The Blue Revolution Center is undertaking its first stage of research on fish welfare in exposed aquaculture environments at Mowi’s Kveitskjæret facility, a site known for its exposure to strong ocean currents, and location of the recent fish escape.
Photo: Mowi.
Around 13,500 salmon have escaped from a leading Norwegian research station facility operated by Mowi, with recapture efforts now underway, according to the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries.
The escaped fish are owned by the Blue Revolution Center, a research cooperation between Mowi, SINTEF and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, that focuses on salmon farming under exposed conditions and rough weather.
The salmon, with an average weight of 5.5 kilos, escaped from a net pen operated as part of Mowi's Kveitskjæret facility, north of Frøya, the westernmost municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway, and an area known for its rough seas. The escape, which was first reported on 17 September, was due to a tear in the net pen, found following the incident.
Mowi has had recapture nets out since the escape was discovered and has reported a catch of approximately 1,500 salmon as of 25 September, according to the latest update from Norwegian authorities.
Norway's Directorate of Fisheries is extending its order for recapture fishing beyond the initial the 500-metre zone around the fish farm, until Monday 30 September. The recapture zone is designated in the sea area around the island groups of Sula and Mausund, several kilometers off the west coast of Frøya.
"Blue Revolution Center" promotional video from 2016. Source: SINTEF
The Blue Revolution Center (BRC) began its first phase of studying fish welfare in weather-exposed aquaculture environments in 2023. The project, supported by licenses awarded by Norway’s Directorate of Fisheries in 2019, focuses on how technological advancements can benefit sustainable salmon farming in harsh conditions.
The first research stage is being undertaken at Mowi’s Kveitskjæret facility, a site known for its exposure to strong ocean currents.
According to regional director for Mowi Norge Midt, Olaf Skjærvik, who commented on the project at its launch in 2023, the aim is to deepen understanding of salmon farming challenges in such exposed aquaculture settings.
"This is a facility that is very exposed to strong currents. Later, we will do the same work on a facility that is exposed to high waves. Our goal is to increase knowledge about farming in such facilities, both with regard to the health and welfare of the fish, as well as health and safety for those who work there," Skjærvik said in a SINTEF press release issued at the time.
At Kveitskjæret, researchers are evaluating various technological solutions designed to ensure fish welfare in tough environments. This includes testing a pipeline, referred to as an "umbilical cord," to centrally deliver feed, electricity, and compressed air to the cages.
Other technology solutions being tested at the site include an automated system for removing and categorizing dead fish and monitoring sea lice, and camera systems adapted for the harsh environment, in order to monitor and assess fish welfare.