Turbot

Turbot (Scopthalmus maximus) is a very rare species in Icelandic waters and the annual catch is usually only a few fish. In the year 1992 the Marine Research Institute started to collect turbot in collaboration with Icelandic fishermen to form a brood stock.  The Institute has produced turbot juveniles since 1995. In 1999 turbot eggs were imported from France by a private company. 

Methods

Turbot are stripped to obtain eggs and milt and after fertilization the  eggs are incubated in silos. Following absorption of the yolk sac the turbot larvae are fed on rotifers and later on Artemia. They are then weaned onto a dry pellet diet before being transferred to on-growing. In Iceland, turbot is farmed in land-based tanks with seawater, using heat exchange with geothermal water to elevate the seawater temperature. It takes two years from hatching for the turbot to reach market size. 

Juvenile production

Hatchery production has been carried out at the Mariculture Laboratory of the Marine Research Institute which is located on the southwest coast of Iceland. The production of turbot fry has been 50,000-170,000 per year since 2002 enough for the small Icelandic market. 

On-growing

Today only Silfurstjarnan produces turbot to market size. Silfurstjarnan is a land-based farm located in Öxarfjordur on the northeast coast of Iceland.  Production of turbot reached maximum volume of 115 tonnes in the year 2005. It is forecast that production will be less than 200 tonnes in 2010. 

Export

Turbot are mainly exported fresh whole. The market size of the turbot is 1-2 kg.  The export of farmed turbot is not registered in Icelandic export statistics and therefore no information is available as to volume and value.

Valdimar Ingi Gunnarsson