Ava Ocean
Ava Ocean is a Norwegian ocean technology and seafood company that uses its patented, non-invasive Ava Ray harvesting system to sustainably harvest premium Arctic scallops from the Barents Sea and restore kelp forests via its Ocean Green project, selling directly to premium foodservice, retail, and ecosystem-credit buyers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersÅlesund, Norway
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ava Ocean does
Ava Ocean is a Norwegian ocean technology and seafood company founded in 2016 in Ålesund and formerly known as TAU Tech. It has developed a proprietary, patented non-invasive seabed harvesting system branded Ava Ray Technology, which enables identification, selection, and sorting of bottom-dwelling species without damaging marine ecosystems. The technology was developed in close collaboration with leading Norwegian research institutions and represents the first commercial-scale deployment of low-impact precision seabed harvesting globally. Using this system aboard its first vessel, the Arctic Pearl, the company reopened the Arctic scallop (Chlamys Islandica) fishery in the Barents Sea in December 2022 after a 30-year regulatory closure due to traditional dredging bans, and generated NOK 107 million (~£8.5 million) in first-year scallop revenue in 2023. Harvested scallops are processed and frozen at sea for premium quality and sold directly to restaurants, hotels, food-service operators, and premium retailers seeking sustainable seafood.
The company earns revenue primarily through direct sales of premium sustainable Arctic scallops and, through its Ocean Green sub-brand launched in 2023, is extending the core technology into kelp forest restoration by removing overabundant sea urchins in northern Norway. Ocean Green has secured NOK 47 million from Norway's Green Platform grant and pursues circular-economy commercialization of harvested urchins into biostimulants, food products, and other applications, as well as potential blue carbon and biodiversity credit monetization in partnership with Across Nature. Ava Ocean has raised NOK 150 million in equity in December 2025 alongside earlier investment from Ocean 14 Capital, alongside grants from the Norwegian Research Council, debt from Eksfin and Sparebanken Møre, and export financing, and is currently rebuilding a second vessel (Ava Pearl) with an onboard IQF scallop factory built by Optimar to scale operations from 2026 onward.
Ava Ocean firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ava Ocean
- Legal name
- Ava Ocean AS
- Website
- https://avaocean.no
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ava Ocean is a Norwegian ocean technology and seafood company that uses its patented, non-invasive Ava Ray harvesting system to sustainably harvest premium Arctic scallops from the Barents Sea and restore kelp forests via its Ocean Green project, selling directly to premium foodservice, retail, and ecosystem-credit buyers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ava Ocean industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Seafood Harvesting
- NAICS
- Shellfish Fishing (114112), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (31171), Shellfish Farming (112512)
- SIC
- Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900), Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Shellfish Farming (e.g., oysters, mussels, clams) (AFAEAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ocean-Based Carbon Removal (Alkalinity Enhancement, Seaweed, Ocean Biomass Sinking) (EUABAFAF), Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)
Keywords
Where Ava Ocean is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ålesund
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Ava Ocean business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Arctic Scallop Sales: Revenue from harvesting and selling premium Arctic scallops (Chlamys Islandica) harvested more than 500km north of mainland Norway. Products are frozen-at-sea for premium quality. First-year scallop harvest valued at NOK 107 million (~£8.5 million).
- Sea Urchin Products: Ocean Green project developing commercial products from harvested sea urchins including biostimulants for agriculture, food products, and other urchin-derived products. Zero-waste circular economy approach.
- Technology Licensing: The company aims to make its technology accessible worldwide, ending harmful seabed harvesting practices forever. Plans for international growth suggest technology licensing potential.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Ava Ocean product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ava Ocean is an ocean technology and seafood company that has developed a proprietary non-invasive precision seabed harvesting system (Ava Ray Technology) for gentle extraction of bottom-dwelling species. The company commercially harvests premium Arctic scallops (Chlamys Islandica) in Norway's Barents Sea using this patented technology, processing them frozen-at-sea, and sells the products to enterprise seafood buyers. It also operates the Ocean Green project, which adapts the harvesting technology for regenerative urchin removal and kelp forest restoration.
Product overview
Ava Ocean is an ocean technology and seafood company offering a portfolio of products centered on its proprietary Ava Ray Technology—a non-invasive seabed harvesting system that enables precision extraction of bottom-dwelling species without damaging marine ecosystems. The core product is premium Arctic Scallops (Chlamys Islandica), harvested over 500km north of mainland Norway, which are frozen at sea to lock in freshness. The company also operates Ocean Green, a regenerative kelp restoration project that adapts its harvesting technology to remove overabundant sea urchins, creating a circular economy around restorative harvesting. Ava Ocean's first vessel, Arctic Pearl, pioneered this technology; a new vessel, Ava Pearl, is currently under rebuild for continued operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Arctic Scallops (Chlamys Islandica) Premium seafood harvested more than 500km north of mainland Norway using Ava Ray non-invasive harvesting technology. Slow-grown in cold Arctic waters, processed frozen-at-sea with no added water or preservatives. Sold to premium restaurants, hotels, food service companies, and premium retailers seeking sustainably sourced seafood.
- Sea Urchin Products Commercial products derived from regenerative harvesting of overabundant sea urchins, including biostimulants for agriculture, food products, and other urchin-derived applications. Part of the Ocean Green kelp restoration project creating a zero-waste circular economy.
- Ava Ray Technology Licensing Planned licensing of Ava Ocean's patented non-invasive seabed harvesting technology for global adoption, aimed at ending harmful dredging and bottom trawling practices worldwide.
Quantifiable outcome
- First commercial-scale non-invasive seabed harvesting technology successfully deployed
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ava Ocean
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Ava Ocean technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Ava Ocean partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OptimarcorePartner building state-of-the-art onboard scallop factory for Ava Ocean's new vessel. Factory will focus on production of individually quick-frozen (IQF) scallop meat. Optimar brings deep expertise in seafood processing solutions.
- Fiskerstrand ShipyardcoreShipyard selected to refit Ava Ocean's new vessel with patented harvesting system and new frozen-at-sea processing factory. Previously handled rebuild of first vessel Arctic Pearl.
- Maritimt ManagementminorSold the Artemis Arctic vessel (formerly Ocean Trawler) to Ava Ocean in 2024.
- Akvaplan-nivacoreResearch partner for Ocean Green project. Not-for-profit research institute focusing on water, ocean, and arctic issues. Responsible for creating viable financial and ecological model for long-term kelp restoration sustainability.
- NIBIOcoreNorwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research - Ocean Green partner responsible for sea urchin valorisation and circular innovation, socioeconomic impacts analysis, and developing biostimulant products from urchins.
- NIVAcoreNorwegian Institute for Water Research - Environmental research organisation responsible for environmental impact assessments and kelp forest research for Ocean Green project.
- Hofseth BiocarecoreNorwegian biotech company working on urchin-derived product development. High-value ingredients and finished products for humans and pets from urchin biomass.
- Rissa Citizen SciencecoreNon-profit organisation leading citizen science and community outreach for Ocean Green. Runs volunteer urchin removal programs and marine education in Tromsø area.
- Across NaturecoreCarbon sequestration project developer fostering value creation opportunities through high-impact carbon removal. Partner on Ocean Green blue carbon and biodiversity credit development.
- NofimacoreNorwegian food research institute collaborating on SHELL project for more efficient scallop processing methods with lower emissions and improved seafood quality.
- SintefcoreNorwegian research organisation collaborating on SHELL project for scallop processing technology development.
- Norwegian Research InstitutionscoreLeading Norwegian research institutions collaborating on development of non-invasive seabed harvesting technology.
- 20KnopminorCommunications partner working with Rissa Citizen Science and Ocean Green team to bring knowledge and engagement around the urchin-kelp issue locally and internationally.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ava Ocean competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SalMar Aker Ocean: Norwegian offshore salmon farming joint venture between SalMar and Aker, using proprietary deep-sea technology to farm salmon in exposed Norwegian waters. Most directly comparable to Ava Ocean in combining Norwegian maritime industrial heritage with proprietary offshore aquaculture/harvesting technology and a sustainability-led value proposition.
- SeaTase: Norwegian offshore seaweed farming startup developing technology for sustainable seaweed cultivation in open ocean conditions. Comparable as a Norway-based marine-tech company pursuing sustainable ocean food production with proprietary offshore cultivation/harvesting systems.
- Ocean Forest: Swedish-Norwegian kelp and seaweed cultivation company focused on ocean-based food production and ecosystem restoration. Closely comparable to Ava Ocean's Ocean Green subsidiary given its work on marine restoration, sustainable ocean food, and circular bio-economy.
Broad incumbents
- Mowi ASA: World's largest Atlantic salmon farming company, headquartered in Bergen, Norway. Comparable as a broad Norwegian seafood incumbent selling premium seafood to global retail and foodservice customers; a potential offtake competitor or partner for premium sustainable scallops.
- Lerøy Seafood Group: Large Norwegian seafood group with global distribution across salmon, whitefish, and shellfish. Comparable as a broad incumbent in Norwegian seafood with international premium distribution channels that could absorb Ava Ocean's scallop volumes.
- Hofseth International: Norwegian seafood group with focus on sustainable wild-catch, aquaculture, and value-added products. Already an existing shareholder in Ava Ocean, making it both a strategic investor and a potential offtake/distribution peer.
- Cermaq: Norwegian salmon farming subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation operating in Norway, Chile, and Canada. Comparable as a broad incumbent in sustainable Norwegian seafood production with regulatory and ESG-driven positioning.
Others
- Akva Group: Leading Norwegian supplier of aquaculture technology and equipment, including feeding systems, sensors, and sea-based farming infrastructure. Comparable as an adjacent technology provider to the Norwegian marine farming industry that Ava Ocean's harvesting tech also serves.
Emerging players
- Pure Salmon: Global sustainable land-based salmon farming company using recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Comparable as an emerging player in the premium, sustainability-positioned seafood segment targeting similar foodservice and retail buyers.
- Running Tide: US-based ocean carbon removal company developing kelp ocean afforestation and biomass sinking technologies. Comparable through Ava Ocean's Ocean Green project and its blue carbon/biodiversity credit partnership with Across Nature, both pursuing market-based ocean restoration revenue.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ava Ocean social profiles
Digital presenceAva Ocean financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ava Ocean leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Ava Ocean subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Ava Ocean funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ava Ocean M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ava Ocean
What does Ava Ocean do?
Ava Ocean is an ocean technology and seafood company that has developed a proprietary non-invasive precision seabed harvesting system (Ava Ray Technology) for gentle extraction of bottom-dwelling species. The company commercially harvests premium Arctic scallops (Chlamys Islandica) in Norway's Barents Sea using this patented technology, processing them frozen-at-sea, and sells the products to enterprise seafood buyers. It also operates the Ocean Green project, which adapts the harvesting technology for regenerative urchin removal and kelp forest restoration.
Is Ava Ocean a public or private company?
Ava Ocean is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Ava Ocean founded?
Ava Ocean was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ava Ocean based?
Ava Ocean is headquartered in Ålesund, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Ava Ocean make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Arctic Scallop Sales are the primary driver. The others are sea Urchin Products and technology Licensing.
Who are Ava Ocean's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SalMar Aker Ocean, SeaTase and Ocean Forest. Broad incumbents are Mowi ASA, Lerøy Seafood Group, Hofseth International and Cermaq. Akva Group is listed as an others. Emerging players are Pure Salmon and Running Tide.
Does Ava Ocean have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ava Ocean.
What industry is Ava Ocean in?
Ava Ocean's product category is Sustainable Seafood Harvesting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAAAB, Marine Shellfish Farming (e.g., oysters, mussels, clams), with a secondary code of EUABAFAF, Ocean-Based Carbon Removal (Alkalinity Enhancement, Seaweed, Ocean Biomass Sinking). Its NAICS code is 114112 and its SIC code is 900.