Changing climate results in challenging year for seafood company Sanford

November 15, 2018
Fish on ice (file picture).

A changing climate has resulted in a challenging year for seafood company Sanford.

An autumn algal bloom in the Marlborough Sounds produced biotoxins which interrupted harvesting and led to early spawning.

The Havelock processing facility also closed earlier to enable earthquake repairs to be completed.

Although Sanford grows mussels at alternative sites, the overall mussel harvest volume declined by 15.1 per cent.

The summer marine heatwave also affected growth and mortality rates at its salmon farm at Stewart Island, with the company limiting sales for up to 10 weeks to enable fish stocks to reach desired weights. Harvest volumes were 4.4 per cent down on the prior year.

Climatic conditions also impacted total wild catch volumes, where deepwater and inshore landings were down by two per cent and almost nine per cent respectively on the prior year, partially mitigated by catches by fishing partners.

Sanford Chief Executive Volker Kuntzsch says a focus on "innovation, branding and channel development" is providing "strategic safeguards" in mitigating the risk posed by climate change.

Overall, the company reported a net profit after tax of $42.3 million, up 12.9 per cent on last year.

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