Nordlaks owner Therese Berg and mayor of Harstad Kari-Anne Opsal signed the contract for the purchase of land at Rødskjær outside Harstad.
Photo: Nordlaks / LinkedIn.
Nordlaks, a family-owned salmon aquaculture company located in Northern Norway, has this week unveiled plans for its fourth and largest smolt facility at Rødskjær, just south of Harstad, a municipality in Troms County.
The project, expected to be worth billions of kroner, will significantly enhance the company's production capacity and could generate up to 200 related jobs in the local area, the company said in a media release.
Nordlaks has confirmed it has already purchased a 70-acre site from Harstad Municipality and Harstad Port for NOK 143 million (EUR 12.2m / USD 13.6m). Site preparation is slated to begin already in the autumn of 2024, while the construction of the new facility could get underway as early as 2027, pending necessary permits. The planned facility will focus on producing "storsmolt," a larger type of smolt that will allow salmon to spend less time in the sea.
The move to focus on larger smolt is a strategy in common with other players in Norway's salmon farming sector. By allowing salmon to grow larger on land before being released into the sea, Nordlaks says it aims to improve fish welfare and reduce environmental impact.
"Larger smolt will spend less time in the sea, which reduces the risk of disease and sea lice. This ensures better fish welfare and more sustainable production," explained Øivind Skjevling, Operations Director for Nordlaks Smolt.
Traditionally, smolt weigh 150-200 grams when released into the sea, but Nordlaks plans to grow its fish to between 500 grams and one kilogram before transfer. This approach not only minimizes time in the ocean but also improves production efficiency at existing sea-based facilities, the company said.
Øivind Skjevling, Operations Director for Nordlaks Smolt, with CEO Eirik Welde. The newly-purchased Nordlaks site can be seen in the background.
According to Nordlaks CEO Eirik Welde, the project is expected to create up to 50 direct jobs at the facility, with an additional 150 jobs generated in related industries.
"For every job we create at Nordlaks, at least two more are created in other sectors. This means up to 150 jobs, opportunities for local suppliers, and a boost in the production of healthy salmon," Welde stated.
While Nordlaks has already secured the land, the project still requires regulatory approval and financing. The application process for necessary permits could take two to three years, the company indicated. Despite these challenges, Nordlaks is optimistic about the future of the project.
"This is an important step for Nordlaks, both in terms of improving our production processes and contributing to the local economy. We look forward to making this vision a reality," Welde said.
Nordlaks already operates three smolt facilities in Nordland county, one of Norway's northernmost regions, at Innhavet, Mørsvika, and Nusfjord, the last of which the company is currently upgrading with a new 6,000m2 RAS plant designed for larger smolt.