Benchmark Holdings Regulatory News (BMK)

Benchmark Holdings plc("Benchmark" or the "Company")

Benchmark pioneers environmentally benign purification system in the fight against sealice

Benchmark is pleased to announce it has developed a major industry breakthrough for the salmon industry, CleanTreat, a new fully contained purification system. Chemical based bath treatments that are released into water are one of the biggest objections to the salmon farming industry and CleanTreat works to solve this environmental challenge.

CleanTreat ensures the safe use of compounds in the marine environment by purifying the medicine from the treatment water to undetectable levels. The CleanTreat system is the first of its kind to be used in aquaculture, and will be administered in conjunction with Benchmark's next generation sealice treatment, which is currently in late stage development. The system can also be used with most licensed bath treatments.

CleanTreat is packaged in a standard ISO shipping container which allows for modular installation on board well-boats, treatment barges and land based systems. The system ensures that treatment water is purified and detached lice will be filtered and collected, achieving the highest level of environmental safety and also reducing the risk of future development of resistance.

The treatment plan will firstly be launched in the Norwegian market. The trials will see leading producers pilot the new system and product at commercial scale. The worldwide market for salmon is estimated to be worth 10.7bn USD per annum and the estimated cost of sealice for the global market is estimated to be 1bn USD.

Malcolm Pye, CEO of Benchmark commented:

"Sea lice are a major challenge for the sustainable growth of the salmon industry. Our main objective as a company is to produce innovative treatments which ensure the good health and welfare of farmed fish, that are highly efficacious and have no significant impact on the environment."

"The Benchmark Group has a growing toolkit of products and services, such as CleanTreat, alongside the launch in 2015 of sealice resistant salmon strains. Whilst there is no single 'silver bullet' to combat the sealice problem, Benchmark continues to invest in a range of new technologies to tackle the sea lice challenge, including biological control such as lumpfish production and vaccine development".

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

Benchmark challenges the status quo in aquaculture, agriculture and animal healthcare.

Since 2000, Benchmark has consistently worked to build a platform to serve its customers, helping farmers to take control of their biological environment through the combination of genetics, nutrition, health and knowledge services. Through its in-depth knowledge of animal biology Benchmark is able to tackle the key issues in the aquaculture, livestock and companion animal sectors.

The Company has proven distribution capabilities in high growth markets and operates internationally with R&D facilities, commercial farms, diagnostic laboratories, manufacturing sites, production facilities and commercial offices across 27 countries in five continents. As at 30 June 2017, Benchmark employed 951 people. 

For further information on Benchmark please visit www.benchmarkplc.com