The RASafe project is funded by the Norwegian Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry Research Fund (FHF) and the project partners.
Cermaq
Cermaq Group has launched a new research project called RASafe, aimed at increasing knowledge about biosecurity in large commercial post-smolt facilities with recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS).
According to the salmon farming giant, RAS facilities—which account for the majority of hatchery production in Norwegian salmon farming—have the particularity that infections can spread rapidly throughout the system, affecting both the tanks and the fish.
Regarding biosecurity, there are two approaches: washing and disinfecting the tanks but not the biofilters, or complete disinfection of the RAS, including tanks, pipes, and biofilters—the latter being more common in Chile.
"A large-scale biofilter can be 100,000 times bigger and much more complex than a typical lab-scale biofilter," explained Bendik Fyhn Terjesen, Head of Land-Based Innovation and Development at Cermaq Group, who is leading the project.
Along with the potential effects of the different biosecurity strategies on the fish, all of this will be studied at Cermaq Norway's new post-smolt facility, located in Veines, Hasvik municipality, on Sørøya.
"Fish health and welfare are the most important goals of biosecurity measures in RAS facilities, and with this project, we will obtain answers on the best biosecurity strategy to ensure healthy and robust smolt," said Marit Holmvaag Mehus, Head of Hatching at Cermaq Norway.
The RASafe project is funded by the Norwegian Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry Research Fund (FHF) and the project partners. It also involves collaboration with Cermaq Norway, Pharmaq, Nord University, Helgeland Smolt, and Mowi.
In line with this, Cermaq was recognised in 2024 with the 'Special Recognition Prize' from the NGO Compassion in World Farming (CWF) for humane slaughter of fish using percussive stunning.