Kristinestad offers several advantages to a company planning to start fish farming.
The Kristinestad region already has a well-established fishing industry, fish farming, and other related businesses.
- There are several professional fishermen in Kristinestad, and even more in neighbouring municipalities.
- Rågårds Lax, a rainbow trout farm operating in Skaftun, has been in business for over 30 years. The company also processes rainbow trout products.
- Kristiinan Kalatuote processes and preserves fish, shellfish, and mollusks.
- Large net pen farms are planned for the outer archipelago of Kristinestad.
There are suitable areas at sea for fish farming.
- In some parts of the sea area, there is sufficient depth (approx. 20–30 m) and openness, which ensures water exchange.
Warm water and oxygen are available on the mainland for recirculating aquaculture systems.
- Both hydrogen production facilities and data centers are being established in Kristinestad. These facilities can provide warm, clean water as a byproduct of industrial operations, which can be used in fish farming facilities, particularly in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Warm water available year-round makes it possible to reduce energy costs in fish farming and accelerate fish growth.
- Hydrogen production also generates clean oxygen as a byproduct, which can be used in fish farms to improve growth, feed utilization, increase stocking density, and reduce fish mortality.