120 million NOK for unique EU project on sludge collection in Hardangerfjorden

The research institutions NORCE and the Institute of Marine Research will measure the effects of sludge collection, while industry actors Ragn-Sells and Framo will contribute with technology for sludge collection from open sea cages.

The participating fish farming companies are Eide Fjordbruk and Lingalaks, both located within Rosendal in the Hardangerfjord.

– This is a very important project for us fish farmers. We want to operate as sustainably as possible and seek clear answers on how our activities affect nature, says Geir Magne Knutsen, Head of Strategy and Development at Bremnes Seashore.

This is supported by Sondre Eide, third-generation fish farmer and CEO of Eide Fjordbruk.

– All the farmers participating in this project are located around the Hardangerfjord, and we all want to operate fish farms as sustainable as possible to secure both jobs and our fjord, says Eide.

A few details remain before the project can begin, but the partners expect the project to start during the autumn. 120 million NOK has been granted to the project from the EU's Horizon Europe program.

– There has been an incredible commitment and effort from all parties involved in the application process - both locally and internationally. The competition in the EU's Horizon program is tough, and only three projects out of 30 applications were awarded. This says something about the importance of documenting the effect of sludge collection to improve the marine environment in our fjords, says Hans Kleivdal, Deputy EVP and Head of Business Development, NORCE Climate & Environment.

The project is called AquaPhoenix and is planned to run for the next four years. It is coordinated by NORCE, and there are a total of 16 partners from Finland, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Among the 16 partners in the consortium, we also find the Finnish Ålands fiskodlarförening.

The Baltic Sea faces major environmental challenges due to high levels of nutrients from agriculture and industrial emissions. Therefore, Finnish farmers are not allowed to increase production due to environmental considerations.

– The Finnish government wants to increase fish farming in the country. This project provides us with important insights that can be applied to aquaculture in the Baltic Sea, says Rosita Broström, Verksamhetsledare at Ålands fiskodlarförening r.f.

Hardangerfjorden is one of the fjords with the highest amounts of salmon farming in Norway. Over 100,000 tons of farmed salmon are produced in open sea cages annually. This results in the discharge of sludge and nutrients into the surrounding fjord. The sludge, which consists of feed remnants and feces, can negatively impact the marine environment around the fish farms, posing a risk of eutrophication.

Framo has LiftUP technology for collecting sludge from open sea cages, which is then filtered and stored for further processing.

– Sludge from aquaculture is resources gone astray. We see that sludge collection will become a major industry both locally and internationally in the future. Framo is strongly focused on developing industrial sustainable solutions and aims to become a leading player in this market, says Martijn Bergink, Business Unit President Pumping Systems at Framo.

Ragn-Sells will contribute with technology to convert the sludge into phosphorus, which can be used as new feed ingredients and fertilizer in agriculture.

– Circular technology for aquaculture facilities reduces climate impact, lessens the burden on fjords, and produces more fish from each facility. At the same time, we utilize valuable raw materials and help reduce Europe's dependence on imported energy and nutrients, says Vidar Svenning Olsen, CEO of Ragn-Sells Norway.