Water responsibility across our value chain

Did you know?
In 2025, Bakkafrost recirculated 98.6% of all the water used in our hatcheries.

Water is essential to salmon farming and to the communities and ecosystems around our operations. Responsible water management therefore forms an important part of how we operate.

In our hatcheries, recirculating aquaculture systems filter, oxygenate, disinfect and treat water so that it can be used repeatedly. In 2025, Bakkafrost recirculated 98.6% of all water used in its hatcheries.

The fjords and lochs around our marine farms are productive and sensitive environments. Water temperature, rainfall, nutrient levels and other local conditions can affect fish health, biodiversity and surrounding communities. We monitor relevant water and environmental parameters and investigate any issues in line with our environmental-management procedures.

Our commitments to water management, pollution prevention and effluent control are set out in our Environmental Management Policy and Freshwater Use Policy.

Targets and investments

Bakkafrost has set a target of maintaining a water-recirculation rate above 97% across its hatcheries. Progress is monitored and reported through our annual sustainability reporting.

We also track biological feed conversion as a separate resource-efficiency measure, with a target of achieving a biological feed-conversion ratio below 1.083 by 2026.

At the Applecross hatchery in Scotland, recirculating aquaculture systems are combined with renewable energy and circular waste management. Hatchery sludge is processed through pyrolysis to produce biochar for soil improvement, helping recover value from a former waste stream.

At our FÖRKA biogas plant in the Faroe Islands, biological side-streams are processed into renewable energy, heat and fertiliser for Faroese agriculture.

When environmental or effluent-related issues arise, our environmental-management system guides investigation, corrective action and communication with the relevant authorities. Our work is also supported by standards and certifications including ISO 14001, ASC and GLOBALG.A.P.

Water responsibility is part of our work across hatcheries, farms and feed facilities.