ScaleAQ wins feed barge order from Japanese trout farm

Norway-headquartered aquaculture supplier ScaleAQ has entered into an agreement with Japan Salmon Farm for the construction of a feed barge in Vietnam.

“This marks an important milestone for us. For the first time, a barge will be built in Vietnam under Norwegian project management,” said Trond Karlsen, senior sales manager at ScaleAQ, in a press release.

“We are bringing our extensive Norwegian expertise into the project and are confident that this collaboration will open new opportunities.”

The buyer of the new barge is Japan Salmon Farm, a Japanese trout producer expanding its operations in the northern part of Honshu, the country’s main island.

12,000 tonnes by 2030

Currently, Japanese production of salmon and trout accounts for just 0.6% of global salmon volumes. Last year, Japan Salmon Farm (JSF) produced 3,500 tonnes and aims to reach 12,000 tonnes by 2030.

“It is very encouraging to see the strong ambitions in the Japanese market. We are extremely pleased to deliver a project of this scale to a company with such clear goals and a highly professional operation,” said Karlsen.

The Japanese authorities have expressed ambitions to facilitate increased salmon production, both through land-based and sea-based aquaculture.

ScaleAQ currently employs 200 people in Vietnam, and several from the Vietnamese team are directly involved in the new project. An agreement has also been signed with a newly selected shipyard in Vietnam. The barge will be transported to Japan during the summer.

Turnkey delivery

“We are delivering the mooring system, cameras, barge, and feeding technology for Japan Salmon Farm,” said Karlsen, who hopes this delivery will pave the way for further collaboration.

“It is impressive to see the professionalism within the Japanese aquaculture sector, as well as the strong commitment from the authorities to support industry growth.”

Japan Salmon Farm is owned by Okamura Foods Co., Ltd., a Japanese seafood group founded in 1971. The company is a major player in aquaculture, processing, and global distribution of seafood products.

“ScaleAQ is a trusted partner with extensive expertise and a strong track record in feeding systems and feed barges. The introduction of this equipment represents an important step toward achieving our production target of 12,000 tonnes, and we will continue to work to enhance the value of domestically produced edible salmon,” said Mizuho Muradatae of Japan Salmon Farm.

A few months at sea

The company hatches trout from eyed eggs sourced from the United States and Japan and raises them to 800g on land. It then transfers them to sea pens from November-December to April-June, during which time they reach a harvestable weight of 3 to 4 kg.

The sea-based farms are located offshore from Imabetsu, Sotogahama, and Wakinosawa, and also along the coast of Fukaura in Aomori Prefecture.

Okamura Foods also owns Danish trout farmer Musholm, which produces more than 3,500 tonnes of salmon trout annually in three sea farms in the Great Belt, off Reersø in West Zealand. The company specialises in the farming, processing and sale of trout and trout eggs.