Swedish trout farmer marks key milestone

Swedish land-based trout farmer Big Akwa has embarked on the detailed planning phase of its 6,000-tonne facility at Alby in the north of the country.

Teaming up with Danish RAS (recirculating aquaculture system) supplier Frea Solutions and Swedish engineering company Undeko, the company said it now has access to advanced technical expertise and long-standing experience in land-based aquaculture.

“This marks an important milestone for Big Akwa,” said Daniel Brännström, CTO of Big Akwa. “We are not only building a fish farm but also showing how the future of food production can be designed in close collaboration with industry and the environment.”

New standards

Thorsten Vammen, CEO FREA Solutions, said: “Working closely with Big Akwa and Undeko, we’re proud to contribute our proven RAS solutions. With unmatched CAPEX/OPEX, this project sets new standards for sustainable aquaculture.” 

The Alby project is part of Big Akwa’s vision to strengthen Sweden’s self-sufficiency in fish while contributing to the circular economy.

The company, founded in 2020, aims to establish large-scale land-based fish farming in an industrial symbiosis model, collaborating with nearby industries and using their by-products.

Share resources

To be built on an industrial park, the farm will share resources and infrastructure with a 100-megawatt green hydrogen plant operated by RES Nordics, Big Akwa Co-Founder and CEO Elena Petukhovskaya said last year.

The first farm is expected to be operational next year with fully capacity by 2029.