Fish handling with care
The seafood industry is developing fast. It’s an industry full of potential, but also real challenges. Energy use, raw-material utilization, fish welfare, waste management, working conditions and emissions across the value chain are all areas where we, together with the rest of the industry, must push further.
We don’t have all the answers. But every day, we work to develop factories, machines and systems that help make the industry better — for the people, the fish and the future.
How we work with sustainability
1. Design that reduces impact
We continuously optimize our designs to reduce damage, stress and mechanical strain on the fish. The goal is simple: better fish welfare, higher product quality and less food waste.
2. Lower energy consumption
Through tests at NTNU and our own factory trials, we work systematically to:
- Shorten freezing times
- Reduce energy use in production
- Avoid oversized equipment
3. Better working conditions
Automation means fewer heavy lifts, fewer hazardous operations and more time for supervision and process control. Our solutions help create safer, more efficient working environments on the factory floor.
4. Fish welfare in practice
- Electrical stunning with documented effects
- Collaboration with research institutions and welfare organizations
- Participation in the CatchID project for traceability and sustainable harvesting
5. Better raw material utilization
Automated systems create a more stable production flow with less waste and make it easier to utilize by-products.
Technology with documented effects on fish welfare
Since we launched our electrical stunner, more than one billion fish have passed through the system (rough estimate from 2025). The technology has documented effects on fish welfare, and we’re encouraged to see more and more choosing this method.
Every processed fish also provides us with new data — insights we use to improve the technology further.
A safe and responsible partner
Fish welfare is essential for sustainable production. That’s why we constantly work to improve how fish are handled, reducing stress and ensuring better quality at every step.
When you choose Optimar, you don’t just get equipment that works. You get a partner committed to responsible and humane fish handling. We work every day to set the standard for a more sustainable seafood industry.
Our responsibility
One of the world’s most important food resources
The world's population is growing, and the need for nutritious food is increasing. To meet this challenge, we must exploit the ocean's resources safely and sustainably.
The ocean is one of the world’s most important food sources, and more of the world’s protein will need to come from our industry in the years ahead. That requires production that is both more efficient and more gentle.
At Optimar, we develop technology that makes this possible. Our solutions help customers produce more seafood with less impact on the environment, on the fish and on the people working in the industry.
Efficient solutions for sustainable growth
Sustainability is not an isolated project in Optimar. It is an integrated part of everything we do:
- Reducing negative impact through efficient systems that save energy and take better care of the fish
- Improving positive impact by contributing to better utilization of residual raw materials and increased food safety
- Developing future-proof solutions for an industry that will grow without unnecessary strain on the ocean's resources and the people who work at sea
How we work with fish welfare
Good fish welfare is key to sustainable production. Our solutions are developed to ensure gentle handling, minimal stress and optimal quality.
Highlights from 2024
What we delivered that year:
- Improved factories and processing lines for gentler fish handling
- Redesigned conveyors for better hygiene and increased operator safety
- A further-developed electrical stunner used for wild-caught fish and new markets in Asia
- Reduced energy use through optimized freezing solutions, tested at our lab at NTNU
All of this contributes to better resource utilization, lower energy consumption and higher product quality.
Social responsibility
A safe place to work
We know that technology is only one part of the picture. Optimar also takes responsibility for the people who are part of the value chain.
Optimar aims to create a safe, inclusive and development-oriented workplace. We invest in competence, apprenticeships and local value creation. We work closely with shipyards, vessel crews and partners, and build long-term relationships
Creating secure jobs and strong professional environments is part of our responsibility — and a key part of our sustainability work.
