Benchmark will deploy the salmon industry’s first new medicinal treatment in over a decade, exclusively in conjunction with breakthrough water purification system
Trond Williksen, CEO of Benchmark Holdings, the aquaculture biotechnology company, welcomed the first CleanTreat® vessel into Norwegian waters on Saturday 31 July, ahead of its first commercial deployment. It marks a major milestone in the use of Benchmark’s transformational sea lice treatment, Ectosan® Vet, following full regulatory approval in Norway last month.
CleanTreat® is a cutting-edge water purification system that removes medicines from treatment water before safely returning cleaned water to the sea. The system is the first of its kind and is a major stepping-stone in supporting the sustainable growth of the aquaculture industry. The system also removes the organic material from treatment water including sea lice, egg strings, fish scales and faecal matter — an essential step in combating parasitic resistance to medicines.
The CleanTreat® vessel, which arrived in Norway on Saturday, is the culmination of over a decade of innovation, research and extensive trials. After winning the Nor-Fishing Innovation Award in 2019, the CleanTreat® system has been further developed and refined. The vessel arrives with a full maritime crew, plus eight fully trained Benchmark technicians and specialist chemists, highly qualified to operate this system.
Benchmark intends to have two CleanTreat® vessels operating in Norway during this season, with the ability to add additional capacity to meet customer demand. The industry has responded very positively to the news that Benchmark has received all relevant regulatory approvals, and that Ecotsan® Vet and CleanTreat® are now commercially available in Norway.
Following the arrival of the vessel in Norwegian waters, Trond Williksen, CEO of Benchmark, said:
“I am pleased to welcome the first CleanTreat® vessel in Norway. As an innovative aquaculture biotechnology company, we are truly excited to bring this much-needed solution to the vital salmon industry in Norway. It will drive sustainability and increased yields through improved animal welfare, while also protecting the environment. I want to thank my teams who have been working tirelessly to bring this innovative and essential product to market.”
Neil Robertson, Head of Operations, Benchmark Animal Health, said:
“Today marks a major milestone in Benchmark’s journey to support a more sustainable aquaculture industry and create a future where no chemicals are applied directly to the sea. I am proud to finally see the CleanTreat® system now ready for commercial use, following over a decade of research, development and trials. We look forward to working with our customers and partners in the deployment of this innovative new solution in Norway in the coming weeks”.
