Aker has announced that it is participating in an equity financing round in land-based post-smolt salmon producer Gaia Salmon. Through its subsidiary Aker Capital, the Norwegian industrial group has taken a 25.3% stake by investing NOK 155 million (€14 million / $15 million).

The Norwegian industrial group, which has the right to increase its stake in Gaia Salmon in connection with possible next steps in the company’s development, thus becomes the second largest owner with a stake in the company. The first is Rodo Landbasert, which holds approximately 45% ownership.

Gaia Salmon is building a post-smolt production plant in Træna, Norway, with an annual capacity of up to ~7200 tons of post-smolt. “Be a leading player, with sustainable salmon production, where fish welfare, the environment and circular economy are the focus”, is the company’s goal as stated on its website. The company aims to become a leader in land-based farming, with traceability from egg to table and horizontal growth in the value chain over time.

Aker already invests in aquaculture through SalMar Aker Ocean (SAO). So, along with this direct investment by Aker Capital in Gaia Salmon, SAO has signed a non-binding agreement for the delivery of post-smolt for offshore salmon farming. “The strategic cooperation will improve SAO’s access to post-smolt, which is an enabler for scaling offshore farming operations”, says the company, which in August saw its offshore fish farm restricted to 9,000 tonnes by the Norwegian Authority.