SalMar begins second production cycle in Marine Donut offshore facility.
SalMar has commenced the second production cycle in its Marine Donut offshore fish farming facility, with 185,000 salmon stocked last week at the Sekken site off the coast of Molde. The fish, each weighing approximately 3 kg at stocking, are expected to reach harvest weight of around 5.5 kg by August 2025.
The Marine Donut, built by Norwegian engineering and technology company Bluegreen, is an enclosed floating aquaculture system designed to improve fish welfare, environmental control, and operational efficiency compared to traditional open net pens. The facility generates a circular current, creating conditions intended to enhance fish health and growth.
The latest stocking follows the completion of the facility’s first production cycle in October 2024, where 195,000 salmon were successfully harvested. According to SalMar, key outcomes from the first cycle included a total mortality rate of just 0.8 percent and good fish health, despite the presence of pancreas disease (PD) when fish were introduced. Monitoring showed high welfare standards, including low incidence of wounds, cataracts, deformities, and gill health issues.
The Marine Donut is part of SalMar’s broader strategy to develop offshore and semi-closed aquaculture technologies to address biological challenges and improve sustainability. The company is one of the world’s largest producers of farmed Atlantic salmon, with operations in Norway, Iceland, and a stake in Scottish Sea Farms.