"The market wants a larger player that can deliver more comprehensive solutions," said Knut Antonsen, head of Blue Ocean Solutions.
Photo: Pelagia.
Norwegian pelagic fish processor and aquaculture industry supplier Pelagia today announced the launch of Blue Ocean Solutions. The new division is the result of bringing together the technological and development expertise of the parent company with that of sludge specialist Blue Ocean Technology, whose acquisition was completed last June.
With this new department, the company takes an important step towards providing services ranging from collection and processing to storage, logistics, and better utilization of sludge resources.
Offering more comprehensive sludge solutions to the aquaculture industry will be another line of business in addition to its activity as a producer of pelagic fish products, and its technical solutions to the aquaculture sector in the handling of fish by-products and logistics both at sea and on land.
The acquisition of Blue Ocean Technology was the second take-over by Pelagia in recent months. In April, it acquired 100% share ownership of Ideal Fish, a UK-based global seafood supplier. Seen now in perspective, the creation of Blue Ocean Solutions has been a work in three acts developed throughout 2024.
In early February, Pelagia announced it was reinforcing its commitment to the environment and sustainability by becoming the majority shareholder of Blue Ocean Technology following a private placement. Just four months later, in June, as said, it bought up the remaining shares owning 100% of the company. After the merger, now it's time to close the circle with the creation of Blue Ocean Solutions.
"We have clear ambitions to become the preferred total supplier in the profitable and sustainable handling of aquaculture sludge – both on land and at sea," Egil Magne Haugstad, CEO of Pelagia, explained then.
Now, in the presentation of Pelagia Blue Ocean Solutions, Haugstad said the new department will be a strong professional environment where they can build on shared expertise and technology. "This gives us a better basis for developing more efficient and profitable solutions, customised to our customers' needs along the entire value chain," he stated.
Knut Antonsen, head of Blue Ocean Solutions, added for his part that by gathering resources and expertise in one place, they increase their ability to create new solutions and improve existing offerings. "The goal is to expand our involvement so that we increasingly become part of the entire value chain," he said.
"Pelagia's efforts in this area, reinforced through the acquisition of Blue Ocean, have been very well received by the industry," Antonsen continued. "It is clear that the market wants a larger player that can deliver more comprehensive solutions. We notice this both through increased demand and new types of requests, which confirms that we are now considered a preferred partner," he concluded.
Owned 50/50 by Austevoll Seafood ASA and Kvefi AS, Pelagia AS is a producer of pelagic fish products for human consumption and a major supplier of essential ingredients for all types of fish and animal feed - protein concentrate, fishmeal, and fish oil - as well as a leading global producer of concentrated marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids for food supplements and pharmaceutical preparations.
With branches in Norway, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, and Ukraine, the company also has vessels and tankers that are key for logistics and emergency preparedness both internally and for the aquaculture industry.