A new lighthouse for sustainable salmon farming

Sea-based salmon farming is frequently associated with marine pollution and compromised animal welfare due to parasites and disease. For the entrepreneurs behind Skagen Salmon, the need for more sustainable production of this popular fish was clear and strong.

In 2020, the young company broke the ground for its land-based salmon farming facility at Jutland’s northern tip. Today, Skagen Salmon produces 3,600 tonnes of prime salmon a year, which are then processed in the facility’s own slaughterhouse.

Just outside lies the Skagerrak strait, which is an essential source of seawater for the farm’s recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). Advanced filtration removes feed waste and faeces from the water. That benefits both the health of the salmon and the marine environment when the water is returned to the sea. A local biogas plant utilises the tank waste for its renewable energy production.

Attention to sensitive details

The salmon arrive at the plant as fertilised eggs. From then, it takes two years for them to reach their slaughter weight of around 4kg. At each stage of their lifecycle, they need exactly the right amount of high-quality feed and perfect water conditions. A current to swim against, for example, is imperative to strong growth.

Careful attention to the environment, nutrition and animal welfare ensures all the fish raised at Skagen Salmon are free from lice and antibiotics and receive feed without genetically modified ingredients. Because there are no parasites, consumers can happily eat the fish fresh without prior freezing.

Renewable priorities in production

Another aspect of production that receives considerable attention is the plant’s relatively high energy consumption. To offset this, Skagen Salmon has installed an on-site wind turbine and solar panels. These investments are a sustainable supplement to energy purchased from the local grid, most of which comes from renewable sources.

As the salmon depend on a constant water temperature all year round, a lot of energy goes into keeping the water cool in the summer. Cooling generates surplus heat which, before long, will be sent to the local district heating plant, where it will provide heat for 900 households.

The team at Skagen Salmon have based their business on a vision to become a lighthouse for sustainable salmon farming. That implies a commitment to continuous improvement. With plans to build a second facility already on the drawing board, the aim is to provide consumers in northern Europe with a responsible and high-quality source of nutrition.