Norwegian company Hitramat, based near Trondheim, and Jeka Fish in Denmark have announced a joint venture to establish a brown crab processing plant at Lemvig in Denmark to produce crab for the European market.
The new Nordic Crab Company will be right next to Jeka Fish’s existing production facility in Lemvig and it will create forty new jobs as the first commercial producer of crab in Denmark. The company will be looking for landings of crab from Danish fishermen, particularly between July and November when brown crab has its highest meat content.
The venture brings together the expertise and experience of Hitramat with its years of experience in crab processing, with a 3500 tonne annual production in its factory in Norway, with the Jeka Fish’s experience in whitefish processing that has expanded into fish cakes and fish burgers.
‘Crabs are so far a relatively untapped resource in Denmark, and the crab stock in Danish waters is high. The new company is committed to developing an environmentally friendly and sustainable pot fishery along the Danish coast,’ said Halldór Arnarson at Jeka Fish.
Located close the main fishing ports in Denmark and effective logistic routes to southern Europe, Jeka Fish will be responsible for the plant and the daily management
‘This gives us a unique opportunity to deliver fresh crab products of the highest quality for the most important markets for crabs,’ said Halldór Arnarson. ‘WE also have high expectations with crab products on the Danish market where focus on local produce is increasing.’
‘Consumption of fresh shellfish is increasing in Europe,’ said Hitramat’s Anton Fjeldvær. ‘We want to take part in this development in cooperation with Jeka Fish and enforce Hitramat’s position as a leading European processor of brown crabs. Further we also see synergies in Jeka Fish and Hitramat’s other activities.’
The new factory in Lemvig is expected to be ready in July this year for production for the 2016 season.
