Trondheim, Norway-based aquaculture technology and equipment firm ScaleAQ has announced it will provide a feed barge to Japanese aquaculture company Japan Salmon Farm’s (JSF) operations in northern Honshu later this year.
“ScaleAQ is a trusted partner with extensive expertise and a strong track record in feeding systems and feed barges,” JSF Representative Mizuho Muradatae said in a release. “The introduction of this equipment represents an important step toward achieving our production target, and we will continue to work to enhance the value of domestically produced edible salmon.”
Aomori, Japan-headquartered JSF is owned by Okamura Foods, and the company has operations related to farming, processing, and the global distribution of seafood products.
ScaleAQ said that Japan’s production of salmon and trout currently only accounts for 0.6 percent of global salmon volumes, but companies like JSF are aiming to expand construction of fish-farming systems to new areas to increase growth. ScaleAQ added that JSF currently produces 3,500 tons but has plans to increase its totals to four times that amount by 2030.
JSF plans to increase salmon production both through land-based and sea-based aquaculture, using projects like the newly funded feed barge to scale, according to ScaleAQ.
“We are delivering the mooring system, cameras, barge, and feeding technology for Japan Salmon Farm,” ScaleAQ Senior Sales Manager Trond Karlsen said in a release. “It is impressive to see the professionalism within the Japanese aquaculture sector, as well as the strong commitment from the authorities to support industry growth.”
ScaleAQ plans to build the new barge at its shipyard in Vietnam, where the company has around 200 employees.
“This marks an important milestone for us. For the first time, a barge will be built in Vietnam under Norwegian project management,” Karlsen said. “We are bringing our extensive Norwegian expertise into the project and are confident that this collaboration will open new opportunities.”