Proximar presents its first Atlantic salmon harvest in Japan

Proximar Seafood AS has presented its first-ever domestic harvest of Atlantic salmon in Japan. With the help of Skretting Japan, Proximar built in 2022 a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, for raised salmon.

September 30 marked the date Proximar harvested - and sold - the first locally produced harvest of Atlantic salmon in Japan. The Norwegian land-based farming company did it under its new brand and logo, Fuji Atlantic Salmon.

In the production update released in April, Proximar already confirmed that the first harvest at its land-based farm in Japan was planned to arrive in Q3 2024.

Also, during the fourth quarter 2023 results presentation, the company announced the next major operational phase was scheduled for April, when production would start in the second of four modules in the post-smolt grow-out building.

An extra investment of 10 to 15 million euros

According to Skretting CEO Bastiaan van Tilburg, the aim is to invest between 10 and 15 million euros in Skretting Japan's Imari plant to strengthen the supply system for RAS feed. Additionally, this investment will cover feed produced in Japan for the yellowtail market.

"We are currently contributing 26 million meals of seafood a day, and it is essential that we have a protein supply system in place that can also cope with 2050 when the world's population is expected to reach 10 billion," van Tilburg confirmed.

Finally, regarding exports, the Skretting CEO confirmed that they are working to achieve ASC feed standard certification. This will help mitigate the rising costs of raw materials and climate change, improving the profitability of the aquaculture industry in Japan.