Norwegian salmon farming companies SalMar and Lerøy are collaborating on a new closed containment salmon farming system they call the “next generation” of the technology.
The new technology, dubbed Aquatraz C2, comprised closed-containment salmon farming systems with a total volume of 70,000 cubic meters. The two companies said the new technology builds on “Aquatraz S1,” which was delivered to Lerøy, and the first four Aquatraz units that were developed for Salmar.
Through the collaboration, six new Aquatraz C2 units will built by Seafarming Systems, effectively doubling the total closed production capacity in Norway.
“If everything goes according to plan, the first fish will be stocked in these units in the first quarter of 2027, with full operations from 2028,” SalMar CEO Frode Arntsen said.
Lerøy said the purpose of the new closed-containment system is to solve some of the key challenges related to open net-pen salmon farming, i.e. sea lice and pollution caused by the salmon. The closed-containment Aquatraz C2 will draw its water from six intakes at a depth of 35 meters, deep enough to ensure lice-free water.
“We have worked systematically and purposefully on technology development for many years, and have made great progress with submerged cages and testing of semi-closed solutions,” Lerøy Seafood Group CEO Henning Beltestad said. “Now we are taking this a step further.”
The two companies said the new project does not mean all future production will be moving to closed systems, but called the collaboration a “clear response to the shared ambition of the industry and authorities to develop new solutions that can contribute to sustainable growth in Norwegian seafood production.”
Both companies said traditional open net pen salmon farming will continue to be important and essential to Norwegian aquaculture, but investing in new technology is key to maintaining Norway’s role as a major player in global salmon production.
“Aquatraz C2 is the result of more than ten years of development work, with continuous improvement and learning from practical operations,” Seafarming Systems CEO Alf Reidar Sandstad said. “This gives us a solid technical and biological foundation for taking the next step in closed-cage development.”
The two companies said they are currently preparing for delivery of the cages in roughly one year, so that sea production can begin.
