Says yes to hatchery production at Vevelstad
Say YES to hatchery production at Vevelstad
The county governor of Nordland has approved a major investment in hatchery fish in Vevelstad. Hatchery fish production is expected to create between 20 and 30 jobs.
Since this summer, the application to establish a hatchery capable of raising between 15 and 20 million salmon smolts has been on the State Administrator's desk.
This week, Torghatten Aqua and Aquaculture Innovation-owned Vevelstad Settefisk at Toft in Brønnøysund received the happy news. "The State Governor of Nordland has granted Vevelstad Settefisk AS an application for a licence under the Pollution Control Act. The permit is attached and applies to an annual feed consumption of up to 5676 tonnes for the production of juvenile salmon at the Lauknes site in Vevelstad municipality," writes the State Administrator.
Many workplaces
Managing Director of Vevelstad Settefisk, Knut Bråthen, greatly appreciates the pre-Christmas gift. - "This is really great news and means that we're now very close to being able to build a ground-breaking hatchery at Vevelstad, right in the heart of Nordland. We've also been granted permission for the entire volume we applied for, as we hoped," says Knut Bråthen. If Bråthen and Vevelstad Settefisk succeed in their plans, the new hatchery will help to create 20 to 30 new jobs. -"Almost 500 people live in Vevelstad and the establishment will mean a lot to the municipality. The establishment will strengthen Vevelstad's position as an innovative player in the aquaculture industry, create specific jobs and give the entire region an economic boost," says Bråthen.
Up to one kilo
The 100-acre site has already been fully zoned and approved for aquaculture. Now that the County Governor of Nordland has also given the thumbs up, all that remains is a permit from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority before Nordland County Council can formally award the licence for what will be a large hatchery. - "Our plan is to raise between 15 and 20 million smolts annually at Vevelstad. The size of the fish will vary from 150 grams to one kilo," says Bråthen.
Will begin in 2025
He is keeping his fingers crossed that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's decision is also just around the corner, so that construction of the facility can begin in 2025. "I grew up in Vevelstad, so I'm really looking forward to helping to build up great local and regional values for the municipality, Helgeland and the entire industry," says Knut Bråthen, CEO of Vevelstad settefisk.
Facts: Vevelstad Settefisk is owned by the Torghatten Aqua company, Aquaculture Innovation, which is based at Toft in Brønnøysund. More about Torghatten Aqua and Aquaculture Innovation here: aquacultureinnovation.no and torghattenaqua.no
Contact information:
General Manager Vevelstad Settefisk, Knut Bråthen:
knut.brathen@aquacultureinnovation.no - Tel: 915 19 194
IR and Communications Director in Torghatten Aqua, Stig Tore Laugen: stig.tore.laugen@torghattenaqua.no - Tel: 916 00 217
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