Our mission is to produce the world’s cleanest, most consistent abalone while pioneering sustainable aquaculture using Iceland's natural advantages.
Our mission is to produce the world’s cleanest, most consistent abalone while pioneering sustainable aquaculture using Iceland's natural advantages.
Our mission is to produce the world’s cleanest, most consistent abalone while pioneering sustainable aquaculture using Iceland's natural advantages.
Our mission is to produce the world’s cleanest, most consistent abalone while pioneering sustainable aquaculture using Iceland's natural advantages.
About us
About us
About us
Why Iceland?
Why Iceland?
Iceland provides a unique aquaculture setting: naturally warm, mineral-rich seawater filtered through lava rock, abundant geothermal energy, and access to the transatlantic market. Our location in Reykjanes and Grindavík allows us to farm warm-water abalone in the Northern Atlantic
Iceland provides a unique aquaculture setting: naturally warm, mineral-rich seawater filtered through lava rock, abundant geothermal energy, and access to the transatlantic market. Our location in Reykjanes and Grindavík allows us to farm warm-water abalone in the Northern Atlantic
Geothermal
energy
Locally Sourced
Seaweed Feed
Green
Electricity
Geothermal
energy
Locally sourced
seaweed
Green
Electricity
Our Journey
Our Journey
Aurora Abalone began as a scientific R&D initiative in Iceland’s geothermal zone. After years of trials, innovation, and expert collaboration, we’ve transformed into a fully operational abalone farming company. Our journey has taken us from lab-scale experiments to a commercial operation poised for global distribution.
Aurora Abalone began as a scientific R&D initiative in Iceland’s geothermal zone. After years of trials, innovation, and expert collaboration, we’ve transformed into a fully operational abalone farming company. Our journey has taken us from lab-scale experiments to a commercial operation poised for global distribution.
Explore our future plans
Explore our future plans
Leadership and Expertise Overview
Leadership and Expertise Overview
Leadership and
Expertise Overview
Our team combines decades of expertise in aquaculture,
marine biology, system engineering and sustainable design
Our team combines decades of expertise in aquaculture,
marine biology, system engineering and sustainable design
Our team combines decades of expertise
in aquaculture, marine biology, system
engineering and sustainable design
Vala Valþórsdóttir
vala@abalone.is
Chief Executive Officer
Education:
Msc in Law
Experience:
Senior leadership background in retail, innovation and the energy sector, including management roles at 66°North and Landsvirkjun.
Expertise:
Corporate leadership, business development, contract negotiation, and execution of growth initiatives in sustainable industries.
Role:
Oversees all aspects of company operations, strategic development, and team alignment.
Páll Hreinn Pálsson
Pall@abalone.is
CTO
Education:
BSc in Biology
Experience:
Extensive experience in automation and process control within seafood production.
Expertise:
Operational efficiency, automation systems, and production logistics.
Role:
Leads process automation, system maintenance, and operational flow within Aurora Abalone production facilities.
Ingólfur Arnarsson
ingo@abalone.is
Hatchery Manager
Education:
BSc in Aquaculture and Agricultural Science
Experience:
Over 30 years in aquaculture management, including the design and operation of multiple fish farms in Iceland.
Expertise:
Production planning, site management, and process optimization.
Role:
Responsible for daily plant operations and implementation of production protocols to ensure high-quality output.
Raymond Ferreira
raymond@abalone.is
Product Manager
Education:
Aquaculture Management Certificate
Experience:
Over 33 years in aquaculture management and operations, specializing in abalone farming across South Africa and Namibia. Former Technical Director and Hatchery Manager where he led system design, hatchery construction, and production optimization.
Expertise:
Hatchery and grow-out system design, RAS operations, water filtration and recirculation systems, macroalgae culture, and technical maintenance in marine environments.
Role:
Oversee production operations and system design, applying extensive hands-on expertise to optimize performance, ensure biological stability, and establish scalable, efficient on-growing facilities.
Craig Clayden
craig@abalone.is
Head of Research and Development
Education:
BSc in Ichthyology and Fisheries Science
Experience:
24 years in large-scale aquaculture development and production management across abalone, oyster, and finfish sectors.
Expertise:
Aquaculture production systems, operational efficiency, and biological performance optimization.
Role:
Oversees grow-out system design and production strategy for scaling Sæbýli’s commercial operations.
Ruben Adrian Marin
ruben@abalone.is
R&D
Education:
Executive MBA, BSc in Physical Engineering
Experience:
Over a decade in engineering and reliability management, including six years in the energy sector and recent focus on aquaculture systems..
Hafdís Helgadóttir
On - Growing
Magdalena Izabela Perlc
On - Growing
Education: MSc in Law
Experience: Leadership background in retail, innovation and the energy sector.
Role: Oversees all aspects of company operations, strategic development, and team alignment.
Expertise: Corporate leadership, sales & marketing, business development, contract negotiation, and execution of growth initiatives in sustainable industries.
Vala Valþórsdóttir
vala@abalone.is
Chief Executive Officer
Education: Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Forensic Genetics
Experience: Over 20 years in executive management, operations, and corporate transformation, including CEO roles at Tandur hf. and Mjöll Frigg ehf.
Expertise: Financial management, strategic planning, governance, and business transformation.
Role: Leads financial strategy, investor relations, and corporate structure to support expansion into full-scale production.
Richard Kristinsson Dulaney
richard@abalone.is
CFO
Education: BSc in Biology
Experience: Extensive experience in automation and process control within seafood production.
Expertise: Operational efficiency, automation systems, and production logistics.
Role: Leads process automation, system maintenance, and operational flow within Aurora Abalone production facilities.
Páll Hreinn Pálsson
Pall@abalone.is
CTO
Education: Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Forensic Genetics
Experience: Over 20 years in executive management, operations, and corporate transformation, including CEO roles at Tandur hf. and Mjöll Frigg ehf.
Expertise: Financial management, strategic planning, governance, and business transformation.
Role: Leads financial strategy, investor relations, and corporate structure to support expansion into full-scale production.
Richard Kristinsson Dulaney
richard@abalone.is
CFO
Education: Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Forensic Genetics
Experience: Over 20 years in executive management, operations, and corporate transformation, including CEO roles at Tandur hf. and Mjöll Frigg ehf.
Expertise: Financial management, strategic planning, governance, and business transformation.
Role: Leads financial strategy, investor relations, and corporate structure to support expansion into full-scale production.
Richard Kristinsson Dulaney
richard@abalone.is
CFO
Experience:
Entrepreneur and industry leader with decades of experience in sustainable food production.
Previous ventures: Founder of Novo Food (France) and Arctic Fish (Iceland).
Role: Provides strategic oversight, corporate governance, and guidance on growth and market positioning.
Sigurður Pétursson
Chairman of the Board
Education: BSc in Aquaculture and Agricultural Science
Experience: Over 30 years in aquaculture management, including the design and operation of multiple fish farms in Iceland.
Expertise: Production planning, site management, and process optimization.
Role: Responsible for daily plant operations and implementation of production protocols to ensure high-quality output.
Ingólfur Arnarsson
ingo@abalone.is
Hatchery Manager
Education: Aquaculture Management Certificate
Experience: Over 33 years in aquaculture management and operations, specializing in abalone farming across South Africa and Namibia. Former Technical Director and Hatchery Manager where he led system design, hatchery construction, and production optimization.
Expertise: Hatchery and grow-out system design, RAS operations, water filtration and recirculation systems, macroalgae culture, and technical maintenance in marine environments.
Role: Oversee production operations and system design, applying extensive hands-on expertise to optimize performance, ensure biological stability, and establish scalable, efficient on-growing facilities.
Raymond Ferreira
raymond@abalone.is
Product Manager
Education: BSc in Ichthyology and Fisheries Science
Experience: 24 years in large-scale aquaculture development and production management across abalone, oyster, and finfish sectors.
Expertise: Aquaculture production systems, operational efficiency, and biological performance optimization.
Role: Oversees grow-out system design and production strategy for scaling Sæbýli’s commercial operations.
Craig Clayden
craig@abalone.is
Head of Research and Development
Education: BSc in Biology
Experience: Extensive experience in automation and process control within seafood production.
Expertise: Operational efficiency, automation systems, and production logistics.
Role: Leads process automation, system maintenance, and operational flow within Aurora Abalone production facilities.
Páll Hreinn Pálsson
Pall@abalone.is
CTO
Education: Executive MBA, BSc in Physical Engineering
Experience: Over a decade in engineering and reliability management, including six years in the energy sector and recent focus on aquaculture systems.
Ruben Adrian Marin
ruben@abalone.is
R&D
Hafdís Helgadóttir
On - Growing
Magdalena Izabela Perlc
On - Growing
Experience:
Entrepreneur and industry leader with decades of experience in sustainable food production.
Previous ventures: Founder of Novo Food (France) and Arctic Fish (Iceland).
Role: Provides strategic oversight, corporate governance, and guidance on growth and market positioning.
Sigurður Pétursson
Chairman of the Board
Magdalena Izabela Perlc
On - Growing
Education: Aquaculture Management Certificate
Experience: Over 33 years in aquaculture management and operations, specializing in abalone farming across South Africa and Namibia. Former Technical Director and Hatchery Manager where he led system design, hatchery construction, and production optimization.
Expertise: Hatchery and grow-out system design, RAS operations, water filtration and recirculation systems, macroalgae culture, and technical maintenance in marine environments.
Role: Oversee production operations and system design, applying extensive hands-on expertise to optimize performance, ensure biological stability, and establish scalable, efficient on-growing facilities.
Raymond Ferreira
raymond@abalone.is
Product Manager
Education: BSc in Ichthyology and Fisheries Science
Experience: 24 years in large-scale aquaculture development and production management across abalone, oyster, and finfish sectors.
Expertise: Aquaculture production systems, operational efficiency, and biological performance optimization.
Role: Oversees grow-out system design and production strategy for scaling Sæbýli’s commercial operations.
Craig Clayden
craig@abalone.is
Head of Research and Development
Our Journey
Our abalone are grown in chemical-free, biosecure systems, nourished by local Icelandic seaweed and geothermal seawater, reaching over 100g per piece, well above industry averages.
Our abalone are grown in chemical-free, biosecure systems, nourished by local Icelandic seaweed and geothermal seawater, reaching over 100g per piece, well above industry averages.
Our Explore our future plans
Aurora Abalone
Grindavík & Reykjanes Resource Park, Iceland
Email: info@abalone.is
Phone: [+354 778–4045]
Copyright © Aurora Abalone
Aurora Abalone
Grindavík & Reykjanes
Resource Park, Iceland
Email: info@abalone.is
Phone: [+354 778–4045]
Copyright © Aurora Abalone
Why Iceland?
Our abalone are grown in chemical-free, biosecure systems, nourished by local Icelandic seaweed and geothermal seawater, reaching over 100g per piece, well above industry averages.
Our abalone are grown in chemical-free, biosecure systems, nourished by local Icelandic seaweed and geothermal seawater, reaching over 100g per piece, well above industry averages.
Geothermal
energy
Locally sourced
seaweed
Green
Electricity
Aurora Abalone
Grindavík & Reykjanes Resource Park, Iceland
Email: info@abalone.is
Phone: [+354 778–4045]
Copyright © Aurora Abalone
Aurora Abalone
Grindavík & Reykjanes Resource Park, Iceland
Email: info@abalone.is
Phone: [+354 778–4045]
Copyright © Aurora Abalone