Cermaq Canada and Kuterra agree smolts deal

Cermaq Canada has agreed a deal to supply smolts to Kuterra, a land-based salmon farming business based on Vancouver Island.

Cermaq has announced it has signed a longterm contract with Emergent Holdings LLC, the lessee and operator of Kuterra Salmon. Kuterra’s operations are located in ‘Namgis First Nation traditional territory on northern-Vancouver Island, near Port McNeill, British Columbia.

David Kiemele, Managing Director with Cermaq Canada, said: “We have been providing our smolts to Kuterra since 2014, but this agreement marks the formalisation of the arrangement and greater business certainty for all organisations involved.We are happy to be in a position to be able to support a fellow local farmer and food supplier.”

He added: “The recent Covid-19 pandemic has illustrated how important local food security is and emphasizes the importance of working together for the benefit of local communities and the province.”

Emergent Holdings LLC, a private investment partnership, began leasing and operating the Kuterra facility in 2019.

Jacob Bartlett, CEO with Emergent said: “It made sense to formalize the purchase of smolts from Cermaq Canada as we have been happy with the quality of the smolts provided, and the overall health, growth and performance of the smolts provided to-date. The agreement will run from October 2021 through to October 2024 which will ensure business continuity and the ongoing supply of high-quality salmon for our farm.”