Settefiskanleggene

Settefiskanleggene are hatcheries in Norway’s aquaculture sector responsible for incubating fertilized eggs and rearing juvenile salmonids to a size suitable for transfer to marine grow-out facilities. The term derives from the practice of setting eggs and fry into controlled rearing conditions before they are released into sea cages. Settefiskanlegg are typically operated by fish-farming companies or hatchery networks and may use open-water raceways or closed systems such as flow-through tanks and recirculating aquaculture systems.

In freshwater facilities, eggs are incubated under controlled temperatures and oxygen levels; after hatching, the fry are fed specialized feed and grown until they reach the juvenile stage for transfer to seawater facilities. The production cycle aims at high survival and uniform size while complying with biosecurity, disease control, and animal welfare standards. Settfisk (juvenile fish ready for transfer to seawater) are then moved to coastal or offshore grow-out farms for maturation to market size.

Operations are regulated by Norwegian authorities, including the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) and the Directorate of Fisheries (Fiskeridirektoratet). Licenses, environmental impact assessments, and reporting requirements govern siting, water use, waste handling, and disease prevention. The setten is thus a critical link in the supply chain of farmed salmon and other salmonids.

Historically, settefiskanlegg developed during the expansion of Norwegian aquaculture in the 20th century. Modern trends emphasize genetic management, disease control, and environmental considerations, with increasing use of land-based, closed systems to reduce ecological footprint and improve biosecurity.