Andfjord Salmon moving into top gear

Andfjord Salmon, one of Norway’s youngest land based fish farming companies, has said it is rapidly advancing with the expansion of its aquaculture facility at Kvalnes, Andøya.

The summer months saw successful preparatory efforts and the deployment of personnel and equipment, setting the stage for the next phase of construction.

Two months ago, Andfjord Salmon unveiled the specifics of its expansion plan at Kvalnes, targeting a total production capacity of 40,000 tonnes (HOG) through a gradual increase between 2025 and 2030. An initial volume of 8,000 tonnes is anticipated for 2025.

 The company said high levels of activity characterised the summer period, with contractors accomplishing extensive groundwork spanning several hundred metres.

The work involved injecting concrete to stabilise the sections surrounding the 12 pools that constitute the upcoming construction phase at Kvalnes.

This preparatory work will help speed up blasting and excavation, contributing to an economically efficient development process.

 Martin Rasmussen, CEO of Andfjord Salmon, said: “Our approach essentially involves constructing an ocean-like fish enclosure on land. We leverage bedrock and topography to ensure a development that is both predictable and expeditious. This integration of land-based and ocean-based fish farming is a distinctive aspect of our approach here at Andøya.”

During the successful first harvest, the lead contractor AF Hæhre-Contur, began mobilising equipment and personnel along with subcontractors.

Simultaneously it prepared areas designated for machinery, equipment, and tools, complementing the ongoing groundwork. These areas include workshops, tunnel operations, equipment maintenance and cleaning stations.

CEO Rasmussen added: “By timely executing our first harvest as scheduled in June/July, we substantially mitigated project execution risks for our expansion.

“Our primary objective is to increase production capacity to 8,000 tonnes by 2025, accompanied by increased revenues and cash flow. I’m truly impressed by the swift progress achieved thus far.”