The company Organic Fish is developing a modern and sustainable trout farming operation in the Caspian Sea, with the ambition of reaching an annual production of approximately 5,000 tons within three to four years. Optimar is delivering the harvesting package for sea and the slaughtery package on land for this project.
– This is an important contract for Optimar, both due to its size and because it demonstrates that our aquaculture expertise is in demand far beyond our traditional markets, says Håvard Worren, Sales Manager at Optimar.
A thorough and collaborative process
Optimar has worked closely with the customer through an extensive evaluation and advisory process to identify the right solutions.
– From an early stage, it was clear that this customer wanted high-quality solutions and ensuring compliance with strict regulations, which is important for market access, says Worren.
He has visited Kazakhstan several times already.
– The capital is fascinating. It’s modern, young, and far from what you might imagine. The same applies to this project. It’s well thought out, ambitious, and clearly future-oriented, Worren adds.
The project stands out not only for its scale but also for its well-structured approach.
– This is a very special customer, and their way of working has made it easy for us to support them throughout the sales process. Strong investors with a clear vision and state support have been crucial to the success, says Hans Owen Thunem, VP Aquaculture at Optimar.
Norwegian technology and strict standards
Optimar’s delivery is based on Norwegian principles for fish welfare and sustainability – among the strictest in the world. The company’s harvesting equipment was selected to ensure gentle fish handling, high product quality, and full control of emissions.
– There is zero tolerance for discharge of spill water, for instance. Our equipment enables operations in line with the highest standards for fish welfare and environmental performance, which is a clear requirement from both investors and authorities in Kazakhstan, says Worren.
Result of a targeted international strategy
For Optimar, the contract represents a result of the company’s international growth strategy within the aquaculture segment.
– This confirms that our strategy is working. We’ve invested time in building competence, references, and trust internationally, and it’s highly motivating to see that this leads to tangible results, Worren concludes.
About the Organic Fish project
The Organic Fish project is the first sea-based cage aquaculture initiative in the history of Kazakhstan and is being implemented in the Caspian Sea. It is developed on the basis of many years of scientific research and international expertise, taking into account extreme and stormy conditions of the Caspian Sea.
The implementation of this project lays a solid foundation for the creation of a new marine aquaculture industry in the country and opens opportunities for long-term technological and operational cooperation with leading international companies, including Optimar, in the field of sustainable fish farming.
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