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Milestones in Aqua Gen’s history

1968

Eggs from rainbow trout in Norway, Sweden and Denmark are collected and inserted at the breeding station at Dal in Romerrike. Eggs are collected each of the following two years. These three cohorts now cover the generational interval so that from now on they produce a new generation of rainbow trout in the form of fertilized eggs. Later breeding fish are transferred to the breeding station for salmonids at Sunndalsøra (Akvaforsk AS). Read more about the pioneers here.

1971

The breeding station at Sunndalsøra collects Atlantic salmon from the first twelve Norwegian salmon rivers. This forms the basis for the first cohort of salmon used in selective breeding. Each year of the following three years Atlantic salmon are collected from a total of 41 rivers throughout Norway. The four cohorts now cover the generational interval so that from now on each year a new generation of Atlantic salmon is produced in the form of fertilized eggs.

1975

The first Atlantic salmon eggs which are selected for good growth are produced at Akvaforsk AS.

1981

The first Atlantic salmon eggs which are also selected for late sexual maturity are produced at Akvaforsk AS.

1985

NFA-logoThe annual meetings of the Norwegian Aquaculture Association and the Aquaculture Sales group AL vote to start an organised system of selective breeding and egg sales. Norwegian Aquacultures Breeding station AS is built at Kyrksæterøra.

1986

A copy of all Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout families from Akvaforsk AS are transferred at no cost. This transfer occurs every year until the generational interval of Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout is covered. The same genetic material is thereby present at both breeding stations at Sunndalsøra and Kyrksæterøra. The first production of eggs from Norwegian Aquacultures Breeding station AS is marketed.

1987

The first groups of smolt from the breeding stations at Kyrksæterøra and Sunndalsøra are transferred to external breeding fish / egg producers. All of the egg producers in the selective breeding system now have material from the breeding stations.

1992

Norwegian Aquaculture Breeding Station AS enters negotiations after the bankruptcy of Aquaculture Sales Group AL.

 

NLA-logoNorwegian Salmon Breeding AS is established. Norwegian Aquaculture Association is at the time the sole shareholder. Norwegian Salmon Breeding AS takes over the shares of Norwegian Aquaculture Breeding Station AS.

1993

Capital holdings of Norwegian Salmon Breeding AS are expanded. Owners from the industry, government, bank/insurance and equipment providers come in. Norwegian Salmon Breeding AS takes over the share of AkvaGen AS, (Akvaforsk AS' company for the production and sale of eggs) at Sunndalsøra.

1994

The first Atlantic salmon eggs selected for a stronger filet colour become available.

1995

The first Atlantic salmon eggs are selected for disease resistance. Fat and fat distribution is integrated as genetic characteristics.

The organized breeding work celebrates its 10th anniversary.

1999

LogoChange of profile and change of company name to Aqua Gen AS. At the same time the daughter companies change their names to Aqua Gen Hemne AS and Aqua Gen Sunndal AS.

2000

Aqua Gen Chile SA is established. Aqua Gen Chile SA becomes an owner of the selective breeding company Gentec SA in Chile.

2004

After a collaborative project through Team Semin AS and later with Geno AS the technique of freezing milk is developed and implemented. This international pioneer technique makes it possible to better exploit the best male fish and to efficiency in breeding work.

A new and better breeding program for Atlantic salmon is started. By using frozen milk the four cohort populations are combined into a large breeding nucleus. Elite eggs are taken from the breeding nucleus every year and transferred to all the external breeding fish/egg producers as a basis for commercial egg production.

A patent is granted for the gene area which codes for proteins (MHC) and which is decisive for resistance against virus diseases in salmon and rainbow trout.

2005

The main office of Aqua Gen is moved from Kyrksæterøra to Trondheim. Aqua Gen Sunndal AS and Aqua Gen Hemne AS are combined to form the company Aqua Gen Norway AS.

Sunndalsøra (Aqua Gen Sunndal AS) is closed as a production location for eggs and fry, after having produced eggs for the industry since the 1970’s. Production capacity is moved to Tingvoll and Kyrksæterøra for a more efficient and modern production.

2006

A greater emphasis on the selective breeding program for rainbow trout is carried out. The combination of the three cohort populations added to crossing in new material forms the basis for a large genetic nucleus on the same model as that for Atlantic salmon.

2007 

The gene that controls the Atlantic salmon resistance against IPN is used in brood fish selection of Aqua Gen`s robust line. Previous selection methods are based on average performance of families, but now the best candidates within each family can be selected with the help of direct DNA-analysis.

2008

The world’s leading poultry genetic holding company, Erich Wesjohann Group GmbH (EW Group) buys 50.2 % of the shares in Aqua Gen AS. The sellers are Verdane Private Equity AS, the Norwegian Seafood Federation (FHL), Biomar AS and Eidsfjord Sjøfarm AS.