A major fire at the Langeland Laks facility of land-based salmon farming operation Atlantic Sapphire is a further blow to the company, in addition to difficulties earlier this year when its share value tumbled 60%.
The news of the fire at the facility in Hvide Sande on the Danish west coast, in which virtually the entire salmon stock perished, has left Atlantic Sapphire’s share price on the floor as its share price fell a further 20%.
According to a statement by the company, the Hvide Sande facility was insured for roughly US$33 million. No staff, firefighters or members of the public were injured in the fire.
The company’s Danish director Thue Holm commented that staff who were present during the disaster will be offered counselling.
‘Our staff have put time, blood and energy into this venture, so it is of course hard to lose almost everything in the fire last night,’ he said, adding that there is as yet no explanation of the cause of the fire but investigators are working to establish this.
