Australasian aquaculture stocks have seen mixed fortunes in the first five weeks of the year on the Australian (ASX) and New Zealand (NZX) Stock Exchanges.

Huon has seen a slightly better run to Feb. 6 than rival Tassal, though there is little to choose between them stock performance-wise.

The Tasmania-based producer, which is abandoning plans for its controversial kingfish farm in New South Wales just two years into the project's five-year trial, has seen its share price rise by just a single percent this year.

Last month Huon Aquaculture transferred 300,000 salmon fingerlings to the company’s Whale Point Salmon Nursery built in 2018.

Fingerlings were moved from Forest Home hatchery, and will grow to around 500 grams before being transferred to sea.

Having opened the year at AUD 4.70 (€2.94/$3.34), the share price rose to 4.86 (€3.04/$3.46) on Jan. 16 but traded at AUD4.75 (€2.97/$3.38) on Feb. 6.

Likewise there has been little overall movement in Tassal share price so far this year, with the stock trading half a percentage point lower at AUD4.40 (€2.75/$3.13) on Feb 6. Tassal reached AUD4.57 (€2.86/$3.25) on Jan 25.

At the start of this month Tassal unveiled an AUD 30 million (€19 million/$21.8 million) investment to expand its shrimp farm in northern Queensland.

The expansion will create up to 100 jobs when the farm reaches peak production.

Downward arrows

By contrast, the arrows have been pointing largely downward so far for New Zealand King Salmon.

In January the company recalled a batch of its Southern Ocean brand New Zealand King Salmon Smoked Pieces and Regal Marlborough King Salmon brand Cold Smoked Salmon in a listeria monocytogenes bacteria alert.

It also had to contend with a heat wave threatening to raise water temperatures in the country's Marlborough Sounds.

The company's stock price started the year at NZD2.28 (€1.37/$1.56) but had dipped 8 percent to NZD 2.10 (€1.26/$1.43) by Feb. 5 in a week of public holidays.

In 2018 Tassal's share price rose nearly 18 percent in contrast to NZ King Salmon's 1 percent decline and Huon, which was 0.4 percent lower.

NZ King Salmon shares also trade on the ASX.

Finance

Stockwatch: Mixed start to year for Tassal, Huon and NZ King Salmon