First Water Among the First Land-Based Aquaculture Companies Worldwide to Launch Sales of 5 kg Salmon
A major milestone was reached by the land-based aquaculture company First Water last Tuesday, when the company began harvesting and packing 5 kg salmon for export to international markets. With this, First Water became one of the first land-based aquaculture companies worldwide to achieve this milestone, offering a highly sought-after and valuable product on the global stage. The entire harvest has already been sold to buyers in the United States and Europe.
This summer, First Water commissioned its first 25-meter covered land-based tanks, four of which—out of a planned eight—are now in full operation. These tanks enable the company to produce salmon of the highest quality and provide customers with a consistent, year-round supply.
Closed tanks are the key to quality
Construction at First Water’s site has progressed well in recent months. The company has invested around EUR 56million this year in tanks, equipment, and other infrastructure. The first of six planned phases is expected to be completed in 2027, with each phase designed to deliver a production capacity of around 10,000 tons of gutted salmon.
The grow-out tanks now in use are covered and equipped with the most advanced technology available. Their closed design has proven highly effective, minimizing the impact of external stress factors such as storms, birds, and noise, while also reducing the risk of outside contamination and pathogens. The purity of the lava filtered seawater used in production is unique, ensuring both reduced operational risk and consistent product quality.
The company has also installed a powerful water purification system that guarantees the operation returns seawater cleaner than the natural seawater off the coast of Þorlákshöfn. This makes First Water’s salmon production among the most sustainable and environmentally friendly methods available.
100% sustainable energy and water treatment systems
Sustainability is at the core of First Water’s operations. All farming is powered exclusively by Iceland’s renewable geothermal and hydroelectric resources, ensuring a carbon-free process from smolt to harvest. This makes First Water one of the very few aquaculture companies worldwide able to run its entire operation on 100% sustainable energy.
The company has taken into use highly advanced water purification equipment that ensures the operation discharges seawater cleaner than the seawater off the coast of Þorlákshöfn. This makes First Water’s production method among the most sustainable and environmentally friendly available.
Processing facility in Þorlákshöfn now in operation
First Water has recently commissioned a processing facility in the harbor area of Þorlákshöfn, where all the company’s products will be processed. The facility has the capacity to handle 20,000 tons of gutted salmon annually.
Eggert Þór Kristófersson, CEO of First Water, said the harvest of 5 kg salmon marks an important milestone:
“It is highly rewarding to see how well the fish have grown in our covered tanks. Since the first salmon were stocked last July, growth rates have exceeded expectations, proving the strength of this high-tech rearing environment and the dedication of our team. Demand is strong, with 94% of production graded as premium quality. With global need for sustainable protein rising sharply, First Water is now among the very few companies worldwide able to supply buyers with 5 kg gutted premium salmon — farmed and processed in the most sustainable way, all year round.”