History and technology

Pioneer in closed farming at sea

Akvafuture was established in 2011 with a clear goal: to develop a new and more sustainable way of producing salmon. From day one, three principles have guided everything we do: zero escapes, lice‑free production, and efficient collection of sludge. These principles are essential for both fish welfare and the environment.

From idea to documented results

To reach our goals, we developed technology for closed sea cages – the Akvapods. When we started, the market was not yet ready for this type of solution, and commercial interest was limited. So we made a strategic decision: we became farmers ourselves. By combining technology development with hands‑on farming operations, we’ve been able to test, refine, and document the solution at full scale. The result is more than 40 000 tonnes of salmon produced for harvest in our own closed systems – with strong outcomes in both fish welfare and product quality.

A unique position in the industry

Akvafuture is both a technology developer and a salmon farmer. The short distance between development and daily operations gives us a unique opportunity for continuous improvement. What we learn in day‑to‑day farming goes straight back into the further development of our technology. This close feedback loop has been crucial for the documented results we’ve achieved.

About the technology

Closed production at sea with Akvapods

The system consists of production units with a closed bag instead of a traditional open net. The closed bag is supported by a plastic float ring, which is surrounded and connected by a solid concrete ring. Around the concrete ring, a standard net is installed, providing a double layer of escape prevention.

Each concrete ring is made up of eight concrete elements. The inside forms a circle for the bag and float ring, while the outside has an octagonal shape. Several production units can be linked together to form complete farming sites.

The production is powered by renewable energy supplied from shore, helping to reduce the overall climate footprint.

Controlled water environment

Seawater is pumped into each production unit from a depth of 20-30 meters. At this depth, salmon lice are not present, which makes the production naturally lice‑free. This significantly reduces the need for treatments and handling, which in turn lowers stress levels and contributes to better fish welfare.

Drawing water from this depth also ensures more stable temperatures where the fish thrive. This improves welfare, supports good appetite, and reduces stress – all of which create more predictable production conditions.

In addition, the seawater pumped into the units is oxygenated and given a controlled current, allowing us to create an ideal, stable environment for the fish. This keeps the fish healthy and active throughout the entire production cycle, and contributes to high product quality – both in terms of growth and fillet quality.

Controlled discharges and efficient sludge collection

Instead of letting fish waste and organic material spread directly into the sea, our technology is designed and developed to capture a substantial share of the sludge.

The fish sludge is collected inside the units and directed into further processing where dead fish are handled separately, while sludge and particles are separated out and gathered. Depending on the setup and needs at each site, the sludge is either stored in wet form or further processed through dewatering and drying.

This handling reduces the environmental impact around the farm and gives us better control of our discharges. At the same time, it allows the nutrients in the sludge to be put to further use. For example, in biogas production or as fertilizer – supporting a more circular and sustainable form of farming.

Documented technology from solid expertise

The technical solutions have been developed based on expertise from the Norwegian aquaculture industry and the offshore sector, while the biological documentation has been carried out in close collaboration with leading research institutions.