Industry mourns pivotal figure in the development of modern salmon farming.
Per Grieg Sr who passed away on January 11, just weeks before his 92nd birthday, played a pivotal role in shaping the modern aquaculture industry.
The Bergen-based Grieg Group, established in 1884, has played a considerable role in the Norwegian and global aquaculture sector, largely due to initiatives started during Per Grieg Sr.’s leadership.
Born on January 31, 1932, Grieg trained as a civil engineer and joined the business as a ship’s broker in 1961. He played a leading role in developing the company into the Grieg Group, which grew into a billion-dollar business within shipbroking, shipping, logistics and fish farming.
His tenure at the Grieg Group was marked by strategic diversification, most notably in the 1990s when the company expanded into salmon farming, under the direction of his son, Per Grieg Jr.
The younger man established Grieg Norwegian Salmon, which became Grieg Seafood, in 1992. The business has grown strongly and today is the main driver of the family-owned Grieg Group of companies.
Grieg Seafood today is one of the world’s largest salmon farming companies with operations in his Norway, British Columbia and Newfoundland. The company aims to produce 125,000 tons of fish annually by 2025.
Per Grieg Sr was also responsible for establishing the Grieg Foundation in 2002, which he ran until 2020. The foundation has distributed more than NOK 1 billion ($100 million) to projects both in Norway and internationally.
