The growth of aquaculture in Iceland has been slower than one might expect Icelanders to play the same role in food production from fish products as they have done so far. Arnljótur Bjarki Bergsson, division manager at Matís, believes that further research and development work is needed to strengthen aquaculture in Iceland.
According to forecasts in recent years, the demand for fish products and seafood will increase significantly, but it is clear that fishing for wild fish will not meet that demand if things go as planned. Therefore, there are hopes for aquaculture and that farmed fish will meet increased demand.
"Aquaculture has grown rapidly worldwide, but Icelandic aquaculture has not been the same," says Arnljótur Bjarki Bergsson, Director of Processing, Value Added and Farming at Matís. He says that Icelanders have earned less than 2% of the world's catch of fish, but Icelanders only grow about 0.01% of the world's total aquaculture production. "If Icelanders want to play the same role in food production from fish products here as they have so far, it is clear that a lot of work is being done," says Arnljótur, adding that Icelanders have hoped for much more powerful aquaculture in Iceland than has been the case. "Whether the focus is on food security in the Arctic or the safety of the food produced here and sold around the world, it is obvious that Icelandic aquaculture must grow. Therefore, research in the field of aquaculture and its development in this country must be carefully considered. Arctic charr that has so far supported aquaculture in Iceland is a small species in a global context, "says Arnljótur.
Long live the first model
Arnljótur says that when building a fire, there are many things to consider and it is important to apply high-quality professional work methods at all stages of the farming process. "Many factors, including the fitness of fish, depend on their genotype. There are indications that the development of the first stages of farming can yield benefits in the later stages, and therefore the first type of farming must be carefully considered, as the perfection of fish can be seen early in life. In order to maximize the profitability of aquaculture, the vigor of the fish must be carefully considered and efficiency must be considered, especially in feed preparation and feeding. "
Exponential growth not default
"It was a time when forecasts for aquaculture in the future seemed to be based on exponential growth, but now the forecasts of the National Association of Aquaculture Centers are based on a more conservative assessment, i.e. forecast, high forecast and low forecast. Although Icelanders do not expect two hundred times more aquaculture production by 2030, it is clear that there are opportunities for increased aquaculture in Iceland. Farming of exotic species can be a source of income for society, especially since centuries-old species produce products that are sold at high prices, such as sea urchins or Senegalese flora. Similarly, quality salmon can create currency, although our victory is hardly won over quantity, quality can yield value. The entry of new parties into Icelandic aquaculture, such as Fjarðarlax, Arnarlax and Stolt Sea Farm, promises that Icelanders can gain a foothold in the fish farming sold in well-paying markets. "
In Arnljót's opinion, new and great victories can hardly be achieved in aquaculture without strong research and development work. The same applies to both fire and fishing, the more important thing is to get the highest price for everything that is produced, rather than putting too much effort into quantity. It is important to keep this in mind as it looks like the scope of aquaculture in the Westfjords will sooner or later equalize the scope of Westfjords fishing for wild fish.[1] "By providing funds for research and development, it is possible to work systematically to adapt aquaculture to Icelandic conditions, which are not entirely comparable to the farming conditions of our competing countries."
Research and development are key
People are constantly looking for better solutions and turn to rocks, large and small, both domestically and abroad, to increase, improve and improve aquaculture. We have many examples of research and development work that has appeared, for example, as results in Matís reports as well as peer-reviewed academic articles, and are used in teaching aquaculture at Hólar University, and have been implemented in the work of the Marine Research Institute. The results of such research have, however, not least benefited aquaculture companies and led to rationalization and added value in their operations. Recent examples of this type of work can be found, for example, in a specific indication of where further research is needed regarding the fatty acid composition of feed for fatty fish.[2] SINTEF and others' analysis of the possible development of Nordic aquaculture by 2030 can also be mentioned.[3]
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| From the report of Trond Rosten et al. Perspectives for sustainable development of Nordic aquaculture. [4] Matís was one of the participants in the PABAN project. The picture shows important areas for the growth of Nordic aquaculture. |