Grieg expands RAS facility to strengthen successful post-smolt strategy

Grieg Seafood is expanding its post-smolt facility Tytlandsvik Aqua, with AKVA group appointed to install the RAS (recirculation aquaculture system) technology.

Tytlandsvik Aqua, which is jointly owned by Grieg Seafood Rogaland, Bremnes Seashore and Vesthavbruk, is located in Hjelmeland municipality in Ryfylke.

The facility will eventually have the capacity to produce 9,000 tonnes of large smolt, at 1kg, mainly for farmers in Rogaland.

Development

The new NOK 220 million (£16.4 million) development will see the building of halls five and six, with work starting in March 2026. The aim is to have the first smolt installations in hall 5 by August 2027 and in hall 6 by September 2028, said Grieg in a press release.

“Tytlandsvik has long worked with a goal of completing the facility with six halls; the increase in capacity is important for the further work with post-smolt in the region,” said Nils Viga, general manager of Tytlandsvik Aqua.

Each hall will have a production capacity of 1,500 tonnes and AKVA is scheduled to commence design and engineering work in the fourth quarter of 2025. AKVA has delivered all previous post smolt modules to Tytlandsvik.

Good results

Nina Willumsen, CEO of Grieg Seafood, said: “We see that the work done with post-smolt over many years is yielding good results.

“Our experience shows that when large post-smolt is released into the sea, mortality is halved. We also see that it significantly improves lice control.

“In recent years, around 60% of the company's fish have not needed lice treatment at all, due to the use of large post-smolt, together with other preventive measures. We welcome the planned expansion of Tytlandsvik Aqua.”