Smolt production in freshwater is an essential component of the salmonid aquaculture production chain. But it generates sludge (feed waste and fish feces) that must be managed to meet environmental regulations. While sludge can be reused as a resource, there are limited empirical results about cost structures, market conditions, and energy implications in industrial aquaculture. This study analyzes sludge collection, processing, and utilization based on a single-case study of a Norwegian smolt producer (Sisomar AS). The analysis combines company-level production data, accounting information, and process descriptions. In 2023, the company produced approximately 9.2 million smolt (1184 tons of biomass), generating 140 tons of dried sludge. Sisomar’s value creation from production of bio-based fertilizer from sludge is relatively close to that of comparable mineral fertilizers, but a direct comparison here is difficult because of large variations in the prices of mineral fertilizers. The energy consumption is significantly lower for organic fertilizer from Sisomar compared to standard technology for mineral fertilizer production. Bio-based fertilizers are looked at as an important contribution to dealing with environmental challenges, and this study discusses the characteristics of how market structures have importance for this.
Rødvei et al. (2026) studied this question.