An innovative harvesting method has been introduced by Marine Harvest Canada which improves fish welfare during harvesting. At the same time it has reduced costs and improved product quality.
The technology has been transferred to Marine Harvest Norway.
Minimising stress
A specially constructed boat travels to the production site and the fish are channelled so that they swim to the point of stunning and are only out of water for less than one second before being stunned, thereby minimising stress. Immediately after stunning the fish are bled and chilled to 1 degree celsius.
Additionally, the system removes the need to move live fish to slaughter in an open well boat. Instead, they are moved after slaughter in a closed vessel. That brings two further benefits. The boat can carry several times as many fish, thereby reducing fuel consumption and the emission of greenhouse gases. As the vessel is closed, it brings a higher level of biosecurity to the transporting of the fish, reducing the risk of transferring disease to the environment
Trilateral project
In a tri-lateral funded project Marine Harvest Norway, boat owner Napier and Innovation Norway have invested NOK 50 million in a larger version of the Canadian boat in 2008.
This came into service in Norway, Region South, in January 2009.