What Nova Sea does

Nova Sea AS is a Norwegian Atlantic salmon farming and processing company headquartered on the island of Lovund in Lurøy municipality, Nordland county. The company traces its origins to 1972 when founder Steinar Olaisen brought the first farmed salmon to Lovund, and was formally incorporated in 1985; it consolidated regional salmon farming entities through mergers in 1997 and 2006 into today's Nova Sea AS. Operations span the full value chain — smolt production, 26 sea-based aquaculture sites across the Helgeland coast covering 11 municipalities, a Lovund slaughterhouse with current capacity of 350+ tonnes fresh salmon and 25 tonnes fillet daily, and a global B2B sales function — supported by 33.33 wholly-owned and 4 co-owned Norwegian salmon farming licenses.

The technology stack combines BAADER automated processing lines (up to 150 salmon/minute, BAADER 102 stunning, vision-based grading, BLogic Factory Software), AKVA Group's 22-barge feed flotilla (96% on land power or hybrid battery, including the AC500R Bolgbørra), the IBM Food Trust blockchain-based traceability platform via the Norwegian Seafood Trust, AI-driven smart buoys for sea lice monitoring (e-Lice project), and the FishGlobe 30K offshore cage pilot. In October 2025 Mowi ASA completed the acquisition of an additional 46% stake for NOK 7.4 billion at a NOK 16 billion enterprise valuation, taking ownership to 95%; Nova Sea was formally merged into Mowi ASA effective 3 March 2026, with the Nova Sea brand retained and operations continuing from Lovund under a new Mowi Norge Nord region.

Nova Sea generates revenue through direct B2B sales of fresh and processed Atlantic salmon — Whole Fish, A-Trim, B-Trim, C-Trim, and D-Trim — to seafood distributors, processors, and foodservice buyers across Europe, the USA, and Asia via an internal sales team based at Lovund. Pricing is contractually negotiated and not publicly disclosed. With expected 2025 harvest of 52,000 tonnes gutted weight and a NOK 2+ billion new slaughterhouse under construction targeting ~100,000 tonnes annual capacity, Nova Sea is one of the larger northern-Norwegian salmon producers, now operating as a brand within the global Mowi group.

Name

Nova Sea

Legal name

Nova Sea AS

Website

https://novasea.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Nova Sea AS is a Norwegian Atlantic salmon farmer and processor headquartered on Lovund, operating 26 sea sites across the Helgeland coast and a Lovund slaughterhouse, selling fresh and trimmed salmon globally to seafood distributors, processors, and foodservice buyers in Europe, the USA, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture

NAICS

Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquaculture Harvest, Processing & Packing (Farmed Finfish/Shellfish; On-Farm Plants) (AFANADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture (AFAEAAAH), Aquaculture Processing & On-Farm Value-Add (primary handling, icing, packing) (AFAEAAAN)

Keywords

• Atlantic salmon farming
• Aquaculture production
• Fish processing services
• Seafood distribution
• Farmed salmon products

Headquarters

HQ city

Lovund

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fresh and processed Atlantic salmon sales: Nova Sea sells Atlantic salmon products globally through their internal sales team. Products include whole fish (fresh with head), A-Trim, B-Trim, C-Trim, and D-Trim (fully trimmed fillets). Expected harvest volume of 52,000 tonnes gutted weight in 2025. Majority owned by Mowi (95%) following acquisition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nova Sea AS is a vertically integrated Norwegian Atlantic salmon producer operating 26 sea-based aquaculture sites across the Helgeland coast and a centralized slaughtering/processing facility on Lovund. The company produces fresh and processed Atlantic salmon in multiple trim grades (whole fish, A-Trim, B-Trim, C-Trim, and D-Trim) and sells them globally to seafood distributors, processors, and foodservice operators through an in-house sales team.

Product overview

Nova Sea is a Norwegian Atlantic salmon farming and processing company headquartered on Lovund, operating 26 sea-based aquaculture sites across the Helgeland coast with 33.33 wholly-owned and 4 co-owned salmon farming licenses. The company's core product offering is its premium Atlantic Salmon sold in multiple trim grades (Whole Fish, A-Trim through D-Trim) to global markets. Nova Sea's value chain spans the entire production cycle: sea-based aquaculture sites (including offshore FishGlobe 30K), feed flotillas (22 AKVA Group barges), harvesting, slaughtering/processing at the Lovund plant (with a new ~100,000-ton facility under construction via BAADER equipment), and direct-to-market channels including its stake in Alex Sushi and the Salmon Visitor Centre in Oslo. Technology differentiation includes an IBM Food Trust blockchain traceability platform (Norwegian Seafood Trust) for consumer-facing provenance tracking, AI-powered smart buoys (e-Lice project) for sea lice monitoring, electric work boats, and a feed barge fleet (96% hybrid/land-power). Nova Sea also operates a Havplast recycling terminal project for plastic waste from the aquaculture industry. Since March 2026, Nova Sea has been formally merged into Mowi ASA (Mowi holds 95%) but continues as a distinct brand with Lovund-based operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Atlantic Salmon Products Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) sold in multiple trim grades — Whole Fish (fresh with head), A-Trim, B-Trim, C-Trim, and D-Trim (fully trimmed fillet) — distributed globally to Europe, USA, and Asia through Nova Sea's dedicated sales team.
• Slaughtering and Processing at Lovund Nova Sea's main slaughter and processing plant on Lovund handles up to 350 tonnes of fresh salmon and 25 tonnes of fillets daily, employing over 130 people. A new slaughterhouse with ~100,000 tonnes annual capacity (500+ tonnes per day) is under construction with BAADER equipment (BAADER 102 stunning system, automated filleting lines, BAADER 1860 Fillet Inspector, BLogic Factory Software).
• Aquaculture Sites (26 sea sites) Twenty-six sea-based aquaculture sites operated by Nova Sea across the Helgeland coast in 11 municipalities, from Gildeskål in the north to Vega in the south, holding 33.33 wholly-owned and 4 co-owned Norwegian salmon farming licenses.
• FishGlobe 30K Offshore Aquaculture A semi-submersible open-ocean cage system being trialed by Nova Sea for full-scale food-fish production, incorporating two development licenses granted by the Norwegian Fisheries Agency, used to conduct experiments with full-scale production of market-size salmon in offshore conditions.
• Alex Sushi (Equity Stake) Ownership stake held by Nova Sea in Alex Sushi, one of Oslo's most popular sushi restaurant chains. The investment provides a direct market channel for Nova Sea's salmon products and a brand connection to the producer.
• The Salmon Visitor Centre A visitor centre on Tjuvholmen in Oslo, co-founded by Nova Sea and the creator of Alex Sushi, that educates tourists and school groups about Norwegian salmon farming and brings the aquaculture story to Oslo for those unable to visit coastal farms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7300 tonnes CO2 emissions reduced (scope 1-2) from 2019-2020
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and significant.

• DB PartnerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 December 2025Norwegian seafood staffing agency providing workforce solutions to aquaculture and seafood sectors. Staffing partner alongside Cermaq, Mowi, Ode, Hofseth, and Kraakoy Norcod.
• AKVA GroupcoreTechnology or Integration · 24 August 2025AKVA Group is the supplier of Nova Sea's 22 feed barges, including Bolgbørra (AC500R steel barge with 500-ton capacity) and Trænabanken (AC450 Comfort). All feed barges equipped with modern feeding systems, hybrid power solutions, and remote monitoring capabilities.
• Akvaplan-niva, NIVA, Kongsberg Discovery, VESO, Hydroptic, CNRSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2024e-Lice research project supported by Fiskeri- og havbruksnæringens forskningsfinansiering (FHF). Smart buoy technology using AI and sensors to monitor sea lice patterns and predict populations for better treatment timing.
• Torghatten Aqua ASsignificantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2024Nova Sea became major shareholder with 33.4% stake in Torghatten Aqua AS through capital increase and share purchase. Nova Sea becomes second largest shareholder. Torghatten Aqua operates salmon farming, research, tourism, and marine education. Operations will be co-managed with Nova Sea.
• BAADERcoreTechnology or Integration · 23 October 2023BAADER is Nova Sea's primary process equipment supplier for the new slaughterhouse on Lovund. Partnership includes world's fastest whole fish grading, BAADER 102 stunning system (first in industry), robotic feeding, vision technology, filleting lines, CIP cleaning systems, and BLogic Factory Software. System processes up to 150 salmon per minute.
• Nofir ASminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 May 2022Nofir AS recycles Nova Sea's discarded aquaculture nets. In 2021, 395,091 kg of nets were delivered for material recycling into products like chairs, carpets, textiles, garden furniture, and automotive industry components.
• Norwegian Seafood Trust / IBM / Atea / BioMarsignificantTechnology or Integration · 18 June 2021Nova Sea joined IBM Food Trust blockchain network for seafood traceability. Partnership with Norwegian Seafood Trust, IBM, Atea, and BioMar enables tracking salmon from roe to plate. BioMar is the first feed producer on the network.
• Nordic Comfort Products (NCP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2021NCP produces S-1500 chairs made from 100% recycled plastic from aquaculture industry. Nova Sea participates in Havplastterminal project to establish plastic recycling facility handling up to 3,000 tonnes plastic waste annually.
• ASKO / CargoNet / MeyershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogistics partnership for transporting salmon by train from Mo i Rana instead of trucks. Partnership reduces ~13,000 truck journeys annually, saving 1.6 tonnes CO2 per load. Daily goods train being established.
• Alex SushisignificantStrategic or Co-development PartnerNova Sea holds equity stake in Alex Sushi, one of Oslo's most popular sushi restaurants. Partnership provides direct access to high-end foodservice channel and consumer feedback. Restaurant opened The Salmon visitor center jointly with Nova Sea.
• SINTEF HelgelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSINTEF Helgeland conducting research project on short-chain recycling of plastic waste from aquaculture industry. Supported by Forskningsrådet.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Scottish Sea Farms: Joint venture between SalMar and Lerøy producing premium Scottish salmon. Comparable farming and processing model but operates in UK/Scottish waters rather than competing directly with Nova Sea in Norway.

Direct peers

• SalMar ASA: Major Norwegian salmon farmer with integrated farming and processing model, including the pioneering Ocean Farm 1 offshore installation. Comparable scale, Norwegian coastal license portfolio, and global B2B distribution.
• Lerøy Seafood Group: Vertically integrated Norwegian salmon producer with comparable product portfolio, processing operations, and geographic concentration on Norwegian coast. Also operates Scottish Sea Farms joint venture.
• Mowi ASA: World's largest Atlantic salmon farmer and now 95% owner of Nova Sea. Direct comparison on integrated Norwegian farming, processing capacity, ASC-certified operations, and global B2B distribution channels across Europe, USA, and Asia.
• Grieg Seafood ASA: Norwegian salmon farmer with operations in Finnmark, Rogaland, British Columbia, and Shetland. Comparable mid-tier integrated producer with similar ASC certification profile and B2B sales approach.
• Nordlaks: Major Norwegian salmon farmer based in Vesterålen with substantial processing operations. Similar geographic concentration in Northern Norway and comparable integrated farming and value-added processing model.
• Bakkafrost: Faroese salmon farmer with premium positioning, fully integrated value chain from hatchery to processed products, similar ASC/GLOBALG.A.P. certifications, and B2B sales model to global distributors.
• Cermaq: Mitsubishi-owned salmon farmer with substantial Norwegian operations in addition to Chile and Canada. Comparable farming footprint in Northern Norway and integrated value chain structure.

Others

• Torghatten Aqua AS: Norwegian salmon farming group in which Nova Sea holds a 33.4% stake. Operations co-managed with Nova Sea since 2024, making it a related-party investee rather than a direct competitor, but comparable Norwegian salmon farming operations.

Broad incumbents

• Cooke Aquaculture: Canadian-headquartered salmon farmer with global operations across Canada, Scotland, Chile, and Tasmania. Overlapping value chain from farming to processing but with broader geographic and species portfolio rather than Norwegian coastal specialization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/novaseaas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nova-sea-as

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nova Sea