Testarena Skagerak
Short description
Testarena Skagerak offers a cross-border environment for businesses in the Skagerrak region to test, verify and scale up new products, farming methods and business models within marine aquaculture. The project provides a fully funded infrastructure, cutting-edge expertise and practical support with licensing and regulatory matters. Here, researchers, businesses and public authorities work together to develop sustainable solutions in marine aquaculture.
The aim of the project
The aim of Testarena Skagerak can be summarised as follows:
- Strengthen existing blue economy sectors
- Create new jobs and value chains
- Improve the environmental status of the Skagerrak and the Oslo Fjord
- Contribute to the harmonisation of regulations in Sweden and Norway, as well as the sound management of marine resources
- Increase the region’s international visibility
Further information about the project
Testarena Skagerak comprises test beds for land- and sea-based aquaculture, development and production at the Tjärnö Marine Laboratory and Hvaler/Utgårdskilen in Norway. It brings together cutting-edge expertise from leading research centres and offers practical support on licensing and regulatory issues in both Sweden and Norway.
The focus is on low-trophic species such as algae, mussels, oysters and sea squirts. These are species that can be farmed sustainably in the marine environment over the long term, and which can also help to absorb excess nutrients from the sea and combat eutrophication.
Infrastructure
The two main infrastructure facilities in the project are the University of Gothenburg’s marine research station, the Tjärnö Marine Laboratory in Strömstad, and Utgårdskilen in Hvaler, which is one of the largest fishing harbours along Norway’s south coast.
The laboratory has laboratories, marine test sites, research vessels and, not least, scientific expertise in the testing, development and production of marine species. Utgårdskilen has facilities for receiving, processing and storing fish, as well as extensive and solid experience of working with marine species. Work is also underway here to develop alternative livelihoods and sources of income from the sea, alongside traditional fishing.
Together, these two infrastructure facilities, alongside the ‘blue nodes’ and the project’s unique expertise, form a unique and cross-border arena for developing the blue economy in the Skagerrak.
Blue hubs for support, information and education
The project is also establishing physical blue hubs – one in Strömstad and one in Hvaler – where people will be able to receive advice and support on site. These hubs will also provide information and training on issues relating to marine aquaculture, and help to increase understanding and knowledge of the opportunities for innovation and development within blue food production.
Companies participating in the project will have access to a fully funded infrastructure for testing, verifying and scaling up new products, farming methods and business models within aquaculture.
Organisation
The project involves a number of different staff members from companies, public authorities and academia. It is divided into eight work packages:
- Project management
- Communication
- Research, education and collaboration
- Developing a test environment
- Removing barriers
- Implementation of various pilot projects
- Blue Node innovation
- Long-term operating model for Testarena Skagerak
Project Management
The project owners are Björn Winther, Head of Business Development at Hvaler Municipality, and Marcus Palm, Head of the Community and Business Department at Strömstad Municipality. The Swedish project manager is Helen Veerman, and Jörgen Schrøder Aanonsen is the project manager in Norway.
Find out more
Please contact Helen Veerman, Swedish project manager for Testarena Skagerak:
0766-18 96 35
helen.veerman@gu.se
