Big Akwa granted permit for land-based trout farm in Sweden

Swedish company Big Akwa has been granted a 25-year environmental permit to produce approximately 6,000 tons of rainbow trout annually at its planned land-based aquaculture facility in Ånge Municipality, Sweden.

The facility will be located in the Alby industrial park and will use a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). The company stated the facility is part of a broader industrial partnership where surplus resources from nearby industries will be transformed into inputs for the farm.

The company's CTO, Daniel Brännström, added that the permit gives them the certainty needed to move forward with execution, including site preparation and refining technical designs.

Hugo Wikström, the company's Vice President and co-founder, said their approach aims to significantly reduce feed and energy consumption per kilogram of fish produced. Once operational, the facility will produce rainbow trout for both Swedish and international markets, with a stated focus on traceability and what the company describes as "climate benefits".

Operations are set to begin in 2026, with full capacity expected by 2029, Big Akwa noted.