'It’s very positive to see the systems performing as intended'
Cflow is an expert at providing fish handling systems but the requirements of Andfjord Salmon are on a different scale, says its CFO
Fish handling equipment supplier Cflow has hailed the high survival rate of smolts stocked by land-based salmon farmer Andfjord Salmon at Kvalnes on the island of Andøya, and expressed pride in its own role in the success.
Andfjord Salmon has recently stocked its first two completed flow-through pools – K0 and K1 – with good results. In pool K0, 350,000 smolts were stocked in September. Survival is now 99.89%, and average weight has increased from 180 to 508 grams - equivalent to 128% growth since release.
In November, 750,000 smolts were stocked in pool K1. Survival is 99.91%, and average weight as of November 25 was 174 grams.
“This is a facility of enormous scale and high complexity. Many factors need to work together, and that requires full control. That’s why it’s very positive to see [our] systems performing as intended in operation,” said Gunnar Hoff, chief marketing officer at Cflow.
More like heavy industry
Hoff said it’s hard to overstate the size and complexity of the Kvalnes development. The dimensions, infrastructure, and technical requirements make the facility more comparable to heavy industry than traditional aquaculture.
“This is not a typical fish farm. This is an industrial project on the scale of (Norway’s biggest oil refinery) Mongstad, Ormen Lange (gas field and terminal), and the Government Quarter (in Oslo) – only with fish," said Hoff.
“And fortunately, far more nutritious than the Government Quarter,” he added with a smile.
The facility is integrated into the terrain with large concrete structures, pools below sea level, intake water from deep levels, a 4.5-kilometre waterway, and extensive process and logistics systems. When the second construction phase is complete, the facility will consist of 13 pools.
Each pool holds around 22,000 m³ of sea water, and the entire water volume passes through the pool roughly once per hour. That means each pool contains more than four times as much water as Norway’s largest water park, Pirbadet. All pools will be equipped with complete fish-handling systems from Cflow.
“This is a massive project, both in size and ambition, and we are proud to be part of its development,” said Hoff. “For us at Cflow, it’s about delivering systems that give Andfjord the operational control they need over fish welfare and operations. When those factors are in place, you get stable and predictable processes. That’s how it should be.”
90,000 tonnes on Andøya
The next phase involves completing two more pools before the next construction stage begins. Cflow will also contribute in the coming phases by developing production systems that combine technology, fish welfare, and operational efficiency.
The completed facility will have a production capacity of 48,100 tonnes (head on gutted) per year. Andfjord Salmon also plans to expand to two additional sites on Andøya, with a combined annual volume of 90,000 tonnes HOG. This makes the project one of the largest land-based aquaculture facilities in Norway.
“Scaling brings new requirements, but the principle remains the same: good control ensures good operations. That’s what we’re building on together with Andfjord,” concluded Hoff.
