Grieg Seafood receives first fry into expanded RAS facility

Grieg Seafood's Gold River Hatchery Expansion project, termed RAS 34, was completed earlier this spring and can now report that they have received the first transfers of Atlantic salmon fry into the facility.

The aim of the project is to keep the fish in the hatchery for an extended period of time, allowing them to grow up to weights between 200 grams and one kilogram. Traditionally, smolts are released back into the sea at around 100 grams.

"By holding the fish at the hatchery for an extended period of time and allowing them to develop beyond the previous transfer size of 100 grams, we see immediate benefits for the farmed populations," says Scott Peterson, Freshwater Director with Grieg Seafood. "The larger smolts are better able to adapt to the transfer to ocean conditions, have less mortality overall and show higher resistance to naturally occurring pathogens and parasites in the ocean."

Image credit: Grieg Seafood

He goes on to add that "additional size trials" will be incorporated once the company is more comfortable with the technology.

The total cost of the project sits around US$24.75 million, using local people as project contractors and workers. The project has been ongoing for three years, with the expanded facility now having a combined capacity of 900 tonnes.

"The completion of the facility marks the culmination of years of planning, construction, trialling and now finally production," explains Rocky Boschman, Managing Director for Grieg Seafood. "In total, the project represents an investment of US$25 million and the creation of almost 60 fulltime site positions at the peak of construction. The new facility will effectively double our smolt capacity at our hatchery."

For more information on Grieg Seafood visit their website, HERE.

Project to build autonomous containerships secures funding

The project 'SeaShuttle' has now secured NOK150 million in funding from Norwegian state enterprise ENOVA. The project is led by transport and logistics group Samskip and marine robotics specialist Ocean Infinity.

First announced at Nor-Shipping in April, the partnership between Samskip and Ocean Infinity will be looking at constructing and operating ships, as a step towards zero-emission logistics.

The project envisions two hydrogen-powered SeaShuttle ships operating emissions-free between Oslo Fjord and Rotterdam. Each will be powered by a 3.2MW hydrogen fuel cell.

"Samskip is very proud to take the lead role in pioneering the SeaShuttle initiative, as part of its 'making green logistics easy' strategy," says Are Gråthen, CEO, Samskip Norway. "Securing this funding provides a platform to make emissions-free container shipping a reality. Together, Samskip and Ocean Infinity will also accelerate their plans to advance autonomous ship technologies, and remote operation of ships and cargo handling equipment. These ships are the first part of an exciting collaboration with Ocean Infinity."

Image credit: Samskip

ENOVA, which currently operates under Norway's Ministry of Climate and Environment, is promoting the development of more environmentally friendly energy consumption and technologies based on sustainable energy.

Thanks to the funding, both companies can move forward in the project by contracting two new 500ETU ships installed with a main propulsion solution that can be adapted to run on hydrogen. As a back-up, a diesel electric propulsion plant will be on board.

"Ocean Infinity's enabling technologies can facilitate green corridors but also the broader decarbonisation and transformation of maritime operations," explains Christoffer Jorgenvag, CCO of Ocean Infinity. "The emphasis today is on the SeaShuttle vessels, which are just part of Ocean Infinity's overall strategy of unlocking innovation to deliver truly sustainable maritime operations."

For more information on Samskip visit their website, HERE.

For more information on Ocean Infinity visit their website, HERE.

First smolt release for Andfjord Salmon

On June 25, Andfjord Salmon finally released smolt into their land-based pool at Kvalnes, Andøya. This comes after months of planning, with the company preparing to release the smolt at the beginning of June. Read about that, HERE.

"Release of first smolt is obviously an important and enjoyable milestone for Andfjord Salmon," says Martin Rasmussen, CEO of Andfjord Salmon. "The operation was well prepared and was executed in a safe and predictable manner."

Around 200,000 smolt at an average weight of 120g were released into the pool, which were supplied by Nordland Akva AS.

The company is aiming to develop the world's most sustainable fish farming facility of its kind, by utilising a flow-through system to recreate salmon's natural habitat on land. They will be producing salmon with a low energy consumption and smallest possible environmental footprint.

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Roger Mosand (chairman) and Martin Rasmussen (CEO)

"Our concept is centered around recreating the salmon's natural habitat on land, as far as it is practically possible to do so," adds Mr Rasmussen. "We are now entering a period with increasing amount of natural light and rising temperatures. This is good for fish health and development."

The released smolt has adapted to its new surroundings after being released into the pool earlier today. The biological conditions in the pool are as planned.

Andfjord Salmon currently holds a license to produce 10,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon at Kvalnes, equivalent to a target production of 19,000 tonnes.

"This has been a great start, but the hard work starts now. We look forward to proving the many excellent benefits of our land-based fish farming facility in the coming months and years," concludes Martin Rasmussen.

For more information on Andfjord Salmon visit their website, HERE.

Image credit: Andfjord Salmon

Marubeni signs agreement to become exclusive distributor of Proximar's salmon

Proximar Seafood and Marubeni Corporation have signed an agreement which will oversee Marubeni as the exclusive distributor in Japan for the Atlantic salmon produced by the recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) Proximar is in the process of constructing.

Construction for the RAS facility began in the first half of 2021 and is located at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan. This key location means the company, once the facility is complete and operational, will be able to supply fresh Atlantic salmon to local Japanese markets, with a reduced carbon footprint. Construction of the hatchery and nursery is expected to be complete by 2023.

Project Manager Peder Sollie said that the quick progress they are making with the project is a result of collaboration.

"I believe the project being on track is a result of the close cooperation between our main contractors and Proximar's experienced project management team," he explains in a 2021 report released by the company. "The project involves teams from Japan, Israel and Scandinavia, which complement each other and provide an exciting working environment."

Marubeni General Manager of Fresh Food Department Kazunari Nakamura with Proximar CEO Joachim Nielsen

 

 

The agreement between Proximar and Marubeni covers all sales of all volumes produced by Proximar for the Japanese market, with an initial term of 10 years. Both companies will be involved in marketing efforts and aiming to build a strong, premium sustainable seafood brand.

RAS technology is not geographically restricted and has a low environmental impact when considering water pollution and the run-off of farmed fish. As a market, Japan's appetite and demand for Atlantic salmon continues to grow, with a strong preference for freshness and appreciation of local seafood.

Marubeni has also invested in Danish Salmon, one of the world's largest RAS-based Atlantic salmon producers, since April 2020. As the exclusive distributor of Proximar's Atlantic salmon, Marubeni will be expanding its environmentally friendly food business and supporting the supply of sustainable food.

"Teaming up with Marubeni is a key part of our partnership strategy and brings us one step closer to supplying fresh salmon to the Japanese market," says Joachim Nielsen, CEO of Proximar. "We now have a sales and distribution partner in Japan with superior market insight and access, reducing risk and increasing pricing power. The agreement with Marubeni provides Proximar significant resources in terms of sales and marketing, and we share the same views in terms of our products' attractiveness."

For more information on Proximar Seafood visit their website, HERE.

For more information on Marubeni Corporation visit their website, HERE.

Image credit: Proximar Seafood

Blue Ocean Technology signs contract with Purecod to deliver sludge systems

Sludge systems provider Blue Ocean Technology has just signed a contract with Purecod for the delivery of a Plug & Farm sludge and water treatment facility. Purecod is the world's first cod farming company using closed pens in the sea.

Purecod was granted the first closed-pen cod farming permit back in March of this year and marks a milestone for aquaculture. By farming cod in closed pens, the company guarantees fish grow optimally in a natural environment, away from predators or parasites. By including a double containment barrier, this minimizes the risk of fish escapes and reduces interaction with the surrounding environment.

The facility in question will be delivered and installed at Røneset, where Purecod will begin farming operations in the second half of 2022. The plant is designed for a low environmental footprint as it focuses on energy-efficient solutions and downstream solutions.

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Blue Ocean Technology's Plug & Play system

"This is a pioneering facility in closed-cages aquaculture at sea, with full control of all discharges and the entire value chain," explains Hans Runshaug, CEO of Blue Ocean Technology. "This is a paradigm shift in cod farming. For the first time ever, sludge from cod farming can be utilised as a resource. And for the first time, we are delivering a plant for full integration in a feed barge. We are very enthusiastic about this contract."

Cod will be farmed in closed pens developed and delivered by Purecod's sister company, Closedpen AS.

"Sludge collection and repurposing is one of the most important advantages of closed pen fishing farming … having the right equipment is a critical element for success," says Mikael Rønes, CEO of Purecod. "Blue Technology offers a solution that perfectly fits the needs of our operations and will allow us to remove and dewater sludge efficiently and with low energy consumption."

Blue Ocean Technology also recently entered into a contract for the delivery of its Plug & Farm systems to Landeldi, which was regarded as an "easy choice," according to Runar Thor Thorarinsson, ED of Sustainability and Innovation at Landeldi.

For more information on Blue Ocean Technology visit their website, HERE.

For more information on Purecod visit their website, HERE.

Image credits: Blue Ocean Technology

Joint venture to create sustainable shrimp farming

Billund Aquaculture and Aquapurna have united on a project to create more sustainable shrimp farming by using an automated and tech-driven production model.

As an agritech start-up founded in 2020, Aquapurna aims to "develop the most advanced method of land-based shrimp farming to provide the world with delicious shrimp while protecting the planet."

Billund and Aquapurna have been working together for the last two years on a joint venture to build the next generation of land-based shrimp farms. Aquapurna operates the only R&D centres in Europe dedicated to sustainable and cost efficient land-based farming. Through the venture, the companies hope to improve existing practices and technologies and bring change to the aquaculture sector.

Shrimp farming has, reportedly, had a negative impact on the environment and other species, particularly in developing companies, as reported by WWF. Creating a land-based shrimp farm seeks to reduce this impact.

Image credit: Billund Aquaculture

"The overall problem is that shrimp farming is one of the most, if not the most, environmentally unfriendly way of producing seafood. Comparing the average imported Asian shrimp to that of mass domesticated cattle in South America, the CO2 footprint of shrimp is up to ten times worse than beef," explains Aquapurna's CEO and co-founder David Gebhard.

"This is why we have developed a production model that does not emit pollutants or involve using antibiotics. Ultimately, it's highly scalable and cost-effective which puts us in pole position to transform an industry that's long overdue for change," he adds.

According to Gebhard, working with Billund Aquaculture will facilitate "a cost efficient, RAS-based system for large scale shrimp projects in Europe and similar regions."

The next steps in the joint venture are Aquapurna's plans to scale up its existing hatchery, Lakshimi, where it is currently raising broodstock and shrimp nauplii. On top of this, they will be building a large-scale Lighthouse Project that strives to start land-based shrimp farming by developing a state-of-the-art RAS grow-out unit.

"The technology for land-based shrimp farming is not yet suitable for creating large-scale facilities," says Bjarne Hald Olsen, Operations and Business Development Manager for Billund. "However, we believe that Aquapurna's expertise in shrimp farming, combined with our experience in developing RAS for different aquaculture species will set us on the right path to producing shrimp in a more sustainable way in a very short time."

R&D is the 'backbone' of the project where the companies will be intensifying their R&D efforts to create a market leading technology.

For more information on Billund Aquaculture visit their website, HERE.

For more information on Aquapurna visit their website, HERE.

Investment raised by Umitron will strengthen its worldwide services

Umitron has raised SGD$15 million in investment sourced from investors and commercial banks, to fund overseas development for salmon and shrimp farming.

Currently, Umitron offers three global services for aquaculture: Remora, Eagle and Pulse. Remora is an AI software service for feeding that can be installed at large-scale fish farms without needing additional equipment. Farmers are provided with a relatively easy installation, by installing it on the computer they use at their site and connecting it to existing cameras in pens.

In addition to easy installation, the service also has AI technologies which are able to perform appetite analysis without requiring a stable communication environment or local servers. Thanks to the software's real-time feed monitoring and dead fish detection capabilities, farmers are provided with a useful tool to optimise feeding protocols and better manage production performance.

Umitron Eagle provides the first real-time AI analysis solution for shrimp farming. It offers a solution to sector experiencing fast growth but being restrained to limited technological improvements. Challenges have revolved around overcoming poor water transparency and digitising fish production.

Image credit: Umitron

Eagle enables the farmer to assess shrimp production conditions using customised AI algorithms to track real-time biological conditions and other factors. This includes appetite analysis, health and growth conditions, and biomass. The company plans to expand it into Southeast Asia, India and China in the near future.

Finally, Umitron Pulse utilises satellite remote sensing technology to acquire high-res data for aquaculture applications. Parameters collected include seawater temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll concentration, wave height, winds and currents.

By detecting small changes in the marine environment, the platform helps with producer operations such as feed amounts and timing, harvesting and logistics and helps to mitigate events causing mass mortalities such as harmful algal blooms or temporary farm closures, by detecting issues early on.

It provides a 48 hour forecast, latest location data and two years of historical data which can be applied to long-term planning and risk mitigation. This service is in use in more than 20 countries worldwide.

Thanks to the financing received, the technology company hopes to strengthen and enhance the services it offers worldwide. It will accelerate establishing local subsidiaries and business development in key salmon production regions such as Northern Europe, Chile and Southeast Asia.

Umitron recently conducted a life cycle assessment on its production of red sea bream and found an encouraging reduction in GHG emissions. More information on that can be found, HERE.

For more information on Umitron visit their website, HERE.

Latest companies to invest in Hyperthermics technology

Favatn Private Equity and Måsøval Eiendom have invested in biotechnology company Hyperthermics AS, a move that was regarded by the company as a "good match."

Hyperthermics' technology works by using hyperthermophilic bacteria to degrade biomass for the purpose of biogas and protein production. The bacteria's high working temperature speeds up decomposition and in doing so, increases the capacity of the production facilities. The main markets in mind are biogas producers and fish farmers.

"Both Farvatn and Måsøval are involved in aquaculture and fish farming," explains Erlend Haugsbø, CEO of Hyperthermics AS. "The aquaculture industry is investing heavily in becoming greener, and our solutions contribute, among other things, to transforming fish sludge into a valuable resource."

Many shareholders in the company are involved in biogas or fish farming, meaning they are interested in successfully commercialising Hyperthermics' technology.

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Tore Hopen, CEO of Farvatn Private Equity

"Climate, environment, and energy are very relevant topics. We believe in Hyperthermics' unique approach to converting waste into climate-neutral energy and proteins," remarks Tore Hopen, CEO of Favatn Private Equity.

Favatn and Måsøval currently hold 11 percent of shares in Hyperthermics, a move that is 'a mark of quality.' Both shareholders are helping to strengthen the commercialisation of the technology.

Hyperthermics was recently chosen by fish farmer Hofseth Aqua to manage sludge at a land-based plant in Tafjord and can be read about, HERE.

For more information on Hyperthermics visit their website, HERE.

Image credit: Hyperthermics

Agreement signed will provide smolt farmers with humane method of culling

Norwegian smolt farmers Sævareid Fiskeanlegg have signed an agreement with technology specialists Ace Aquatec for their first in-water smolt stunner, following on from successful trials carried out last year.

Looking for a solution to cull their fish in a more efficient and sustainable way, this led the company to Ace Aquatec's in-water smolt stunner. The agreement signed will oversee a two-year rental on Ace Aquatec's smaller and more portable stunning. Using this stunning technology ensures all fish are culled and not just stunned, which can happen in the cases of larger fish.

In doing so, Sævareid Fiskeanlegg are able to take culled smolt directly to petfood producers without using chemical anesthesia, which renders them unsuitable for consumption. The stunner provides operators with the ability to process up to one tonne of smolts per hour, which will streamline the company's culling process.

Ace Aquatec's smolt stunner. Image credit: Ace Aquatec

"By incorporating Ace Aquatec's smolt stunner in our day-to-day operations it has allowed our staff to run a more efficient and faster production line," says Sævareid Fiskeanlegg CEO Gustav Folkestad. "Introducing this type of technology opens the door for us to provide higher value on what could be seen as a costly by-product. We're now looking forward to continuing working with Ace through this agreement."

Ace Aquatec's Northern Europe Regional Manager Preben Imset Matre adds, "Following successful trials and ongoing consultation, we're delighted to have reached an agreement with Sævareid Fiskeanlegg. Together we were able to demonstrate that the smolt stunner is a great way of turning cost into profit while also allowing you to process the fish more efficiently. The good dialogue with Sævareid Fiskeanlegg during the pilot has been very valuable and has helped shape the product into what it is today."

In recent news, Ace Aquatec partnered with equipment supplier Fresh by Design as its first distributor in the APAC region. More information on that can be found, HERE.

For more information on Ace Aquatec visit their website, HERE.

For more information on Sævareid Fiskeanlegg visit their website, HERE.

Salmon Evolution looks to expand farming operations

Salmon Evolution is starting a process to expand its farming operations in the US, whilst striving to increase its production capacity to 100,000 tonnes by 2032.

As a result, the company is evaluating potential production sites in the US, using the remainder of this year for site selection and site verifications. Pre-construction involving regulatory approval processes is expected to take two to three years, meaning construction will happen around 2025.

Current plans are to build a 31,000 tonnes facility in Indre Harøy, which it recently released its first smolts from and collaborated with green power supplier Statkraft on the project. News of that can be found HERE and HERE. 

Image credit: Salmon Evolution

To allow for this expansion, Salmon Evolution has established a dedicated team of in-house and external resources, as well as establishing US corporate structure.

"Although starting in Norway, Salmon Evolution has always had global ambitions. With the addition of North America into our portfolio, we will have an operating platform on all the three major salmon consuming continents," says Håkon André Berg, CEO of Salmon Evolution.

"Over the coming 12 months we expect to demonstrate the operational viability of our concept, solidifying Salmon Evolution's global leadership position within the land-based salmon farming industry. Given the long lead times for this industry, we see it as critical for our long-term value creation to build and develop a tangible pipeline of high-quality projects," he adds.

For more information on Salmon Evolution visit their website, HERE.

Hofseth Aqua signs agreement to manage their sludge

Fish farmer Hofseth Aqua have signed an agreement with Hyperthermics, which will oversee Hyperthermics managing their sludge.

Hofseth Aqua are expanding their land-based post-smolt plant in Tafjord and will be working with Hyperthermics for its sludge management solutions. Hyperthermics uses unique biotechnology to convert organic waste into renewable energy. Green bio-hydrogen and green biogas are generated from the same sludge and fed back to a facility to provide it with energy.

"We consider this a breakthrough for our commercial efforts in land-based aqua farming," says Erlend Haugsbø, CEO of Hyperthermics.

The plant in question will be converting sludge from closed farming into commercial quality products, with several significant ongoing projects happening within land-based farming and closed farming in the sea. Hofseth Aqua's project World Heritage Salmon, which will utilise a disused olivine mine to construct a flowthrough farm with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes a year, is one such example of this. The farm will be based in Røbbervika, where Hyperthermics and Hofseth Aqua will be collaborating on this also.

From left: Knut Eilert Røsvik, Hofseth International AS and Erlend Haugsbø Hyperthermics AS

"The Hofseth Group has a high focus on utilising resources in the best possible way, both when it comes to getting the most food out of the fish we produce and doing this in as energy-efficient and intelligent a way as possible," says Project Director of Hofseth International Knut Eilert Røsvik.

"Hyperthermics' solutions are innovative and future oriented. The company will be an essential partner for us in the work of building a circular sustainable aquaculture industry."

From Hyperthermics, CEO Erlend Haugsbø, expressed his satisfaction with the agreement.

"The aquaculture industry makes considerable investments to become greener. With our biotechnology, we will contribute to solving an environmental problem by making the waste into high-quality products, and the verification in Tafjord will open up great opportunities for us. More and more land-based and closed fish farms are built worldwide, and environmental requirements are tightened in most countries," he says.

The plant will be ready in the first quarter of next year.

For more information on Hofseth Aqua visit their website, HERE.

For more information on Hyperthermics visit their website, HERE.

Image credit: Hyperthermics

Otaq to distribute Sensor Globe

Otaq, provider of marine technology solutions for aquaculture, offshore energy and sports and leisure industries has announced its multi-year distribution agreement with Sensor Globe, a Canadian aquaculture technology provider. This comes after a completion of a successful development period, resulting in Otaq successfully securing its first customer in Chile.

Following the agreement, Otaq will be distributing Sensor Globe's data collection, which is utilised to monitor water quality and fish welfare for fish farmers, and is targeting Scottish and Chilean markets as two of the largest producers of farmed salmon.

The piece of technology is designed to 'flow with the fish' through its pumps, pipes, treatments and machinery, whilst measuring water quality and its impact on fish. Operators are provided with the ability to monitor real-time data remotely via a user interface. It collects data such as temperature, pH, acceleration, conductivity and shock, all of which can be seen in real time. There is also the option to leave the globe sensor at a site for months at a time, returning later to retrieve data for analysis.

Image credit: Sedna Tech

"The Sensor Globe adds a complementary product to our aquaculture portfolio which builds on the range of solutions already available to our clients," explains Phil Newby, Chief Executive Otaq. "Having secured our first customer for the Sensor Globe market in Chile, we are now looking forward to representing the Sensor Globe in our core markets and progressing the market opportunity."

"We see huge potential in the suite of complementary aquaculture solutions given the positive impacts they can have on fish stock welfare and production volumes."

Sheamus MacDonald, Chief Executive and Co-founder of Sensor Globe spoke of their "excitement" to be working with Otaq.

"Partnered alongside their technology in Chile and the United Kingdom will allow for us to collectively further enhance fish welfare during all stages of fish production," he says.

For more information on Otaq visit their website, HERE.

For more information on Sensor Globe visit their website, HERE.

Life cycle assessment carried out by Umitron shows GHG reduction

Recent assessments carried out by technology company Umitron investigated the environmental footprint of ASC-certified red sea bream, which is sold under their sustainability brand, Umi to Sachi.

Using the life cycle assessment – which is a method to assess the environmental impact of a product by breaking it down by processes – the company measured greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced across the whole value chain from raw material procurement, to end-use and finally, disposal. Results of the analysis showed that Umitron Cell, the AI-powered smart feeder from Umitron, reduced feed-related GHG emissions by 20 percent when compared with conventional automatic feeders.

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Comparison of emissions with conventional feeders

The life cycle assessment of the ASC-certified red sea bream revealed that GHG emissions were around 1048g CO2 per 100g of product. Umitron plans to add more data on GHG reductions for products farmed using Umitron Cell in the future. Procurement of raw materials showed to account for more than 80 percent of the product's total emissions.

Comparing conventional automatic feeders Umitron Cell was able to decrease GHG emissions by 20 percent, says the company. This 20 percent reduction translates to an hour of air conditioner use at home. This reduction is attributed to the AI-based Fish Appetite Index (FAI) which is used to analyse fish behaviour during feeding which helps to minimise the amount of feed wastage.

The company hopes to improve environmental sustainability by helping to reduce aquaculture's carbon footprint, going hand in hand with their journey to develop technologies to improve farm environments and fish production efficiency. Based on the positive results obtained from this life cycle assessment, Umitron plans to include the carbon footprint of their products going forward.

"We want to play a more central role in achieving a low-carbon economy by encouraging consumers to be more sustainability-focused when shopping and choosing more eco-friendly products," says the company.

Umitron's brand Umi to Sachi was launched in June of last year and operates by selling farmed red sea bream from farms that utilise AI.

For more information on Umitron visit their website, HERE.

Image credit: Umitron

Andfjord Salmon prepares for first smolt release

Andfjord Salmon are planning to release their first smolt from their facility at Kvalnes, Andøya, as of this month. Plans have progressed according to plans laid out during the first quarter and following months.

"Our entire set-up is based on an idea of recreating the salmon's natural habitat on land. We have applied this philosophy when planning the smolt release too. Smolt release in late June coincides with the wild salmon's migration period here at Andøya," says Martin Rasmussen, CEO Andfjord Salmon. "Further, an increasing amount of natural light and period with rising temperatures is good for fish health and development. This is why ultimo June has been chosen for smolt release."

The company's pool, which is notable for its flow-through technology, has been operational 24/7 as if smolt had already been released in the pool. More information about the flow-through technology can be read about, HERE. During this time period, the company has conducted a continuous simulation to ensure that technology and equipment are in working order, and staff are prepared for the smolt release.

Biological sensors are installed and cleaning robots have been extensively tested, the company reports in a recent press release. In addition, back-up systems and solutions have been comprehensively tested.

Smolt release. Image credit: Andfjord Salmon

"Our objective is to create the most sustainable and fish-friendly facility of its kind," Mr Rasmussen explains. "A meticulous approach towards ensuring the best possible biological conditions for the salmon is, in our view, key to achieve this goal. I am pleased to say that everything has gone according to plan during our extensive preparations."

Entering into phase two sees blasting and excavation work take place at the next pools at Kvalnes. Pools closest to the first pool, which is due to have smolt released into it, are being excavated first.

Plans are in place for Andfjord Salmon to increase production volume by 50 percent from 12,600 in phase one and two, to 19,000 tonnes in phase three.

Having recently secured a NOK 50 million loan, the company will be financing initiation of phase three and continued build-out of phase two.

In addition to the facility at Kvalnes, the company has secured land rights to other areas at Andøya, known as Breivik and Fiskenes, which will have similar land-based fish farming facilities established at both sites and a goal of 25,000 tonnes in production at each.

"We are highly dedicated to local job and value creation when we develop and operate our facilities. We want to achieve this by embracing the local environmental conditions that are unique to Andøya and Andfjord Salmon, simply because we believe this provides us and our fish with a competitive advantage nationally and internationally," says Martin Rasmussen.

As the land-based salmon facility is not yet operating, the company has yet to generate revenues. Losses sit at NOK 9.9 million in the first financial quarter of this year, which is compared to a loss of NOK 7.2 million in the same quarter of last year. This change can be attributed to Andfjord Salmon's 'ramp up' of operations in preparation to release the first smolt.

For more information on Andfjord Salmon visit their website, HERE.