Norway's export of smolt to Russia increased in 2025

Although sale of Norwegian salmon to Russia ended in 2014, it is still legal for Norwegian companies to export both smolt and fish feed. This has been a part of a larger cross-border cooperation in salmon farming, lasting for decades.

Further sanctions limiting the seafood trade were introduced by Norway after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 

The fishing trade in the north has therefore decreased significantly and so has the export of Norwegian fish feed to Russia, especially after gaining sharp media attention. It is mainly based on ethical questions, according to the companies that have withdrawn from the legal market.

Now there is only one Norwegian company left that is responsible for all export activities supporting Russian salmon farming. Agaqua alone had record sales, according to the company's last annual report.

Withdrawing from the market

Skretting, BioMar and Ewos are Norwegian companies that produce fish feed, an exportable product comparable with salmon smolt. All three of them have a history of exporting their products to Russia and all three of them has later on withdrawn from this market.

Skretting's director of sustainability, Leif Kjetil Skjæveland, explains the ethical issue that was discussed internally after Russia's full-scale invasion.

"We are careful to follow international sanctions", he summarizes.

Although fish feed is not a part of any sanctions, the company decided to stop their export to Russia during 2022.

"Our parent company Nutreco, also withdrew from Russia by selling their business to the local management", he underlines.

Ewos operates under the international business concern Cargill and followed up a year later.

"We stopped selling fish feed to Russia in 2023", the head of communication in Ewos Kjartan Mæstad says.

The export activities regarding fish feed stopped entirely during that year. Ewos was the last company to transport fish feed to Russia from Norway.

Rising numbers

Currently, there is only one company that exports Norwegian smolt to Russia. According to Acaqua's own annual account for 2024, the company had an income of approximately €20 million measured in today's exchange rate, before taxes and other expenditures.

That is a €2.5 million increase from 2023.

When corresponding with the Barents Observer, the leader of Agaqua, Arne Geirulv emphasized:

"I want to point out that the export of smolt has not increased. However, the value has increased due to the market."

The numbers from Statistics Norway, however, show that the actual export measured in weight has almost doubled over the last two years. These numbers are not connected to Agaqua itself, although there is no other company that exports Norwegian smolt to Russia.

When presented with these numbers, Geirulv corrected himself:

"The exact number of smolt exported is stable. The change in value has to do with the weight of each fish and the price per fish", the company owner said.

According to him, the size has to do with temperatures in his smolt farm and the time of year when they are delivered. Numbers from Statistics Norway show that his company sails from the Norwegian west coast to Murmansk several times between May and August every year. Their activity was similar in 2025 as compared to 2023.

Agaqua delivers their salmon smolt to Inarctica, Russia's largest salmon farming company.

Geirulv was a member of Inarctica's Board of Directors from 2012 until 2022. He is still listed on Inarctica's website, referred to as a non-executive member.

After stepping down from the Board of Directors, Geirulv bought Villa Smolt, a company earlier owned by Inarctica. Villa Smolt is located in Norway and is now producing smolt as Agaqua's subsidiary.

Vessel permit until 2029

In late 2024, another subsidiary of Agaqua, Villa Sea, sent an application to the Norwegian Food Authority asking for permission to use the transport vessel Sea Salmon. The company got approval for the following five years, until 18 October 2029.

The document states:

"The well boat will mainly be used to transport salmon smolt from Norway to Murmansk".

Does this indicate that your company will continue exporting to Murmansk at least until 2029?

"It is standard procedure to give well boats a five-year permit at a time. These procedures are identical for all well boats in Norway and has no connection to export to Russia", Geirulv replied.

When talking to the Barents Observer, he did not wish to express whether he will continue exporting Norwegian smolt to Russia or not. Furthermore, the company owner is unwilling to elaborate on their policy regarding Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

I addition, Agaqua owns the well boat Sea Trout, which has delivered smolt to Murmansk in earlier occasions. Both of the vessels are stationed in Averøy, just outside Kristiansund. 

Neither fish feed or salmon smolt is illegal to export from Norway to Russia as it is not sanctioned by Norway or the EU.