The main discussions at this year’s North Atlantic Seafood Forum (NASF) revolved around social license. With the Norwegian aquaculture industry facing high mortality rates and increased pressure from consumers and the government, companies like DNV are emerging as key partners in navigating these challenging times.
DNV is an independent expert in assurance and risk management. Established in 1864 as an independent foundation for ship classification, the company has since expanded into industries such as oil and gas and renewable energy. DNV has delivered aquaculture services for a few decades already but has grown the scope of its activities significantly in recent years. “The aquaculture industry is Norway’s second-largest export industry, but it comes with challenges. We are uniquely positioned to help address them. The industry struggles with its social license, and what it needs is trust. What we do is help companies build that trust,” Geir Fuglerud, CEO – Supply Chain & Product Assurance at DNV, told Aquafeed.com at NASF.
To strengthen and expand its services, DNV acquired Åkerblå Group in 2023. Over the years, Åkerblå has built a strong reputation in fish health and biodiversity, providing DNV with a significant foothold for its long-term ambitions in the sector.
Challenges facing the aquaculture industry
The aquaculture industry faces significant challenges, particularly concerning its social license to operate. “Public concerns about issues like disease outbreaks, high fish mortality, poor fish welfare, and environmental damage have made the industry vulnerable to negative perceptions. This, in turn, influences public opinion, which impacts policymakers and leads to stricter regulations. The industry's ability to grow - especially with ambitious targets like Norway’s 50% growth by 2030 - depends on addressing these issues head-on,” Fuglerud said.
DNV plays a major role in helping the aquaculture industry manage challenges related to fish health, welfare and environmental impact. By providing services such as fish health inspections, biosecurity plans, and environmental monitoring, DNV supports sustainable aquaculture practices that mitigate environmental impact and enhance public trust.
“The role of biosecurity and disease management in marine environments is crucial, especially since diseases can spread quickly in sea-based aquaculture. Helping different operators coordinate their efforts, as well as advising on land-based aquaculture, is a proactive approach to ensuring fish welfare, regardless of where they are raised,” Fuglerud explained.
On the environmental side, maintaining marine biodiversity and regularly monitoring the seabed to track the impact of fish farms are essential to safeguarding the surrounding ecosystem. “The benchmark samples taken before establishing a farm, along with ongoing monitoring, provide a clear picture of how waste from these facilities affects the environment,” Fuglerud said.
Collaboration and knowledge sharing
Industry-wide collaboration is critical in tackling shared challenges. “When one company faces problems, it affects the entire sector because consumers don’t always differentiate between brands when making purchasing decisions. It’s encouraging to see the industry becoming more aware of these issues and acknowledging its problems, which is a step toward building trust. Transparency and honesty about challenges, combined with clear efforts to address them, will help rebuild public confidence,” said Fuglerud.
Fuglerud emphasized that the industry must transition from experience-based to knowledge-based operations and establish best practices. To achieve this, it needs to focus on knowledge sharing - something it currently lacks. “DNV can play a role because we are an independent third party. As a foundation with no shareholders, companies feel comfortable sharing information with us,” he added.
Technology solutions and future challenges
Climate change presents another complex and long-term challenge for the industry. Rising water temperatures are already affecting fish biology, accelerating disease spread, and altering sea life growth rates. “These changes are not temporary - temperature increases and altered ocean conditions are expected to persist. This raises critical questions about the viability of traditional sea-based farming, especially as these challenges push further north in Norway,” Fuglerud said.
The idea of shifting more aquaculture to land-based systems or modifying the traditional farming cycle (e.g., raising fish on land for a longer period before moving them to the sea) is a compelling solution. Land-based aquaculture could enhance biosecurity by reducing exposure to diseases like sea lice and improving fish welfare. However, this system comes with its own complexities, requiring significant investment and technological advancements to manage either the full production cycle or specific stages.
Expanding aquaculture into harsher offshore environments also presents numerous challenges, including infrastructure, logistics, and cost. Comparisons to the oil and gas industry are fitting, as offshore aquaculture facilities require advanced technology and robust floating semi-submersible structures, which are capital-intensive. “Our company, with extensive expertise in offshore oil and gas and floating assets, can play a key role in making these projects feasible, especially when integrating safety and operational standards for offshore environments,” Fuglerud noted.
“We’ve been involved in nearly all offshore aquaculture production facilities in Norway. Our work in establishing standards for units such as Ocean Farm 1 highlights the importance of having the right technical and safety frameworks for offshore aquaculture. These infrastructures require a long-term perspective, both in terms of capital investment and risk management. Merging DNV’s knowledge of offshore assets with near-shore aquaculture expertise could create a valuable approach to ensuring sustainability and operational efficiency in these complex systems,” he added.
Investment in offshore aquaculture is growing, but the high financial risk - particularly for large-scale facilities costing hundreds of millions of dollars - makes investors cautious. “Understanding and mitigating technical and biological risks, as well as establishing a robust supply chain, are critical to ensuring the long-term success of these ventures. DNV can provide the expertise to guide investors through these complexities,” Fuglerud said.
Looking ahead
With 400 people working in aquaculture and marine biodiversity, DNV’s focus remains largely on salmon, particularly in established markets like Norway, Scotland, and Iceland. “There’s certainly room for growth in other aquaculture markets. However, any expansion into new species would require a deep understanding of their specific needs and challenges, along with the development of new capabilities and infrastructure,” Fuglerud said.
To drive innovation, Fuglerud highlighted DNV’s commitment to research and development. As a foundation, the company reinvests a significant portion of its revenues – more than 5% - into R&D, particularly within ocean space and aquaculture research programs.
Fuglerud underscored the immense opportunities within the industry, emphasizing its crucial role in providing sustainable and healthier protein sources for a growing global population. He stressed that responsible industry growth is essential, particularly in addressing key challenges such as fish health, welfare, and environmental impact. “I think demand is almost endless as long as the industry behaves responsibly and does the ethical and correct things. With concerns about overfishing and ocean depletion, the industry's ability to develop sustainable solutions is more critical than ever,” Fuglerud concluded.
