Akva group prioritises Global Aqua, opts out of Aqua Nor 2027.
AKVA group will prioritise Global Aqua in Lillestrøm as its main meeting arena for customers, partners and authorities, and has decided not to exhibit at Aqua Nor in 2027.
The move comes as competition between aquaculture trade fairs intensifies, with a growing number of events challenging Aqua Nor’s long-standing position in Trondheim. New entrants including HavExpo in Bergen, AquaNext in Stavanger and Global Aqua in Lillestrøm are reshaping the industry’s meeting landscape.
“The industry is growing, and meeting places are evolving accordingly. We see a need to be present where we can best meet customers, partners and decision-makers,” said Ståle Økland, chief commercial officer at AKVA group.
The company cited accessibility and proximity to key stakeholders as central factors behind the decision. Global Aqua is considered more accessible for international employees and customers, while its location near Oslo allows closer interaction with media and political institutions.
AKVA group also pointed to cost considerations, describing the event as offering a more favourable cost–benefit profile.
“We will be present where we create the greatest value, both for ourselves and for our customers,” Økland said.
The decision comes amid an increasingly public debate over the role and relevance of industry trade fairs. Seafood Norway has recently defended Trondheim’s position as host city for Aqua Nor, rejecting criticism over costs and capacity and arguing the city remains well suited to large-scale events.
At the same time, critics within the supply chain have questioned whether the proliferation of new conferences is sustainable, pointing to rising costs and an already crowded events calendar.
Against that backdrop, AKVA group’s withdrawal from Aqua Nor 2027 is likely to be seen as an early indication of how suppliers may begin to prioritise between competing arenas.
Global Aqua will take place at NOVA Spektrum in Lillestrøm, near Oslo, from 7 to 9 September 2027, bringing together stakeholders from across the aquaculture industry.