Following an extensive review, Thor Salmon has been granted an operating licence for its land‑based aquaculture facility in Þorlákshöfn. The licence was issued by the Environment and Energy Agency after approval by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST).
Thor submitted its application on 4 March 2024 for permission to operate a land‑based salmon farm west of Þorlákshöfn, with a maximum standing biomass of 13,150 tonnes. This biomass corresponds to the production required to meet Thor’s annual target of 20,000 tonnes of salmon.
MAST forwarded the application to the Environmental Agency on 5 March 2024. A draft of the licence was published from 2 December to 30 December 2024, during which no comments were received.
Consultations were requested from the Directorate of Fisheries, the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, and the Municipality of Ölfus. Only the municipality responded, raising no objections.
The licence covers smolt production and grow‑out farming of salmon, Arctic char, and rainbow trout. It includes strict requirements for equipment to prevent fish escapes and for wastewater treatment. Water will be treated in two stages: coarse filtration followed by drum filtration, ensuring minimal risk of escapes and robust environmental safeguards.
Thor Salmon has now been issued with an operating licence.