Christian Halmøy Torgersen, COO Andfjord, and Andreas Bollingmo, Sales Manager OptoScale
OptoScale
OptoScale will now supply Andfjord Salmon with its specific data collection technology to improve fish health. Over the past year, both companies have tested a pilot project to determine which technology to choose.
Regarding this agreement, Sven Jørund Kolstø, CEO of OptoScale, said: "We see this partnership as an opportunity to help Andfjord Salmon towards their ambitious goal of becoming the world's most sustainable and fish-friendly fish farm."
Additionally, COO Andfjord Salmon, Christian Halmøy Torgersen, stated: "We have always believed that nature's solutions can be combined with technology to create the best environment for the fish. Our contribution is not just about producing salmon, but about finding solutions that can benefit the industry as a whole."
Norway's land-based producer is making substantial headway in its ongoing build-out of its flow-through aquaculture facility at Kvalnes, Andøya.
The current phase of the Kvalnes build-out includes the completion of four new pools, which will increase Andfjord Salmon's total production capacity to 8,000 tonnes HOG (Head On Gutted) by 2025.
"With the production rate we see in land-based farming today, we are dependent on having full control in our pools at all times – both in real-time and in the future. We then need technology that shows precise and reliable figures," noted Torgersen.
OptoScale's technology will provide a complete view of their tanks, including health monitoring, growth data, and slaughter predictions. In this way, the facilities will operate optimally.
"This is not just a journey for us, but for the entire aquaculture industry. We want to show that it is possible to produce salmon in a way that is both profitable, sustainable and puts fish welfare first," Torgersen concluded.
Less than two months ago, Andfjord Salmon signed two agreements with Trøndelag-based company Meox and water treatment company Sterner to secure sludge collection and processing also for its Kvalnes project.
Meox will deliver Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) to clean the floors and walls of the new pools the salmon company is building. Moreover, Sterner's water treatment systems will secure important nutrients that will allow further circular use of the sludge.
