We have established a Bluegreen subsidiary in Canada, aiming to introduce the Marine Donut to salmon farmers in the Americas.
Aquaculture is an important industry in Canada, with substantial growth ambitions. Strict environmental requirements have also been announced, which make closed containment systems particularly relevant. To introduce Marine Donut to the North American market, we have now established the company Bluegreen Canada Inc. Canadian Mark Lane is engaged as director.
Mark has lived in Newfoundland since 1982. Educated in aquaculture and technology, Mark has combined his interest in aquaculture and rural development with a career as an officer in the Canadian Forces. In recent years, Mark has completed certificates in Leadership and Sustainable Business Strategy through Harvard University. From 2014 to 2021, Mark was the executive director of the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA). This is a a member-based organization with a mandate to facilitate and promote commercial development of the regional aquaculture industry.
"Mark has an enormous network in the industry. Both here in North America, but also globally," says Nils-Johan Tufte enthusiastically. "He is the perfect candidate for this role."
Mark is looking forward to taking on new challenges together with Bluegreen:
“I first met Nils in Norway while exploring emerging technologies in the area of semi-closed containment systems for farming salmon in the ocean while I was Executive Director of Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA). I immediately became fascinated with the opportunities that semi-closed containment such as the Marine Donut could offer ocean farmers to address biological and environmental pressures in challenging circumstances.”
"Over the last several years Nils and I have visited one another in Canada and Norway and became great friends. In this role I hope to support him and Bluegreen's vision for expansion into the Americas using my industry knowledge and network. The potential is enormous.”
Last week, both Nils and Mark are attending North America's largest venue for the aquaculture industry: Aquaculture Canada & WAS North-America. The conference features more than thousand worldclass speakers and delegates from around the globe on the science, technology, business and social aspects of aquaculture. The Norwegian Embassy was also present at the venue.
“For us it was a no-brainer to participate here,” says Nils. “It is the perfect arena to launch the Marine Donut in the North American market. Here we meet both fish farmers, the supplier industry as well as the politicians.”
Nils says that the response has been overwhelming:
“Our booth was well visited and the Donut were all over the Canadian trade media. Folks are impressed by the technology, and how the closed containment fish farm can increase fish quality as well as reduce costs.”
