Northern Lights Salmon seeks OptiFarm permits
Northern Lights Salmon has applied for three development licences in Norway for its OptiFarm concept.
OptiFarm is a semi-closed plant consisting of three main components: a tight cloth that separates the fish from the outer environment of the water layer; a patent-pending filter that pumps lice-free and temperature-optimal water; and a transport device that allows gentle moving of fish without exposure to potentially lice-containing water.
The company, from Skånland in Troms county, says the design will produce significantly higher growth and more efficient production.
Søren Balteskard, operations manager and project manager at Northern Lights Salmon, said: “We believe that the traditional way of doing salmon farming will continue to be an important part of our mission to deliver healthy and safe food to the world's population. Therefore, we have created a concept that addresses the challenges where farming is being conducted today. We will continue our activity where we are today and OptiFarm is an important tool to enable us to grow and create even more local jobs in the future.”
£36 million investment
Development efforts have been intensive over the past six months. Northern Lights Salmon has collaborated closely with equipment provider NOFI, and is attached to the Veterinary Institute, Akvaplan-niva and Vesterålen Fisheries Service to assist with their expertise. Kunnskapsparken Nord has coordinated the work on the application on behalf of Northern Lights Salmon.
If the application is approved, the project will start in the autumn of next year and will be completed in 2025. The first fish will be seen in spring 2020 and the project has a cost frame of about NOK 400 million (£36 million). The company currently has four licences and a joint venture with Sørrollnesfisk AS.
Balteskard said: “We consider this a significant investment. At the same time, there is a significant innovation that opens up new opportunities for us and other breeders who can make use of the solution in the future.”
He added that the equipment will be developed and manufactured at NOFI's headquarters in Eidkjosen, Tromsø, and tested at Northern Lights Salmon's locations in Astafjord.
