Fish n' Bits - The Aquaculture Data Intelligence Podcast

What separates the salmon farms that thrived in Q4 from the ones still bleeding money and does it all come down to where they're located? This week, we break down the Q4 financial results from the publicly traded salmon companies, walking through EBIT per kilogram figures across the industry and unpacking why companies like Grieg and SalMar cleared 20 NOK/kg while others in Iceland and Scotland finished deep in the red. We also get into why Mowi's Norway division outperformed nearly everyone, yet the company still ranked third overall, a reminder that geography can make or break a balance sheet. Then, we sit down with Kaspar Coates and Nikolai Jensen, two Norwegian School of Economics graduates whose master's thesis is turning heads industry-wide, exploring how site-level factors like seawater temperature, sea lice pressure, and disease exposure directly tie to financial performance on the farm. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n' Bits blog.You can also check out Kasper and Nikolai's master thesis Investigating the relationship between site-specific biological characteristics and financial performance, in conventional open-net salmonid farming in Norway here.

If large language models are so powerful, why can they still get basic things wrong? In this episode, we take a practical look at how AI systems actually work, why hallucinations happen by design, and what’s being done to reduce them. We break down core concepts like probabilistic prediction, chain-of-thought reasoning, RAG systems, context windows, API orchestration, and cost structures. Not from a tech hype lens, but from a business one. Most importantly, we explore what this means for seafood companies integrating AI into real workflows: how to think about reliability, data access, governance, and long-term cost before plugging models into sensitive systems. This isn’t about whether AI will matter but about how to use it responsibly at scale. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

Vitamin D was long considered a compliance nutrient rather than a performance lever. In this episode, we break down what’s changed in the last couple of years, from BioMar doubling vitamin D₃ across salmon diets to new research suggesting salmon may synthesize vitamin D from sunlight, then zoom out to explain how vitamin D actually works in the body, why modern feeds increased the need for supplementation, and how the EU’s 2019 regulation opened the door to much higher inclusion rates. We also dig into what these findings could mean for different farming environments, and close with a conversation with Dr. Sebastien Rider (DSM-Firmenich) on the latest studies, open questions, and why 25-hydroxyvitamin D products like Hy-D are gaining attention. Sign up for DSM’s webinar on Vitamin D here.For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

Yes, it’s once again the time to discuss sea lice. In this episode, we take a clear-eyed look at what the last year of sea lice data is actually telling us (starting in Canada and ending in Norway) without the noise or wishful thinking. We unpack the implications of Canada’s latest court ruling in British Columbia, why the industry’s arguments around coexistence keep falling flat, and how Norway’s traffic light system continues to tighten around modeled lice exposure on wild salmon. Drawing on farm-level data, wild fish monitoring, treatment records, and temperature trends, this episode explains why 2025 became one of the most intensive treatment years on record, why that still wasn’t enough to reverse pressure, and what this means for regulation, capacity, and farm-level decision-making heading into the next cycle. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

What if the most “predictable” part of seafood right now isn’t salmon prices or tariffs, but the quiet choke point in fish feed? In this episode, we unpack why the Peruvian anchovy season still sets the short-term rhythm for fish oil markets, even as the 2026 season already kicks off, and why that dependency keeps resurfacing as a structural risk for aquaculture. You’ll get a clear breakdown of what actually moves feed prices (and why fish oil behaves differently than every other major input), plus a grounded walk-through of the CFI 2025 State of the Algal Oil Industry findings, what it really costs to produce EPA+DHA-rich algal oil, why heterotrophic fermentation is pulling ahead, and why scaling the solution is the hard part, not the science.Centre for Feed Innovation Algae Oil ReportFor more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

What happens when a fish the industry once walked away from suddenly becomes more valuable than salmon? In this episode, we take a hard look at the quiet resurgence of cod farming, why cod prices have climbed to historic highs, how tightening wild quotas have reshaped the market, and why the economics look very different than they did during the failed cod-farming boom of the 2000s. We revisit what went wrong last time, from biology to market structure, and then dig into what may actually be changing today: more disciplined operators, improved breeding and production methods, and a supply landscape defined by long-term constraint rather than abundance. The real question isn’t whether cod can be farmed, it’s whether the market can evolve to absorb it. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

What if the most important lessons from 2025 aren’t found in any single chart, but in how pressure quietly shifted across the system? In this episode, we step back from predictions and take a pattern-based look at what actually mattered over the past year in Norwegian salmon farming and what those same signals suggest we should be watching in 2026. By examining how business conditions, biological performance, environmental stress, and regulation interacted, we unpack why weak prices reshaped decision-making, why fish health improved despite record temperatures, how sea lice pressure continues to build beneath the surface, and why regulation remains the hard ceiling on growth. The goal isn’t to draw clean conclusions, but to understand trade-offs. Where risk was absorbed, where it was deferred, and where pressure is likely to surface next as the industry moves into a more constrained future. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

We are super excited to share this episode of Gossip Gills, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s podcast, where Tony Chen (CEO, Manolin) and Kelly Haugen (Head of Marketing, Manolin) join the conversation to unpack how data and AI are reshaping seafood farming. Together, we explore the real challenges facing aquaculture today, from biological complexity and operational efficiency to transparency, traceability, and consumer trust, and why innovation is no longer optional for a sustainable industry. The discussion goes beyond technology alone, touching on the social dimensions of aquaculture, the responsibility to communicate progress clearly, and how better data can drive smarter decisions across the value chain.Follow Gossip Gills for more and find the original link to our episode on their channel here.For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

What happens when low salmon prices stop being a short-term problem and start reshaping how the entire industry thinks about risk? In this episode, we dig into Q3 financial results from the publicly traded salmon companies, not just to recap the numbers, but to unpack what they’re really signaling beneath the surface. We explore widening gaps in EBIT per kilo across regions, why Chile stands out while Norway, Scotland, Canada, and Iceland struggle in very different ways, and how persistent price pressure is forcing companies to prioritize cost control over growth. The conversation goes deeper into the tradeoffs this creates: where cost-cutting shows up quickly through sea lice decisions, where it hides longer-term risk through disease and biology, and why the push toward “control” via land-based and semi-closed systems hasn’t yet translated into stronger economics. The result is a clear-eyed look at whether the industry is truly buying predictability or simply shifting where risk shows up. Download the full Q3 2025 report here.For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

How does one small fish in one corner of the Pacific end up shaping the entire global aquaculture feed system? In this week’s episode, we break down the latest developments from Peru’s anchovy fishery, from the unusually low provisional quota, to the rapid EUREKA survey that reshaped the biomass picture, to why analysts like Rabobank are warning that long-term fishmeal and fish oil shortages are becoming more likely. We revisit what happened during the 2023 juvenile-driven closure, unpack what the 2025 numbers actually tell us, and explain why Peru’s anchoveta remains the single most important swing factor for salmon, shrimp, and even pet food production worldwide. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

What’s driving Norway’s sudden wave of investment in closed fish farming systems? This week we unpack the real story behind the headlines, from Mowi’s new Fiizk orders to Lerøy and SalMar’s push toward enclosed pens. It all traces back to an October 10th regulatory change that quietly created the biggest financial incentive yet for producers operating in red zones. Tony breaks down how this new rule works, why companies are moving fast to adapt, and whether it marks the beginning of a larger shift toward closed and semi-closed farming systems across Norway or even the world.For more aquaculture insights, head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

What can one number really tell us about an entire industry? This week, we unpack the Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2024, a report that’s sparked headlines and controversy with its 61.8% survival figure, the lowest in more than three decades. But beyond the shock value, the data reveals something deeper: the long-term cycles of progress, constraint, and adaptation that define Scottish salmon farming. We’ll explore what the numbers actually mean, why short-term data can distort reality, and how progress in sustainability often comes with biological trade-offs. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

What if the next major leap in aquaculture doesn’t come from the ocean but from the genome? In this week’s episode, we trace the story of genomic sequencing: from Darwin’s first evolutionary trees to the breakthroughs that now let scientists map entire fish genomes in a single day. You’ll learn how falling sequencing costs are opening the door to disease tracing, genetic selection, and smarter breeding programs that could redefine sustainability across aquaculture. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

How much does Washington, D.C. actually influence the global seafood industry? After speaking at the National Fisheries Institute’s Leadership Summit, we’re breaking down what happens when seafood meets policy — from tariffs and trade to nutrition and public health. Featuring insights from speakers like Sean Spicer and Elana Natker, this episode looks at how politics, perception, and food policy are shaping seafood’s next chapter, and what the industry can learn from it. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

Can New Zealand turn its bold aquaculture growth plan into a $3 billion industry by 2035? In this episode, we dig into the numbers behind the country’s strategy, from premium salmon and mussel exports to the risks of offshore expansion, and look at the political and regulatory roadblocks that could derail momentum. Drawing lessons from Norway, Canada, and Iceland, we explore what it takes for a nation to scale aquaculture without repeating the same missteps. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

What does it really mean when headlines say “95% of AI pilots fail”? In this episode, we unpack MIT’s State of AI in Business 2025 report, looking past the hype to see why so many initiatives stall—and where the real success stories are happening. From the GenAI Divide to lessons on internal vs. external builds, and from ROI in back-office operations to parallels with past tech revolutions like the PC and internet, we’ll explore what this all means for seafood and aquaculture companies considering AI. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

What does sea lice management have in common with one of the most famous problems in game theory? In this episode, we look at why rising lice levels in Norway reflect the dynamics of the Prisoner’s Dilemma—where individual short-term choices can create long-term harm for the entire industry. We’ll break down the latest data on lice pressure, explain why fragmented treatments are driving reinfestation risk, and explore how coordinated action, better models, and shared incentives can turn the tide. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

What happens when strong biology collides with weak markets? In this episode, we break down the Q2 earnings season in salmon farming, where EBIT margins have tightened, prices continue to slide, and producers are facing tough calls on investment, strategy, and survival. From Mowi’s consistency to Bakkafrost’s split results, and from Norway’s political backdrop to Scotland’s biological struggles, we look at who’s weathering the storm and who’s most exposed. Beyond the numbers, we explore the Catch-22 of salmon farming: better fish health leading to oversupply and weaker profits, just as ecological and political pressures intensify. Download the full report here.For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

What fuels the world’s most powerful AI models isn’t just data, it’s how that data is labeled and given context. In this week’s episode, we take listeners inside the often-overlooked world of data labeling, from Meta’s $14B investment in Scale AI to the billion-dollar rise of Surge AI, and connect the dots to aquaculture. You’ll learn why context-rich data—not just perfect data, is the real driver of better models, and how farms can apply these lessons to turn messy records into predictive intelligence. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.

How does a disease you can’t see, and often don’t even know is there, cause some of the most expensive losses in salmon farming? In this week’s episode, we examine Cardiomyopathy Syndrome (CMS), a viral heart disease that’s been quietly impacting farms for decades but is now forcing its way into the spotlight. From the biology of Piscine Myocarditis Virus to the real-world costs seen in recent Scottish outbreaks, we explore why CMS is so hard to detect, why it’s not on the official notifiable disease list, and what the latest science says about prevention, from genetics to nutrition. For more aquaculture insights head to our Fish n’ Bits blog.