Lumpfish producer Ocean Matters finished off 2019 with the harvest of its two-millionth fish, according to a statement from Mowi Scotland, which owns Ocean Matters.

This record-breaking harvest is a milestone for the company as no other producer in the UK has ever harvested that many lumpfish, Mowi said in the latest issue of its company newsletter The Scoop.

“This is an incredible milestone and I’m really proud of the team that made it happen, all their hard work and dedication made this possible. The sustainable production of lumpfish plays a significant role in the welfare of our salmon farmed across Scotland. We look forward to another great year in 2020,” Daniel Phillips, Ocean Matters cleanerfish production manager said.

Mowi Scotland purchased Anglesey, North Wales-based Ocean Matters in April 2019, saying the acquisition was an important addition to Mowi’s cleanerfish program. The species aid in managing sea lice on farm-raised Atlantic salmon.

Ocean Matters is the largest producer of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) in the UK. Its land-based facility, located on the coast of Wales, was designed specifically for the purpose of breeding and raising lumpfish, the company stated on its website.

“Fresh seawater is brought into our aquaculture facilities daily from local waters where it is tested, treated and continually monitored to assure an ideal growing environment, creating superior growing parameters that promote robust health and maximum survivability through both deployment and lifecycle. Due to our extensive filtration systems and clean technologies the out-going water is clean and seamlessly reintroduced back into local waterways with no effect on the environment, surrounding life or native species,” Ocean Matters explained on its site.