Research and Development

A Year of Progress at Krutøya

October 22, 2026

Research and Development

A Year of Progress at Krutøya

Just over a year after Amar Seafood began operations at Krutøya, the sea-based facility is showing encouraging results. Behind the progress is a dedicated team working to develop the production of Atlantic Halibut, led by Operations Manager Iver Tanemsmo.

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When Iver joined Amar Seafood in July, he was stepping into a new role, a new company and a new species. With ten years of experience in aquaculture, including eight years in salmon farming, he was familiar with the industry, but Atlantic Halibut presented an opportunity to learn something new.

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Originally from Frøya, Iver wasn't actively looking for a new job when he came across the position. Having heard about Amar Seafood's operations on the island, he became curious about the company and saw an opportunity to take on more responsibility and contribute to developing a growing operation.

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Today, he leads a team of five, including himself, three operations technicians and a technical manager. Building a good team is something Iver is particularly passionate about, and he believes that different experiences and perspectives are important when working towards a common goal. It's an approach he feels is shared throughout Amar Seafood, including among the company's management.

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Although his role involves overseeing both production and personnel, Iver prefers to spend as much time as possible alongside his colleagues at the facility. For him, being part of the daily operations is also an opportunity to learn together with the team.

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Rearing halibut is a team effort

One of the team's most important responsibilities is feeding. By monitoring the fish underwater and adjusting feeding according to their behavior and appetite, they work to achieve good growth while keeping feed waste to a minimum.

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Atlantic Halibut has its own feeding patterns, influenced by factors such as light and water temperature. Understanding these patterns and adapting their routines accordingly has become an important part of the team's daily work.

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For Iver, successful production starts with dedicated people who take an interest in the fish, trust their experience and contribute to finding solutions together.

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And the work is showing encouraging results.

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Growing production at Krutøya

Approximately one year after Amar Seafood began operations at Krutøya, the facility has grown from 21,500 to 151,000 Atlantic Halibut. Six sea cages are now installed, with fish in five of them, ranging from juveniles weighing around 200–250 grams to larger fish averaging 2.5–2.8 kilograms.

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The team is seeing good growth across the different stages of production. One particularly encouraging result came from fish transferred to sea in April, weighing just 84 grams. During subsequent weight sampling, these fish were found to be 20–30 grams ahead of their expected growth.

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With production developing well, the focus is now also on expanding the facility. The goal is to have all 12 approved sea cages installed in 2027. A new land base is also under development, while a planned feed barge will provide additional capacity for feed storage and support daily operations.

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For Iver, the work taking place at Krutøya is about more than the development of one facility. The current generation of fish will provide valuable knowledge about feed conversion, growth and harvest weights, helping Amar Seafood build a stronger foundation for future sea-based Atlantic Halibut production.

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