Gigante Salmon on track despite weather challenges

Gigante’s upbeat forecast comes despite the news, reported last week, that severe storms in Nordland, where the company’s facility is based, had delayed part of the construction programme.

Publishing its 2024 fourth quarter report this week, the company said the period was marked by significant progress on construction of the two remaining basins, whilst the production from the first basin developed with good salmon growth.

The farm site at Lille Indre Rodøy in Northern Norway consists of three basins, one already in production.

The report added: “The company is on track to full production run-rate from 2026, with a gradual ramp up of harvesting towards the capacity of 16,000 tonnes(heads on gutted) annually from 2028.”

CEO Kjell Lorentsen said: "It has been a year since we started test production, and the fish is growing well with average weight approaching three kilograms.”

He added that he was looking forward to a first harvest during the second quarter of 2025.

The company reported that, during the final three months of 2024, the average weight of the first release of smolt was 2,700 grams. Shore power has been established and connected through a submarine cable with all risers/seawater intakes completed.

Gigante said that this will be “a pivotal year”, as it transitions from the construction phase towards full-scale production.

“The facility is designed to prioritise both fish welfare and economic efficiency and we make daily progress, strengthening our readiness for the full-capacity launch from 2026,” added Lorentsen.