NASF Tech Aqua

Presenting companies: Aquabyte | TidalX AI | Garware Technical Fibres | dsm-firmenich | Stingray Marine Solutions | Scoot Science | Marel | Optimar | MMC | Optimeering Aqua | Framo | BIOceanOr | ReelData | Previwo | ScaleAQ | Protix | Spheric Research | Blue Lice

Chair:

Morten Andersen
Cluster Leader - NCE Aquatech Cluster

Morten is the acting cluster leader at NCE Aquatech Cluster and works as a Senior Manager at BDO Consulting. Morten has 25 years of experience in operations, project, and process management for both startups and production companies. He leads the national Slaughterhouse Network through NCE Aquatech Cluster and is heavily involved in cluster development and collaborative projects. Morten works with both national and international seafood clients on strategy, sustainability, and circular economy.

Speakers

Choosing the right partner for digitalization

Steve Tucker
CEO - Aquabyte

In a market where multiple companies claim to offer the best solutions, what key factors should you consider when selecting the ideal long-term partner to digitalize your farming operations?

Founded in 2017, Aquabyte provides systems for automatic lice counting, biomass estimation, and the monitoring of welfare and behavior in salmon, trout, and coho farming. Its solutions are currently used in surface, closed, and submerged pens, as well as in land-based farming, including smolt.

Aquabyte’s operational headquarters is in Bergen, with additional offices in San Francisco (USA) and Puerto Varas (Chile). The customer base includes the top five producers in the aquaculture industry.

Tidal Technology: How AI can create a new normal and a data-driven future

Over the past several years we have seen a massive expansion in technological advances for aquaculture. With world-class innovation developed at Google's moonshot factory and launched as an independent company in July of 2024, Tidal has developed and scaled advanced underwater perception technology to unlock new possibilities for salmon production. As climate and biology continue to evolve, we are leveraging AI to deliver insights in support of a new and data-driven normal.

Kira Smiley
Director of Sales and Marketing - TidalX AI

Performance and sustainability in aquaculture – can we have both? How conscious choices in technology drives the industry forward.

Pål Korneliussen
Country Manager Nordics - Garware Technical Fibres

Smart Protein; Scalable tech for sustainable Aquaculture

dsm-firmenich has developed a single cell protein technology that can be scaled and fit the demand from the Norwegian salmon industry for significant volumes of sustainable novel raw materials going forward. The technology is unique as it combines a robust strain with patented-fermentation process to enhance productivity. Meet us at NASF Tec where we will share our success stories on protein level, production in Germany and performance in salmonids at high inclusion !

Louise Buttle
Global Key Account Manager - dsm-firmenich

Louise holds a PhD obtained at the University of Hull, UK. She has over two decades of industry experience in aquaculture, much of this time with EWOS and Cargill in the salmon farming countries; Scotland, Chile, and Norway. Louise held various positions in R&D, product development, innovation, and sustainability. She joined dsm-firmenich in May 2019, held senior Aquaculture roles such as Global Technical Manager and Global Marketing Director and is currently the Global Key Account Manager for Aquaculture. In addition, she works with business development for Sustell™ aquaculture, a key member of the Smart Protein team and is committed to delivering solutions supporting the further development of sustainable aquaculture.

Laser focus on Fish Health

John Harald Pettersen
Stingray Marine Solutions

John Harald holds a Cand.Scient. degree in Aquaculture from the University of Trondheim and brings over 30 years of experience in the aquaculture industry. He began his career at EWOS, where he quickly took on responsibility for analyzing customer production data across Norway, Chile, the UK, and Canada. During his time at EWOS, he contributed to the development of the EGI model and created consulting tools based on this model for all four EWOS markets.

By consolidating production data from all EGI users, he established the EGI benchmarking database, which remains a vital resource for EWOS today. His work frequently took him beyond Norway, providing him with extensive international experience and a global perspective on aquaculture operations.

After 25 years with EWOS, John Harald joined FiiZK, where he developed biological and economic reports for Horizon customers. In 2023, he joined Stingray Marine Solutions, focusing on extracting valuable insights from the vast amounts of data collected daily across all Stingray nodes.

Beyond Monitoring: the DataOps Backbone of Effective Ocean Risk Management at Saltwater Farm Sites

I'll discuss the transition from simple farm monitoring to a more sophisticated DataOps approach that’s being used by Scoot Science’s customers in Canada, Australia, and Norway. I’ll discuss Scoot Science’s SeaState software and cover examples of using strong DataOps practices to optimize operations at saltwater production sites.

Jonathan LaRiviere
Scoot Science

Jonathan LaRiviere is Chief Executive Officer of the ocean analytics group Scoot Science. Scoot Science helps fish farmers protect assets, operate sustainably, and increase profits through software that enables a more complete assessment of local ocean risks. Jonathan holds a PhD in Ocean Sciences from UCSC and has published original research in Nature, Nature Geoscience, Science, and Geophysical Research Letters, among other magazines.

How integrated digital solutions are transforming seafood processing

Discover key industry trends, challenges, and strategies for integrating digital solutions with traditional machinery to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

Diego Lages
Global Sales Director – Marel

Global Sales Director Marel Fish, Iceland.
Aquaculture Engineer by the Aquaculture Galician Institute.
Esade Business School
• Master degree in General Management
• International Business and Marketing.
• B2B Sales Management and Business Transformation for CEO´s

Experience
Expert in Fish Processing and aquaculture farming.
With more than 20 years of experience in the sector has inspired many companies around the globe to be more competitive, transforming the way seafood is processed.
•Acuinova (Pescanova Group) as Quality and Processing Manager
• Marel Spain & Portugal and Marel Latinoamérica as General Manager
• Marel Fish Industry, Global Sales & Marketing Director (2018)

How AI impacts the Seafood Industry

Siggi Olason
CEO - Optimar

With a strong background in the seafood and technology industries, Siggi has held leadership roles in major companies such as Marel, Samherji, and Green Fuel. His expertise spans fish processing, automation, and business development, driving innovation and efficiency in the industry. As CEO of Optimar, he is committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions for onboard and onshore processing, helping customers enhance operations and product quality.

Electro Chemical water treatment that removes TAN, and Geosmin? .

Børre Haanes Waagan
Sales Manager Onshore Aquaculture - MMC First Process AS

I've been doing this for 30 years – do you really think I need AI to tell me how to plan production?

5 lessons learned from the clash between decades of expertise and AI-driven decision-making in the daily work of skilled fish farmers.

Erlend Torgnes
CEO – Optimeering Aqua

CEO at Optimeering Aqua, Erlend Torgnes, will share 5 key lessons learned from working closely with farmers to deploy their decision support tool, Bioplan. These lessons emerge from the friction that occurs when AI models are introduced into the complex and rapidly changing realities of daily farming life. Erlend will also discuss how iterative development is essential for addressing these challenges, ensuring that farmers can unlock the full value of the AI embedded in Bioplan.

Active Flow Control: Why Optimizing Water Flow Pays Off

Terje Ljones
Director Aquaculture - Framo

Framo Active Flow Control is a system that integrates energy efficient pumps, inlet nozzles, and sludge traps to create an optimal environment for salmon in tanks or cages. By promoting fish growth, fish health and maintaining clean water conditions, the system supports sustainable aquaculture while enhancing the quality of the final product. This pays off for the fish farmers.

A new paradigm: anticipate vs. react: leveraging water quality forecasts – focus O2

BiOceanOr will share success stories related to use of O2 forecasts into fish farming operations, in Chile, in the MedSea

Gaëtan Fabritius
Chief Business Officer - BIOceanOr

Gaëtan FABRITIUS is Chief Business Officer at Bioceanor. With a background in Business & Information Technologies, Gaëtan spent about 15 years in the data industry, leveraging satellite and ocean data for downstream services in different vertical markets, including O&G and fisheries industries for example. Back in 2022 he decided to join forces with Charlotte & Samuel DUPONT, 2 marine biologists, to catapult Bioceanor Artificial Intelligence & biology capabilities into the aquaculture industry.

AI-camera technology to support efficiency, health and welfare in land-based aquaculture

Gareth Butterfield
Commerical Director - ReelData

Gareth has an extensive background in aquaculture spanning multiple geographies and species. After completing his PhD at the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Gareth joined EWOS UK as Commercial Manager, before moving to Canada in 2017 to lead the North American business as Commercial Director for EWOS_Cargill. From there he moved to a Global role covering all major salmon producing regions and Middle East and Africa, as the Strategic Marketing and Technology Director. In early 2024, Gareth made the move in to AI and technology, joining ReelData – a start-up company based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia – as Commercial Director.

Can prevention reduce risk?

Carolina Faune
Market Development Director - Previwo

Carolina is a veterinarian with an MBA from the Universidad Austral de Chile and has more than 25 years of experience in the aquaculture industry. Carolina has previously held various leadership positions at Novartis and Benchmark, providing a solid and strategic perspective on the global aquaculture industry.

The future of aquaculture: Embracing a mosaic of diverse solutions

Olve Christophersen Byre
Commercial Director - ScaleAQ

Olve Byre is Director of Commercialization at ScaleAQ, with extensive experience from the aquaculture industry. He previously held leadership positions at Moreld Aqua and Imenco, and holds a master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).

Boosting Fish Health, Profits, and our Planet with Protix

Insect ingredients are more than “just” a replacement for fish meal, but actually reveal themselves as a functional ingredient, similar to products such as Krill. Recently completed on-farm trials have demonstrated that high-quality insect meal from Protix, ProteinX, can improve fish yield, quality, and taste, as well as farmers’ profitability.

A new calculator based on the scientific data reveals the impact on profitability when farmers experiment with different variables, while also highlighting the impact on the environmental footprint! The consistent outcome remains clear: ProteinX is a turnkey high-quality protein that boosts profits and lowers your footprint. The science is conclusive – begin your journey towards high-performing, low-footprint feed with Protix today.

Michel van Spankeren
Protix

Michel is at the forefront of sustainable aquaculture as Protix’s dedicated Business Development Manager. Born and raised in the heart of a maritime community, Michel’s journey in the aquatic world has evolved into a personal mission: transforming aquaculture into a more sustainable and environmentally conscious industry.
Since entering the field in 2010, Michel has strategically navigated various facets of the aquaculture industry, accumulating invaluable experience in research, farming, and nutrition. His diverse roles across hatcheries, research institutions, and aqua-feed companies have afforded him a comprehensive perspective on the industry’s intricacies.
Educationally, Michel has a robust theoretical foundation obtained at Wageningen University. Here, he earned two master’s degrees, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of aquaculture and animal nutrition.
Michel’s current position at Protix reflects his dedication to driving sustainability within the aquaculture industry. As the Business Development Manager, he plays a crucial role in navigating the intricate dynamics of the value chain, facilitating the translation of circular ingredients into innovative and sustainable seafood propositions. In essence, Michel acts as a bridge, connecting Protix’s cutting-edge solutions with the broader industry, catalyzing positive change.

In pursuit of the third species

Assessing the candidates to become the next salmon and shrimp

Matt Craze
Spheric Research

Matt Craze worked for many years as a commodities analyst, helping establish Bloomberg’s agri-commodities pricing coverage, and as a strategy consultant working for most Big 4 firms. He set up Spheric Research in 2017 as an independent research firm dedicated to the global aquaculture industry. Spheric Research focuses on emerging aquaculture species and technologies and has advised several governments, major companies, and non-profit groups around the world. The company’s yearly Land-based Aquaculture Report, published each year via Undercurrent News, has been featured in The Economist.

Building trust to break the cycle:
Lessons from Blue Lice's preventive approach to sea lice control

Karoline Sjødal Olsen, CEO and co-founder of Blue Lice, will share how Blue Lice’s preventive technology captures sea lice larvae before they infect the fish. Karoline will highlight how trust-based collaboration and sharing of knowledge with fish farmers has been key to the success of their solution. By combining advanced technology with open communication and iterative development, Blue Lice has reduced treatments and delayed time to first treatment on 7 cycles of fish.

Karoline Sjødal Olsen MSc
CEO and co-founder – Blue Lice