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Blue Ocean Technology has signed a contract for the delivery of a Plug & Farm containerized sludge and water treatment facility to Purecod, the world’s first cod farming using closed pens at sea. The facility will be delivered and installed in Røneset, Storfjorden, Norway, where Purecod will start farming operations in the second half of the year.
This is a pioneering facility in aquaculture in closed cages at sea, with full control of all discharges and the entire value chain. And there is a paradigm shift in cod farming. “For the first time, sludge from cod farming can be utilized as a resource. And for the first time, we are delivering a plant for full integration in a feed fleet. We are very enthusiastic about this contract,” said Hans Runshaug, CEO of Blue Ocean Technology.
In addition to that, Blue Ocean Technology will deliver a Plug & Farm fully integrated facility including Blue Ocean Technology’s core dewatering solutions Belt filter and a Screw press.
Energy-efficient solutions and downstream solutions
According with the company reports, the plant is design for low environmental footprint, with a big focus on energy-efficient solutions and downstream solutions. Cod will be farmed in closed pens developed and delivered by Purecod’s sister company Closedpen.
Sludge collection and repurposing is one of the most important advantages of closed pen fish farming, and having the right equipment is a critical element for success. Blue Ocean Technology offers a solution that perfectly fits the needs of our operation, and will allow us to remove and dewater sludge efficiently and with low energy consumption.
The first permit of its class
Was in last March when Purecod has received a permit to farm cod in closed pens in Røneset. The County Municipality of Møre and Romsdal (Møre og Romsdal fylkeskommune) granted Purecod production permit to farm Atlantic cod (Gadus Morhua) in closed pens with a maximum standing biomass allowance of 3,120 tons in Røneset.
The permit was the first of its class and paves the way for Purecod to become the world’s first cod farmer using closed pens, which significantly reduce emissions. Purecod was established in 2020 and is fully owned by Blue Future.
“This is an important milestone for Purecod, and we believe it is also a gamechanger for the industry”, said in that moment Mikael Rønes, CEO of Purecod, a pioneer in cod farming in Norway, having co-founded Norcod in 2018. Rønes has been involved in the development and improvement of cod farming both as an entrepreneur and as an industry expert.
“Cod farming is now at a crucial moment of development, and for us to be using cleaner, more responsible farming methods at this early stage is a very significant move in the right direction,” he added.
Minimal direct interaction with the environment
The technology used by Purecod allows fish farming at sea, with minimal impact on the environment. By farming cod at sea in closed pens, Purecod ensures that the fish grow optimally in their natural environment, free of stressors such as predators or parasites, and at suitable temperature all year round.
The closed pens consist of a double containment barrier that minimizes the risk of fish escapes and drastically reduces the possibility of direct interaction with the surrounding environment.
The closed pens are equipped with a waste collection and transportation system that will allow organic matter to be collected safely.
This feature is an important element of the technology used by Purecod. The collection of waste significantly reduces the environmental impacts of farming, as waste sedimentation on the sea bottom is avoided. The company was actively working on and exploring different solutions to process sludge as part of Purecod’s sustainability strategy, and finally has found it.
Production capacity of 5,000 tons per year
Purecod is fully owned by Blue Future. The company was founded in 2020 for the purpose of farming cod in closed cages. The permit is equivalent to an annualized production capacity of 5,000 tons per year.
Blue Future is a privately owned company with several strategic shareholders, of which Global and Amar Group are the largest shareholders. The company will continue to consider different strategic and long-term partners who share the company’s vision, they reported.
