Cages, nets and pens

Consolidation and innovation dominated our news stories for the sector in 2021

IN January, we reported that

Norwegian Weather Protection (NWP), which makes industrial seams for aquaculture, agriculture and other sectors was to become part of the FiiZK Group.

NWP became FiiZK’s wholly owned subsidiary as from 1 January 2021. NWP’s factory at Frekhaug, outside Bergen, continues to operate as part of FiiZK’s production setup, while functions within sales and administration are now co-ordinated from FiiZK’s head offi ce in Trondheim.

Consolidation continued in February with Selstad, the Norwegian aquaculture equipment and services supplier, taking a majority share in net supplier W&J Knox of Scotland.

W&J Knox is based in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, and supplies equipment and services to the aquaculture industry along with nets for camoufl age, sports and other industrial applications.

The company CEO, Hans Petter Selstad, said the alliance off ered several opportunities for the two companies and the industry.

He added: “We have known W&J Knox for over 20 years and consider their value proposition to the aquaculture industry to be very strong. In combining this with Norwegian knowledge and experience, we believe that we will see some very good synergies.”

Managing Director of W&J Knox, Dave Hutchens, said he saw the move as “an important chapter in the history of the company”.

In April, one of the most unusual cage designs took a step closer to becoming an operating reality, as Hauge Aqua Solutions embarked on the construction of its fi rst “Egget” enclosed fi sh farm. The contract for building the Egget was awarded to another Norwegian company, Herde Kompositt. The egg-shaped, fi breglass Egget is designed to help solve some of the problems associated with salmon farming, such as lice, escapes and pollution. It was initially a collaboration with Mowi (formerly Marine Harvest), but in February Hauge announced its intention to go it alone after apparently becoming frustrated with the pace of progress. Mowi is continuing to invest on other closed containment systems. Kim Røssland, General Manager and one of Herde Kompositt’s four partners, said: “We look forward to contributing to this major innovative project that will be able

Above: The ‘Egget’ Left: Hans Petter Selstad Opposite: Frank Byrne (L) and Don MacLeod

to contribute to a more sustainable aquaculture industry.”

In June, we reported that AKVA group had installed Mowi Scotland’s fi rst 160-metre pen installation at Loch Seaforth on the Isle of Harris, and 10 pens were secured on site.

In addition to the 10 160-metre pens, AKVA supplied the sites with two new mooring grids, bird nets and fi breglass poles. AKVA also delivered two HDPE nets in partnership with net maker Tufropes.

Don MacLeod, Mowi Scotland Seaforth Site Manager, commented: “The installation of 160-metre pens – the largest pens now used in Scotland – is important as we look to raise salmon at exposed locations that off er excellent growing conditions, but also off er increasing weather challenges from storms. The installation of 160-metre net pens and other associated infrastructure supplied by AKVA group will signifi cantly improve our containment systems and safety.”

Frank Byrne AKVA group Scotland Pens, Nets and Moorings Manager, said: “We see this a great endorsement of AKVA group and our products, our Polarcirkel pens and moorings, along with the support and knowledge we off er locally. We worked very closely with Mowi to deliver on time to what was a very tight schedule.”

“We believe that we will see some very good synergies”

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August saw aquaculture supplier Gael Force reaching an agreement for an exclusive deal with net manufacturer Fibras Industriales SA (FISA) to provide nets for fi sh farming in Scotland.

FISA is headquartered in Peru, with a warehouse and sales offi ce in Chile. It produces high-quality netting products, including Supra HDPE high-tenacity containment and predator nets, Raschel polyester and nylon containment and protection nets, and Twisted Knotless Muketsu nets.

The partnership will also see FISA exclusively manufacture a new SeaQureNet, which will be a key element of Gael Force’s turnkey off ering.

Gael Force is also now working with John Howard of Boris Nets, a longtime partner for FISA in the UK with extensive experience in aquaculture. Gael Force has also committed to establishing a net servicing station in the UK.

Stewart Graham, Group Managing Director at Gael Force, said: “We have worked alongside FISA in the market for several years and we have been extremely impressed with the consistently robust quality and reliability of their netting products. Together, our partnership is an excellent strategic fi t.” In September, SalMar entered into a strategic partnership with Aker ASA, the industrial company specialising in energy, seafood and marine biotechnology, to establish a global off shore aquaculture business.

The new joint-venture company will be known as SalMar Aker Ocean AS.

Aker will invest up to NOK 1.65bn (£136m) in three tranches. The initial aim is to operate in Norwegian waters, but the new company eventually plans to expand internationally.

October saw the fi rst sea cage for the Arctic Off shore Farming project in place, north of Tromsø. Arctic Off shore is a subsidiary of Norway Royal Salmon, now owned by SalMar.

The large cages are designed to operate in more exposed areas and can withstand a wave height of up to 13 metres. The cage weighs around 3,000 tonnes and a second cage will eventually be taken to the site. The cages were designed by Aker Solutions.

The facility will consist of two cages. Each cage is 80 metres in diameter and 22 metres high. The two cages will hold around 1.2 million salmon.

In November, technology took a knock back. The 270-metre long futuristic fi sh farming vessel known as the Eidsfjord Giant was awarded fewer than half the number of development permits it had applied for.

The Eidsfjord Giant is a closed farming concept at sea with six large containers, with a separate treatment plant for organic emissions.

The company, Eidsfjord Sjøfarm, which is part of the Holmoy group, originally wanted 17 permits, but Norway’s Directorate of Fisheries granted just seven.

This page from top: Arctic Offshore Farming vessel; Supra net; Eidsfjord Giant; Gael Force MD Stewart Graham