MARINE Harvest, the Norwegian-based fish farming giant, plans to pay an extraordinary dividend after an increase in salmon prices helped it record its best-ever second quarter results.
The company, which employs about 450 staff across its operations in Scotland, reported earnings of 901 million Norwegian Krone (£94.8m) before interest and tax amid strong market conditions in the second quarter, compared with NOK 231m at the same stage last year.
The company is proposing to pay an extraordinary dividend of NOK 0.05 per share as reports suggest a projected increase in volumes next year will allow it to expand.
Marine Harvest ramped up production estimates for 2014 by 55,000 tonnes to 390,000 tonnes, after 79,438 tonnes were produced in quarter two. It now expects to harvest 335,000 in 2013, 80,000 of which are expected to come in the third quarter.
The Marine Harvest Group, which has operations in Chile and Canada as well as Europe, reported operational revenues and other income of NOK 4445m for the second quarter, compared with last year's NOK 4005m.
Edinburgh-based Marine Harvest Scotland saw earnings per kilo before interest and tax come in at NOK 13.55 for the quarter, nearly double the NOK 7.11 booked in 2012.
Chief executive Alfe-Helge Aarskog said: "I would like to highlight the results of Scotland and Canada.
"These countries are examples of how a long term and systematic approach to biological issues improves not only fish welfare, it also shows on the bottom line."
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