FIRST WATER REDEFINING SALMON FARMING WITH ICELAND’S PURE WATER

First Water redefining salmon farming with Iceland’s pure water. Fish Focus’ latest feature follows our trip to the Icelandic archipelago, Vestmannaeyjar.

We will be posting an article every day, covering this amazing trip and showcasing the Icelandic Seafood industry, cutting edge aquaculture, Icelandic heritage and the hospitality of the Icelandic people. You can read the whole publication here

For our first company visit, which was on mainland Iceland, we travelled to Þorlákshöfn, to visit First Water (formerly Landeldi), a pioneering land-based Atlantic salmon farming company, located
approximately 45 km from Reykjavík and 94 km from Keflavík Airport.

The name ‘First Water’ encapsulates the company’s philosophy that the foundation of healthy, sustainable aquaculture lies in the purity and quality of the water itself.

Ómar Grétarsson

We were joined by Kristinn Bjornsson from Business Iceland and the Marketing and Sales Manager at First Water, Ómar Grétarsson, who would lead us on an insightful tour of the facility.

Before we commenced the tour, Ómar explained some of the background and outlined the ambitious project that First Water is undertaking on the 52-hectare site (equivalent of 100 football pitches) with a projected completion in 2031.

“Founded in 2017, First Water’s mission is to revolutionise salmon farming in Iceland through sustainability and innovation. The company aims to produce up to 60,000 tons of head on gutted (HOG) salmon annually by 2031, in a project rolled out over six development phases, Phase 1 of which is already operational.” said Ómar.

“First Water’s land-based farm is being developed to harness advanced aquaculture technologies to maximise fish welfare and minimise environmental
impact. Key among these is the adoption of a hybrid flow-through system combining elements of a conventional flow-through system with a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS)” he added.

Ómar explained:

“What truly distinguishes First Water is its access to pristine, naturally filtered seawater. The company sources its water from underground boreholes that pass through Iceland’s ancient lava fields. These volcanic formations act as a natural filtration system, yielding water of exceptional purity, low mineral
content and a soft, balanced pH.

“The water also emerges geothermally warmed to 7–9°C, a temperature range that optimises fish health and reduces the farm’s energy footprint. This consistency in quality effectively eliminates the risks of disease, sea lice and the need for antibiotics or chemical treatments, setting a new global benchmark in responsible aquaculture. By using a hybrid flow-through system,
the new water makes up approximately one third of the total and the recirculated water makes up the other two thirds of the required supply.

“The recirculated water is filtered and reused rather than simply being discharged and the filtered waste from the water gets processed for fertiliser along with pork and poultry waste.”

By adopting this process, First Water reduces reliance on large volumes of fresh seawater and improves control over growing conditions.

Key advantages

• Water quality & fish health: Because the water is naturally filtered through lava rock and maintained at stable temperatures (7–9°C), and further filtered via RAS technologies, the risk of disease, sea lice and need for medicines or chemicals is greatly reduced.
• Reduced environmental footprint: Recirculation means fewer large f lows of discharges into the environment and better use of resources, which aligns with First Water’s sustainability goals.
• Operational consistency: The R hybrid flow-through system allows precise control over water parameters (temperature, oxygen, salinity etc.), helping to deliver uniform growth and high-quality salmon, which supports First Water’s premium market position.

©First Water

On visiting the site, you can clearly see the enormity of the project, spread over the 52 hectares of land being developed. The design of the system is modular, with each phase of grow-out being in enclosed systems, which together with the hybrid flow-through framework, gives First Water scalability while maintaining environmental and operational control.

Using a hybrid flow-through model supports the ambitious growth trajectory (to 60,000 tons HOG annually) by enabling high-density production in a controlled environment, without many of the risks of open-ocean net-pen farming (disease outbreaks, sea-lice, escapes etc.). It also confirms the premium positioning of their salmon as ‘land-based, antibiotic-free and high welfare’ in global markets.

First harvest ©First Water

First Water reached a key milestone in 2023, harvesting 370 tons of average 3kg fish, then in 2024, harvesting 1,300 tons of average 3kg fish. For 2025, First Water are predicting a similar volume to 2024 but harvesting larger 5kg + fish during the last few months of the year. To support this growth, the company secured €160 million in funding through an €80 million bank loan and investment from private and pension investments, towards the estimated €900 million required for the privately owned company to reach its full production capacity of 60,000 tons per year,
supported by a fully integrated hatchery and processing infrastructure.

The site’s location offers major logistical advantages as it is situated just 94 km from the international airport, allowing rapid air transport to key markets in the United States, Asia and Europe.

Additionally, Reykjavík Harbour, one of Iceland’s key export hubs, is located only 50 km away, facilitating efficient sea freight routes.

The harvesting and packing stations in Þorlákshöfn ensure that salmon reach customers fresh, sustainably produced and on time.

First Water is redefining the future of salmon farming by combining Iceland’s unique natural resources with cutting-edge land-based aquaculture technology. By prioritising fish welfare, environmental responsibility and operational efficiency, the company is setting a new global standard for sustainable seafood production.

With pure water as its cornerstone, First Water is poised to transform not just Icelandic aquaculture, but the future of responsible fish farming worldwide.

Fish Focus would like to thank Ómar Grétarsson and First Water for their warm welcome and informative tour of their facility and we look forward to following the company’s continued growth and innovation in the years ahead.

At the end of our tour, saying goodbye to Kristinn and Ómar, the time had come to head to the ferry for the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) with a slight change of plan due to the weather. Our
planned ferry from Landeyjahöfn to Vestmannaeyjar (45 Minute Crossing) had been cancelled and we were to reroute to the longer crossing going from Þorlákshöfn to Vestmannaeyjar,
which takes 3 hours 15 minutes.

Main image: ©Fish Focus