Offshore aquaculture off the Helgeland coast
Photo: Hans Petter Sørensen / www.faroutfocus.no
- With the ambition to develop the next generation of offshore aquaculture off the Helgeland coast
In November 2021, the aquaculture company Lovundlaks announced an interest in investigating the possibilities for offshore aquaculture off the Helgeland coast in Nordland. The development work will be carried out through the company Utror.
Initially, Utror will work to ensure that the areas off the Helgeland coast are prepared for offshore aquaculture through an impact assessment. The company's ambition, given that an impact assessment shows that coexistence in the relevant areas is possible, is to take a leading role in the development of offshore aquaculture off Nordland. Over the past year, the company has carried out extensive surveys and assessments of the natural conditions and technological requirements.
“ Ever since the circular plastic cage – the technology that is currently used in most sea locations in Norway and around the world to produce farmed fish – was invented as a collaboration between the farming and industrial communities in Helgeland in the 1970s, the region has played an important role in the development of the aquaculture industry. In recent years, we have moved towards more exposed locations within the current licensing regime. Now we see that access to new areas and conflicting land interests can limit further development, not only for Lovundlaks but for the entire industry. Utror's analyses show that the natural conditions outside Helgeland are ideal for salmon farming, which is also supported by Lovundlaks' good biological experience in exposed locations "inland" in Helgeland. ”
- Jacob Palmer Meland, CEO of Lovundlaks
Norway's largest fish farming county has been omitted for the time being.
The Directorate of Fisheries' mapping report from 2019 recommends 11 areas along the Norwegian coast for impact assessments for offshore aquaculture. Two of the areas are located off the Helgeland coast in Nordland. The Directorate of Fisheries' assessments, which are based on the Institute of Marine Research's thorough analyses and input from various authorities and land stakeholders, indicate that the areas appear attractive for offshore aquaculture.
The Nordland coast, which covers over 25 percent of the Norwegian coast, has long and proud traditions in fisheries and aquaculture. With well-established value chains and a number of natural advantages, Nordland has a starting point for investigating the opportunities for offshore aquaculture that few counties in Norway can match. The region is thus Norway's leading and most important aquaculture county with a unique expertise base. The fact that areas outside Nordland have been excluded from the Directorate of Fisheries' preliminary impact assessment must be changed so that the scope for opportunities outside Nordland can be clarified, believe the management of Lovundlaks and Utror.
« One of the leading fish farming companies in Norway in operation »
“ Over the past year, we have become well acquainted with Lovundlaks as a highly professional company with strong local roots and healthy values, and as one of the very leading aquaculture companies in Norway in terms of operations. Their well-considered sobriety, with a strong and sharp operational focus on the well-being of fish, people and equipment, is compelling. Motivated by Lovundlaks' pioneering work for the aquaculture industry in Northern Norway over the past 50 years, we are looking forward to embarking on this journey that has the potential to become a new success story for the region. ”
- Lars Konrad Johnsen, incoming chairman of Utror.