Kristian Blom, new head of Customer Experience and Data Strategy at Tidal in Norway.
Photo: Tidal
Aquaculture AI technology firm Tidal has appointed Kristian Blom as its new Customer Experience and Data Strategy Lead, the company announced on Monday, in support of its aim to help fish farmers better integrate digital tools into their operations and make more informed decisions using data.
Blom brings over 20 years of experience in software and digital platforms to his new role, alongside a personal background in the aquaculture sector. Raised in a salmon farming family, he most recently served as General Manager of AquaCloud, where he led a collaborative industry data-sharing initiative. He also previously worked at aquaculture tech company Aquabyte.
In his new role, Blom will work directly with customers to implement Tidal’s systems, which are designed to support operational efficiency and improve decision-making on salmon farms. These systems include tools for monitoring fish health, automating feeding, and analysing behaviour and growth patterns in underwater pens, the company said.
“Fish health and welfare monitoring, autonomous feeding, growth and behavior analytics, and other automated solutions for the fish pen are among the most exciting technology areas in aquaculture today,” said Blom, via a press release.
“When this opportunity came up, and with my background and previous experience, this was a challenge I couldn’t pass up. Knowing that our work can help the industry improve fish health and performance adds a deeper sense of purpose," he added.
Tidal’s General Manager, Anders Fossøy, who is also a former Aquabyte executive, said Blom’s combination of aquaculture knowledge and technical expertise fit with the company's objectives. “Kristian brings a rare blend of industry insight and digital expertise that fits perfectly with where Tidal is headed. He understands both the complexity of fish farming and the transformative potential of data," Fossøy stated.
Tidal, a spinout from Alphabet’s X division, recently introduced a new version of its Orca camera system, which the company says will offer improved underwater visibility in fish pens. The company, which is based in Silicon Valley with operations in Norway, is backed by several investors, including Ichthus Venture Capital (IVC), owned by Norwegian seafood investment firm Kverva.