Arctic charr is a highly valued fish species in the Northern territory and in the Alps “Alpenlax” with a red delicious flesh and beautiful appearance. Arctic charr farming is still a small industry but with a potential to grow and to develop a unique high quality product from the north. Farming this species requires access to cold fres... More...

Arctic charr is a highly valued fish species in the Northern territory and in the Alps “Alpenlax” with a red delicious flesh and beautiful appearance. Arctic charr farming is still a small industry but with a potential to grow and to develop a unique high quality product from the north.

Farming this species requires access to cold fresh or brackish water. For this reason, the possibility to farm this species in Europe is largely restricted to rural areas in the northern periphery. Northern periphery fish farms therefore have the opportunity to provide EU markets with a unique, high quality product while creating important job opportunities in rural areas.

The annual production is presently is relatively limited, around 5000 tonnes per year, mainly in Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The interest for this northern fish species is increasing and the production have to increased rapidly to meet up with a possibly successful marketing campaigns in Europe. This will require cooperation between charr farmers and other stakeholders. The participants in this project are either researchers or stakeholders of already ongoing projects focusing on Arctic charr and have participated in a pan-European network on Arctic charr, Charrnet.

In this NPP project a holistic approach of our expertise and projects is taken to provide stakeholders in the Northern periphery with tools to strongly improve the development of Arctic charr production. We will specially focus on using sustainable ingredients in the fish feed for Arctic charr and developing welfare criteria for faring conditions and slaughter

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This project aims to increase the production of farmed Arctic charr in the Northern periphery area. by identifying production potential and bottle-necks in different regions and with different technologies (WP2). The present situation for charr farming in the area is analyzed to identify production potential and bottlenecks in different regions... More...

This project aims to increase the production of farmed Arctic charr in the Northern periphery area. 

• by identifying production potential and bottle-necks in different regions and with different technologies (WP2). The present situation for charr farming in the area is analyzed to identify production potential and bottlenecks in different regions and with different technologies. This will provide knowledge for future development of the industry.
• by developing and implementing solutions to problems in farming that we have identified already (WP3 ). Solutions to problems in will be suggested from knowledge obtained in activities targeting brood-stock handling, feeding practice, optimised temperature regimes, slaughtering and environmental impact. Sustainability, for farming and the environment, and welfare issues are aspects involved in these targets.
• by initiating triple-helix structures in order to provide stakeholders with tools and contact network that will facilitate development (WP4). We will initiate triple-helix structures in order to provide stakeholders with tools and contact network that will facilitate development.

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A tested and documented best practice for triple helix networks in charr farming. An increase of the number of new companies by at least 4 with a total annual production of at least 1000 tonnes within the next 5 years. Existing companies will increase their production from about 3000 tonnes to 6000 tonnes within 5 years. Increased local and regi... More...

• A tested and documented best practice for triple helix networks in charr farming. An  increase of the number of new companies by at least 4 with a total annual production of at least 1000 tonnes within the next 5 years.
• Existing companies will increase their production from about 3000 tonnes to 6000 tonnes within 5 years.
• Increased local and regional processing of the fish with the establishment of at least 2 processing plants
• An increased number of employees by at least 25 annual workers on the farms and an increased number of employees by approximately 25 in new and existing processing plants.

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WP2 Questionnaires translated into Swedish, Norwegian and Icelandic has been sent to all identified farmers. Overall national statistics have been collected using a general questionnaire in English. WP3 Egg survival and brood-stock The financing of the breeding program in Iceland and Sweden is secured for the next years. The Swedish bree... More...

WP2

• Questionnaires translated into Swedish, Norwegian and Icelandic has been sent to all identified farmers.
• Overall national statistics have been collected using a general questionnaire in English.

WP3

Egg survival and brood-stock

• The financing of the breeding program in Iceland and Sweden is secured for the next years. The Swedish breeding program has increased by 100%.
• The effect of egg size and energy content on survival has been analysed to evaluate if selected breeding can improve the survival further by selecting for egg size.
• Survival of eggs from brood stock from the same genetic families reared at different temperatures has been tested. Mean survival increased from 35 to 70% by keeping the brood stock in cooler water.

Feed composition

• We have tested and are testing optimal protein content as well as alternative protein and fat sources for fish of different sizes. This is an ongoing activity.
• We are in the process of having the knowledge about how to grow Arctic charr with sustainable ingredients without a major reduction of the important long chain n-3 fatty acids (omega-3).

Fish welfare

• Humane slaughter methods for Arctic charr using electric stunning have been successfully tested in cooperation with the Humane Slaughter Association.  Funding for a full scale test and a mobile emergency slaughter machine has been applied for and granted by the Swedish Agricultural Board and the Fishery foundation.

WP4

• Several meetings with the most important stakeholders have been arranged to form triple helix structures and to stimulate cooperation between farmers and the processing industry.
• Actors in this project have encouraged a Norwegian and Swedish company to start a new Arctic charr farm and a slaughter house creating several new jobs
• Aquaculture Centre North was created, which will be the main centre for producing charr eggs and housing the Swedish breeding programme.

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