Aquaticode has appointed Trond Williksen as Strategic Advisor. Williksen is one of aquaculture’s most experienced executives, with more than two decades of leadership across farming, technology, and fish health. He has served as CEO of AKVA group, SalMar, and most recently Benchmark Holdings, where he led the company through a major transformation and its transition to private ownership earlier this year.

Stian Rognlid, CEO of Aquaticode, stated in a press release: “Trond has operated at every level — from farming and technology to genetics and fish health — and that breadth is rare. As AI phenotyping becomes part of everyday operations, his insight into how farmers decide and invest will be invaluable. His experience will help us turn innovation into consistent improvements on the farm and bring phenotype intelligence into standard practice across the industry.”

This appointment marks another step in Aquaticode’s expansion from pioneering projects to large-scale deployments. The company’s patented SORTpro system, launched in 2023, combines advanced imaging, deep-learning AI, and gentle robotics to identify traits and sort tens of thousands of fish per hour.

Williksen mentioned: “I’m joining Aquaticode because this team is creating real biological and commercial impact. AI phenotyping gives farmers new visibility into fish traits that directly affect survival, welfare, and performance. With better selection, Norway’s target of reducing sea mortality from around 16 % toward 5 % isn’t just theoretical — it’s achievable. That’s an impact worth pursuing, and Aquaticode is in a strong position to make it happen.”

Having already scanned tens of millions of fish and partnered with several of the world’s top-10 salmon farmers, Aquaticode is showing how phenotype intelligence can deliver measurable improvements in welfare, efficiency, and growth across the industry.

Williksen joins a board of esteemed advisors, including Einar Wathne, former CEO of Cargill’s aquaculture division.

Einar Wathne, Adviser of Aquaticode, added: “I have watched Aquaticode’s technology evolve from proof-of-concept to real-scale deployment, and Trond’s addition strengthens our ability to bring phenotype intelligence into everyday use on the farm. The combination of empirical scale data and deep sector leadership now gives farmers confidence to invest and adopt.”