Swiss Salmon Farm: 4,000-Ton Project Faces Scrutiny

A Swiss company is planning a large-scale land-based salmon farm that aims to significantly reduce the country’s reliance on imported fish, but the project is already facing opposition from animal welfare groups. Swiss Blue Salmon AG intends to produce up to 4,000 tons of Atlantic salmon annually at a facility near Walensee lake in the canton of Glarus, a volume that would represent roughly 10% of current Swiss salmon imports.

Switzerland currently imports approximately 96% of the fish and seafood it consumes, according to Swiss Blue Salmon. The company’s project, with an investment volume of around USD 226.88 million, seeks to replace approximately 99% of currently imported salmon with locally produced, fresh fish, reducing both food waste and carbon dioxide emissions. The facility will utilize a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), a technology gaining traction globally for its potential to minimize environmental impact.

Closed-Loop System and Sustainability Focus

The proposed RAS system relies on closed water cycles, recycling over 99% of the water used and incorporating a high nutrient recovery rate. Swiss Blue Salmon plans to power the facility almost exclusively with renewable energy sources and will utilize passive cooling with water from Lake Walen to minimize environmental impact. The company asserts this approach will meet growing demand for local and sustainable salmon while preventing the escape of fish or pollutants into natural waters – a common concern with traditional Norwegian salmon farming.

The project, slated for completion by 2029, will involve two buildings, each 106 meters in length, constructed on a 2.5-hectare site adjacent to the A3 highway. A solar array on the roofs is intended to offset a portion of the facility’s energy needs. Water will be drawn from Lake Walen via a dedicated pump system, taking water from at least 50 meters below the surface.

Significant Investment, Local Economic Impact

The scale of the investment is substantial. Swiss Blue Salmon estimates the project will create around 50 jobs at the Mollis site, benefiting local businesses, service providers, and tourism. The canton of Glarus is also expected to receive increased tax revenue from the innovative food production project. However, the company must first secure the necessary investments, a challenge given recent failures and acquisitions within the Swiss aquaculture sector.

Animal Welfare Concerns Raised

Despite the sustainability claims, the project has drawn criticism from animal welfare organization Fair-fish, which has filed an objection to the plan. Fausta Borsani, director of Fair-fish, argues that the closed-system farm will result in a high density of fish, four times greater than in open-sea farming, leading to stress and potential animal suffering. Borsani contends that the project represents intensive farming rather than a sustainable solution.

“From the point of view of animal welfare, a project like the one in Mollis is very bad,” Borsani stated. “Even though We see a closed-loop system on land, it will not replace sea cage farming. We are simply increasing the supply of salmon.”

Broader Implications for Aquaculture and Feed Supply

The planned expansion of salmon production also raises concerns about the sustainability of fish feed. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has expressed concern about the reliance on carnivorous fish, noting that it takes up to three kilograms of wild-caught fish to produce one kilogram of farmed salmon. Isabel Jimenez, head of seafood products at WWF, emphasized the need to reduce aquaculture’s dependence on wild fish.

While Swiss aquaculture is exploring alternatives to traditional fishmeal, such as using byproducts from fish processing and investigating plant-based sources like soy, sunflower, and mycelium, researchers acknowledge that completely decoupling salmon production from wild fisheries is currently not feasible. The proportion of fishmeal in trout and salmon feed has decreased to 20-30% in recent years, but remains a significant component.

The Swiss Blue Salmon project represents a significant investment in land-based aquaculture, aiming to address Switzerland’s high reliance on imported seafood. However, the project’s success hinges not only on securing funding and navigating regulatory hurdles, but also on addressing concerns about animal welfare and the sustainability of the broader aquaculture supply chain. The building application is currently available for public inspection in Glarus Nord, with details of the inspection location, opening hours, and deadlines to be published by the municipality.