New SalMar hatchery handed over

Fish farming giant SalMar has formally taken over its new land-based hatchery on Senja Island in the north of Norway.

The 13,650 square metre floor area facility, built at an estimated cost of around £150 million, was handed over on target by the construction company Peab who were commissioned to build it two and a half years ago. Work started in May 2020.

The facility will create a major centre for RAS technology and smolt production in the region.

SalMar’s salmon farming capability was greatly expanded this year with the takeover of Norway Royal Salmon along with the rest of the NTS group.

Peab CEO Gro Skaar Knutsen said: “This has been a very important project for us as a local community builder in the north.

“The construction site has been staffed with our employees from Tromsø and locally from our department in Finnsnes.”

She added: “Through the project, we have gained useful experience and expertise for the construction of land-based breeding facilities. It is something completely different from building homes or commercial buildings.

“We will further develop this expertise, and will invest in more projects of this type.”

Site manager Stefan Gestsson said: “SalMar has been an exciting and challenging project.

“Despite the pandemic and unrest in supply chains, we have managed to deliver a hatchery that both we and the client are very satisfied with. Skilled workers, apprentices, project managers and subcontractors have contributed to us delivering a great end product.”

The construction period ran from May 2020 to September this year.