Page 23 - Norway export Seafood, Fishing&Aquaculture 2018-19

produce salmon in fresh water during its The region also boasts great water quality limited to production of larger post-smolt for
entire growth cycle. Salmon fry typically from the clean alpine water source in the further growth to harvest weight offshore.
start in fresh water and migrate to seawater mountains of Telemark, as well as high
at the smolt stage. However, experience sustainability. The facility will piggy- back Giant post-smolt farm
from land-based facilities in the eastern part off existing infrastructure using the waste Nekst has received permission to build
of the US has successfully proven that it is heat from the local hydrogen peroxide plants a huge onshore plant the size of twelve
possible to fully farm salmon in fresh water. and an oxygen plant fi ve kilometers up the football fi elds. By completion in 2019,
road. In addition, the plant is run entirely on it could be among the world’s largest
“This is not commonly done, so this project renewable energy as Rjukan is home to fi ve post-smolt salmon onshore farms with 17
has a degree of biological innovation, but hydropower plants. 000 tons of 2.7 kilo salmon. Smolts are
it also frees our production concept from traditionally farmed onshore to about 100
geographical restraints,” says Carl Ivar “It’s the greenest salmon you’re ever going grams before they are placed offshore in
Holmen, Salmofarms managing director. to fi nd,” says Holmen. farms. Nekst will raise the fi sh onshore up
“Proximity to the sea is no longer a to 2.7 kilos, shortening the time needed
requirement.” The plan is to start production by the fi rst offshore to reach slaughter weight to less
quarter of 2019 with the fi rst harvest by early than six months. Salmon usually spend
Salmofarms has chosen the inland 2021. At a peak production of 10 000 tons of about 16-20 months in offshore farms to
city of Rjukan because of its proximity salmon annually, it could become the largest grow from 100 grams.
to consumer markets and industrial full-cycle onshore producer in Norway. There
infrastructure. The city is located in the mid- are reported plans for other land-based In connection with its onshore plans, the
southern part of the country between four salmon farms in Norway, such as Bulandet company has applied to the Norwegian
of Norway’s largest cities, i.e. Oslo, Bergen, Miljøfi sk in Askvold, Andjord at the island of Directorate of Fisheries for 16 development
Kristiansand and Stavanger. Andøya, and Nekst at Florø. However, these licenses to develop a new type of subsea
are either smaller in salmon production or cage system called HavLiljen to grow
the salmon to slaughter weight offshore
in the county of Solund. Designed by
Marine Construction, ABB and Maritime
Engineering, the subsea pens can be
submerged during stormy weather and avoid
lice at the sea surface. If the development
licenses are granted, Nekst’s subsea
pens could house salmon for the fi nal six
months offshore and increase its production
capacity to 24 000 tons HOG (head on
gutted).

Salmon smolt.
© Norwegian Seafood Council

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