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The impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems can be seen in the changing distribution, migration, and abundance of species in the oceans. For some species this changing environment may be beneficial and can support population expansions. In the northeast Atlantic (NEA), the Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) is undergoing an increase in stock size accompanied by changing summer migration patterns, which have resulted in an expansion further north and north west than previously recorded. This study uses microsatellite loci to confirm the differentiation among NEA and northwest Atlantic (NWA) mackerel spawning populations and to assess the level of structuring within these populations. In addition, to enable population-specific exploitation rates to be factored into fisheries management, we identified the origin of individuals composing the expanding feeding aggregations in the central north Atlantic (Greenland, Iceland, Faroes), with all aggregations tested originating from spawning populations in the NEA. This study showed that microsatellite loci were useful to assess the contribution of NEA and NWA populations to mixed feeding aggregations across the north Atlantic for large pelagic fish stocks but were not powerful enough to evaluate the specific contribution of known stocks within NEA and NWA.
Last week, preparations and raw material procurement took place for the first agricultural experiments at Landgræðslan and the Agricultural University of Iceland.
Matís employees have been strict in collecting raw materials and preparing fertilizer mixtures for the project. Sustainable fertilizer processing which was funded by the Rannís Marketing Plan. The project is working on mapping the amount of organic by-products and problem waste that is generated in Iceland with a view to using it in land reclamation and agriculture. The innovation company Atmonia is also participating in the project, as the company is developing an environmentally friendly production process for nitrogen fertilizers.
By increasing the utilization of organic raw materials from Icelandic industry and mixing them with important nutrients, such as nitrogen and sulfur, it is possible to significantly reduce the import of fertilizers and at the same time close the cycle and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The treatment and use of organic raw materials in fertilizers often involves a great deal of hassle, in addition to which such treatment is costly. Large amounts of raw materials are usually needed to meet the nutritional needs of agriculture and land reclamation, in addition to which the nutritional composition is not always optimal. The project will therefore seek to find ways to improve organic fertilizers and at the same time reduce transport costs and emissions.
In this summer's experiments, emphasis is placed on raw materials that have been processed from so-called problem waste, ie. slaughter waste, food licenses and sludge. Tests will be performed with aquaculture manure, human sludge, three types of compost, meat meal, bokashi, cow manure and chicken manure. The raw materials will be applied to agricultural areas this spring, on the one hand unmixed and on the other hand with added nitrogen and sulfur. Such an experiment provides an important comparison, as well as a comparison with synthetic fertilizers. The results will shed light on the quality of these raw materials, whether less raw materials can be used if the nutritional composition is adjusted and whether they are a viable option in agriculture and land reclamation.
The project is for two years, but agricultural experiments will be reviewed and repeated next summer.
The project involves: Matís, Atmonia, the Agricultural University of Iceland, Landgræðslan, Hafró and Landsvirkjun.
To study the effects of dairy production system on milk macromineral and trace element concentrations, milk samples were collected monthly in 2019 from 43 conventional and 27 organic farms. Organic milk contained more Ca (1049.5 vs. 995.8 mg / kg), K (1383.6 vs. 1362.4 mg / kg), P (806.5 vs. 792.5 mg / kg) and Mo (73.3 vs. 60.6 μg / kg) but less Cu (52.4 vs. 60.6 μg / kg), Fe (0.66 vs. 2.03 mg / kg), Mn (28.8 vs. 45.0 μg / kg), Zn (4.51 vs. 5.00 mg / kg) and Al (0.32 vs. 1.14 μg / kg). kg) than conventional milk. Significant seasonal variation was observed in all determined minerals' concentrations. Milk I concentration was not consistently affected by production system, whereas organic milk contained less I in June and July than conventional milk. Dietary factors contributing to different milk mineral concentrations between production systems included intakes of maize silage, dry-straights and oils (higher in conventional diets), and pasture, clover and wholecrop (higher in organic diets).
Matís' annual meeting will take place on Thursday 6 May at 9-10: 30 in stream here on Matís website and through Matís Facebook page.
Agenda of the meeting:
speech
- Kristján Þór Júlíusson, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, opens the meeting
Errand
- Matís staff discusses the company's priorities and benefits for the Icelandic economy
- Partners tell about their experience of the collaboration
Discussion: the future of research and innovation in Icelandic food production
- Oddur Már Gunnarsson, CEO of Matís
- Gunnar Þorgeirsson, chairman of the Icelandic Farmers' Association
- Heiðrún Lind Marteinsdóttir, CEO of the Association of Companies in the Fisheries Sector
- Þór Sigfússon, founder and chairman of Sjávarklasan
Board of Directors
Brynja Þorgeirsdóttir
Contact
Jónas Rúnar Viðarsson
Director of Business and Development
jonas@matis.is
The program of the North Atlantic Seafood Forum has now been published and it is clear that the conference will be one of the most remarkable online events in the fisheries and aquaculture of 2021. A total of 160 lectures will be given in 18 seminars, and over 2500 participants are expected from around the world. links in the value chain of marine products. Do not miss this event!
In March every year for the past 15 years, fisheries and aquaculture executives and stakeholders have flocked to Bergen to attend the North Atlantic Seafood Forum (NASF) conference. The target group of this three-day conference has traditionally been managers in the fisheries, aquaculture and related industries, ie. equipment manufacturers, marketing companies, banks, insurance companies, consulting companies, etc. Although the cost of participation has been significant, between 800 and 1,000 people have attended the event each year, which shows how important this conference is for the target group. Due to COVID, it has now been decided that NASF21 will be an online event, which provides an opportunity to increase the number of participants and reduce the conference fee significantly.
The conference will take place on June 8-10 and is expected to have at least 2,500 participants. The agenda of the conference has now been published and it is particularly exciting this time, but the agenda can be seen at https://nor-seafood.com/program/.
If there is a big link to the program, the following seminars attract special attention:
- Effects of salmon lice on aquaculture
- Aquaculture feed and its development
- Supply and demand in aquaculture
- New production methods in aquaculture
- Supply and markets for whitefish
- Women in the fishing industry
- Supply and demand for shrimp
- Investments in the fisheries sector
- Supply and markets of pelagic species
- Discussion of a key market for seafood under the auspices of the Norwegian Seafood Council
- Sustainability and marine products
Icelandic companies and individuals play a fairly large place in the program. The first to be mentioned is that Valka and Marel are among the main sponsors of the conference. The following Icelanders or parties connected to Iceland will be included in the list of speakers:
- Jón Birgir Gunnarson at Valka will discuss filleting before death
- Guðbjörg Heiða Guðmundsdóttir at Marel will discuss the digital revolution in the value chain of aquaculture
- Bjorn Hembre from Arnarlax will talk about salmon farming in Iceland
- Sturlaugur Haraldsson at Norebo will discuss the supply of white fish from Russia
- Þór Sigfússon at Sjávarklasan will discuss the utilization of additional raw materials and consider the question of whether 100% utilization is possible
- Guðmundur Gíslason will represent Fiskeldi Austfjarðar (Ice Fish Farm), Bjorn Hamre on behalf of Arnarlax (Icelandic Salmon) and Stein Ove Tveiten on behalf of Arctic Fish in an investor seminar.
- Jóhannes Pálsson will discuss the impact of Brexit on the pelagic sector
- Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson or Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson will discuss sustainability in the fisheries sector
Participation in NASF in recent years has not been widespread, as the registration fee alone has been close to 200,000. kr. in addition, travel and accommodation in Bergen costs money. Nevertheless, over 800 people have seen reason to attend the conference in recent years. As this will be an online event, it is possible to experience NASF for a significantly lower cost. The conference fee is around 43,000 ISK (290 EUR) per participant, but then there is a volume discount available for companies that register more participants.
One of the most important part of participating in the NASF has always been the opportunity to gather the main influences in the fisheries sector in one place to establish and maintain partnerships. Good and secure business relationships are always based on personal communication, and NASF has played an important role in this. This time, efforts will be made to meet those needs by offering to connect parties in micro-meetings. Different "packages" are available when it comes to such connections, but the "package" that most people are most likely to choose who is interested in taking advantage of this opportunity costs 500 EUR. For that "package", the company gets its name and presentation on the "wall" and then all general participants can book a meeting with that company.
Those who are interested in receiving more information about NASF21 are advised to contact Jónas R. Viðarsson at jonas@matis.is or by phone 4225107.