Hiddenfjord and AKVA group’s relationship goes back to the beginning of salmon farming in the Faroe Islands. Since the early 2000s, the two companies have pioneered together in the development of RAS technology.

Hiddenfjord is well known for producing salmon of the highest quality, raised at some of the most exposed sea sites in the Faroe Islands, located in the North Atlantic. This family-owned company has always been among the first to develop new methods in salmon farming – also when the production of larger smolts came into focus.

The relationship with AKVA group dates back to the early days of salmon production in the Faroe Islands. With freshwater being scarce on the islands, every drop needs to be used efficiently, making the investment in RAS technology a logical step. Hiddenfjord became a frontrunner in RAS development, implementing the most modern water-saving technology, the Zero Water Concept (ZWC). The ZWC by AKVA group reduces water consumption from the normal 300–400 L/kg of produced fish to around 50 L/kg. This is a significant saving that benefits the company on a daily basis, especially in periods when rainfall is absent for longer stretches of time.

Over the years, AKVA group has built incubation systems, start-feeding systems, parr systems, and post-smolt systems at the Fútaklettur site, all based on RAS and ZWC technology. The latest and most modern post-smolt system was built in 2025 and consists of six fish tanks, each 1,000 m³, with a biofilter capacity of 5,400 kg/day. In total, Hiddenfjord can now produce 2,300 tons of post-smolt per year at an average size of 700 grams.

Growing larger smolt on land before transfer to the sea has a positive impact on survival rates and improves growth and performance in net pens. This is particularly important in the Faroe Islands, where strong currents and harsh weather are common. Larger smolt in the pens means stronger fish from the start and a shorter grow-out period at sea before they reach harvest size. This is about risk mitigation – rough weather, fluctuating temperatures, and exposure to parasites are obvious challenges. It is therefore better to keep smaller fish on land until they are strong and fit for life in the ocean.

It should also be noted that both Hiddenfjord and AKVA group invest heavily in research and development for the benefit of the entire salmon industry. We are proud to have such an inspiring partnership.

AKVA group has delivered the following systems for Hiddenfjord:

  • Incubation A: 10 pcs. CompHatch
  • Incubation B: 10 pcs. CompHatch
  • RAS 01 (Hall O) Start feeding: 12 tanks at 30 m³
  • RAS 02 (Hall E+F) Parr: 5 tanks at 35 m³ + 3 tanks at 320 m³
  • RAS 03 (Hall G) Smolt: 3 + 4 tanks at 450 m³
  • RAS 04 (Hall H) (ZWC) Smolt: 10 tanks at 500 m³
  • RAS 05 (Hall J) (ZWC) Post-smolt: 4 tanks at 1,000 m³
  • RAS 06 (Hall I) (ZWC) Post-smolt: 4 tanks at 1,000 m³
  • RAS 07 (Hall R) (De-nitrification) Post-smolt: 4 tanks at 450 m³
  • RAS 08 (Hall M) (De-nitrification) Post-smolt: 6 tanks at 1,000 m³