Ava Ocean, a pioneering company in the seafood industry, was honoured with the prestigious Innovation Award at the bi-annual Nor-Fishing Conference for its revolutionary scallop harvesting technology. The company’s Ava Ray harvesting system is set to transform the way seafoods are harvested from the seabed and aims to drive green innovation in the seafood industry. 


"Operating in the challenging Arctic environment of the Barents Sea, our team of fishermen, researchers, and engineers has done an incredible job pushing the boundaries of innovation," said Øystein Tvedt, CEO of Ava Ocean. "Winning this award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved, and it brings well-deserved recognition to our entire crew and partners."


Reopening a fishery closed for over 30 years

Ava Ocean's award-winning technology was developed over eight years in collaboration with SINTEF, a renowned Norwegian research organization, supported by the Norwegian Institute for Marine Research. This unique system uses precision water flow technology to harvest scallops without damaging the seabed. The innovation preserves the delicate marine ecosystem and it’s documented low impact enabled Ava Ocean to reopen the Norwegian Arctic scallop fishery after 30 years’ of closure.


"In early 2023, we successfully conducted our first commercial fishing trip using our new system, marking a significant milestone for our company," Tvedt explained. "Developing a completely new harvesting method from scratch is resource-intensive, but our team's efforts have paid off. We've managed to accomplish a great deal of innovation and development work, and this award highlights our achievements."


A year of fishing – proving the technology’s potential

The vessel "Arctic Pearl," used by Ava Ocean for scallop harvesting, has now completed one year of commercial fishing with the Ava Ray harvesting technology. The company has a five year research quota of up to 15,000MT per annum, and in its first year Ava Ocean landed roughly one third of this, proving the capability and potential of the harvesting system.


"Our journey has been challenging, but it has also been incredibly rewarding," Tvedt continued. "We are grateful to the regulators, partners, and especially our talented employees who have been integral to this project. This award belongs to all of them."

Through the historic reopening of the Norwegian Arctic scallop fishery, Ava Ocean has been able to reintroduce the unique Chlamys Islandica from the Barents Sea to the global seafood market and the Norwegian seafood export portfolio. These scallops are known for their delicate sweet taste and firm texture – a result of their slow growing in ice cold, Arctic waters.

“We are proud and excited to have been able to bring these delicacies back to the market. With our special story and sustainable harvesting method, these scallops represent something new and unique to the marketplace that fits well with many of the consumer trends at the moment,” says Anette Grøttland Zimowski, CMO of Ava Ocean.


The potential quota of 15,000MT per annum would represent a significant contribution to the scallop market, and will place Norway among the top scallop producers in Europe.


Ava Ocean's innovative technology represents a significant step forward in sustainable seafood harvesting. By preserving marine habitats while efficiently harvesting shellfish, Ava Ocean is setting a new benchmark for green practices in the seafood industry. As the company looks ahead to future seasons, it remains focused on driving positive industry change and enhancing the sustainability of global seafood supplies.

The company’s non-invasive seafood seabed harvesting system has been awarded this year’s Nor-Fishing Innovation Award.

Ava Ocean wins innovation award for unique seabed fishing technology

«The atmosphere onboard was euphoric when we in the small hours of little Christmas Eve brought onboard the first basket of Arctic scallops. Despite the bad weather, the fishing gear worked on first try and picks shells gentry and efficiently in their thousands, with hardly any bycatch,” says Øystein Tvedt, CEO in Ava Ocean.


He was himself part of the crew on this maiden voyage on the newly refitted Arctic Pearl, a former oil service vessel, but now the first in the world to sport Ava Ocean’s revolutionising fishing technology. Thanks to the documented gentleness of the harvester, Ava Ocean has been granted the first commercial licence to fish Arctic scallops (Chlamys Islandica) in Norway for more than 30 years.


On its two-week long test fishing trip into the darkness of the Barents Sea, the crew of 25 had to deal with both challenging weather conditions and being apart from loved ones during the festive season.


“I couldn’t have been anywhere else this Christmas. This is a moment we have been working towards for many years and it has been amazing to be a part of the fishing crew on this first voyage”, says Tvedt.


Scallop grounds “the stuff of legends”

The first basket of scallops was brought onboard in the small hours of 23rd December, but it would be another couple of days before the Arctic Pearl really hit the scallop shaped jackpot. That is when the ship came across some of the really big scallop grounds, the stuff of those legendary tales still told in the Norwegian seafood industry from the scallop gold-rush days of the 80s.

“Our technology enables precision harvesting, so when we came across one of these scallop grounds we have heard so much about from the 80s, it practically overflowed with scallops onboard as the baskets were brought up. That really was fun,” says Tvedt.

New fishery – New technology – New chapter for sustainable seafood

With this first test trip in the Barents sea the fishery for Norwegian Arctic scallops is officially reopened. It is a historical milestone for Norwegian fishery management, but potentially also for the seafood industry focusing on seabed dwelling species outside of Norway.


“It feels fantastic to finally show to the world that it is possible to pick shells efficiently but gently from the sea floor, and that the technology we have developed works a treat in the challenging conditions of the Barents Sea,” says Tvedt.


Shell-harvesters a success – factory onboard needs improvement

While Ava Ocean’s fishing gear proved to be both gentle and efficient, it was not all plain sailing for the Arctic Pearl on its maiden voyage.


“December is far from an optimal month in a place like the Barents Sea, and when starting a new fishery and testing new systems there are a lot of things that need to function in unison, especially in the onboard factory. We discovered that the way production is set up at the moment is unable to keep up with the efficiency of the harvesters, and we need to make some adjustments at shore before heading out again”, says Tvedt, praising the crew for their hard work on this first trip.


“They have been absolutely brilliant. Their drive, spirit and ability to problem-solve under pressure has been crucial for the success of this journey. I am so thankful they are all a part of Ava Ocean,” says Tvedt.


New delicacy in the Norwegian seafood portfolio

When the Arctic Pearl now returns to home port Ålesund, it is with frozen-at-sea scallops product samples onboard.


“These samples will now be distributed to important potential customers around the world, and we are excited about the reception. Based on their feedback we will be able to optimise production considering quality and sorting. Moving forward, we are confident that these scallops can become an important contribution to the Norwegian seafood export portfolio”, says Bernt Rogne, Head of seafood in Ava Ocean.


Ava Ocean has partnered with Hofseth International to sell its scallops.


Long term goal of sustainable fishery without harming the seabed

Ava Ocean’s unique seabed harvester has been developed in collaboration with SINTEF, and thanks to its documented low impact on the benthic sediment and low bycatch rates, the company has been granted the first commercial licence for Arctic scallops in Norway since the early 90s.


Due to inadequate regulation and destructive fishing gear, the fishery for Arctic scallops in Norway collapsed in the 90s and dredging has since been banned in all Norwegian waters.


Thirty years later, the Norwegian Institute for Marine Research has started mapping the populations of Arctic scallops and deemed it restored to health and ready to be harvested from, if using non-destructive fishing gear. Ava Ocean has thus been granted a 5-year commercial licence of 15,000tonnes per year.


“The goal is to use these years to document how our technology doesn’t cause ill effects on the ecosystem on the seabed, and to develop a long term sustainable fishery for Arctic scallops in Norway. If we do this right, it can mean a whole new way of giving the world sustainable access to the delicacies on the seabed,” says Tvedt.


Ava Ocean and its Arctic Pearl can confirm the success of the full scale commercial version of their non-invasive seabed harvesting technology, after completing their first test run in the Barents Sea this Christmas.

Harvesting success for world’s first non-invasive seabed fishing gear

When the Arctic Pearl this week sets out towards the wintry depths of the Barents Sea, it will be over three decades since anyone has harvested from the rich populations of arctic scallops in Norwegian waters. As a result of the unique technology Ava Ocean has developed in collaboration with 

, Norwegian regulators granted the company a 5-year research quota of the species of up to 15,000 tonnes per year. 


“Harvesting with minimal impact on the seabed and ecosystems is an important step towards developing sustainable fisheries. Ava Ocean is contributing to revolutionising an entire industry through developing technology for harvesting climate-friendly foods, where research and sustainability has been central throughout,” says Alexandra Bech Gjørv, President and CEO of SINTEF, one of the largest independent research organisations in Europe.


Tuesday this week she christened the ship, Arctic Pearl, at Fiskerstrand wharf outside Aalesund, Norway. The ship is a former oil service vessel now reinvented as a fishing vessel unlike any other.


“We are delighted so many of our most important partners and supporters could be her today and mark the occasion with us. This is the start of the next phase in this project, and a historic day for Norwegian fisheries,” said Øystein Tvedt, CEO of Ava Ocean.


The Arctic Pearl will not only commence a fishery on a seafood delicacy that has been absent from the Norwegian seafood portfolio for decades, but also perform a thorough research project documenting development and impact on flora and fauna in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research.


“The goal is to prove not only that we have developed a gear able to efficiently pick shells from the seabed, but also that it is possible to harvest without harming the ecosystems on the seabed or the recruitment of new shells over time. It is the only way we will be able to establish a truly sustainable long-term fishery, both from an environmental and economic perspective,” says Tvedt.


During the 5-year research quota the company has been granted, Ava Ocean wants to show the world that it is possible to enjoy more of the many food resources abundant on the seabed, without negatively impacting their fragile ecosystems. Today there are few or no real alternatives to dredging, a controversial fishing method which is illegal in Norway, but still the most widely used method to fish bottom-dwelling seafoods internationally.

The international potential of Ava Ocean’s innovative ocean tech solutions was recently highlighted in prestigious 

, listing Ava Ocean as one of five green Norwegian companies to watch.


“We are experiencing a lot of interest for our project and what we are aiming to do also outside of Norway. We hope that we will be able to share good results from our activity in the Barents Sea which will give grounds for international expansion, both in other locations and for other species,” Tvedt says.


He adds: “We have great faith in this project and can’t wait to start fishing, but we are also prepared for it taking a little time before all cogs of the machinery functions optimally.”


The world’s first low-impact precision seabed harvester is ready to set course for the Barents Sea and the reopening of the arctic scallop fishery for the first time in 30 years.

From left: Ulf Berglund, Robin Vestad, Alexandra Bech Gjørv, Svein Ole Sæther and Preben Molnes. Photo: Per Eide/Ava Ocean

Historic day as new seabed seafood adventure kicks off in Norway

«I am excited to join Ava Ocean and their mission to change seabed harvesting for the better,» says Ingebrigtsen, who brings solid experience and finance know-how to the fast-growing ocean tech and seafood disruptor.


«Ava Ocean has a fantastic vision, and I look forward to being a part of building this company something great. The potential of the company and its technology is quite unique,» he adds.


Ava Ocean has developed a ground-breaking new harvesting technology enabling efficient, yet gentle precision picking of scallops and other seafoods off the seabed, without by-catch or harming the surrounding environment.


To Ingebrigtsen Ava Ocean represents a new and exciting chapter and new challenges. He brings a wealth of experience, after many years’ as CFO for shipbuilder Vard, and more recently as CFO for Optimar.


«Geir’s incredible knowledge and experience is a great asset to us as a company with ambitions to grow and develop. We are proud and excited to have him with us on this exciting journey,» says Øystein Tvedt, CEO of Ava Ocean.


Working together with Norwegian scientists and regulators the company has been granted the first commercial quota for Arctic Scallops in Norway since the 1990s. The fishery starts this autumn, onboard the newly refitted vessel, Arctic Pearl.


«First priority for me is to establish good routines and finance management systems for a growing company as we move into operational fishing. But I am also greatly looking forward to applying my skills to help develop a solid commercial growth strategy, working to make Ava Ocean a global force to be reckoned with – on the seabed,» says Ingebrigtsen.


Geir Ingebrigtsen is the new Chief Financial Officer in Ava Ocean, the company aiming to revolutionise sustainable seabed harvesting.

Geir Ingebrigtsen joins Ava Ocean as CFO

The precision seabed harvesting technology developed by Ava Ocean has enabled the Norwegian government to issue the first quota for Arctic scallops in more than 30 years. The test fishery will commence later this autumn. 


“To us, the bottom of the ocean is the most exciting place on earth. A place full of seafood treasures, that if harvested in a gentle, yet effective, manner can be a positive contributor to economic, societal and environmental sustainability,” says Øystein Tvedt, CEO of Ava Ocean.


“Ava means life, and Ava Ocean celebrates life in the ocean and its vast riches we not only have to preserve, but also harvest responsibly, to be able to meet the world’s increasing demand for nutritious food,” says Øystein Tvedt, CEO Ava Ocean.


With Ava Ocean’s unique harvesting technology, developed in collaboration with some of Norway’s most prestigious marine science institutions, the company is on mission to disrupt the seafood industry.


Up until now, human interaction with the seabed has been largely destructive. Commonly used fishing methods such as dredging and bottom trawling wreaks havoc on the fragile ecosystems on the bottom of the ocean.
“There hasn’t really been any viable alternatives, so fantastic resources on the seabed are either left untouched, or worse, destroyed with conventional equipment. Our technology offers a real opportunity to positively disrupt the industry and change it for the better,” says Tvedt.


Through rigorous testing and documentation, the Norwegian company was awarded the first quota to fish for Arctic Scallops since the early 1990s. In collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Marine Science, they have been able to confirm the scallop population in the Barents Sea has recovered from the immense damage caused by conventional shell fisheries in the late 80s and are once more in a condition to be harvested responsibly.


“It is a situation we do not want to find ourselves in again. We know our equipment will be gentle and not harm the environment, and throughout the test fishery we will continue to document and report all our data to ensure the stocks and the impact of our fishing activity is closely monitored,” says Tvedt.


More species and locations on the horizon


The 5-year research quota is for 15,000 tonnes of Arctic Scallops, or Chlamys islandica, per year. The fishery will be operated by Ava Ocean’s specially refitted shell harvesting vessel, the Arctic Pearl. Alongside, the company will continue developing and testing the technology for other species and other geographic areas.


“We are eager to start commercial fishing of Arctic Scallops this autumn, and to prove to the world that there is a better way to treat the seabed whilst at the same time responsibly reaping its riches. We hope that our efforts will help change how the world looks at the seabed as an important part of sourcing sustainable food from the ocean,” says Tvedt.


Aalesund-based TAU Tech rebrands to Ava Ocean in preparation for a new phase for the ocean technology company on a mission to revolutionise how to sustainably harvest seafood from the seabed.

TAU Tech becomes Ava Ocean ahead of historic reopening of fishery 

The factory will be a near fully automated installation for the production of Arctic scallops, with a capacity for handling approximately 100 tonnes of harvested scallops per day.

PE Bjørdal in Ørsta, Norway, is to deliver a complete process factory for our sustainable seabed harvester Arctic Pearl.

PE Bjørdal to deliver factory to Arctic Pearl

"We can finally start one of the greatest unsolved tasks at sea - sustainable and gentle harvesting of a beautiful unused resource," CEO Øystein Tvedt shares with Norwegian financial newspaper Dagens Næringsliv.

Our seabed-friendly harvesting technology has been developed in close collaboration with the research community, and gives the world access to untapped seafood resources while safeguarding fragile surrounding marine ecosystems. Going forward, we will focus on equipping our, harvesting vessel, commercialization and further develop our technology.



 (article in Norwegian), or head over to 

, Sverre Andreas (Andy) Farstad, Hans Martin Gravdal.

We're accelerating our mission towards enabling sustainable seabed-harvesting, and are thrilled to share the news that we're bringing onboard several new investors

Full speed ahead for TAU Tech

The funding is aimed at projects that have great opportunities for green conversion, digitalisation and streamlining of the marine industries and sustainable production of seafood.

For us, this means funding of our project “PresiSkjell” together with 

, where we aim to digitise and optimise the scallop industry.

This is one step towards our goal of a sustainable seabed harvesting industry.

Thank you for the trust, 

Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.

We are proud to announce that TAU Tech has been awarded 6 MNOK from the Norwegian Research Council as one of eleven projects in Norway.

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