Risks and Uncertainties	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Risks and Uncertainties	3. Risks and uncertainties The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties common in the biotechnology and aquaculture industries. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) results from current and planned product development studies and trials; (ii) decisions made by the FDA or similar regulatory bodies in other countries with respect to approval and commercial sale of any of the Company’s proposed products; (iii) the commercial acceptance of any products approved for sale and the Company’s ability to manufacture, distribute, and sell for a profit any products approved for sale; (iv) the Company’s ability to obtain the necessary patents and proprietary rights to effectively protect its technologies; and (v) the outcome of any collaborations or alliances entered into by the Company. COVID-19 In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, as a pandemic, which continues to spread throughout the United States and worldwide. Because infections of this virus and the incidences of the disease it causes, certain national, provincial, state, and local governmental authorities in the United States and Canada have issued proclamations and directives aimed at minimizing the spread of the virus. Additional, more restrictive proclamations and directives may be issued in the future. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations is unknown and will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, new information which may emerge concerning the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any additional preventative and protective actions that governments, or the Company, may direct, which may result in an extended period of continued business disruption and reduced operations. To date, the Company’s farm operations have not been materially affected by the pandemic, although management has made modifications to biosecurity procedures and the farm sites to adapt to local requirements and to provide a safe work environment. The Company’s current preventative and protective measures include, but are not limited to, segregating farm workers to specific locations, rotating shifts, and monitoring worker temperatures upon arrival at our facilities. To the extent possible, work-from-home is utilized for employees that do not have fish care responsibilities. The Company has experienced delays in capital projects due to the pandemic, including a six-month delay in the completion of the processing facility at the Indiana farm, which did not become operational until November 2020. Management utilized third party alternatives for fish processing during the delay. The Company has been primarily impacted by a reduction in the market price and demand for Atlantic salmon due to the pandemic’s impact on the food service sector. This had and continues to have a negative impact on revenue and inventory value, as the company is not yet an established vendor and customers do not need a new supplier during a period of depressed demand. Consequently, in December 2020, management made the decision to donate substantially all of the conventional salmon to local food charities, which are experiencing unprecedented need during the pandemic. This decision was made to ease the capacity constraints at the Indiana farm to provide space for the growing biomass of AquAdvantage salmon. The donation program commenced in February 2021. The financial impact of the pandemic is likely to continue through at least the first half of 2021, as the industry waits for the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines and the subsequent reopening of the food service sector. Any financial impact beyond the near-term cannot be reasonably estimated at this time but may have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations in 2021. Concentration of credit risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and certificates of deposit. This risk is mitigated by the Company’s policy of investing in financial instruments with short-term maturities issued by highly rated financial institutions. The Company’s cash balances may at times exceed insurance limitations. The Company holds cash balances in bank accounts located in Canada to fund its local operations. These amounts are subject to foreign currency exchange risk, which is minimized by the Company’s policy to limit the balances held in these accounts. Balances in Canadian bank accounts totaled $242 thousand at December 31, 2020. Financial instruments The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for other receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value based on the short-term maturity of these instruments. The carrying value of term debt approximates its fair value since it provides for market terms and interest rates. Included in other assets is a long-term investment that consists of 216,281 shares of common stock of A/F Protein, Inc. (AFP), equating to less than 1% ownership. During 2019, the cost basis for these shares was reduced from $22 thousand to $9 thousand, which the Company believes to be the best estimate of market value. AFP and the Company have certain shareholders in common.

Risks and Uncertainties

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

3. Risks and uncertainties

The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties common in the biotechnology and aquaculture industries. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) results from current and planned product development studies and trials; (ii) decisions made by the FDA or similar regulatory bodies in other countries with respect to approval and commercial sale of any of the Company’s proposed products; (iii) the commercial acceptance of any products approved for sale and the Company’s ability to manufacture, distribute, and sell for a profit any products approved for sale; (iv) the Company’s ability to obtain the necessary patents and proprietary rights to effectively protect its technologies; and (v) the outcome of any collaborations or alliances entered into by the Company.

COVID-19

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, as a pandemic, which continues to spread throughout the United States and worldwide. Because infections of this virus and the incidences of the disease it causes, certain national, provincial, state, and local governmental authorities in the United States and Canada have issued

proclamations and directives aimed at minimizing the spread of the virus. Additional, more restrictive proclamations and directives may be issued in the future.

The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations is unknown and will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, new information which may emerge concerning the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any additional preventative and protective actions that governments, or the Company, may direct, which may result in an extended period of continued business disruption and reduced operations.

To date, the Company’s farm operations have not been materially affected by the pandemic, although management has made modifications to biosecurity procedures and the farm sites to adapt to local requirements and to provide a safe work environment. The Company’s current preventative and protective measures include, but are not limited to, segregating farm workers to specific locations, rotating shifts, and monitoring worker temperatures upon arrival at our facilities. To the extent possible, work-from-home is utilized for employees that do not have fish care responsibilities.

The Company has experienced delays in capital projects due to the pandemic, including a six-month delay in the completion of the processing facility at the Indiana farm, which did not become operational until November 2020. Management utilized third party alternatives for fish processing during the delay.

The Company has been primarily impacted by a reduction in the market price and demand for Atlantic salmon due to the pandemic’s impact on the food service sector. This had and continues to have a negative impact on revenue and inventory value, as the company is not yet an established vendor and customers do not need a new supplier during a period of depressed demand. Consequently, in December 2020, management made the decision to donate substantially all of the conventional salmon to local food charities, which are experiencing unprecedented need during the pandemic. This decision was made to ease the capacity constraints at the Indiana farm to provide space for the growing biomass of AquAdvantage salmon. The donation program commenced in February 2021.

The financial impact of the pandemic is likely to continue through at least the first half of 2021, as the industry waits for the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines and the subsequent reopening of the food service sector. Any financial impact beyond the near-term cannot be reasonably estimated at this time but may have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations in 2021.

Concentration of credit risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and certificates of deposit. This risk is mitigated by the Company’s policy of investing in financial instruments with short-term maturities issued by highly rated financial institutions. The Company’s cash balances may at times exceed insurance limitations. The Company holds cash balances in bank accounts located in Canada to fund its local operations. These amounts are subject to foreign currency exchange risk, which is minimized by the Company’s policy to limit the balances held in these accounts. Balances in Canadian bank accounts totaled $242 thousand at December 31, 2020.

Financial instruments

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for other receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value based on the short-term maturity of these instruments. The carrying value of term debt approximates its fair value since it provides for market terms and interest rates.

Included in other assets is a long-term investment that consists of 216,281 shares of common stock of A/F Protein, Inc. (AFP), equating to less than 1% ownership. During 2019, the cost basis for these shares was reduced from $22 thousand to $9 thousand, which the Company believes to be the best estimate of market value. AFP and the Company have certain shareholders in common.