Kristine Aarnes serves as the Production Optimizer and Site Manager at Arnarlax’s freshwater facility in Hallkelsholar at Grimsnes in Iceland. Before joining Arnarlax in November 2022, Kristine spent six years working at SalMar’s freshwater site in Senja, Norway, the largest of its kind in the world. Her passion for aquaculture began early, with her father working as Site Manager at a SalMar freshwater facility in Norway’s Møre & Romsdal region. “Aquaculture has always been a family affair,”- says Kristine, “I grew up surrounded by it, and the passion I saw in my father’s work inspired me to follow a similar path.”
Arnarlax is the largest producer of Atlantic salmon in Iceland and is fully integrated with its hatchery, sea farms, harvesting plant, and sales force (Photo: Arnarlax).
More than a job – a lifestyle
Kristine emphasizes that the role of a site manager is much more than a job—it’s a lifestyle. “You have to be all in, 24/7,” she shares. This commitment is something she observed in her father and now experiences herself. Having lived and worked in Iceland for two years, Kristine feels deeply connected to the country and its emerging aquaculture industry. “Moving from a cutting-edge facility in Norway to an older one in Iceland was a big challenge,” she admits, “but I’m excited to be part of the journey as Iceland’s industry grows and professionalizes.”
Arnarlax’s Freshwater Facility in Selfoss
Built in 1986, Arnarlax’s Grímsnes- og Grafningshreppur facility produces 1.2 million smolt annually, each weighing around 100 grams. These smolt are transferred to the company’s sea farming operations in the Westfjords. While the facility may be considered a bit outdated by modern standards, Kristine is proud of the quality of the fish produced. “Our smolt are robust, grows well. We aim to prepare the fish as much as we can for handling potential pathogens and challenges at sea,” she explains. The site uses clean, deep-well water, maintaining a temperature of 5.5°C, which is raised to 7–8°C during the critical early feeding stages.
Aquaculture in Iceland vs. Norway
When asked about the differences between Iceland and Norway in terms of aquaculture, Kristine points to the challenges in finding skilled staff. “The public education in aquaculture is not as well available here as in Norway, although there are currently two options for students – the Fisktekniskolan and the University of Holar,” she notes. Today, Iceland relies a great deal on skilled workers from abroad to meet the demands of the growing industry. “I was hired because of this need, and I expect that Iceland will continue to import expertise for the foreseeable future, even though we see a positive development within the educational institutions in Iceland,” she says.
The need to bring forward women in the industry
Kristine also highlights the lack of women in Icelandic aquaculture, something she feels needs to change. “Women are excellent in hatcheries, where precision and attention to detail are key,” she explains. While the work at sea farms is physically demanding, Kristine believes new equipment has reduced the workload, making it a suitable environment for women as well. She recently attended the Aqua-Ice conference in Reykjavik, where a new network, Konur í Eldi (Women in Aquaculture), was introduced. “I plan to join,” – says Kristine. “This initiative can help promote the wide range of opportunities in the industry for women and encourage talents to move up the career ladder.”
Despite Iceland being one of the most gender-equal countries in the world, Kristine sees room for improvement. “We need more flexibility for young families and better childcare options, like extended kindergarten hours,” she says. Without such changes, she worries that gender equality in management roles could stagnate.
The future of Icelandic aquaculture
Kristine is optimistic about the future of aquaculture in Iceland, particularly sea-based cage farming, but acknowledges there are significant hurdles to overcome. “Challenges like escapees, sea lice, and regulatory inefficiencies can make it difficult to meet the ambitious growth targets,” she explains.
One promising development is the work being done by Benchmark Genetics Iceland to develop sterile diploid salmon, which would reduce the risk of escaped farmed salmon interbreeding with wild stocks. The company is hoping to bring this to market within three to five years, but in the meantime, triploid sterile genetics are available. Although Kristine is not yet familiar with this technology, she’s open to exploring new solutions that address the industry’s challenges. “Sharing knowledge across companies is key,” she adds, emphasizing the importance of collaboration for sustainable growth.
Sustainability: Iceland’s competitive edge
Arnarlax’s slogan, “Sustainability, it´s in our nature”, reflects the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility. When asked if she believes Icelandic salmon is more sustainable than Norwegian salmon, Kristine points to one key advantage: proximity to the U.S. market. “We can ship fresh salmon by boat instead of by air,” she says. “This significantly reduces the carbon footprint, giving Icelandic salmon a sustainability edge over salmon from Norway, the UK, or Chile in this market.”
A personal touch
As a final question, we asked Kristine if she enjoys eating salmon herself. “Absolutely!” she laughs. “I love fresh salmon, though I’m not as keen on the smoked variety.”
In Kristine Aarnes, Arnarlax has found a passionate and dedicated leader, who is not only committed to advancing Iceland’s aquaculture industry but also to ensuring that it grows in a sustainable and inclusive way. As Iceland navigates the challenges ahead, it’s clear that professionals like Kristine will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the industry.
