In March 2021, the Åkerblå Group acquired a majority shareholding in Ocean Ecology.

 

DNV

Aquaculture

DNV owns Ocean Ecology following Åkerblå acquisition

In June 2023, DNV signed an agreement to acquire Åkerblå Group, a leading Norwegian marine health company.

Rocio Álvarez Jiménez

DNV has completed the full ownership of Ocean Ecology, following DNV’s acquisition of Åkerblå in 2023. Previously, in March 2021, the Åkerblå Group acquired a majority shareholding in Ocean Ecology.

The UK-based consulting firm Ocean Ecology has 98 employees and gathers a range of marine ecological survey and consultancy services to meet the increasing demand for marine biodiversity and aquaculture services.

The company established in 2013 collaborates with businesses that are related to coastal and offshore zones to feed into the Environmental Impact Assessment process, monitoring programs, and applied research.

Regarding this new movement, Thomas Vogth-Eriksen, Global Aquaculture Director of Supply Chain & Product Assurance at DNV said: "We are excited to welcome Ocean Ecology’s team to DNV. Their deep domain expertise in marine services is an ideal fit that complements our existing aquaculture experience."

On the other hand, Ross Griffin, Technical Director at Ocean Ecology added: "DNV’s leading position in the marine industry provides the ideal platform for the continuation of Ocean Ecology's rapid growth trajectory spanning the full breadth of blue economy sectors, in particular offshore renewables, and aquaculture. Together, we are perfectly positioned to explore new opportunities and drive innovation in marine health and biodiversity assessments."

Finally, the CEO of Åkerblå Roger Sørensen explained the reasons behind the first investment in 2021: "Our investment in Ocean Ecology was a strategic choice for Åkerblå Group, and this became even more relevant after DNV became the sole owner of the company."

DNV's stated goal is to become a world leader in environmental services in the blue sector and fish health services in the aquaculture sector. Ocean Ecology provides a solid and important platform for further growth in rapidly increasing industries in the UK sector of the North Sea and the Irish Sea," he concluded.

A month ago, Norwegian authorities awarded assurance and risk management company DNV a contract for a comprehensive impact assessment on potential offshore aquaculture operations.