Aquatraz pens under construction at the shipyard.
Photo: Seafarming Systems
Norwegian closed containment aquaculture specialist Seafarming Systems has selected Moleaer’s nanobubble technology for six "Aquatraz" fish farming units now under construction, according to information released by the company.
The units are due to be completed by the end of 2026 and will use Moleaer’s submersible Freya nanobubble generators to support oxygenation within the closed production system.
Each Aquatraz unit has a stated volume of 70,000 cubic metres and is designed for three water exchanges per hour. Seafarming Systems said the closed design will give farmers greater control over biological conditions and emissions than conventional open-net systems.
"The choice of Moleaer was made in close collaboration with our customers, where several different oxygenation technologies were evaluated, and based on existing experience, Moleaer came out on top," said Lasse Hiller, project leader at Seafarming Systems.
"Their technology has demonstrated a very high oxygen transfer rate, while the company also possesses significant expertise and experience from demanding aquaculture projects. Their solution is easy to scale within Aquatraz, which gives our customers confidence that the system can be tailored over time to suit different locations and densities," Hiller added.
Moleaer is a supplier of nanobubble technology for sectors including aquaculture, wastewater treatment, irrigation and surface water restoration. Its systems are designed to create stable nanobubbles, which the company says can improve oxygen transfer, water quality and energy efficiency compared with conventional oxygenation methods.
"Seafarming Systems represents some of the most innovative work we see in modern aquaculture," said Moleaer business development manager Inge Haarberg. "The Aquatraz concept combines solid engineering expertise with a clear sustainability vision, and we are proud to contribute technology that enables more controlled and sustainable closed production at sea."
Seafarming Systems said its Aquatraz closed cage design comes in response to industry concerns on multiple issues related to fish welfare, sea lice, biosecurity and environmental impacts. The Norwegian government has also recently introduced a new incentive scheme designed to speed up the industry's adoption of closed containment aquaculture.