From the left, Christian Aas (Silikal Aquaculture Solutions), Inge Stian Helland (Helland Silo), Bjørn Dørum (MAT-KULING), Nils-Per Sjåstad (Simona Stadpipe) and Ole Alexander Bakke (Dynamic FishEye).
Photo: MAT-KULING Vannbehandling.
RASTECH 2025, to be held June 9-10 in San Diego, California, will be the coming out of NACA (Norwegian Aquaculture in America), a new business network that is paving the way for Norwegian land-based aquaculture technology companies to enter the North American market.
Initially formed by five companies covering the entire land-based aquaculture value chain - from water treatment and pipe transport to feed logistics and monitoring - and supported by Innovation Norway, they see potential for collaboration in marketing, contracts, R&D projects, and expansion into new areas.
The five founding members of NACA are MAT-KULING AS, Simona Stadpipe AS, Helland Silosystem AS, Silikal Nordvest AS, and Dynamic FishEye.
The first, MAT-KULING Vannbehandling (MAT-KULING Water Treatment), describes itself as a "non-stop shop for RAS equipment." With 30 years of experience, the company, which we recently learned will deliver a state-of-the-art barramundi hatchery in Saudi Arabia, designs, manufactures, and supplies RAS equipment for land-based farming of both saltwater and freshwater species, offering complete RAS systems and specialized MEP services (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing).
Second is Simona Stadpipe, another company with more than 30 years of experience in the aquaculture industry, and one of Norway's leading specialists in advanced piping systems and custom products for the sector. The company, which has more than 50 experienced employees offering expertise across the entire value chain, announced earlier this year that it will supply Eyvi with a piping package for the entire water distribution and fish transport at the new Arctic Seafarm, currently under construction in Nesna, Norway.
NACA's third member is Helland Silosystem. Established in 1965, this family-owned company from Rogaland produces and delivers feed handling equipment such as silos, feeders, and a range of conveyors tailored for land-based aquaculture. The company has designed and delivered feed handling systems to several major land-based aquaculture facilities both in Norway and abroad.
The fourth company, Silikal Aquaculture Solutions, stands out for having developed the Fishtank system. This specialized coating for land-based tanks and RAS systems was developed in response to the Norwegian aquaculture industry's demand for solutions for repairs and renovations within each production cycle, as well as coatings that withstand strong detergents and high-pressure water from a biosecurity standpoint.
The quintet launching NACA is completed by Dynamic FishEye, a company that offers advanced control systems specifically developed for land-based aquaculture. In addition to continuously monitoring water quality 24/7, its FishEye platform features real-time data collection and analysis for optimized feeding and improved fish health.
The release announcing the launch of Norwegian Aquaculture in America noted that the presence of its member companies throughout the land-based aquaculture value chain makes the network well equipped to offer solutions to both existing and new land-based aquaculture projects in North America.
As mentioned above, the NACA business network seeks to play a key role in opening new markets for Norwegian technology, and the first joint project of its members will be the participation in the RASTECH 2025 Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, California, the U.S., during the first week of June.
"We will now leverage our combined expertise and experience to inform decision-makers among fish farmers and advisors through presentations, Lunch and Learn sessions, and company visits in Norway and abroad, where we can demonstrate 2025-level RAS technology as a secure method for farming, including food fish," said Bjørn Dorum, Chairman and Owner of MAT-KULING, about the new business network's aims.
The companies making up NACA bring years of experience in land-based aquaculture projects both in Norway and abroad, and, through this joint effort, seek to increase value creation and gain knowledge that can benefit other Norwegian suppliers.
The ultimate goal of the three-year project is to strengthen and consolidate Norway's position in land-based aquaculture technology. The expansion of aquaculture technology exports is a national goal set out in the Norwegian government's export strategy and, as such, the NACA is supported by Innovation Norway.
It should be noted that several of the companies that have now joined Norwegian Aquaculture in America are already established with staff and resources in the North American market and already have strong cooperation with Innovation Norway's international offices.