Iceland-based salmon-farming firm Arnarlax is making progress on its goal to reach 26,000 metric tons (MT) of Atlantic salmon production within a few years.
Arnarlax CEO Björn Hembre told SeafoodSource during the 2025 Seafood Expo North America – running from 16 to 18 March in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. – that the company is determined to reach its production goal after a 2024 that was marked by biological challenges.
“We have built most of the value chain for that, we have sufficient smolt capacity, we have harvest capacity, and we have our organization of dedicated and competent people,” Hembre said. “We just need some investments in equipment in the sea to get there.”
Hembre acknowledged the Icelandic salmon-farming industry struggled with unprecedented sea lice loads in the latter half of 2023, but the company has since worked to regain control.
“We have implemented procedures, with more de-licing capacity and improved routines and cooperation with our neighbors,” Hembre said. “In 2024, we had very good control of the lice situation, and we expect that going forward. It was a one-time incident where it got out of control, and we did not have the sufficient resources available because it had never been a problem before.”
Hembre said the company’s farms, located in the western fjords of Iceland, typically have colder growing conditions than most salmon farms which historically helped keep sea lice in check.
“It’s not such a big issue as it is in warmer regions,” Hembre said.
The pressure in late 2023, he said, was a “lesson learned” that the company will continue to work to prevent again.
As it works to increase its production to 26,000 MT – compared to a volume guidance of 15,000 MT set for 2025 – it is also planning to expand its product offerings. Currently, they largely supply head-on, gutted salmon, but it is working to build up its value-added production with third parties that have the capacity in Iceland.
“We have been a bit on and off in the market, and the value-added market is more in need of steady supply every week; that has been a challenge. But, when we reach the 26,000 MT, we think we are in a good position to also develop the value-added.”
