Grieg Seafood receives first fry into expanded RAS facility

Grieg Seafood's Gold River Hatchery Expansion project, termed RAS 34, was completed earlier this spring and can now report that they have received the first transfers of Atlantic salmon fry into the facility.

The aim of the project is to keep the fish in the hatchery for an extended period of time, allowing them to grow up to weights between 200 grams and one kilogram. Traditionally, smolts are released back into the sea at around 100 grams.

"By holding the fish at the hatchery for an extended period of time and allowing them to develop beyond the previous transfer size of 100 grams, we see immediate benefits for the farmed populations," says Scott Peterson, Freshwater Director with Grieg Seafood. "The larger smolts are better able to adapt to the transfer to ocean conditions, have less mortality overall and show higher resistance to naturally occurring pathogens and parasites in the ocean."

Image credit: Grieg Seafood

He goes on to add that "additional size trials" will be incorporated once the company is more comfortable with the technology.

The total cost of the project sits around US$24.75 million, using local people as project contractors and workers. The project has been ongoing for three years, with the expanded facility now having a combined capacity of 900 tonnes.

"The completion of the facility marks the culmination of years of planning, construction, trialling and now finally production," explains Rocky Boschman, Managing Director for Grieg Seafood. "In total, the project represents an investment of US$25 million and the creation of almost 60 fulltime site positions at the peak of construction. The new facility will effectively double our smolt capacity at our hatchery."

For more information on Grieg Seafood visit their website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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