Offshore farms
BY VINCE MCDONAGH
Solid solution Øymerd’s floating islands should be tough enough to face the roughest seas
I
t is the latest in a growing line of futuris�c offshore salmon projects that look more like space sta�ons than fish farms. A�er a long stand-off with the authori�es, Asta�ord Ocean Salmon AS has been granted four development permits allowing it to proceed with its much heralded “Øymerd” concept – a fish farm made of concrete and designed to cope with rough seas and winter ice. Asta�ord Ocean Salmon is owned by two family salmon businesses, Kleiva Fiskefarm and Gratanglaks, who are prepared to spend the not insignificant sum of NOK 700m (£60m) to achieve their ambi�on. But their tussle with bureaucracy is s�ll not over. Asta�ord was granted only half the number of permits it asked for and has decided to appeal, arguing it needs far more capacity to test the plant properly. The four permits are for a total of 3,120 tonnes, but the company says it will require at least twice that figure. Asta�ord’s applica�on for permits was ini�ally rejected by the Directorate of Fisheries for the somewhat strange reason that it did not meet the requirement for “significant innova�on”. The company mounted an appeal which was subsequently rejected by
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OyMerd - floating islands (Vince).indd 46
the Directorate, but that decision was overturned by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Fisheries Minister Odd Emil Ingebrigsten has welcomed the change and says he looks forward to seeing the project reach frui�on. The dispute over the number of permits remains and it could mean further delay unless the issue is resolved quickly. The increased pace of coastal fish farming in Norway means that its �ords are becoming congested, so companies are looking for innova�ve solu�ons. Some believe projects like Øymerd are the future for offshore fish farming. Øymerd is essen�ally a small floa�ng island, built mainly of concrete, which stands around 10 metres high. The plan is that it will be sta�oned off the north Norwegian coast near Harstad. Three-quarters of the pla�orm (7.5 metres) will be underwater and it is designed to withstand some of the roughest seas the Troms coastal region can throw up. The precise loca�on has s�ll to be decided. The pla�orm has three large specially designed net bags, radia�ng out in spoke fashion to hold the fish. Opera�ons are controlled by a three-storey high tower-like building in the centre of the pla�orm, with storage space under the deck for holding technical equipment and feed silos. Øymerd will be equipped with an energy system that prevents ice forma�on on the deck and along the freeboard. There is also a helipad.
Top right: The Øymerd Above: Marius Arvesen Right: Odd Emil
Ingebrigsten
Left: Kleiva
Photo: Marius Arvesen
www.fishfarmermagazine.com
12/07/2021 16:20:11
