Folla Alger and Cermaq experiment with integrated salmon and kelp farming

The first-ever marine location designed for the joint production of salmon and kelp has been established. The kelp is cultivated within the farm itself. The marine location is structured like a conventional salmon farm with 24 cages, but with unique arrangements for cultivating kelp in the central cages and salmon in the outermost cages on either side. Folla Alger and Cermaq work together on the salmon farming at the marine location, while SINTEF Ocean provides the initial kelp supply for sea stocking. The facility will examine the impact of combined farming. The joint operation could optimize space usage by producing multiple species in the same area. The area is already allocated for salmon, and by also cultivating kelp on the same site, it is hoped that this will contribute to increased value creation. This arrangement enables the nutrients released by the salmon to be used effectively by producing kelp, which can then be used as a raw material in new feed, according to Silje Forbord, Research Manager at SINTEF Ocean. Forbord also mentions that kelp growth can improve by up to 50% when cultivated alongside farmed fish. The team will also investigate if there are additional benefits to the combined operation. Tarald Sivertsen, Chairman of Folla Alger, believes that both fish and kelp farming are industries of the future and will play a significant role in the green transition. Truls Hansen, Cermaq's Production Director in Nordland, finds the project exciting as it allows for the utilization of nutrients from the net pens as a resource and provides more alternative feed raw materials. It's a good example of a circular economy. Moreover, the project contributes to local value creation and business development, which is beneficial for the local community. Forbord explains that by cultivating kelp with fish, the kelp has better access to nutrients, even during seasons when nutrient salts in the sea are naturally low. Some of the nutrients released from salmon net pens are water-soluble. These nutrients will fertilize the kelp and lead to increased carbon sequestration as the kelp grows. Through photosynthesis, the kelp uses sunlight to grow and bind carbon from the sea, similar to trees and plants on land. The project will explore how salmon and kelp farming can mutually benefit each other. The project will also investigate how kelp production impacts the aquatic environment in the net pens and the effect of combined production on the health of the caged fish. Folla Alger has received Research and Development licenses from the Directorate of Fisheries to conduct the project. SINTEF Ocean will oversee the research, which will be conducted in close collaboration with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and Nord University.