May 17, 2022

 

Samherji to build land-based salmon farming site in Öxarfjördur, Northeast Iceland

 

The aquaculture arm of Iceland's Samherji has unveiled a $26 million capital increase and appointed former Mowi chief executive officer Alf-Helge Aarskog to its board.

 

Samherji plans to use the fund to build a pilot land-based salmon farming facility in Öxarfjördur, Northeast Iceland. It will also design and construct a 40,000-tonne salmon farm in the Resource Park next to the Reykjanes Power Plant in the Reykjanes Peninsula.

 

This is the first phase of a share capital increase of $56.5 million that has already been approved. Following the share capital increase, a new board will be elected in Samherji Fish Farming at the company's annual general meeting.

 

A press release issued by Samherji said: "Aarskog's board participation is a significant vote of confidence for Samherji Fish Farming and its ambitious plans for land-based aquaculture."

 

Speaking about Aarskog's board appointment, Jón Kjartan Jónsson, managing director of Samherji Fish Farming, said: "There are few people in the world who have more experience in fish farming than Alf-Helge Aarskog. An individual with vast knowledge and experience in international aquaculture and a large network is now joining the board to take our knowledge to the next level.

 

"This is a great recognition of Samherji's development of land farming over the past two decades."

 

Samherji Fish Farming is involved in all stages of aquaculture and processing, from roe to the consumer. The company currently operates five farms and two processing plants, specialising in land-based Arctic char and salmon. It has begun expanding its land-based farming site in Öxarfjördur.

 

Samherji's Öxarfjördur facility produces currently 1,500 tonnes of salmon annually, but production will increase to 3,000 tonnes when the pilot project is completed. According to current projections, fish will enter the new tanks on-site by the end of 2022. For several years, the farm has stood out as one of the largest land-based salmon farms in the world.

 

Samherji will build and operate a land-based farm in Reykjanes Peninsula with a production target of 40,000 tonnes of salmon annually. The fish farm will be in the resource park next to the Reykjanes power plant and will consist of a hatchery, a breeding farm, a processing plant and service buildings. The total investment is estimated at over US$340 million.

 

Work on the environmental assessment and local planning for the facility is currently underway. The fish farm will be designed and constructed based on the new units in the Öxarfjördur pilot project.

  

"I am honoured to be asked to take part in this project. The competence of the people in Samherji around fish and land-based farming is a great foundation," said Aarskog. "The fact that Samherji has produced Atlantic salmon and Arctic Char on land for a long period of time makes this the first land-based project I have looked at that I really can believe in. The location chosen for this project, with abundant resources of water and energy, makes the project extremely interesting.

 

"There are fascinating times ahead for Samherji Fish Farming. The company has ambitious plans and the ability to achieve them and become a leading company in salmon farming in the world. I am very excited about this project and look forward to participating in the development and growth ahead."

 

- The Fish Site