Kerteminde Seafarm was established in 2017 with a vision to establish and develop a cultivation system that could be used for Regenerative Ocean Farming, combining sustainable food production with active improvement of the marine environment, climate and biodiversity.

The establishment of the facility began in 2018 with longline systems developed for the farming of mussels. These systems were further developed to also be used to cultivate other low-trophic species such as oysters and seaweed.

 

The production includes flat oysters (Ostrea edulis), blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and three species of seaweed, representing the three major algae types, red algae, green algae and brown algae. These species are Dulce (Palamria Palmata), Sea Lettuce (Ulva lactuca) and Sugar Kelp (Saccharina Latissima).

 

Mussels and oysters filter the water and remove large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus, while seaweed plants absorb CO₂ and nutrients and release oxygen. Together they form a production system that both delivers valuable raw materials and supports the natural balance of the ocean. But they also contribute positively to each other's growth when grown in the same area.
The production of blue mussels is organic certified and similar certification is underway for seaweed cultivation.

 

Kerteminde Seafarm currently operates two active sites:

• Site 1 is a production site located in Kerteminde Bay. It covers an area of 750 x 250 meters and has a total production capacity of up to 500 tons of mussels or 250 tons of seaweed annually. Commercial quantities are harvested here under controlled and environmentally friendly conditions.

• Site 2 is an offshore test site located in the middle of the Great Belt. It measures 50 x 500 meters and serves as a test area for new technologies and cultivation methods under open ocean conditions, where, for example, wave action, currents, temperature and nutrients differ significantly from coastal zones.

 

In addition, Kerteminde Seafarm is involved in a number of research and development projects with a focus on documentation of regenerative effects, new certification schemes for regenerative production in the sea and development of cultivation technologies. We collaborate closely with universities, authorities and NGOs in both national and EU-funded initiatives.

 

A particular focus area is the collaboration with Vattenfall, which wants to use the ocean areas for offshore wind more multifunctionally, e.g. for seaweed production, which contributes both to increased biodiversity and more efficient use of infrastructure and resources. This creates a unique synergy between renewable energy and regenerative food production.

 

With our experience in cultivation technologies and clear environmental profile, Kerteminde Seafarm works purposefully to demonstrate that the ocean farming of the future can be both nature-enhancing, economically sustainable and a vital contributor  in the green transition and the creation of new maritime jobs.