DNV strengthens aquaculture business with acquisition Åkerblå Group to build aquaculture powerhouse
NORWAY – DNV, an independent assurance and risk management provider, has entered into an agreement to acquire Norway-headquartered marine health company Åkerblå Group to bolster its presence in the aquaculture business in Europe.
Åkerblå delivers interdisiplineary expertise in fish health, environmental and technical services. This enables our customers to make the right decisions for sustainable operations.
Åkerblå Group provides clients with knowledge-based advice and verification through interdisciplinary expertise in fish health, biodiversity and technical services, to use for sustainable practices and operations in the ocean.
The Group that primarily serves in Aquaculture, Well- and service boat industry, Pharmaceutical industry, R&D, Government institutions, and Renewable energy, and has offices and laboratories in Norway, UK, Iceland and Lithuania.
“This deal is a major vote of confidence by DNV in the future of aquaculture, and specifically in knowledge-driven solutions that balance ocean wealth with ocean health,” says Remi Eriksen, Group President and CEO at DNV.
“Åkerblå Group both complements many of DNV’s services and adds significant new life sciences expertise to our knowledge base. Together, we look forward to delivering superior service levels and enhanced value for aquaculture and offshore renewables customers across Europe and beyond.”
Åkerblå Group has 306 employees across Norway, the UK, and Iceland, and includes six companies.
One of the companies, Åkerblå, is a leading knowledge-based marine health company while Kystplan, another company is a specialist in construction projects along the coastal zone.
Skandinavisk naturovervåkning, provides freshwater ecosystem monitoring focusing on salmonid populations while Ocean Ecology provides a range of marine ecological surveys and consultancy services for projects in the coastal and offshore environment.
Also within the group is Blár Akur, a fish health services company for sea and land-based fish farms in Iceland, and Rådgivende Biologer, a provider of services within aquatic biology, with high expertise in water quality, freshwater ecology, and fish biology.
“DNV already provides a range of services to aquaculture customers, principally on infrastructure, digitalization, supply chain management and management system certification,” says Geir Fuglerud, CEO – Supply Chain & Product Assurance at DNV.
“Combining these activities with the world-leading competence that Åkerblå Group possesses on fish health and welfare will create a true aquaculture services powerhouse which can support businesses at every part of the aquaculture value chain.”
Enviroguide Consulting joins group
Meanwhile, in Dublin, DNV has made the acquisition of Enviroguide Consulting, an environmental consultancy reputation for delivering exceptional environmental and sustainability consultancy services.
Enviroguide Consulting covers a number of issues including biodiversity, contaminated land, waste management & licensing, ESG, Infrastructure Planning and Environmental Impact Assessment services to support sustainable development for public and private sector customers.
The deal strengthens DNV’s foothold in the region and expands DNV’s comprehensive portfolio of environmental solutions reinforcing its commitment to addressing pressing sustainability challenges in society.
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