Salmon Evolution reports better feeding in Q2 after water quality improvements

Norwegian land-based fish farmer Salmon Evolution today said that it delivered solid operational performance during the second quarter of this year, marked by improving biological performance in Phase 1 of its hybrid recirculation / flow-through facility and a successful start-up of Phase 2.

Salmon Evolution harvested 945 tonnes (head-on gutted) in Q2, with the harvest taking place in May and early June, according to an operational update. Average harvest weight was 3.5 kg, up from 3.2 kg in Q1, and superior share was 96%.

All-in price realisation was ~70 NOK/kg (£5.58) reflecting the harvest profile and weak salmon prices in the quarter.

Net biomass growth of 1,706 tonnes (live weight) during Q2, up from 1,357 tonnes LW in Q1.

Positive effects

In Phase 1, targeted improvements geared around feed and operational protocols implemented in mid-February delivered significant positive effects on water quality, said Salmon Evolution, which is expecting better performance as a result.

“Before improvements we typically observed a reduction in performance and appetite towards the end of the production cycle,” the company said in a presentation accompanying its update.

“Targeted improvements have resulted in consistently improved feeding in the last phase of the production cycle (last 110 days).”

It expects this to improve harvest volumes and average weights during the second half of 2026.

300,00 smolts stocked

In Phase 2, Salmon Evolution has carried out two smolt stockings, the second in mid-May, and has around 300,000 fish in the first two tanks of Phase 2.

“Both smolt inserts have adapted very well following release, with minimal mortality and feeding and growth in line with targets.”

The second phase is building on more than four years of operational experience in Phase 1, said the company. Upgrades for Phase 2 to ensure high water quality were working as planned, with clear improvements in particle and gas levels, significantly improved tank hydraulics, and a material increase in turnover of both new and re-use water.

Two more Phase 2 tanks were due to handed over by contractors this month, and a third smolt stocking is planned.

Salmon Evolution is targeting run-rate annual production of 14,600 tonnes HOG from Phase 1 (6,700 tonnes) and Phase 2 (7,900 tonnes) by mid-2027.

Long-term, it intends add a third phase, taking production at its stite on the island of Indre Harøy, north of Ålesund, to more than 30,000 tonnes HOG.