Master's degree (2 years)

Full time

Nordic Master in Aquatic Food Production - Safety and Quality

The Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry is a vital component of the global aquatic food sector, emphasizing sustainability and responsible practices across a range of activities, from fish farming and processing to resource management and technological innovation.

In 2022, global production of farmed Atlantic salmon reached approximately 2.6 million tonnes, with Norway alone producing over 1.3 million tonnes, leading the industry in sustainable practices and efficiency.

As the sector strives to meet the growing global demand for fish and seafood, it faces the dual challenges of increasing food security while minimizing environmental impacts.

Salmon farming, with a carbon footprint of around 5.1 kg CO2 per kg of edible product compared to 39.0 kg for beef, exemplifies resource-efficient protein production, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals focused on food security, responsible consumption, and climate action.

This program equips students with foundational knowledge across essential areas—fish processing, primary production, marine resource management, and sustainability in aquaculture—preparing them to contribute effectively to a responsible and sustainable salmon farming.

The teaching is varied, but the most common form is lectures and practice lessons. In some subjects there are compulsory activities such as group work, exercises in the lab with subsequent reports, project assignments, excursions and participation in seminars.

In Fish Processing Technology, students plan an entire fish processing facility, including production plans and waste management. Basic Aquaculture Engineering introduces essential skills in water transport, water quality management, and production equipment for aquaculture systems.

In Production Technology in Aquaculture, students develop and optimize production plans for juvenile and ongrowing farm operations. Primary Production – Aquaculture and Fisheries provides an overarching perspective on fishery and aquaculture industries with a focus on sustainability.

The Marine Resources, Research and Innovation course gives insights into recent developments in marine processing and product innovation, while Sustainability and Welfare in Aquaculture emphasizes welfare and environmental standards essential for sustainable fish farming.

Additionally, Planning and Design of Intensive Fish Farms teaches students to design a complete, land-based fish farm. Through practical projects, they gain experience in facility design, covering everything from site selection and pipeline systems to fish and feed handling, as well as technical design for production.

This hands-on course prepares students to develop customized, efficient plans for intensive fish farms aligned with industry standards.

Many courses have a final exam that determines the entire grade in the course. The exam can be both written and oral. Other subjects have a combined assessment that includes several elements, such as e.g. mid-term exam, assignment, report or term paper, and where you get a grade on each of them. When there is portfolio assessment, each individual assignment is not assessed separately, but receives a joint grade at the end, when the portfolio is delivered. As a rule, we use letter grades, but in some subjects you get pass/fail. At the end of the study, an independent work, the master's thesis, is included, which should show understanding, reflection and maturity. The thesis is defended orally.