Production of Atlantic salmon smolts in Europe--Current characteristics and future trends
2009
Bergheim, A. | Drengstig, A. | Ulgenes, Y. | Fivelstad, S.
The production of Atlantic salmon smolts in Europe is close to 250 million per year with Norway and Scotland as the dominating producers. At present, more than 90% of the production takes place in land-based, single-pass flow-through farms, but conversion to recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) is being considered by many producers. About 18 million smolts are annually produced in cage-based farms in Scottish lochs. Over the last decade, the annual production at Norwegian hatcheries has increased 3-4 times. Introduction of efficient oxygenation both of inlet water and within the fish tanks is a key factor allowing a reduced specific water flow. Most water sources in coastal regions are characterised by very soft water. Insufficient carbon dioxide control is considered a major reason for disease outbreaks and reduced growth in hatcheries. Commonly applied water treatment attempts in hatcheries are ozonation and UV irradiation, CO₂ stripping and addition of seawater. Only a few existing hatcheries in Norway and Scotland are presently utilising RAS. Modern RAS for smolt production are mainly large farms, e.g. a RAS farm on the Faeroe Islands which produces 6 million smolts annually.
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