Aquatraz pens arrive in Norway from China
Lerøy's closed Aquatraz C2 units are now being assembled near Bergen
After more than a month en route from China, the pieces that will be fitted together to make three Aquatraz C2 floating closed containment cages for salmon farmer Lerøy and three for SalMar have arrived in Norway.
"The arrival of Aquatraz C2 is a major and exciting milestone for Lerøy," said Morten Fjæreide, general manager of Lerøy's southern Norway farming operation, Lerøy Sjøtroll.
The cages will be assembled at Coast Centre Base (CCB), a major maritime and petroleum industrial cluster located at Ågotnes in Øygarden municipality, about a 25-minute drive west of Bergen. Lerøy's cages will then be towed to the Djupestallen fish farm in Tysnes. Lerøy plans to stock fish in the new year.
"This is an important project for the Norwegian supplier industry and for Øygarden as an industrial municipality," said Jan-Dagfinn Lund, chief executive of CCB.
More solutions for responsible aquaculture
According to Lerøy, the investment in Aquatraz C2 is a clear response to the industry's and authorities' shared desire to develop new solutions that can contribute to sustainable growth in Norwegian seafood production.
But the company also emphasises that this is not a signal that all production will be transferred to closed systems.
According to Lerøy, traditional technology will continue to be the foundation for Norwegian aquaculture. Further development of this equipment technology will go hand in hand with the focus on new solutions.
"We do not believe that one technology fits all. Over time, Lerøy has invested in and adopted new technology for the production of salmon and trout. Aquatraz will be a new supplement to, among other things, submerged cages and lice lasers. We believe that the aquaculture of the future will consist of both traditional technology and new solutions, adapted to the locations we have along the entire coast," said Fjæreide.
New technology requires predictability
The arrival of the 'flat-pack' Aquatraz C2 sections in Norway marks the end of a long construction and transport phase. The project also illustrates what is required to develop and implement new technology in aquaculture. Such initiatives take time, and require large investments and decisions that must be made long before the technology can be put into operation.
"What we see at Ågotnes today is the result of decisions that were made a long time ago. If we are to continue to make such decisions and invest in new solutions for Norwegian aquaculture, competitive and predictable framework conditions are crucial," said Fjæreide.
The project involves the construction of three Aquatraz C2 units for Lerøy, and is delivered by Seafarming Systems. The technology has been developed in collaboration with Lerøy and SalMar.
Each unit has a water volume of 70,000 m³, with six water intakes at a depth of 35 metres. According to the company, this will ensure access to lice-free water and efficient water exchange. The technology has been developed to help solve two of the challenges in Norwegian aquaculture: salmon lice and nutrient discharge into the sea.
