Project

Offshore Fish Farming - A new era!

Ocean Farming AS is a subsidiary of the SalMar Group – established with the objective to develop offshore fish farming. “Ocean Farming shall, through the development and implementation of new technologies and through the operational experience, possess the specific expertise required for this next generation of fish farming” Feasibility studies started in 2012, and during spring 2013, Ocean Farming presented a conceptual solution that is suitable for installation and operation in exposed ocean (offshore) areas. The facility will through industrialized construction and streamlined/automated operations contribute to competitive production costs. Ocean Farming has received grants from Innovation Norway to develop this project. The new design combines the best of existing technology and solutions from the Norwegian fish farming industry and the offshore oil and gas sector. The submerged facility is an anchored fixed structure, floating steady in the exposed ocean and is suitable for water depths of 100 to 300 meters, where the aqua biological conditions are more ideal for aquaculture on “the fish's terms”. The project is based on proven technology composed for optimal fish farming. All of the farming operations can be managed onboard the facility without making use of service vessels and outside equipment. This means that the fish can stay inside the net from smolt stocking to harvestable fish. The facility is also equipped with one moveable and two fixed bulkheads that can divide the facility into 3 compartments enabling different fish operations to be performed. To ensure regular cleaning of the nets, spray nozzles will be mounted onto the moveable bulkhead. The

facility is fully automated, avoiding heavier manual operations. During normal operation, a crew of 2 – 4 people will monitor and manage the facility. However, it can also be remotely operated. Risk studies performed emphasize that the facility is very secure with respect to possibilities for fish escaping. Global Maritime AS has performed the technical design/engineering (FEED) of the fish farm. A basin model test has been performed by MARINTEK (Sintef), which confirms a suitable behavior of the facility during harsh weather conditions. In accordance with the oil industry practices, this work will be verified/quality assured by DnV GL through an independent review. During spring 2014, Ocean Farming will invite tenders for the construction (EPC) of the first (“pilot”) facility in the period 2014-2016. A realization of the project is dependent on construction costs and authority framework conditions being acceptable. SalMar has been assigned a very suitable location on Frohavet for this project. This facility will be specifically prepared for R&D equipment for future development tasks, focused on biological conditions and welfare of offshore aquaculture. The release of fish and start of farming will at the earliest take place during spring 2016. Feedback from operational experience of the pilot facility will be implemented into a further industrial development of this type of fish farm. With reference to the Norwegian Authority’s “Sjømatmeldingen 2013” there is a significant need for this kind of fish farm to satisfy the industry’s ambitions of sustainable fish farming over coming decades

 

Technical Information A robust design that enables installation and operation of fish farming in ocean-exposed (offshore) areas with excellent aqua biological conditions

• Overall height 67 m • Diameter 110 m • Volume 245.000 m3 • Weight 5600 tonnes • High HSE standards for fish and personnel • Automated operations • Central column equipped with control room, living quarter, utilities, feed silos