It is with gratitude and pride we now lay 2025 behind us with all its exciting achievements including the release of the Lab Station compact, added system solutions for measuring Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphorous, and the added solutions for continuous wastewater measurements.
Entering 2026, it is projected that the aquaculture industry will face a balance between political uncertainty and great growth potential, driven by technology, land-based solutions, and international markets, but with an increased focus on sustainable framework conditions.
National objectives and sanctions
In Norway, animal welfare in aquaculture in 2026 is characterised by the implementation of the new “Stortingsmeldingen” on Animal Welfare with stricter requirements for environmental impact.
In particular, the fight against fish mortality in Norwegian aquaculture is defined by specific objectives from the Aquaculture Report and the introduction of economic instruments to reduce mortality.
Here are the most important requirements and measures to reduce mortality that have been implemented for 2026:
- Target of 5% mortality: The Norwegian Parliament has adopted a goal that mortality for all fish species in aquaculture should be reduced to 5%. This is a strong ambition compared to the level in previous years, which has been around 15–17%.
- Mortality fee: The government has proposed introducing a financial fee that farmers must pay for each fish that dies of itself. The purpose is to make it economically profitable to invest in better fish welfare.
- Stricter fines: It is planned to increase the use of fines for companies that have persistently high mortality over time.
In addition, the regulations for discharges from water and wastewater in aquaculture are in a significant transition period, characterised by stricter national requirements and harmonisation with new EU standards.
The digitalisation in Norwegian aquaculture in 2026 is distinguished by the transition from voluntary digital solutions to stricter statutory requirements for traceability and data sharing.
Why Quick Adopters Will Thrive
Regulatory pressure is not just a passing trend; it’s shaping the future of aquaculture. Authorities are demanding digitalisation, waste reduction, and lower fish mortality, and these requirements will only become stricter over time.
For fish farms, this means the old “wait and see” approach is no longer viable. Those who adapt early gain several advantages:
- First-Mover Compliance: Meeting new standards before they become mandatory avoids costly penalties and rushed upgrades later.
- Operational Efficiency: Digital tools streamline monitoring, reduce manual labor, and improve decision-making.
- Market Reputation: Early adopters position themselves as leaders in sustainability and innovation, attracting better contracts and partnerships.
- Data-Driven Growth: Real-time insights allow farms to optimize feed, reduce waste, and improve fish health—boosting profitability.
In short, speed equals resilience. The farms that embrace change now will set the benchmark for the industry, while late adopters risk falling behind or even exiting the market.
How do we do it?
Do we take care and use our data we are investing in acquiring? How do we organise and improve our work in parallel with the introduction of new systems and/or technologies?
It may seem tedious and boring to work in a structured way, but it is the “boring” work that ensures consistent and secure results. Let’s be honest, the magic happens when we are able to create a balance between creativity, technical and professional competence, high effort, good systematic methods, and work processes – together.
Blue Unit’s patented innovative hardware design was developed based on years of development and testing. It monitors water quality parameters 24/7, which is crucial for fish wellbeing and indicators for the health of water treatment processes.
In 2026 we are setting out ambitions to bring further new developments and solutions to both new and existing customers, with a strong focus on merging digital information with the valuable knowhow, experiences, and insight available locally at the customers sites, combined with dedicated expertise in the market.
More updates will come soon… So be sure to follow along!