Matorka

🤩 BIG news just in 🤩 Something exciting has been going on behind the scenes😃 We want to show you what ‘sustainability’ really means to us. A term that gets diluted in the industry by overuse, but we look at the facts. We are proud to launch our very first Impact Report, which encapsulates the past decade of responsible operations. In the ever-evolving landscape of aquaculture, sustainability stands as the compass guiding our journey towards responsible practices and environmental stewardship. We are passionate about our commitment to transparency, best practices, performance, respect, and the pursuit of a harmonious balance between ecological vitality and aquaculture excellence. 🐟 We recognize the impact our industry can have on the delicate balance of marine life. In this report, we share our sustainability initiatives and the measures taken to ensure the health and well-being of the environments we operate within. 🌍 Ready to dive into what the year 2023 was for Matorka? We invite you to explore our 2023 Impact Report and let us know your thoughts, read it here:  https://lnkd.in/enPj84Rk “This report is issued to show the impact of our operations and that we are, based on facts, a sustainable business.” - CEO, Christo du Plessis.  Cees-Jan Bastiaansen, CSO Maryke Musson, COO Arni Pall Einarsson, CCO Alexander K. Gudmundsson, CFO #sustainaiblity #sustainable #sustainableseafood #bluefoods #aquaculture #impactreport 

The land of fire and ice is also the land of Arctic char! Meet our friends from Matorka, one of the largest producers of Arctic char in the world, and learn how they farm Arctic char sustainably in Iceland. Most of the Arctic char consumed in the U.S. is farmed in Iceland, and the country accounts for approximately three-quarters of global production. Most of this Arctic char is farmed in land-based systems, like flow-through raceway tanks, and have minimal environmental impacts. Learn more about our November Super Green species at: https://lnkd.in/g93yZTYC.

One year ago today, a massive magma run changed everything on the Reykjanes Peninsula, specifically for our town of Grindavík. Today, we acknowledge how we stood together—adapting, rebuilding, and never losing focus. We honour the courage and dedication of everyone who tirelessly worked through every challenge. Not only the Matorka team but also our fellow community and the ICE-SAR teams who stepped in to assist - together, we overcame adversity. "Over the last year, I could count on loyal, committed shareholders and dedicated, passionate staff. I would have had to give up long ago had it not been for them. We are about to write the next chapter in Matorka's history as we look to re-capitalise the business, restore lost capacity and realise the potential that we all recognise. " - Christo du Plessis Here’s to continuing our mission with renewed purpose.

Today marks the one-year anniversary. In Iceland it is sufficient to simply refer to THE anniversary. On November 10th, 2023 a massive magma run caused unprecedented damage on the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland. The town of Grindavík was evacuated that night and suffered extensive damage due to land subsidence. It has taken almost a year for authorities to allow the public access to the area. Most home owners have sold their properties and relocated to neighbouring towns and cities. Several businesses have closed their doors or simply relocated. Matorka was not spared as we suffered losses of fish and damage to some grow-out tanks. The past year has most certainly not been business as usual. As if the initial damage was not enough, we dealt with the effects of six subsequent volcanic eruptions in the region, leading to loss of electricity, evacuations and several sleepless nights at times. But we did not lose a single fish or damage to equipment due to eruptions. Our world-class team made sure of that. We also harvested and sold fish every single week of the year. The initial adrenaline rush to evacuate staff, save fish and relocate our processing in the days following the event was then replaced with a tightrope path to recovery. There have been "casualties" along the way, having to say good-bye to some of the team who moved on for various reasons. This allowed some to put up their hands, step up and be promoted, and we also attracted wonderful new team members and came out stronger. Over the last year I could count on loyal, committed shareholders and dedicated, passionate staff. I would have had to give up long ago had it not been for them. We are about the write the next chapter in Matorka's history as we look to re-capitalise the business, restore lost capacity and realise the potential that we all recognise. On this anniversary I recognize the brave actions and sheer grit of all the people involved in this special business. I will never forget what you did.

We had a fantastic time at the Aquatiq Food Forum in Norway recently! It was an incredible opportunity to connect with industry leaders and like-minded professionals in the seafood and food safety sectors. Proudly representing Matorka was our CSO, Cees-Jan Bastiaansen, who presented Matorka’s story and how we dealt with the seismic challenges. Key takeaway: In challenging times, stay positive and open to unique opportunities that may arise from your situation. We want to give a big thanks to Rúnar Birgisson from Aquatiq for organizing the trip and arranging a visit to Mowi’s impressive salmon smolt facility in Nordheim and its brand-new processing plant in Jøsnøya. It is inspiring to see the innovation and forward movement in the aquaculture industry.

It was an honor to connect with Ambassador Ryotaro Suzuki of Japan in Iceland. Thank you for visiting Matorka!

At the OCEANOVATION festival, over 350 attendees including innovators, investors, corporates, and ocean enthusiasts, dived deep into pressing issues and explored nature-based solutions for ocean restoration.   We got to share our story of how we produce the world's finest Arctic Char with this well-informed and interested audience, who share our passion for the Blue Economy. "I was again reminded why our Arctic char is so special, due to our unique farming environment and resources." - Christo du Plessis.   A big thank you to the team at OCEANOVATION for organising this inspiring festival and to Aqua-Spark for the investor event.   #matorka #arcticchar #sustainablefishing #fishfarm #landbasedfishfarm #aquaculture

Two insightful and inspiring days at the #OCEANOVATION Festival in The Hague this week. More than 300 ocean entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators shared their passion and knowledge including Christo du Plessis, CEO of Matorka. If you haven't followed the sustainability story of Matorka and their Arctic Char, please do! Christo has built a fabulous team in Iceland and the product is fabulous. Special thanks to Angus Begg for snapping this pic....great meeting you!

We are proud to have been a part of  "The Future of the Ocean and Aquaculture in Iceland" conference, hosted by IAOF Iceland Aquaculture and Ocean Forum and Arion banki. The conference brought together industry leaders, innovators, and experts to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of aquaculture and marine sustainability. Our CEO, Christo du Plessis, had the opportunity to highlight the incredible work our operations team has done under trying conditions. We are excited about the incredible innovation in the industry and look forward to positive growth in Iceland. Together, we are charting a course towards a sustainable and prosperous future for our oceans. 📸 Soffia Sigurgeirsdottir

We are excited to announce that our CEO, Christo du Plessis will sharing the Matorka journey in sustainable aquaculture at the upcoming OCEANOVATION Festival in The Hague. The Oceanovation Festival is a premier event for those who are passionate about innovation for a more sustainable future. The event will feature keynotes, panel discussions, and workshops from industry leaders. This is a great opportunity to learn about cutting-edge solutions and network with others who share your passion for the ocean. If you’re attending, we look forward to connecting with you there!