Norway’s response to ever-changing regulatory and environmental factors is a model for regulation designed to be flexible – a framework that can respond to emerging science, evolving technologies and, crucially, the lessons learned out at sea. In 2025, conversations continue to evolve with extensive discussions in Norwegian parliament revising how Norway’s seafood industry can best manage its aquaculture through biomass regulations, zones for farming and increased emphasis on animal welfare.
Aquaculture company Folla Alger has a vision grounded in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), combining the farming of salmon and seaweed into a circular system – in which seaweed absorbs excess nutrients from salmon production, creating a mutually beneficial dynamic for both the environment and the industry.
‘For us, IMTA is the future,’ said general manager Torben Marstrand.
‘It’s an incredibly efficient use of space and an effective way to make salmon farming more sustainable. Norway alone has around 1800 salmon farms – that’s a huge potential for developing new IMTA sites.’
Not only would the IMTA model present advancements in efficiency, but an industry-wide step forward in sustainability. Folla Alger reports that a single square kilometre of kelp farming can remove the CO2 emissions from 3000 diesel cars every year.
‘We have already seen promising small-scale trials and we are continuing ongoing work for a large-scale trial in seawater in our IMTA farm next year. We hope this will bring us closer to a new seaweed-based ingredient for salmon feed, which could seriously drive the aquaculture space forward,’ he said.
The development form Stavanger-based aquatech firm Remora Robotics is autonomous robots.
‘We’ve developed the first fully autonomous cleaning and inspection robot for the aquaculture industry,’ chief executive Svein Erik Gregersen said.
‘Our system works continuously in the water, meaning we can maintain clean nets and inspect for damage without the need for large service vessels or high-pressure cleaning. That’s better for the fish, better for the farmer and better for the environment.’
Rather than relying on traditional, high-intensity cleaning methods – which can cause stress to the fish, disrupt the aquatic environment and increase disease risk – Remora offers a gentler, preventative approach.
‘Poor fish welfare and limited data-driven decisions are two of the industry’s biggest challenges. By keeping nets clean continuously and providing real-time insights through our Remora Insight software, we improve biosecurity, reduce stress and give farmers the information they need to make smarter operational choices,’ he said, commenting that since its first large-scale commercial rollout in 2023, the impact has been clear.
‘We’ve already saved the industry from around a thousand high-pressure cleanings. That’s thousands of fish that have experienced less stress, a reduced risk of disease and a healthier, more stable aquatic environment.’
The system’s AI-powered inspection has also flagged net damage early, preventing several incidents that could have led to fish escaping.
Norway’s aquatech ecosystem has played a big role in the company’s rapid progress.
‘The Norwegian aquaculture industry is highly innovative and increasingly open to adopting new technologies,’ Svein Erik Gregersen said. ‘This mindset has helped us get operational experience early, build a track record and refine our product in real-world conditions with some of the largest fish-farming companies in the country.’
In Nærbø, Blue Lice is striving to tackle the seemingly perennial problem of sea lice, pioneering a fully preventive technology that captures sea lice before they reach the fish. Its system, installed on existing mooring networks, uses a combination of light attraction and water flow to lure planktonic-stage lice into traps significantly reducing lice pressure in the water column. significantly reducing lice pressure in the water column.
‘Unlike traditional methods that treat the lice when they’re already on the fish, our technology intercepts them early. This results in fewer interventions, less stress on the fish and a healthier production cycle overall,’ explained chief executive Karoline Sjødal Olsen, addding that striking results have been visible across eight full production cycles.
‘On average, our customers see an additional 22 weeks before needing their first treatment. At one site, this allowed the fish to grow nearly one kilo bigger than expected before harvest. That’s a clear biological and commercial win.’
With the system capturing up to 80,000 lice per day, Blue Lice estimates a reduction of more than 74 million lice larvae in just one week – benefiting not only its clients but also neighbouring farms.
‘We want to move away from reactive treatments and towards systems that help fish farmers control and prevent infestations before they even begin. Early intervention and surveillance are the next wave in animal welfare in aquaculture,’ she said.
‘Innovation has, and will continue to be, an innate part of Norway’s attitude to aquaculture, and the technology that allows it to explore exciting new horizons,’ commented Martin Skaug at the Norwegian Seafood Council.
‘The incredible work of companies like Folla Alger, Blue Lice and Remora Robotics represents just a small part of a huge community of forward-thinkers and rigorous problem solvers. Every tech-enthusiast should dive into the world of aquaculture to explore what has been achieved lately.’
