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Fishermen's Day 2012 has begun, but the day was initially established to strengthen solidarity among fishermen, both to rejoice and to remember dead fishermen. The aim of the day is also to introduce the nation to the significance of the profession's work for the benefit of society.

Food production is one of the most important industries in Iceland. The role of the fishing industry and fish processing is the most important. The same basic principle applies in all sectors of food production, that is, the quality of the products depends on the quality of the raw material from which they are processed. Fishermen and others involved in the fishing industry know how important good fish handling is.

The first steps are especially important when ensuring the maximum quality of fish catches. This ensures that consumers get the best possible product and at the same time it is usually ensured that the value added is the greatest.

Cooling - why?
Cooling slows down the activity of pests, prolongs the time the fish is dying and thus reduces the release in the fish flesh, increases blood flow from the capillaries after bleeding and makes the flesh whiter. Last but not least, cooling reduces shrinkage.

Matís has worked with fishermen for a long time to promote the right maneuvers when handling valuables from the sea and is well acquainted with the high-quality work methods that are widely practiced in that area. Therefore, it is to no one's advantage, least of all the fishermen, when pictures of catches in unacceptable conditions are drawn, as was done in Íslandsbanki's congratulations to the fishermen in the media yesterday.

Fishermen: Let's join hands and ensure maximum value creation with good handling of catch.

For more information Sveinn Margeirsson and Jónas R. Viðarsson at Matís.

Related material: www.kaeligatt.is, The importance of good handling of fish (booklet), The importance of good handling of fish (single leaf) etc. brochures and leaflets.

Fred W. Allendorf, Regents Professor of Biology at the University of Montana, USA and Professorial Research Fellow at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, visited Matís on 29 May.

Fred visited Matís' genetic laboratory and met with the company's geneticists and the Marine Research Institute. He has published over two hundred scientific papers on evolution, stock genetics and conservation biology and is one of the world's leading scientists in his field. Among other things, he has worked on developing methods for implementing genetic engineering for fish stock monitoring and fisheries management.

For further information, please contact Anna Kristín Daníelsdóttir, Director of Safety, Environment and Genetics at Matís.

Matís' employee, Sarah Helyar, will give a talk at the University of Akureyri on fish genetics and its significance in fisheries management.

The conference

Conservation biology: Towards sustainable management of natural resources
Location: Friday 1 June from 9:00 - 17:00 in Sólborg room M-102

Lecture by Sarah Helyar: Of Fish and SNP s: The Potential of Genetics for
Traceability In European Fisheries Management

Further information here.

Matís' three employees were on a trip to the Faroe Islands recently. There they learned about food production and research in the islands and also introduced Matís' activities to the locals.

A meeting was held with stakeholders in pelagic fishing and processing, where, among other things, Matís' research in those areas was discussed. There was a lot of interest before the meeting, where our "cousins" learned about the development of fishing and processing mackerel in this country and Matís' projects related to pelagic species. The participants in the meeting were particularly interested in the work that has been done regarding the mapping of stock units of different fish species using genetic methods, in particular herring and mackerel. There was an interest among the participants to take a greater part in this work in the future, as there are great interests at stake where it is possible to use genetic research for the analysis and monitoring of stock units and as a basis for the division of fishing rights between countries. At the same time to prevent deception in the marketing of seafood.

Matís employees also held a meeting with representatives of ministries, institutions, town representatives and research funds, where Matís' food factories were introduced. The Faroese are considering the establishment of innovation centers in the islands and were interested in learning about Matís' experience of operating the food factories, which operate in Reykjavík, Hornafjörður and Flúðir.
Matís' employees benefited greatly from this visit to the Faroe Islands and expect that it can further enhance the good co - operation that the company has with local parties.

For further information Jónas R. Viðarsson at Matís.

Matís, in collaboration with the Blue Lagoon and the Association of Icelandic Biotechnology Companies, recently held a conference on algae. A conference took place in the Blue Lagoon and it went very well everywhere.

There is great potential in the algae industry. Algae can be added to foods, making them more nutritious and tastier. At Matís, for example, kelp has been developed which has attracted a great deal of attention (http://www.matis.is/matis/frettir/nr/3331). The Blue Lagoon has used algae in Blue Lagoon cosmetics, but research has shown that algae in the Blue Lagoon reduce the aging of the skin.

Algae have also been used in food, for example, to reduce the use of salt, for example instead of MSG, but there are also known examples of algae being used in food supplements and animal feed. There are great possibilities in algae cultivation, processing and utilization in this country, as the sea area around the country is well suited, for example due to its purity.

Consumer awakening has taken place both in Iceland and elsewhere regarding the nutritional content of algae. The potential for value creation is therefore great when it comes to algae cultivation.

A Nordic project and co-operation on algae began on 1 March. The project is called "Nordic Algae Network" and the conference that was held on 15 May was connected to this. Matís organized the conference and it was sponsored by the Blue Lagoon and the Association of Icelandic Biotechnology Companies. A large number attended the conference, but the intention was to bring together people from the industry and those who conduct research on algae both in Iceland and abroad. The aim of the conference was to exchange knowledge and know-how with regard to the utilization of algae for energy consumption and valuable materials.

The agenda of the conference was as follows:

09:00 Welcome - Hordur G. Kristinsson, Matís, Reykjavík, Iceland
09:10  Nordic Algae Network - Lars Nikolaisen, Danish Technological Institute, Aarhus, Denmark
09:20  The situation in Denmark on macroalgae - Lars Nikolaisen, Danish Technological Institute, Aarhus, Denmark
09:40 Algalíf: A company takes its first steps towards establishing large-scale microalgae production in Iceland - Paul Lebeau, Algalíf, Norway
10:00 State-of-the-art on macroalgae in Ireland - Anna Soler, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
10:40  Value added products from macroalgae - Sarah Hotchkiss, Cybercolloids Ltd., Carrigaline, Ireland
11:00 Icelandic macroalgae - past and present utilization - Karl Gunnarsson, Marine Research Institute, Iceland
11:20  Icelandic R&D activities on macroalgae - Hordur G. Kristinsson, Matís, Reykjavík, Iceland
11:40  Microalgae cultivation at the Blue Lagoon - Halldór Guðfinnur Svavarsson, Blue Lagoon Ltd., Grindavík, Iceland
12:00  Development of a sustainable macro- and microalgae sector in Norway, with considerations of commercialization and markets - Anne Mugaas, The Royal Society for the Welfare of Norway, Norway

"Nordic Algae Network" is funded by the Nordic Innovation Center, NICe, and more information can be found on the project's website, www.nordicinnovation.org/nordicalgae

For further information Hörður G. Kristinsson, Head of the Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry and Director of Research at Matís.

Matís is working with locals on both sides of Breiðafjörður and has been active in food production and related industries in the area. Part of that effort is the hiring of two employees who will start working in Patreksfjörður in the next few days, but these employees will be added to the group of the two who were recently hired to work in Grundarfjörður in Snæfellsnes. 

The four employees will work in close collaboration with each other and with other Matís employees, all over the country.
 
For a long time, Matís has looked at opportunities in the southern Westfjords, as there are great opportunities elsewhere in the vicinity of Breiðafjörður for increased value creation related to food. Matís has now hired two employees to support and work with local people on the development of food production and related industries in the area.

Matís will work with companies, local authorities and individuals in the area who will be able to use Matís' expertise to build their own operations. Matís' operations in Breiðafjörður are based on a solid and strong collaboration with the locals, as they have taken the initiative in the development that Matís is currently embarking on.
 
There are great opportunities in the area. The fishing industry is a key industry in constant development, but in addition there are opportunities for the development of aquaculture and the utilization of other raw materials in the area. In the southern part of the Westfjords, there is great growth in aquaculture and a strong development in that area. Matís 'operations will support the necessary research and development in connection with aquaculture, but it is expected that services for aquaculture-related activities will be one of the main challenges for Matís' employees in the area. As the largest cost item of aquaculture lies in feed and feeding, the development of feed costs is not least considered.
 
Strengthening food production will play a key role in increased value creation in the southern Westfjords and by Breiðafjörður. Matís staff is looking forward to tackling upcoming projects with the municipalities in the area, companies and all locals.

For further information, please contact Haraldur Hallgrímsson 858 5054 and Steinar B. Aðalbjörnsson 858-5111.