Every other year, Trondheim, Norway hosts AquaNor, the world´s largest aquaculture exhibition. This year´s event, held last week, attracted a record-breaking 25,000 visitors and featured around 700 exhibitors from across the globe. Norway, recognized as the world´s most advanced market for sea-based aquaculture and a leader in land-based aquaculture technology, provided the perfect stage for showcasing innovation.
Vonin Refa stand.
Four Hampiðjan Group companies participated: the Norwegian firms Mørenot Aquaculture, Vonin Refa, Fiizk Protection as well as the Irish company Swan Net Gundry, which was part of Ireland´s national stand. In total around 40 employees, including sales representatives, technicians and managers, from 8 different countries were present, highlighting the group’s international reach.
The Mørenot stand introduced several groundbreaking products that drew significant attention. Since Hampiðjan’s acquisition of Mørenot in the spring of 2023, intensive product development has been underway, resulting in innovative solutions for aquaculture.
Three products in particular stood out:
First, the semi-closed fish farm pen, MarWall. Its permeable wall extends 18 meters down the sides of the pen while a pumping system draws seawater 25 meters deep, enriches it with oxygen, and circulates it inside the pen. This design protects salmon from lice infestations common in upper water layers while also improving oxygen levels, which enhances growth and overall fish welfare.
Second, the submersible fish pen, MarDeep, which can be located about 20-25 meters below the sea surface. At this depth, water currents are more stable, temperatures more consistent and harmful elements such as salmon lice, toxic algae, and jellyfish are absent. The most complex part of the submersible farm is a cap with an air space for the salmon, which has a constant need to go to the surface, although it is not entirely clear as to why. This cap is equipped with cameras, sensors and a feed dispenser to feed the salmon.
BioSeize – Waste to Value system.
Third and perhaps most exciting is the BioSeize – Waste to Value system which collects waste and uneaten feed that sinks below the salmon shoal. This equipment consists of ConeCollect, a conical fine mesh net, and Fish/It, a vacuum-driven pump funnel. Together, these capture and transport material intact to a surface level sorting station, where it can be separated for reuse, such as in fertilizer production – while also preventing seabed pollution from accumulating beneath pens.
Mørenot’s stand also attracted attention for its sleek design and clear product presentations, winning the award for Best Stand at AquaNor – a prestigious recognition at the exhibition.
The booth was very well attended and all employees were thrilled with the positive reception and attention that the company’s product development received.
Hjörtur Erlendsson, CEO of Hampiðjan, said, “The reception at the exhibition was excellent and far exceeded expectations. Our investment in aquaculture innovation since acquiring Mørenot is clearly paying off, even though it has been only about two years since we acquired the company. I was thrilled to see our aquaculture team, who participated in the exhibition, genuinely happy, enthusiastic and proud of what has been achieved and eager to continue on this path as we have many interesting ideas to work on in the coming months and years. Receiving recognition for the best stand crowned this good exhibition. I couldn’t be happier, a very successful event.”
Thomas Myrvold, CEO of Mørenot Aquaculture, added “Our recent exhibition was a resounding success. Not only did we win the award for the best stand, but we also had the opportunity to showcase our innovative technologies to clients. The new technologies were well-received by both new and existing customers, and we garnered a lot of positive feedback and interest.
The exhibition allowed us to demonstrate to our clients that we are more than just suppliers of net, pens and mooring systems. We are evolving into providers of complete, advanced aquaculture solutions. We have several new innovations in development that we plan to launch in the coming months.
The enthusiasm and motivation within our team, alongside strong collaboration with our partners and the Hampidjan Group, give me confidence that we will continue to improve efficiency and performance for our clients’ worldwide. “
