146 H. N. Sandvold et al.
Economically, salmonids are the most important fish family, comprising
nearly 17% of the global seafood market, and have the largest commodity
value of any group of fish, with demand steadily growing (FAO, 2016). After
years of overfishing Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and habitat damage from
river damming and intensive aquaculture, capture fisheries are no longer
commercially viable (Parrish, Behnke, Gephard, McCormick & Reeves,
1998). Today, nearly all the world’s supply of Atlantic salmon is farmed, producing 1.5–2% of the global aquaculture industry (Ernst & Young, 2018;
FAO, 2016), and is the most economically important farmed salmonid
(Asche, 2008; Ernst & Young, 2018). Trends and forecasts predict a large
potential for growth (5% compound annual growth rate) in the Atlantic
salmon industry (Ernst & Young, 2018).
Scandinavia, Norway and Denmark in particular, has pioneered innovation
and technological progress in the Atlantic salmon industry, resulting in
increased productivity and reduced costs (Asche, 2008; Asche & Bjørndal,
2011; Asche, Guttormsen & Nielsen, 2013; Asche, Guttormsen & Tveterås,
1999; Asche, Roll, Sandvold, Sørvig & Zhang, 2013; Kumbhakar & Tveterås, 2003; Roll, 2013; Sandvold, 2016; Tveterås, 1999; Tveterås & Battese,
2006). This innovation and expertise is also seen as a valuable commodity that
can be exported and developed for other regions and fish species (Ernst &
Young, 2018; Paisley et al., 2010). Atlantic salmon production in Norway
grew by a factor of 10 between 1990 and 2013 (FAO, 2016) and Norway
currently produces over half of the world’s Atlantic salmon: 1.3 million tons
of farmed salmon annually. Of this, 95% is exported, with a value of 61.5
billion NOK (6.5 billion C) in 2016 (Ernst & Young, 2018). That year, the
Norwegian industry itself (which also has holdings outside of Norway)
reported record revenues of 212.7 billion NOK (22 billion C), a 300%
increase compared to a decade earlier (Ernst & Young, 2018). In 2017, a total
of 195 licences for juvenile production and 1,015 for grow- out farming were
given in Norway. Elsewhere, Denmark has a long tradition of aquaculture
and is now at the forefront of land- based technological solutions, especially in
the development of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) (Nielsen,
2011, 2012). RAS has proven successful with eel and trout, and has recently
been developed to produce Atlantic salmon completely on land at
demonstration- scale facilities (Badiola, Mendiola & Bostock, 2012; Bergheim,
Drengstig, Ulgenes & Fivelstad, 2009; Del Campo, Ibarra, Gutièrrez & Takle,
2010; Kristensen, Åtland, Rosten, Urke & Rosseland, 2009).
8.2.2 Salmon production
Currently, in production- scale firms, farmed Atlantic salmon are raised in
land- based freshwater farms as smolt then transferred to sea- based cages where
they stay until they are ready to be slaughtered (Asche & Bjørndal, 2011;
Sandvold & Tveterås, 2014). Figure 8.1 illustrates the production process
for salmon, which is divided into three main steps: the freshwater phase in
Economically, salmonids are the most important fish family, comprising
nearly 17% of the global seafood market, and have the largest commodity
value of any group of fish, with demand steadily growing (FAO, 2016). After
years of overfishing Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and habitat damage from
river damming and intensive aquaculture, capture fisheries are no longer
commercially viable (Parrish, Behnke, Gephard, McCormick & Reeves,
1998). Today, nearly all the world’s supply of Atlantic salmon is farmed, producing 1.5–2% of the global aquaculture industry (Ernst & Young, 2018;
FAO, 2016), and is the most economically important farmed salmonid
(Asche, 2008; Ernst & Young, 2018). Trends and forecasts predict a large
potential for growth (5% compound annual growth rate) in the Atlantic
salmon industry (Ernst & Young, 2018).
Scandinavia, Norway and Denmark in particular, has pioneered innovation
and technological progress in the Atlantic salmon industry, resulting in
increased productivity and reduced costs (Asche, 2008; Asche & Bjørndal,
2011; Asche, Guttormsen & Nielsen, 2013; Asche, Guttormsen & Tveterås,
1999; Asche, Roll, Sandvold, Sørvig & Zhang, 2013; Kumbhakar & Tveterås, 2003; Roll, 2013; Sandvold, 2016; Tveterås, 1999; Tveterås & Battese,
2006). This innovation and expertise is also seen as a valuable commodity that
can be exported and developed for other regions and fish species (Ernst &
Young, 2018; Paisley et al., 2010). Atlantic salmon production in Norway
grew by a factor of 10 between 1990 and 2013 (FAO, 2016) and Norway
currently produces over half of the world’s Atlantic salmon: 1.3 million tons
of farmed salmon annually. Of this, 95% is exported, with a value of 61.5
billion NOK (6.5 billion C) in 2016 (Ernst & Young, 2018). That year, the
Norwegian industry itself (which also has holdings outside of Norway)
reported record revenues of 212.7 billion NOK (22 billion C), a 300%
increase compared to a decade earlier (Ernst & Young, 2018). In 2017, a total
of 195 licences for juvenile production and 1,015 for grow- out farming were
given in Norway. Elsewhere, Denmark has a long tradition of aquaculture
and is now at the forefront of land- based technological solutions, especially in
the development of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) (Nielsen,
2011, 2012). RAS has proven successful with eel and trout, and has recently
been developed to produce Atlantic salmon completely on land at
demonstration- scale facilities (Badiola, Mendiola & Bostock, 2012; Bergheim,
Drengstig, Ulgenes & Fivelstad, 2009; Del Campo, Ibarra, Gutièrrez & Takle,
2010; Kristensen, Åtland, Rosten, Urke & Rosseland, 2009).
8.2.2 Salmon production
Currently, in production- scale firms, farmed Atlantic salmon are raised in
land- based freshwater farms as smolt then transferred to sea- based cages where
they stay until they are ready to be slaughtered (Asche & Bjørndal, 2011;
Sandvold & Tveterås, 2014). Figure 8.1 illustrates the production process
for salmon, which is divided into three main steps: the freshwater phase in