Iceland aquapark offers a warm welcome to new tenants
Stolt Sea Farm has used heated water from a geothermal power station to grow sole for a decade, and is now sharing its facility with sturgeon and abalone producers
Stolt Sea Farm recently celebrated the ten-year anniversary of its warm seawater operations in Iceland, a unique approach to sustainable seafood production which it said is attracting interest from other eco-friendly producers.
The aquaculture park is part of HS Orkaâs geothermal power plant on Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland.
In 2011, while sourcing locations for sole production, Stolt recognised the potential to leverage the facilityâs unique natural resources â including geothermal heat from HS Orkaâs power production and Arctic cold seawater filtered through lava â to cultivate its fish.
Diversification
James Hall, Stoltâs aquaculture development manager, said: âWe tested the water quality, and it was unique. It was at a stable temperature of 32°C and sterile, as it had been filtered through the lava and ash bed under the surface. This warm water could be mixed with cold seawater, giving the perfect temperature for sole of 22°C all year round. At the same time, there is huge opportunity for diversification, as water temperatures can be kept at different profiles.â
In 2012, Stolt began its collaboration with HS Orka to develop its aquaculture facility, with the intention of utilising an otherwise unused resource for the profitable and sustainable production of fish. The first harvest was taken in 2014 and Stolt has maintained steady production ever since.
'Come and join us'
Three years ago, Stolt invited other companies to share its infrastructure and leverage its experience for their own sustainable seafood production. Aurora Abalone and Icelandic Sturgeon accepted and a third company, specialising in seaweed cultivation, is likely to join soon.
During the eruptions and earthquakes in 2024, Aurora Abalone moved its broodstock to the Reykjanes aquaculture park to make sure it was safe. The company is now preparing to move all ongoing activities to the site.
The move to Reykjanes enables Icelandic Sturgeon to further expand its operations in Iceland, while upholding its insistence on sustainable caviar production methods.
Collaborate to innovate
Jordi Trias, president of Stolt Sea Farm, said: âWe are excited that highly innovative companies have come together to harness this pristine environment in a sustainable way and reinforce Icelandâs reputation for quality food products. The park offers great potential to cultivate species such as sturgeon and abalone using natural resources, minimising waste and energy and optimising taste and quality.
âI was pleased to promote this project at the recent North Atlantic Seafood Forum in Norway, where I emphasised the need for the aquaculture industry to innovate through collaboration. The aquaculture park in Reykjanes is a great example of this.â
Unique conditions
HS Orka executive JĂłn Ăsgeirsson said: âWe are pleased to see more aquaculture companies coming together and this is fully in line with the sustainable and cascaded use of resources which our Resource Park stands for.
âTogether with the land-based salmon farm project of Samherji fiskeldi this is a testament to the value of geothermal energy and the unique conditions HS Orka has to offer.â
The Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland is one of the worldâs most geologically active areas, known for its volcanic and geothermal activity, which enables the production of highly sustainable and renewable energy.
Stolt Sea Farm UK Ltd is a UK-registered holding company for several companies that operate in Spain, France, Portugal, Iceland, and Norway, and is owned by Oslo-listed Stolt-Nielsen.
