The new Norwegian fish hatchery is expected to produce about 3,000 tonnes of 20 million smolt per year upon completion

Ænes illustrasjon

Veidekke to build fish hatchery facility in Norway. (Credit: Veidekke ASA.)

ÆnesInkubator has selected Norwegian construction company Veidekke for the construction of a new fish hatchery in the municipality of Kvinnherad, Norway.

The land production facility for smolt will be built in Ænes, at a cost of NOK313m ($33m), under a turnkey contract.

The new fish hatchery is being developed by fish farming companies Eide Fjordbruk Lingalaks and Tombre, which have joined forces to form the company ÆnesInkubator AS. The company recently acquired permission from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) for farming of salmon and trout in Ænes.

When completed, the facility could produce about 3,000 tonnes of smolt per year or 20 million smolt with a size of up to one kilogram.

The facility will cover the entire production cycle of smolt

The new facility will cover the entire production cycle from eggs to smolt, post smolt for release in the seams. It will include five departments across five separate tank halls. The first three halls will be equipped with steel tanks and the latter two concrete tanks.

The facility will also include a hatchery, vaccination hall, feed store and several other support functions. The building will span a total area of 9,500m², including a 1,000m² administration unit.

The building’s construction is expected to begin this October and is scheduled for completion in December of 2022.

Veidekke Bygg Bergen district manager Erlend Bygnes said: “We are delighted to have signed this construction contract. After signing the design agreement back in April, we have enjoyed an exciting process in close collaboration with the owners of ÆnesInkubator to get the final pieces into place before the construction work commences.

“Having the opportunity to work with industrially-minded entrepreneurs in the fish farming sector is both exciting and educational for everyone involved. There are currently rapid developments taking place where land facilities are concerned and this is something we want to be a part of.”