"Our cooperation has mainly consisted of Matís identifying for us a relationship in the spawning stock of sand terns that we have here," says Jóhannes Hermannsson, who manages a company in southern China that specializes in sand tern breeding.
"The results of that will become apparent in the next two years," says Jóhannes.
The company has operated in its current form for three years and is owned by parties in Hong Kong and an Icelander who lives there. The fire is located in China, just north of Hong Kong. "We grow the fish in closed indoor circuits and can produce about 300 tons of sandeel a year. The environmental conditions here are quite far from the natural conditions of the sandeel because it thrives well in temperatures from 12 up to 17 degrees. Sea temperatures here in southern China may drop to 16 degrees when it is coldest in winter and well over 30 degrees in summer. We are therefore raising the fish in an environment that is far from its natural environment. Farming of sand eels in tanks on land is known, for example in Spain, France, South America and elsewhere, but eel is known as a quality raw material in better fish dishes, "says Jóhannes, whose company sells almost all the fish from the fire live to restaurants, hotels. and shops. "Here is the same sign between a fish being alive and looking good and being fresh."
Matís has specialized in technology to analyze relatedness in aquaculture and Jóhannes' company uses this knowledge. "Possibly we could have acquired this knowledge elsewhere, but in a way we have easier access to services at Matís as that company is neither very large nor complex. We can say that in this case both enjoy being Icelanders. We know where we are going and what we can get. It is most important for us to have access to knowledge that is significant within Matís' walls, "says Jóhannes Hermannsson, who expects that in the future samples will be sent regularly from his company in southern China for analysis by Matís.
For further information Ragnar Jóhannsson at Matís.