Contributing to sustainable aquaculture

“After decades of research, development and innovation, the industry has got over its childhood diseases. At the same time, innovation must continue to solve new challenges, whether they concern market fluctuations, regulatory changes, biological challenges, unexpected events, new technology or digitalization ,” says Kim André Karlsen of DNV. 

He works as an account manager with responsibility for salmon farming, and travels weekly to fish farms along the coast of Norway to reveal the need for improvement at the breeders. 

Conducting audits at the fish farms, he contributes to compliance with Norwegian legislation and international voluntary breeding-specific standards in the aquaculture industry. 

What the revision entails 

“The purpose of this work is to ensure that breeders are working on continuous improvement of environmental issues, fish health and food safety,” explains Karlsen. 

In addition, there are technological, social and societal aspects of the audits. 

“As a consumer, you can now find information about which roe and cage the salmon comes from,” says Karlsen. 

Before the salmon gets to your plate, it has traveled through an extensive value chain: from salmon roe to smolt (young salmon), then to mature fish that grows through grooming and feeding, then slaughtering and processing, before the final product is labeled with tracking mechanisms. 

“Breeding facilities certified by DNV have undergone a thorough review of the entire value chain from roe to product labeling,” says Karlsen. 

When interacting with professional breeders, he further explains that risk assessment, change management and handling uncertainties are part of everyday life. 

“Sharing best practice is only achieved by being present where things take place,” Karlsen continues. 

Contributing to sustainability in the industry: “Meaningful” 

Karlsen believes that technology development in the industry will require increased access to current competence as well as increased interdisciplinary learning from other sectors such as maritime, oil and gas, and renewable energy. 

“In addition, technological development will give the industry new opportunities for digitalization and sensor technology. In practice, tomorrow's decisions will also be taken on the basis of and through the use of data trends and real-time information,” says Karlsen. 

He says that DNV wants the best in the industry to work and develop with them.

DNV and the aquaculture industry

"Investing in the right competence is important for both the industry and our professional environment in DNV. We want the best in the industry to work and develop with us. I myself feel it is meaningful to make insights and expertise available to our customers every day, which in turn contributes to sustainable aquaculture along the coast,” says Karlsen.