Sustainablity

Solving challenges

The company Stadion Laks AS has been granted development licenses from the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries for the development of the Stadion Basin concept. Lingalaks and Framo view the project as a major innovation in terms of helping to solve several of the challenges faced by the aquaculture industry relating to both fish health and the environment.

The purpose of the project is to develop new technology that allows for increased production with a lower environmental footprint. This technology is based on the natural advantages provided by farming salmon in waters close to the coast and is therefore particularly suitable for ensuring increased future production of salmon along the coast of Norway. The results will be increased employment and value creation.

Fish Welfare

For the fish to thrive, the facility must be designed to allow the salmon to move over relatively large areas and to behave as naturally as possible. The basin structure provides good living conditions for the salmon. The installation cannot have sharp edges or comprise materials that are harmful to the fish, and it must be designed to protect the fish as far as possible from other animals.

The basin will be a floating, closed production unit measuring 39 x 117 meters in reinforced concrete for salmon farming. Seen from above the basin looks like a sports stadium or athletics track – hence the name (stadion is the Norwegian word for the stadium). The objective of the facility is to reduce or eliminate problems with salmon lice, fish escape, disease, and algae, and to collect the majority of sludge, which mainly comprises feed residue and fish feces. The objective is to develop new technology for the production of salmon, providing optimal conditions for the fish by means of control of water flow and water quality, and at the same time to fulfill new sustainability objectives by reducing or eliminating problems involving salmon lice, fish escape, disease, and algae.

from problems to resources

The sludge will be collected via a lateral stream through slots in the bottom of the facility at the end of the long side. The lateral stream will be pumped to a facility where the sludge will be concentrated to between 10-40% solids. This will then be stored in a tank and transferred to a boat, then delivered to a facility for production of biogas and fertilizer, or similar. The sludge is thus converted from a contaminant to a resource.

Sustainable technology

The Stadion Basin is therefore in response to the challenge to develop new technology that will allow for increased production while fulfilling ambitious and new sustainability goals. The facility will be located in sheltered waters, exploiting the excellent natural conditions in Norway. This is the technology that will ensure that value creation and jobs remain in Norway and in the sea, where the salmon belong, rather than being moved to land-based facilities abroad. The water level inside and outside the basin will practically be the same, eliminating unnecessary consumption of energy required to lift the water needed to circulate through the basin.