The request for a land-based food fish licence is finally lodged
Norwegian Mountain Salmon AS has submitted its application for a flow-through salmon farm tunnelled into an island
Norwegian Mountain Salmon (NMS) was very close to submitting the application when Norway's fisheries department announced a temporary stop to the processing of new applications for non-recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) land-based facilities in December 2022.
Applications are once again being accepted, and NMS has used the time in between to refine and further develop the project. And now it has submitted the application for permission for aquaculture of food fish on land in Kvalvikvågen on the island of Utsira.
"The application is prepared in accordance with the Salmon Allocation Regulations, the Aquabiosafety Regulations and the Aquaculture Act, and concerns a flow-through system (FTS) with a maximum allowable biomass of 14,000 tonnes - equivalent to an annual production of approximately 35,000 tonnes of round food fish and large post-smolt," said NMS chief executive Bård N. Hjelmen.
Low emissions
He said the project is based on extensive preliminary studies, modelling and impact assessments carried out in collaboration with Norconsult.
"The facility is planned with modern purification solutions that enable documentable low emissions, with specific values of 44 kg nitrogen, 5 kg phosphorus, and 82 kg organic matter per tonne of produced biomass," added Hjelmen.
"This marks an important step to realise a modern, energy-efficient, and environmentally robust aquaculture facility on Utsira. We will combine Norwegian natural advantages with the best available technology for water treatment and biosecurity."
He says the company plans to collaborate with industrial partners such as Sørsmolt, Sekkingstad, Dynabyte, and Norconsult to ensure good project execution and high technical quality in the establishment and operation of the facility.
NMS also has ambitions to excavate tunnels for a salmon farm in Scotland, and has looked at sites at the southern end of Mainland, Shetland, and on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, but is giving priority to the Norwegian site.
