Norwegian aquaculture firms Bue Salmon and Bolaks Group have announced a strategic three year-partnership that will “ensure Bue a stable supply of smolt, while Bolaks receives robust post-smolt in return.”
"Not only do we secure predictability and profitability, but we also establish close cooperation with one of the country’s leading aquaculture environments," Bue Salmon CEO Knut Eikeland said.
Bue will receive smolt from Sævareid Fiskeanlegg, in which Bolaks is the majority shareholder; the smolt will then be upgraded to post-smolt at Bue Salmon’s land-based Bulandet site before being returned to Bolaks' sea farming sites.
"This [agreement] establishes a predictable and efficient value chain that strengthens the operations of both companies. Short production cycles and reliable deliveries enable optimal utilization of production capacities," the companies said in a joint release.
The collaboration is intended to also include knowledge sharing, as both firms are currently studying optimization of land-based post-smolt production.
“By combining our expertise in smolt production and sea-based farming with Bue Salmon’s specialization in post-smolt and land-based production, we have a unique opportunity to explore the synergies between land and sea,” Bolaks CEO Karina Antonsen Hjelle said.
“We share a strong focus on fish welfare and look forward to learning from each other,” Eikeland added.
The agreement comes at a good time for Bue, which is seeking operational predictability as it expands into Lutelandet. Bolaks also believes it will be strengthened by a stable supply of post-smolt, which will reduce its production time at sea.
