Persistence pays off for FjordMAX concept
A determined Norwegian salmon farmer has won permission to grow more fish in an integrated farm concept which it claims can triple production in fjord systems in smaller areas than the industry currently uses.
Salaks’ FjordMAX concept, drawn up in cooperation with NSK Ship Design, was originally rejected for development licences by Norway’s Fisheries Directorate on the grounds that it didn’t involve significant innovation and therefore didn’t meet qualifying criteria.
The company appealed the decision and the Directorate changed course, granting it four and a half development permits, corresponding to 3,150 tonnes of biomass.
Integrated unit
Salaks, which had applied for nine permits, appealed again and has now been granted six permits, increasing maximum biomass to 4,680 tonnes.
According to Salaks, FjordMAX’s platform solution allows all operations to take place within an integrated unit and no external workboats will be needed.
The plant has up to 90% collection of particulate organic waste, double nets to prevent escape, is safe against collision and has systems to ensure good fish welfare and minimise the risk of lice. Salaks says the concept will provide improved working conditions for employees and increase safety.
The company argues that the technology represents an area-efficient total solution which can help to solve environmental challenges by establishing greater distance between farm sites. This would give larger infection and fallow zones, which are important measures to solve lice and disease challenges.
