Week's Top Headlines: Kingfish overshoots target; Cargill eyes acquisitions; land-based salmon cheers and jeers

First up this week, land-based producer The Kingfish Company overshot yellowtail kingfish production design capacity of its advanced recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) in 2020 by as much as 30 percent thanks to faster-than-expected growth rates.

Meanwhile, the CEO of agri-giant Cargill said his group is on the lookout for acquisitions in seafood, alternative proteins.

As Regal Springs chair jumps on the cell-based bandwagon, Hong Kong startup readies for whitefish product launch

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In France, Pure Salmon's land-based project has come under fire over ethical amid questions about animal welfare in the project.

In a separate blow to the industry a new report claims salmon farming industry caused $50 billion in damage over five-year span.

In more encouraging news GM salmon farmer AquaBounty has raised $127 million in oversubscribed share offering.

As the Biden administration ramps up vaccine rollout programs, Trident Seafoods confirmed COVID-19 cases aboard a second catcher-processor vessel, but said it's getting increasing control over the virus spread.

In a contentious European fisheries issue, Norway is being accused of behaving like a 'spoiled brat' over EU cod quotas.

In M&A news, aquaculture technology provider Akva Group has acquired 33.7 percent in UK-based Observe Technologies, the company behind an artificial intelligence (AI) backed feeding system.

US seafood canner Bumble Bee has picked a former ExxonMobil executive to head up corporate responsibility.

As COVID 19 continues to cast a shadow over every area of life, High Liner's CEO said "the traditional ways of managing do not apply right now."

Finally this week a Hatch-backed genetics startup has leapt into salmon farming value chain with the acquisition of IMV Technologies, a commercial provider of assisted reproduction technology for salmonids.