Grieg Seafood to invest in new post-smolt unit

Grieg Seafood, one of the world’s leading salmon farming companies, has unveiled that it will invest in a new post-smolt unit in Finnmark to improve fish health, welfare and sustainability.

Grieg Seafood to invest in new post-smolt unitThe new land-based facility, which is estimated to cost 1.1 billion NOK, will produce 300 tonnes of post-smolt starting in 2026. Post-smolt improves survival, fish health and welfare as well as sea lice control, according to Grieg Seafood’s experience from Rogaland.

“We are working across the board to improve fish health, welfare, and biological control. Post-smolt is an important tool to advance these objectives. Our aim is to find the right balance between land-based and ocean-based farming, and ultimately achieve sustainable growth,” said Andreas Kvame, CEO of Grieg Seafood ASA.

According to the company’s statement, post-smolt means that a larger part of the production cycle takes place on land or in closed containment facilities, reducing the time the fish spend in the ocean farms. The fish are thus less exposed to diseases, sea lice and other challenges in the ocean. Both fish welfare and sea lice control will improve.

Grieg Seafood has until now piloted post-smolt in its farming region in Rogaland. The results so far are improved lice control and fewer lice treatments when post-smolt is combined with other preventive measures. Fish welfare and survival have increased in the post-smolt groups.

The new unit is an extension of Grieg Seafood’s existing smolt facility in rural Lebesby in Finnmark. The construction is estimated to take two years. The first post-smolt from the new unit will be transferred to Grieg Seafood Finnmark’s ocean farms in 2026.