SalMar, a prominent player in the aquaculture industry, is set to elevate offshore salmon farming with its newly approved Smart Fish Farm in the open Norwegian Sea. Building on the success of the Ocean Farm 1 project, which pioneered offshore farming technology, Smart Fish Farm aims to further push the boundaries of innovation in salmon production.
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries has granted approval for the development of the Smart Fish Farm, marking a significant milestone for SalMar. Unlike its predecessor, Ocean Farm 1, which tested the limits of offshore farming with its exposed location, Smart Fish Farm will be situated directly in the open Norwegian Sea.
The cutting-edge facility is designed to soar to a height of 70 meters, doubling the fish capacity compared to Ocean Farm 1. Mariculture, the subsidiary overseeing the project, aims to achieve a maximum allowable biomass of 19,000 tonnes at the new location, showcasing a substantial increase in salmon production capacity.
Roy Reite, CEO at SalMar Aker Ocean, the parent company of Mariculture AS, expressed the importance of this development, stating, “This is an important step forward in order to realize the potential of offshore aquaculture.” He emphasized that the next crucial milestones involve clarifications regarding ground rent tax and the regulatory framework for offshore aquaculture.
The Smart Fish Farm project signifies a progressive move toward optimizing offshore aquaculture, underlining SalMar’s commitment to innovation and sustainable salmon farming practices.