Aerial view of Bue's pilot facility at Bulandet.
Photo: Bue Salmon.
Bue Salmon has been granted a licence to produce 50,000 tons of salmon at its planned new land-based facility in Lutelandet, Vestland County, the company has confirmed.
The Norwegian company already has a licence for 5,500 tons of production at its pilot Bulandet facility. The new 50,000 ton licence is for its planned land-based facility at Lutelandet, an island which is being developed as a green industry hub, with access to the North Sea Deepwater port and renewable energy from hydropower and adjacent wind farms.
Its proposed land-based production volume, the company says, "corresponds to approximately one-seventh of the current total sea-based production in Vestland County, which amounted to 344,000 tons of fish in 2023".
The first construction phase is currently planned with a production capacity of 12,600 tons, the company said.
“This is a significant day for us at Bue. We are grateful for the constructive dialogue we have had with authorities, partners, and relevant experts during the application process,” said Knut Eikeland, CEO of Bue Salmon, in a press release.
“50,000 tons is a very large volume. However, the most important thing for us is to scale up safely while ensuring that neither space nor licensing becomes a limitation. We have already started a pilot project in Bulandet producing around 1,000 tons annually. It has been operational for nearly three years with great results. This shows that we are ready to take the next steps,” Eikeland added, noting that the licence requires Bue Salmon to ensure both fish welfare and environmental sustainability.
In its written decision to award the licence, Vestland County stated: "From an environmental perspective, land-based aquaculture has several advantages compared to sea-based operations. The treatment of wastewater reduces the environmental footprint per ton of fish produced, particularly in terms of seabed impact on recipient ecosystems. Land-based production also has lower emissions of plastic, antifouling agents, and medications for sea lice than open sea facilities. Furthermore, this production method can reduce issues related to sea lice, thereby minimizing its impact on wild fish.”
“The license we have been granted demonstrates the significant scale that can be achieved through land-based aquaculture, provided we successfully manage the factors that affect fish health, welfare, and the environmental impact of production,” Eikeland said.
