Marine Harvest's Disease Nightmare Continues

[Marine Harvest's billionaire owner John Fredriksen - worth $11.3 billion]

Marine Harvest's latest financial results (Q4 2012) were presented today in Oslo, Norway, live via a web-cast.

In a notification to the Oslo Stock Exchange earlier today, Marine Harvest's CEO attempted to spin away their disease problems in Scotland. "Whilst measurable operational improvements were observed in Scotland during the quarter, the results remained negatively impacted by biological events during the previous quarters", said Alf-Helge Aarskog.

"It's a mixed bag," said Marine Harvest's CEO speaking this morning via a live web-cast from Oslo.

Read the Q4 2012 presentation online here

The summary included:

Disease losses in Scotland due to Amoebic Gill Disease caused a 20% decrease in growth during 2012 with a 47% loss in Q4 2012:

Read the Q4 2012 presentation in full online here

"Scotland is hampered by AGD," admitted Marine Harvest's CEO in the live web-cast from Oslo this morning. "We learned a lot during 2012. We think that this problem will be smaller going forward. AGD is also a threat to our Norwegian operations. We have learned the hard way in Scotland and Ireland."

"Pancreas Disease has been a problem in Mid-Norway," admitted Marine Harvest's CEO. "Sea lice costs are high in North Norway."

"AGD is also a problem in Ireland causing losses," admitted Marine Harvest's CEO.

Marine Harvest's Q4 2012 report also detailed disease and sea lice losses all around the world. In Norway, sea lice infestation has crippled Marine Harvest:

In Scotland, Amoebic Gill Disease is causing Marine Harvest a huge financial headache:

In Canada, the parasite Kudoa is causing problems:

In Chile, listeria contamination and sea lice caused significant losses:

In Ireland, Amoebic Gill Disease is suffocating profits:

Biological risks identified by Marine Harvest included escapes, antibiotics, sea lice and infectious diseases:

Marine Harvest also reported the death of a diver in Norway:

In conclusion, Marine Harvest reported the following under 'Outlook':

Read the Q4 2012 report in full online here

Here's the money men controlling Marine Harvest - the world's largest salmon farming company:

Marine Harvest is experiencing parasite problems all over the world. The latest sea lice data (November 2012) compiled by the Irish Government's Marine Institute reveals that Marine Harvest Ireland breached the sea lice protocol level (set at 2 ovigerous - pregnant female - lice per farmed salmon) for the FIFTH month running.

In October 2012 Marine Harvest’s feedlot in Lough Swilly was infested with 54 sea lice per fish – breaching the Irish Government’s protocol levels by almost five times along with Mannin Bay’s ‘organic’ salmon feedlot at Corhounagh. In September 2012, Marine Harvest’s feedlot in Mulroy Bay was infested with 58 sea lice per farmed salmon with Lough Swilly infested with a staggering 71 sea lice per farmed salmon (both over five times the Government’s sea lice protocol level)!

Sea lice infestation is also rife at Marine Harvest Scotland:

And at Marine Harvest Norway sites:

Read more about sea lice-infested Irish salmon farms online via: "FishyLeaks: Lice-Infested Irish Salmon (Continued)!"

Infectious diseases are also crippling Marine Harvest. Marine Harvest’s Q3 2012 report included:

“As indicated in previous reports, the Irish operation has struggled with amoebic gill disease (AGD) for several months. Due to favourable conditions for the amoeba in the quarter, mortality losses and treatment costs were substantial in the period. Exceptional mortality in the amount of NOK 14 million was recognised in the quarter.”

Marine Harvest’s Q2 2012 report included:

“Cost wise, feed and sea lice mitigation costs have increased compared to 2011. High mortality in the 2012 harvest generation influenced the cost level in the period and will increasingly do so going forward.”

Problems were reported during Q3 2012 in Norway, Ireland, Scotland and Canada where the parasite Kudoa is killing Marine Harvest's profits (read more via "Marine Harvest Bugged by Flesh-Eating Parasite").