Great Northern Salmon announced multiple strategic partnerships with companies as it continues to work on its Millinocket, Maine, U.S.A-based salmon recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility.
Great Northern Salmon (GNS), formerly known as Katahdin Salmon, had already announced a strategic partnership with Eyvi, a provider of aquaculture systems. Now, the company said it has established partnerships with other aquaculture technology providers, engineering and construction companies, and potential buyers for its product once it gets its facility online.
GNS is building a salmon RAS on the site of the former Great Northern Paper Co. paper mill and is aiming to produce 7,500 metric tons (MT) of salmon each year.
“We have built these relationships and others over time to achieve strong alignment on goals, collaboration, and shared interest in developing aquaculture in Maine,” GNS CEO Marianne Naess said in a release.
The company said it recently finalized a six-year sales agreement with Stavis Seafoods for its upcoming salmon production. GNS said the relationship began with a letter of intent that has now been upgraded to a binding offtake agreement, with the import costs for salmon in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., serving as a pricing benchmark for the agreement.
“This price position gives GNS strong margin advantages over imported fresh salmon, even without a price premium,” GNS said.
GNS said it has also signed an agreement with AKVA group to become its technology partner. AKVA recently announced it closed FY 2025 with strong orders and increased revenue, and CEO Knut Nesse said the company has emerged as the “only true global RAS supplier.”
“They have completed multiple successful international reference projects, including Nordic Aqua Partners in China. AKVA delivered its first design work to GNS in 2025,” GNS said.
The company also said it has secured a financing partner. In 2025, it signed a contract with Morgan Stanley for capital-raising purposes. The company has already secured funding through grant programs, and the company revealed its grant funding is being matched by USD 284 million (EUR 244.8 million) in funding from investors in the company.
In addition to financing, GNS said it has formed a longstanding relationship with PC Construction, with a formalized construction management contract. It has also chosen SMRT as an architect and engineering partner.
On top of the companies GNS said it has formed strategic partnerships with, it has also formed a number of public-private partnerships with groups like Our Katahdin, a nonprofit working to promote economic development in the Katahdin region of Maine; the Environmental Protection Agency; Eastern Maine Development Corporation; the Department of Economic and Community Development; Maine Technology Institute; the Finance Authority of Maine; and Northern Border Regional Commission.
“Additional partners also deserve credit, and more will be formalized in 2026, all part of building strong and resilient execution capabilities beyond our own team,” Naess said.
