Waste management

It is a major global challenge that people use more resources than we have available in the world in the long run, and a higher degree of circular economy is therefore essential. Life cycle thinking and contribution to the reduce, reuse and recycle principle is a high priority.

The highest priority is the reduction of waste generation. This is achieved in two ways – improving fish welfare and increasing control of feeding, which significantly improves the industry’s use of resources.

All waste handling in Ovum is performed according to relevant legislation and standards.

Ovum addresses one of the major impacts – waste emission to open water bodies. By introducing Egget® that unlocks the possibility to collect both uneaten feed and fish waste.

Feeding accurately is alleviated by use of a contained system. The horizontal and upwards water current keeps the feed pellets accessible for the fish for a longer period than in open systems where uneaten feed drifts out of the pen by the current.

The shape of Egget® supports trapping and retaining particles from being discharged. The technology has continuous removal of solids from the bottom of the unit by withdrawing a partial flow which is then filtered. The sludge (fish excrement and uneaten feed) is collected in a tank and can be used as a valuable resource in newly developing industries. In the pilot phase, sludge has been used in biogas production.

A separate organic waste stream is formed from dead fish. This number is reduced as much as possible, but any morts are removed at the bottom of Egget® through a separate removal system. Dead fish are grounded and turned into silage and further processed by external suppliers according to relevant regulations.