More applications planned by MH
Marine Harvest has plans to submit even more development licence applications, despite already having four under consideration by the Norwegian authorities.
“We already have four different applications sent to the Directorate of Fisheries in Norway, but we will apply for additional licences for new projects,” the company’s CEO, Alf-Helge Aarskog told kyst.
In an exclusive interview with kyst.no, Aarskog says that the company has big plans to submit additional development licence applications.
The four projects that have already been applied for – the Egg, Beck cage, closed units in bulk carriers and the Marine Donut – equate to a total of 36 licences.
“We already have two concepts that enable us to utilize space in the fjords, where it is impossible to conduct normal farming. But if we are granted the permission to farm here, then we must guarantee zero emissions of lice and no fish escapes,” explains Aarskog.
“We will not rule out that we want to look at the possibilities for developing concepts offshore, where we can lower cages beneath the waves during heavy storms,” he adds.
In such conditions the salmon could, according to Aarskog, remain without access to the surface for up to three weeks.
Other countries
Aarskog said the company does not intend to invest in such concepts in Chile, even if they are granted licences – at least until new legislation and regulation is in place.
“We will develop solutions in Norway first, if this proves to be an amazing system that is cost effective and productive, we can continue in other countries. But this will not happen in Chile, because we do not make money there. Regulatory measures need to be optimized before we do anything in Chile,” he explains.
The CEO does, however, believe that some of the concepts could, in the long term, be used in the other salmon producing regions the company is present in.
