Framo goes into fish farming

“The objective with the Stadion Basin is to reduce or eliminate problems with salmon lice, accidental release and organic waste, and to provide good growing conditions for salmon. We are delighted that Framo has decided to invest in this important project,” confirms Erlend Haugarvoll, Chairman of the Board for Lingalaks and StadionLaks, the company behind the Stadion Basin project. 

A semi-closed, floating production basin 

Framo and Lingalaks have now signed an agreement for joint ownership (50/50) of the project, which has been awarded development licences equivalent to 1,849 tonnes of biomass. The basin is designed as a floating, closed, through-flow production unit for salmon farming measuring 39 x 117 metres. Seen from above, the basin looks like a sports stadium – hence the name (stadion is the Norwegian word for stadium).

“We decided to take part in this project so that we can develop and test new pump technology in the field. Our expertise lies in moving vast volumes of water in a controlled manner. Our goal is to be the preferred supplier of pump systems for aquaculture worldwide,” explains Oddbjørn Jacobsen, Director of Framo Innovation.

Innovation project solving major challenges

The objective with the project is to reduce or eliminate problems with salmon lice, accidental release, disease and algae, and to find improved methods for handling feed residue and waste products. The plan is to collect sludge and organic waste, such as feed residue and faeces from the fish, and to exploit this as a resource.

“Our goal at Lingalaks is to identify solutions that provide optimal fish health and minimise the impact on our surroundings. We have been working on the Stadion Basin for four years now, and are looking forward to commissioning the system in 2023. If it all turns out as well as planned, it could provide major positive gains in relation to fish health, seafood production in the fjords and for the entire aquaculture industry,” says Erlend Haugarvoll,

The plan is to produce the basin in Norway. The technology behind the concept will ensure that all value creation and jobs will remain in Norway, and that the salmon will remain in the sea in Norway rather than being moved to land-based facilities abroad.

This is the Lingalaks control room, supervising the cage activity in the fish farms. (Photo: Framo)

World-leading pump technology

Framo will be responsible for the entire through-flow system. This includes taking water from various depths, circulation in the volume of water in the fish farm, removal of sludge and control systems.

“Closed and semi-closed plants require major pump power to replace the water and maintain ideal currents. This is where Framo are the experts. Given that our owners, Alfa Laval, are also world leaders within sludge and water treatment, there is little doubt that this will provide for a productive partnership,” says Martijn Bergink, Business Unit President Pumping Systems, Marine Division.