Mowi acquires the world’s largest salmon processing vessel

NORWAY – Salmon producer Mowi has expanded its harvesting and logistics capabilities with the delivery of Tautiki, one of the world’s largest and most advanced aquaculture harvest vessels, as the company continues investing in fish welfare, biosecurity and operational efficiency across its farming operations.

The vessel, delivered by Norwegian aquaculture vessel operator Napier AS, will support Mowi’s salmon harvesting activities by enabling continuous 24-hour operations directly at sea farming sites.

Tautiki is the sister vessel of Tauroa, which entered service last year. 

Measuring 70 metres in length with a beam of 15 metres, the vessel has been designed specifically for salmon harvesting operations rather than conventional fishing or cargo transport.

The vessel can process up to 200 metric tonnes of fish per hour and transport approximately 750 metric tonnes of salmon in onboard tanks.

Unlike traditional harvesting systems that require fish to be transported to shore for processing, Tautiki operates directly alongside salmon-farming sea cages. 

Fish are stunned, bled, and chilled on board before being transported to land-based processing facilities.

The approach is designed to improve fish welfare by reducing handling stress and strengthening biosecurity by limiting exposure during transport. 

The system further supports operational efficiency by streamlining harvesting logistics and reducing environmental impacts associated with multiple transport stages.

“Both vessels represent our ongoing focus on quality, fish welfare, biosecurity, and, not least, value creation for all our stakeholders, both internal and external,” Napier AS said in a statement.

The investment comes as Mowi continues to increase production volumes while navigating fluctuating global salmon prices.

According to the company’s first-quarter 2026 results, operational profit reached €221 million (US$259 million), up from €214 million in the same period in 2025. 

The improvement was largely driven by higher harvest volumes, which helped offset lower salmon market prices.

Revenue rose to €1.54 billion (US$1.80 billion), representing the highest first-quarter revenue in the company’s history.

The addition of Tautiki aligns with Mowi’s broader strategy of investing in technology and infrastructure that improve production efficiency while maintaining high standards of fish health and welfare.

Harvest vessels have become increasingly important within modern aquaculture production systems, particularly for large-scale salmon producers seeking to minimise fish stress, improve product quality and strengthen disease prevention measures.

The delivery also reflects continued investment across the global salmon industry in specialised vessels and automated technologies designed to support sustainable production growth.

As the world’s largest salmon producer, Mowi has continued to prioritise operational efficiency and biological performance across its farming network, with logistics and harvesting infrastructure playing a critical role in maintaining profitability and ensuring a consistent supply of salmon to international markets.

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