Norway Approves Offshore Salmon Farming Expansion with High-Tech Cage Nets

Norway, the world’s largest salmon producer, is driving innovation in aquaculture cages to improve sustainability, fish welfare, and operational efficiency. We can clearly see the future trends

1. Shift to offshore and submersible cage systems
To address the space limitations and environmental issues faced by coastal aquaculture, and to ease coastal pollution and conflicts, the government approved 19 new offshore licenses by 2024, marking the expansion of Norway’s aquaculture industry.

Ocean Farm 1 (SalMar) and Havfarm (Nordlaks) use giant offshore cages with depths of up to 60 meters.

For example, AKVA Group’s submersible cages sink during storms to avoid damage.

2. Smart nets equipped with IoT and AI monitoring
To prevent escapes, diseases, and optimize feeding.

Smart nets are equipped with sensor tracking, and their net tension is increased to prevent fish from tearing.

Capable of monitoring fish behavior and early disease detection, timely intervention can be made to avoid large-scale disasters.

For example, the BioSort camera system can count the number of sea lice in real time, and the automatic feeding drone can adjust the feeding amount based on the data.
DNV report Fish escapes reduced by 30%, effectively reducing mortality.

3. Biodegradable and anti-fouling net materials
The main purpose is to effectively reduce microplastics and maintenance costs.
Cermaq trial copper alloy nets can reduce the number of sea lice by 30%.
EU-funded Norwegian pilot project based on algae biodegradable nets.
Anti-fouling coatings that reduce the use of chemicals and prevent mussel/algae accumulation with self-cleaning coatings.
Meet the sustainable development goals of the EU Green Deal.

4. Double-layer reinforced nets to prevent escapes
To escape threatens the genetics of wild salmon.
Mandatory use of stronger and lighter knotless nylon + Dyneema fiber (stronger and lighter) and double-layer fishing nets in high-risk areas.
Use GPS to track cages and recover lost fishing nets.
Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, fishing net escapes have been reduced by 50% since 2020.

5. Automation of net maintenance
Due to labor shortage and cost-effectiveness
The upcoming widespread use of underwater drones such as Blueye Robotics for inspection and cleaning of nets.
Robot-assisted net changing, AI-driven hole detection.
University of Bergen study reduces labor costs by 40%.

6. Regulation drives sustainability
Norway aims to achieve carbon-neutral aquaculture by 2050.
Amplitude implements stricter sea lice limits of up to 0.5 adult sea lice per fish.
Proposed ban on non-recyclable nets by 2030.
Mandatory adoption is costly but sustainable in the long term. Environmentally friendly nets.

It is foreseeable that in the near future Norway will see more giant 200m diameter offshore cages,
AI-driven predictive maintenance of nets, development of 100% recyclable/biodegradable nets, and tougher government penalties for escapes and pollution.

Cage trends in Norway focus on offshore expansion, smart technology, sustainability and automation. While challenges such as sea lice and policy changes remain, innovation keeps Norway at the forefront of global aquaculture.

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