‘Egg’ cage companies prepare to shed staff

A large number of people at the companies behind the “Egg” closed containment fish farm system look set to lose their jobs.

Some involved in the Egg – also known as “Eggett” – system are being redundant while others are likely to be stood down at least temporarily, at both the technology company Ovum and the production company company Herde Kompositt.

According to the local newspaper Bergens Tidende the jointly operated businesses employ just over 80 people.

Cato Lyngøy, founder and General Manager of Ovum, told the paper that sales had not reached expectations.

The company had hoped to sell two “Eggetts” this year to the salmon farming sector, each of 2,000 metres capacity. That has not happened, however, the company explained that investors appear to be currently sitting on the fence.

Beyond its impressive appearance, the Eggett was hailed as a breakthrough in the fight against salmon lice and infections because the fish are protected in a closed containment structure.

It stands 44 metres tall and 31 metres wide. Initial trials were reported to be very successful.

The project was first unveiled more than nine years ago, with the claim that it will help fish welfare. The cage takes in water from the bottom of the structure and pumps it out through the top. The water is purified and the environment and production can be controlled.

Mowi was one of the early investors but it has since sold its interest in the project.

Hauge Aqua Solutions founder and Egg developer Cato Lyngøy both said that good fish welfare and better utilisation of the input factors are the project’s main goals.