Norwegian trout producer Firda Seafood has begun collaborating with innovators at the Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences’s vessel-innovation team to design closed, ship-based facilities for post-smolt production of rainbow trout. (Fish Farming Expert)

At a recent seafood fair in Qingdao, China, Firda announced that the goal is to develop a large-scale ocean-going facility capable of producing approximately 8,000 metric tonnes of post-smolt annually.

While the details around ownership and operations are still in early discussions, the company is emphasizing three strategic benefits:

• Mobility and modularity – the vessel-based structure would be a “movable and solid construction,” providing site flexibility.
• Operational efficiency – the design challenge focuses on operational reliability, cost effectiveness and energy use.
• Closed-containment emphasis – utilizing a closed or semi-closed system on a ship may support enhanced biosecurity and environmental performance.

However, Firda cautions that regulatory frameworks remain a key challenge. In Norway, they note, closed containment production models face “major obstacles” under the current regulatory regime. The company argues that updated aquaculture road-maps and regulatory support are urgently needed if new types of production systems are to be adopted.

From a U.S. trout-farmer perspective, this development is worth monitoring. It suggests that the concept of ship-based or floating facility production is gaining traction internationally, and it may prompt questions about how innovative infrastructure can integrate with permitting, containment, and cost-models in other markets.