Bluegreen is entering a new and decisive phase. After several years of developing and testing the Marine Donut – the world’s largest floating closed aquaculture system – the time has come for scaling up and industrialization. To lead this next stage, Stian Johnsen has been appointed as the new CEO.
The appointment comes at a time when the regulatory framework for closed aquaculture is shifting both in Norway and internationally. In October, a new aquaculture regulation was adopted that encourages the use of floating closed containment systems in areas with high lice pressure. At the same time, Canada has decided to phase out open pens in British Columbia by 2029. Together, these developments are driving a sharp increase in global demand for solutions like the Marine Donut.
Read more: New regulation opens for Marine Donut in red zones
“We are entering an incredibly exciting period, and Stian is exactly the right person to lead us forward,” says Nils Johan Tufte, Chair of the Board and outgoing CEO of Bluegreen. “He knows the technology, the industry and the challenges extremely well, and has proven that he can deliver results through demanding transitions.”
Although Nils-Johan, who has led Bluegreen since the beginning, is stepping out of the day-to-day management, he is by no means leaving the ship. He will continue as partner, Chair of the Board and CEO of Bluegreen Group, now with full focus on market development and strategic partnerships.
The Marine Donut has already produced two generations of salmon – each of around 1,000 tonnes – with excellent results in both fish welfare and product quality: zero lice, zero escapes and record-low mortality.
Read more: Full-scale Marine Donut test with 195,000 salmon: Only 0.8% mortality
“We are now ready for the next step: serial production of the Marine Donut,” says Tufte. “We see growing interest from Norwegian farming companies that want to invest in closed systems – especially now that the regulatory conditions are finally aligned. The technology is tested, safe and ready for use.”
The new CEO lives in Langesund and comes from the position of Group CEO at Sterner AS – a leading company in aquaculture technology, water treatment and sludge management. Under Johnsen’s leadership, Sterner moved from several years of losses to a projected profit in 2025.
“I’ve followed Bluegreen and the Marine Donut project for a long time. This is one of the most exciting developments in aquaculture in many years,” says Johnsen. “The technology is not only sustainable – it is profitable. And that is exactly what the industry needs now. I am excited to continue building together with the team in Bamble.”
Sterner and Bluegreen have collaborated for several years, both as customer and supplier. Sterner’s new CEO, Bjarne-Egild Pettersen, expects this collaboration to continue and grow even stronger.
A warm welcome to Stian from all of us at Bluegreen! We’re excited to get to know you even better.
