After several years of unclear regulations, a new framework for closed aquaculture systems at sea has now been adopted. This is good news for producers operating in red zones – and for technologies like Marine Donut, which meet the requirements.
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries has recently published a new regulation that allows for the use of reduced production capacity in closed containment systems – provided the unit meets strict requirements for density, filtration efficiency, escape prevention, and documentation.
Marine Donut – developed and built by Bluegreen and tested under a development license granted to SalMar – meets these requirements and is therefore a relevant solution for fish farmers aiming to maintain production in red zones.
Marine Donut features:
No lice – water intake below the lice belt, with optional UV treatment
Zero escapes – sealed, robust construction with double escape prevention on inlets, outlets, and other openings
Collection of sludge and feed waste
This means the technology complies with §15 of the regulation – and is safe, proven, and available.
“ This is an important milestone for us. We developed Marine Donut specifically to meet the requirements of a more sustainable and future-oriented aquaculture industry. Nils-Johan Tufte, CEO and partner in Bluegreen
Marine Donut is particularly relevant in two application areas:
Production in red zones: Utilize reduced production volume by deploying the Marine Donut technology.
Post-smolt production: Ensure robust fish with reduced time at sea by using Marine Donut for post-smolt production. One million post-smolt can be transferred from a Marine Donut to five open cages, 2–3 times per year.
This provides both better resource utilization and reduced emissions – while also offering predictability and flexibility in production.
"Instead of reducing production, you can relocate it. This enables a more effective green transition and allows us to preserve Norwegian value creation while reducing environmental impact," says Tufte.
Marine Donut has now completed two full production cycles totaling nearly 2,000 tonnes of market-ready fish – delivering outstanding results:
Zero lice treatments
Very low mortality
Strong growth and high fish welfare
High superior grade rate
The technology is ready – and we’re moving into the next phase. Marine Donut 2.0 has already been developed, and production capacity is being scaled up in both Norway and Canada.
Do you operate in a red zone and want to learn more about how the Marine Donut works? Send us an email, and we’ll set up a meeting.
