Irish Processors Toured Norwegian Seafood Facilities
Eight Irish seafood firms traveled to Norway to study automation and robotics in commercial fish production.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Manufacturing
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Eight Irish seafood processors recently completed a field mission in Ålesund, Norway, to observe advanced automation and robotics technologies. The trip was organized by Bord Iascaigh Mhara to help companies evaluate new production systems.
Why it matters
The mission aimed to help Irish processors assess new technologies to reduce investment risks and improve overall production efficiency. It specifically targeted methods for whitefish, salmon, and trout processing as identified by industry requirements.
Eight Irish seafood processors participated in this mission, which represents the seventh such event funded through the Seafood Capacity Building Scheme. The group observed commercial-scale robotics and collarbone-cutting solutions from supplier Brevik.
The players
Bord Iascaigh Mhara
Bord Iascaigh Mhara is the Irish state agency responsible for the development of the Irish seafood industry.
European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund
This fund provides financial support for the implementation of the European Union's common fisheries policy.
The details
The program facilitated visits to local facilities including Ode, Poseidon Frozen, Boreas Seafood, Nils Sperre, Brødrene Sperre, and Mathias Bjørge. Participants examined digitisation technologies that follow three previous workshops on similar automation topics.
Timeline
Prior to October 11, 2026, the group attended three Seafood Innovation Network workshops.
The field mission concluded in October 2026.
Market Landscape
This mission reflects a broader shift toward integrating robotics and digitisation to maintain competitiveness in the global seafood market. By examining commercial-scale automation in Norway, Irish firms are positioning themselves to modernize operations against international industry standards.
For the seafood industry, these technological updates may eventually lead to more consistent product quality and optimized pricing through reduced operational overhead. Shoppers may see the impact of these manufacturing efficiencies reflected in production stability.
The takeaway
Adopting advanced robotics is increasingly becoming a strategic necessity for processors looking to minimize production costs. Firms that integrate these technologies early may be better positioned to manage the ongoing labor and efficiency challenges in the seafood sector.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Manufacturing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ireland Afloat.
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