Multigen Gadus files first site application for ‘Protected Farming’ concept.
Multigen Gadus has applied for its first production site as it seeks to roll out “Protected Farming,” a closed, zero-emission aquaculture system designed for both salmon and cod.
The company has submitted an application for a location at Oppmyrbogen in Øksnes, Nordland, with a planned output of up to 14,000 tonnes a year and a maximum biomass of 8,000 tonnes. The proposed site would occupy around 30,000 square metres, considerably smaller than the footprint of conventional open-net cage facilities.
The “Protected Farming” model uses a double-walled steel structure to prevent escapes, together with water treatment down to virus level and full sludge capture. Multigen Gadus said the design prevents exposure to lice, algae and pathogens while eliminating discharges of waste or genetic material into the sea.
Chief executive Kristoffer Høyning said the system could be used to grow fish to market size offshore, or to produce juveniles of 500–2,500 grams before transfer to open cages. The company expects a future site could create 60–80 full-time jobs, with additional spin-offs in processing and local services.
The application has cleared its first round of consultation in Øksnes municipality and will now be assessed by the county authority and national regulators.
