The Iceland Ocean Cluster recently had the pleasure of visiting Nelson, New Zealand, as part of an exciting collaboration with Moananui, New Zealand’s blue economy cluster. The visit was packed with valuable exchanges, inspiring discussions, and the discovery of local innovations shaping the sustainable future of seafood and marine resources.
100% Fish: From Scale to Tail
At the heart of the visit was the co-organisation of the 100% Fish: From Scale to Tail workshop — a dynamic gathering focused on unlocking value from seafood side streams. The workshop brought together entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry leaders to explore solutions and share experiences from both the Nordic and Pacific regions. More info here.
As part of the workshop, we hosted two official Nordic Talks, creating space for open dialogue between Nordic and Pacific perspectives on sustainable resource use, circularity, and marine innovation.
Sustainable Solutions Symposium
In addition to the workshop, we attended the Sustainable Solutions Symposium, hosted by the Bio Processing Alliance. This symposium showcased research and real-world applications in bioresource processing. It was incredibly insightful to see how cross-sector partnerships are accelerating innovation in the region.
A standout moment was meeting the team from New Zealand King Salmon. Their commitment to full utilisation of salmon through the development of pet food and treats from their salmon sidestreams reflects the core goals of the 100% Fish movement. Their approach offers a strong example of how to turn waste into value.
Visits to Leading Research Institutions
Cawthron National Algae Research Centre
We were also fortunate to visit several key players of the blue economy in Nelson:
Cawthron Institute – New Zealand’s largest independent science organisation, where we toured their algae research facility and had the opportunity to learn more about their work in micro-algae cultivation, applied phycology, and bioactive compounds.
Plant & Food Research – A hub of interdisciplinary science focused on adding value to food and marine resources through innovation, including research on seafood quality, bioactives, and sustainable production systems.
Green mussels at Maclab
MacLab – A leader in the development of mussel-derived bioactives, MacLab gave us a tour of their facility. Their experience offers valuable lessons in commercialising science-led innovation.
Strengthening Global Collaboration
This visit marked a step in strengthening international ties within the blue economy. Iceland in the North Atlantic ocean and islands in the Pacific ocean share common challenges and opportunities in circular resource use, aquaculture, and marine biotechnology. By working together, we can accelerate innovation and deliver real-world impact. We are now building on these connections to launch joint initiatives, explore pilot projects, and support businesses on both sides of the world that are driving change in the marine sector.
We are deeply grateful to our hosts at Moananui and all the organisations who welcomed us during our visit. The energy, openness, and drive we encountered in Nelson will continue to inspire our work back home in Iceland.
This trip was supported by the Nordic Council through the Nordic Talks programme, and the Sustainable Development Goals Partnership Fund from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland. Their support made this valuable exchange possible.
