The Marine Donut is based on a new type of closed technology.

Donut development moves ahead

A bid for “Marine Donuts” to be used in farms has moved forward, after Norway’s Directorate of Fisheries said it would consider an application for the award of one or more development permits.

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Marine Harvest applied for eight licenses, with a combined MTB 6240 tonnes of Marine Donut pens, which it describes as solid, closed units, shaped like donuts.

“We are very pleased with the Directorate's decision,” communications manager Eivind Nævdal-Bolstad told kyst.no. “We believe the project has the potential to take the Norwegian aquaculture an important step forward, but must obviously await Directorate's final verdict before further details of the project becomes clear.”

The company said the Marine Donut is based on a new type of closed technology, created by marine contractor ØPD, and should prevent escapes.

“This is brand new and very exciting technology,” said Marine Harvest CEO Alf-Helge Aarskog. “We really want to develop the way we produce salmon. Our goal is to make healthy and tasty food in a more sustainable and cost effective manner.”

The Marine Donuts are designed for Norwegian fjords, but can also be placed on exposed locations.

Rejected projects

Meanwhile, Marine Harvest’s Beck Cage proposal - based on cylindrical cages which can be raised and lowered to prevent salmon being affected by lice, algae and jellyfish - got the thumbs-down from the Directorate. “We must now examine the grounds for rejection thoroughly before we consider whether to appeal the decision or not,” said Nævdal-Bolstad.

Elswhere, Eide Fjordbruk had its application for six development permits rejected by the Directorate, but the company hasn't given up on the project entirely. “We have faith in this work [which involves sensor technology, autonomous vehicles and new methods for gathering data about salmon] and will examine the grounds for the rejection,” said public relations director Andreas Moe Larsen.