First fish in 2027 as Lerøy, SalMar advance closed production.
Lerøy Seafood Group and SalMar will jointly invest in closed production technology, committing to build six Aquatraz C2 cages as a next step from earlier Aquatraz deployments.
Both companies have operated Aquatraz systems from Seafarming Systems. The new C2 units are an evolution of the Aquatraz S1 used by Lerøy and the first four Aquatraz cages developed for SalMar.
Each cage is designed for a water volume of 70,000 m³, with six seawater intakes at 35 metres to secure lice-free water and efficient exchange. The companies said the buildout would double Norway’s production volume using closed technology.
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Subject to approvals, the first fish are scheduled for stocking in the first quarter of 2027, with full operations targeted for 2028. Parts of the structures will be produced as modules in China, with final assembly at Norwegian yards.
Lerøy said the project follows years of work on submerged cages and trials of semi-closed solutions, and represents a further step towards closed operations. Seafarming Systems said Aquatraz C2 reflects more than a decade of development informed by practical operation, providing a technical and biological basis for the shift.
The companies aim for delivery of the cages in about one year to begin production, contingent on necessary regulatory clarifications and permits.
