A comparing study of land based fish farming technologies

Abstract

This thesis endeavors to empirically evaluate the economic feasibility and ecological sustainability of land-based fish farming in comparison to traditional offshore aquaculture practices. Various sustainability indicators such as fish welfare, growth rate, emissions, electricity consumption, water quality, organic waste, and mortality rates are analyzed to determine if land-based fish farming offers a profitable and sustainable solution to meet increasing global demand for salmon.

The thesis provides estimates of potential costs associated with different technologieswhere the operational EBIT cost in NOK per kg is 68.09 for HFS, 77.11 for RAS, and 55.05 for FTS. Findings indicate that while land-based salmon farming technologies have higher initial capital expenditures, they offer substantial long-term sustainability and operational control benefits. HFS balances the advantages of both RAS and FTS and has progressed further in production, proving its viability on a larger scale. RAS shows promise due to its location independence and potential for reduced environmental impact. FTS, despite being location-dependent and potentially less scalable, has less complex operations and lower operational costs. Although biological costs are escalating, sea-based salmon farming remains immensely profitable, supported by resilient market prices. Land-based farming emerges as a promising alternative, potentially resolving industry challenges. Sensitivity, risk and opportunity analyses further underscored the importance of optimizing operational parameters such as feed conversion rates, mortality rates, and energy consumption to enhance profitability.

In conclusion, assessing the profitability and sustainability of land-based fish farming is intricate. While it holds potential for tackling industry obstacles and fulfilling salmon demand, the sector is in its early stages and requires consistent operations and demonstrable scalability.