Norway based aquaculture giant SalMar’s “Marine Donut” salmon farm is showing promising results midway through its first production cycle, according to a recent report from the company.
Operational results indicate that four successful fish transfers have been completed, with fish welfare assessed as good. Minor incidents of fin wear were noted, likely due to delousing procedures, but no major issues arose during the process. Adjustments were made to improve systems for dead fish removal and feeding, which are now functioning as planned.
The farm’s water quality monitoring system has also performed well, maintaining stable conditions for oxygen, pH, salinity, and algae levels. While some turbidity calibration challenges were noted, overall water conditions have been favorable for fish health.
However, water flow measurements indicated the need for adjustments to the pump system to optimize flow. Further performance evaluations will continue through the winter to assess how the structure responds to seasonal wave conditions.
The “Marine Donut” began operation in August 2024 and currently holds 200,000 salmon. The farm, which is fully enclosed to prevent escapes and reduce disease risks, was developed in collaboration with Bluegreen, a Norwegian aquaculture technology firm.
The farm is designed to simulate a river environment, using water pumps to create internal flow and provide exercise for the fish, aiming for more sustainable and healthy aquaculture. So far, the system has met expectations, with the fish performing well under challenging conditions.
