Mowi’s CEO, Ivan Vindheim, opened the facility, officially concluding several years of construction work and 600 million kroner in investments

Mowi Unveils One of the World’s Largest Post-Smolt Facilities in Norway

Strategic NOK 600 Million (U$D 58M) Investment in Haukå Boosts Innovation, Local Jobs, and Sustainable Salmon Farming

Haukå – Global seafood giant Mowi officially opened its state-of-the-art post-smolt facility today at its freshwater site in Haukå, marking a major leap forward in sustainable aquaculture. The facility, now one of the most extensive of its kind in the world, follows several years of development and a NOK 600 million investment.

The post-smolt at Mowi's Haukå facility reach up to 800 grams. Photo: Mowi

“This is a large and strategically very important investment for Mowi,” said Ivan Vindheim, CEO of Mowi, as he inaugurated the site. “With this facility, we will be able to produce healthy and sustainable food in an even better and more efficient way.”

The expansion has more than doubled the workforce at the site—from 11 to 25 employees, including two apprentices—and is designed to produce 6.4 million post-smolts per year, each weighing approximately 700 grams.

Asgeir Hasund, Director of Mowi Region West, emphasized the broader impact: “This is not just a new facility; it’s a powerful symbol of growth, innovation, and belief in the future. This investment creates new jobs, strengthens local value creation, and contributes to a vibrant regional community.”

Post-smolt production is central to Mowi’s strategy of improving fish health and sustainability. Øyvind Oaland, CEO of Mowi Norway, highlighted the benefits: “By keeping the fish on land until they are larger, we significantly reduce their time at sea, lowering both mortality and delousing by nearly 50%. This leads to improved welfare and productivity.”

The new Haukå facility is part of a broader expansion. Mowi has invested nearly NOK 2 billion in three post-smolt facilities across Norway and plans to develop four more, aiming to increase total post-smolt output by an additional 20 million fish annually.

However, the celebrations were tempered by growing uncertainty over national aquaculture policies. Vindheim called on lawmakers in the Storting to reconsider proposed regulatory changes that, he warned, could undermine the industry’s future.

“These proposals risk drastically reducing production, employment, and value creation—particularly in Western Norway,” Vindheim stated. “I urge the government to develop better-researched, more balanced regulations. Norway cannot afford to jeopardize one of its most vital regional industries.”

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