Baring Farsund opens southernmost land-based salmon facility in Norway — built in under a year.
Baring Farsund has officially opened its new land-based salmon farming facility in Lundevågen, Norway, marking one of the fastest build-to-operation timelines in the Norwegian aquaculture sector to date.
The project moved from contract signing to operational status in under 12 months, with construction beginning in summer 2024 and production commencing as planned in late May 2025. The milestone was celebrated at an opening ceremony attended by industry representatives and local stakeholders, with majority owner Knut Nikolai Ugland of Ugland Seafood officiating the launch.
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“This has been a fast-track project that required courage, precision, and strong collaboration,” said Kjell Rege, CEO of Baring Farsund AS. “It’s fantastic to see the fish thriving already in the system.”
The facility is the first in commercial operation to use OptiRAS modules from Optiras AS — a modular recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) designed for energy efficiency, water quality, and operational stability. Each module operates independently, offering controlled water conditions and short treatment times aimed at reducing biological risk.
Searas, the project’s technology and integration partner, emphasised the rapid deployment model as a key differentiator. “The collaboration with Baring Farsund has demonstrated what’s possible when vision and expertise align,” said Asle Lygre, CEO of Optiras AS.
The first construction phase supports an annual output of 1,200 tonnes of post-smolt, with the full site eventually targeting a combined capacity of 24,000 tonnes of post-smolt and grow-out salmon.
The facility is the southernmost of its kind in Norway and is now entering a new phase focused on stable operations and fish welfare.