Subfarm is looking at solutions where fish farms can be co-located with offshore wind farms for better utilisation of ocean areas in Japan.

Japan looks at siting fish farms among offshore wind turbines

Norwegian submersible cage developer Subfarm taking part in feasibility study with local renewables company

Therese Soltveit
Therese Soltveit Journalist
Published

Subfarm, a Norwegian company that develops submersible fish farming systems for operation in more exposed waters and offshore, is taking part in a feasibility study in Japan to assess how farming can be combined with offshore wind.

“The goal is to find out whether there is a basis for establishing a concrete pilot project,” Subfarm general manager Paal Hylin told Fish Farming Expert’s Norwegian sister site, Kyst.no.

The study is currently in an early phase, where the work includes mapping relevant areas, assessing environmental conditions and adapting the technology to local conditions.

Paal Hylin leads Subfarm, which is now participating in a project to look at how farming and offshore wind can be combined in Japanese waters.

Limited coastal area

The project has received support through the EU programme INNOWWIDE, and is being carried out in collaboration with the Japanese company NAMICPA, which works with offshore wind and renewable energy.

Japan is highlighted as a particularly interesting market for testing such solutions.

“The country has limited coastal area, while at the same time having great ambitions in both offshore wind and seafood production. This makes co-production particularly relevant there.”

Submersible pens

The technology that may make co-production possible is submersible cages that can operate below the lice layer and be adjusted in the water column, making it possible to farm in more exposed areas.

“By moving production down into the water column, you can both improve fish welfare and utilise areas that are currently not used for farming,” said Hylin.

Over time, Subfarm has worked on concepts where fish farming facilities can be placed between wind turbines in offshore wind farms, with the goal of utilising ocean areas more efficiently and reducing conflicts between industries.

“Our technology was developed with this in mind, and we see that interest in co-use is increasing in several markets,” said Hylin.

In parallel with the work in Japan, the company is also involved in projects in Norway and elsewhere. In Norway, Subfarm is conducting area studies for exposed aquaculture and has received a commitment from Innovation Norway to pilot test the technology. 

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