Norwegian salmon farmer posts record profits

Norwegian salmon farming giant Marine Harvest has posted its highest profit ever on the back of record high salmon prices and solid growth.

The company's core earnings (stripping out interest and taxes) of 1.03 billion kroner ($164m), compared to just 64m NOK ($10m) in 2012. 

 "2013 was the best year so far for Marine Harvest, with all-time high revenues and annual operating profit," chief executive Alf-Helge Aarskog said in a statement. "Both Scotland and Canada have record year for profit. We congratulate the teams responsible for the achievement." 

 The company announced a quarterly dividend of NOK 1.20 per share, and promised to use acquisitions to bolster its share of the lucrative market.  

 ""Within farming, Marine Harvest will pursue selective acquisitions in Norway and Chile in order to substantially increase the global share of production from the current level of about 22 percent," the company said in a statement.