“It’s all about biology and making the right choices” – Carl-Erik Arnesen outlines STIM's ambitions

Leknes, Norway-headquartered STIM, a company that has sold fish health products for over 30 years, announced the appointment of aquaculture industry veteran Carl-Erik Arnesen as its new CEO in September 2023. Arnesen previously served as managing director of aquafeed producer Polarfeed, and prior to that was CEO of Hav Line Gruppen, managing director of Firda Seafood, and marketing director at Alsaker Fjordbruk. Arnesen will direct his new company in all areas of operations, including vaccine and drug distribution, fish health services, environmental investigations, and research and development.

In an interview with SeafoodSource, Arnesen said STIM will continue to bring new solutions and innovations to the industry while still maintaining its unwavering focus on championing fish biology and welfare.

SeafoodSource: What attracted you to the role at STIM, and what makes it a good fit?

Arnesen: I have always appreciated STIM for its honest approach to improving its customers’ biological results. The company does this in several different ways and in many markets around the globe, using its competence both to innovate and create new solutions as well as advising its customers to get back to the basics when needed. After a long career in fish farming, I have come to share this idea of a maximum focus on biology and fish welfare being key to growth and prosperity in aquaculture.

SeafoodSource: Which parts of STIM have been doing well, and where will you be looking to direct more focus moving forward?

Arnesen: Last year actually saw growth in all STIM divisions – from vaccine distribution to fish health services, environmental surveys, and advisory services. Our strategies moving forward differ a bit between markets, but we are building on the great efforts among our different teams and will keep strengthening our interdisciplinary collaboration, which is one of the core strengths of this company.

SeafoodSource: What are some of the company’s biggest recent successes?

Arnesen: Introducing bacteriophages as a new tool in the fight against harmful bacteria in fish farming is one of our greatest achievements and success stories. CUSTUSYRS is now widely used in Norway against Yersinia ruckeri [the causative agent of enteric redmouth disease in various species of salmonids], and several similar products are underway. In terms of reducing the reliance on antibiotics in aquaculture, this technology will play a major role in bettering fish health, as well as industry sustainability.

SeafoodSource: Are there any other opportunities that you’d like STIM to explore in the future?

Arnesen: Again, the challenges vary a bit in different markets, but our main focus …

Photo courtesy of Sulefisk