**Bergen, Norway**: Industry experts at the North Atlantic Seafood Forum discussed sustainability and innovation in salmon farming, focusing on aquaculture feed, animal welfare, and collaboration to navigate challenges in open-net systems and the volatile fish oil market, while recognising award-winning contributions to the sector.
Industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders in the seafood sector convened for the North Atlantic Seafood Forum (NASF) in Bergen, Norway, to discuss pressing challenges and opportunities in salmon aquaculture. The conference, which took place over three days, focused on key issues such as sustainability, innovation, and collaboration within the industry, particularly in the context of open-net salmon farming, animal welfare, and aquafeed development.
The event was launched with a session on the challenges associated with open-net salmon farming. Oyvind Oaland, the chief of farming operations at Mowi for Norway and Iceland, emphasised the significance of post-smolt production in enhancing survival rates and overall productivity. He stated, “Post-smolt strategies reduce the time and risk at sea, reduce the need for sea lice treatment and enable strategic stocking and adaptation to biological risks, while increasing site capacity and survival.” His comments shed light on Mowi’s expansion plans, which involve increasing their post-smolt numbers by another 20 million and implementing innovative technologies through their Mowi 4.0 Smart Farming initiative.
Harald Takle, head of strategy and seawater innovation at Cermaq, echoed the importance of innovation, asserting that technological advancements will shape the future growth of open-ocean salmon farming. He noted various measures taken in Norway, including the use of laser technology for effective sea lice control. Takle commented on the essence of collaboration, stating, “We must work closely with authorities to establish further regulations toward sustainable growth.”
The discussions extended to aquaculture feed, where industry leaders such as Sigve Nordrum from Aker QRILL highlighted the health issues faced in salmon farming, advocating for nutrition as a preventative measure. Ester Santigosa from DSM-Firmenich supported this notion, explaining how functional feeds can significantly improve fish health by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing immune function.
Shifting focus to the increasingly volatile fish oil market, Douglas Martin, founder of MiAlgae, pointed out the challenges of reduced production, proposing microalgae as a solution to mitigate reliance on traditional fish oil. Brett Glencross, technical director at IFFO, discussed the evolving trends in marine ingredients usage, emphasising the growing accountability towards sustainability in feed ingredient selection.
Panel discussions also addressed the necessity for alternative feed markets, promoting a collaborative approach across the supply chain. Håvard Walde, general manager at Skretting, stressed the importance of a solid relationship between farmers and feed suppliers to secure a stable supply of vital nutrients like EPA and DHA, while Kristin Hurum from Cermaq discussed the importance of diversifying raw material sources. Meanwhile, Marco Custodio, project manager at the Earthworm Foundation, highlighted ongoing consumer studies to understand attitudes toward alternative ingredients, which he believes is essential for creating viable markets.
The forum also recognised innovation, awarding Icelandic company GreenFish the NCE Seafood Innovation Award for its AI-driven tool that optimises fishing efficiency while reducing carbon emissions. Sveinn Sigurður Jóhannesson, the founder of GreenFish, commented, “It is an immense honour for us to receive the 2025 Seafood Innovation Award.”
The discussions on animal welfare were led by Geir Fuglerud, CEO of DNV, who accentuated the need for the industry to prioritise fish health in light of rising regulatory demands and public scrutiny. He remarked, “To maintain social licence to operate, industry must demonstrate tangible improvements.” Edgar Brun from the Veterinary Institute raised concerns about the potential neglect of animal welfare for productivity gains, advocating for a deeper understanding of salmon biology to guide future developments.
As the conference wrapped up, it was clear that collaboration emerged as a central theme across discussions, with various participants emphasising the necessity of working together to address the challenges facing the salmon farming industry. The exchanges highlighted a collective recognition that sustainable practices and technological advancements could significantly shape the future of aquaculture in the North Atlantic region.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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