SalMar is one of the world's largest salmon farmers with farming operations in central and northern Norway. It also owns 51% of Iceland's largest salmon farmer, Icelandic Salmon AS, which is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange's Euronext Growth market and owns 50% of UK salmon farmer Scottish Sea Farms Ltd. through a joint venture with Lerøy Seafood Group. The company sends a significantly higher proportion of its harvested volumes than its peers to secondary processing before shipping to customers in Europe, Asia and North America, but also sells whole fresh and frozen fish.
As part of its efforts to secure sustainable salmon farming growth, SalMar has a leading role in developing offshore fish farming. This is one of three new technologies designed to reduce the environmental impact of salmon farming on sensitive coastal waters as well as cutting biological costs; the others are closed containment farming and land-based farming.
SalMar was founded in 1991 by Gustav Witzøe, who still holds the position of CEO and owns a 52.5% stake through investment company Kverva Industrier AS. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and the remaining owners are financial investors