Salmon Evolution puts work in the pipeline for Cflow

Fish handling equipment specialist Cflow has signed a contract to supply land-based fish farmer Salmon Evolution’s second phase build-out at Indre Harøy, Norway.

As part of the agreement, Cflow will supply a fish handling solution that will ensure optimal animal welfare and sustainable production of Atlantic salmon. Among other things, it will deliver technical solutions for fish logistics between the facility’s pools.

Cflow will manufacture all equipment, including piping, valves and pumps, at its facility at Langevåg outside Ålesund, Norway, and manage commissioning at Indre Harøy. Design and engineering work have commenced, while equipment deliveries will begin in early 2025 and continue well into 2026.

The next chapter

“Salmon Evolution’s second phase build-out represents the next exciting chapter in Cflow’s land-based future,” said Gunnar Hoff, chief marketing officer at Cflow, in a press release.

Cflow has not disclosed the value of the contract but said it is strategically important for the company.

“We have worked hard to prepare next generation’s fish welfare for land-based aquaculture. Salmon Evolution can already demonstrate highly impressive biological results, but our joint ambition is to further improve both animal welfare and their commercial results,” said Hoff.

“We have turned every stone and employed our best biologists and engineers to develop a very gentle fish handling system.”

Extra 10,100 tonnes

The second phase build-out will increase Salmon Evolution’s production capacity by 10,100 gutted weight tonnes, to 18,000 tonnes annually. A third phase will take total production above 30,000 gwt at the site.

Cflow also supplies Andfjord Salmon at Andøya, Norway, which is currently building pools to produce 8,000 gwt of salmon from 2025, with volume increases up to 40,000 gwt by 2030.

“Both Salmon Evolution and Andfjord Salmon have achieved industry-leading biological results, with good fish health, low mortality levels, and high superior share. That precisely these two players choose Cflow’s solutions for their next build-out is a great vote of confidence,” said Hoff.

Both Salmon Evolution and Andfjord use filtered seawater drawn from depth, where the temperature is more constant. This helps reduce water heating and chilling costs.

Moving forward again

Newer applications for similar facilities were put on hold for over a year by the Norwegian government while it worked out how land-based seawater plants should be permitted, but progress has now been made, which is good news for Cflow.

“Updated regulations for land-based aquaculture in Norway are finally on the way, so we are seeing that things are starting to move in this market,” said Hoff.

“We decided five years ago to focus on land-based fish farming, which represents another way of working compared to ship deliveries. There is a lot of engineering work upfront and delivery schedules that stretches up to a decade ahead in time. This creates strong predictability and excellent opportunities for both long-term employment and value creation for the supply chain.”