Photo: Amar Seafood
Amar Seafood is progressing its plans to establish a new sea-based halibut farming site in Hitra, Trøndelag, as part of its expansion strategy in Norway.
The proposed site, Helsøya II, is intended for Atlantic halibut production and would have a maximum allowed biomass of 3,900 tonnes, according to the company, which has an application under review as part of Norway’s aquaculture licensing process.
The company has now confirmed that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, Mattilsynet, has granted conditional approval, including clearance for an open sea aquaculture facility at the location. Amar Seafood said the authority found that the location and operational plans are capable of meeting requirements on biosecurity and fish health, and the proposed set-up would be able to provide appropriate welfare conditions for halibut.
Amar Seafood said the decision reflects the preparatory work carried out on the project to date and represents progress in bringing the site closer to development.
"This is an exciting step for us. Helsøya II is a strong location with the right conditions for halibut farming, and we’re really looking forward to continuing the development of the site. It’s great to see the work we’ve put into this project reflected in the assessment," said Amar Seafood CCO Anders Sæther, via a news release.
The company said the approval marked "an important step forward in the development of Helsøya II," adding that it "reflects the thorough work carried out in planning the site and its operations".
Amar Seafood currently operates four facilities in Canada, Scotland, and Norway, with both land-based and sea-based aquaculture operations. The company currently holds 3 approved licenses for sea-based Atlantic halibut farming in Frøya, allowing for a maximum production capacity of 2,340 tonnes, having obtained approval from Norwegian authorities in January 2025.
