Sustainable aquaculture
The next decade will involve major technological changes in order to make aquaculture more sustainable. The gap between the desire for large scale growth in seafood production, and today’s challenges with sustainability must be filled with new technology. Seafarming Systems’ mission is to do just that. By using closed and semi-closed fish farms, salmon farming in the sea can be increased, whilst the environmental footprint is reduced.
The environmental challenges facing salmon farming, which needs solutions in order to achieve sustainable aquaculture, include escape, sea lice, suitable areas and fish sludge collection.
Sustainable aquaculture
The next decade will involve major changes in aquaculture technology to make aquaculture more sustainable. The gap between the desire for large scale growth in production and today’s challenges with sustainability must be filled with new technology. Seafarming Systems’ mission is to do just that. By using closed and semi-closed fish farms, salmon farming in the sea can be increased, while the environmental footprint is reduced.
The environmental challenges facing salmon farming, which must be adressed in order to achieve sustainable aquaculture, include escape, salmon lice and sludge collection.
Protection from salmon lice
Seafarming Systems develops both closed and semi-closed cage culture technology. Sea water from the upper layers where toxic algae, salmon lice and other microorganisms are located are kept out of the cage with watertight barriers. At the same time, active water circulation ensures that plenty of fresh water is obtained from water depths below where the sea lice are found. The same principle also protects against toxic algae and other harmful organisms found in the upper water layers.
Sludge collection & circular economy
Cage culture systems with sludge collection prevents pollution of the sea bed and make more sea sites available for aquaculture. Sea sites with poor currents can be utilised with technology with forced water exchange and sludge collection. Without polluting the sea bed, larger farms and more intense farming can be allowed in the same location. Large-scale sludge collection provides the opportunity for a true circular economy where valuable minerals can be recycled and sludge becomes a resource, such as fertilizer and biogas.
Improved fish welfare and fillet quality
When salmon lice, algae and other harmful microorganisms are kept out of the cage, and delousing becomes unnecessary, it has a positive effect on the fish welfare. When plenty of fresh water flows through the cage, providing a water flow that trims the salmon, the result can be improved fish health and faster growth. The fillet quality may also improve, with better colouring, lower fat percentage and firmer fillets.
Reduced production cost
Escape-proof cages can hold a larger number of salmon. Excellent water supply and water circulation provide a basis for higher density. Larger fish farms such as Aquantum Leap with a large volume per surface area and higher density, also contribute to increased productivity. With sludge collection, fallow time can be reduced. The Aquatraz has proved that production cost, including depreciation, decrease. This is mainly due to protection frm sea lice.
Economy of scale
Seafarming Systems aligns with the UN’s sustainable development goals to increase sustainable seafood production and take care of our oceans and their biodiversity. We also respond to the Norwegian authority’s goal to increase the yearly seafood production to five million tonnes by 2050, by developing sustainable fish farming systems.
Safety at work
Fish farming at sea is rated as the second most dangerous job in Norway, only surpassed by commercial fishing. Our closed and semi-closed fish farms are stable steel structures with wide walkways, railing and storage space, providing a platform for automated operations and less need for support vessels. Ensuring a significant reduction of manual labour and positive changes in working conditions as well as the other letters of HSE.
Seafarming Systems contribute to
the UN's sustainability development goals
