© Akvafuture
Using field-proven technology – tested and optimised in the Norwegian fjords – Akvafuture envisions a future where salmon farming harmonises with the natural environment. With their closed barrier technology, the company aims to contribute to responsible farming practices that prioritise ecological balance while ensuring the production of high-quality, harvestable salmon.
Dean Trethewey, managing director of Akvafuture, is responsible for the Canadian venture and believes the company’s closed barrier technology can contribute to tackling the biological and environmental challenges the salmon farming industry in British Columbia is facing.
Commenting in a press release on the changes being implemented to the salmon farming sector in British Columbia due to the recent closures administered by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Trethewey said: "Our goal is to farm the most sustainable salmon on the market so that the next generation of salmon farmers can continue to grow communities and salmon. One cannot deny the negative impact the closures have on these communities."
He added: “As farmers, we know how important it is to work with nature and cultivate our learning into future crops. By integrating biology with engineering, we are creating stronger fish welfare systems and growing the seafood potential in BC. Who knows how the industry will look like in 10-20 years in the future, but it will certainly depend on the decisions that are being made right now."
Through continuous research and collaboration with the Norwegian Veterinary Institute carried out over the last decade, Akvafuture has – it claims – found an environmentally robust solution that will add nutritious salmon to families around the globe. According to the company, not only does the closed barrier technology yield significantly improved fish welfare, but it also prevents the interaction between wild and farmed fish, allowing both to co-exist in nature.
As seen in the company’s recently released promotional video, the technology is currently in operation in northern Norway.
