Erlend Sodal has stepped down from his position as COO for the sea-based business unit at aquaculture equipment supplier Akva after just over two years in the role.

Sodal was previously operating director for Skretting Group and managing director of Skretting Norway and Australia, and spent 20 years with the company in various roles.

He said on LinkedIn that he was now looking for a new opportunity.

On March 25, Akva announced it would not be entering into any new contracts with Russian customers amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier the same month, Akva said it would be selling its stake in submersible salmon farm project Atlantis Subsea Farming (ASF) as the project has its development permit converted into an ordinary operating license.

Akva owned a third of the shares in ASF and the estimated profit is NOK 35 million (€3.6 million/$4 million) from the sale. As a part of the transaction Akva became the owner of the technology that was developed in ASF.

In February, Akva was awarded two post-smolt recirculating aquaculture system contracts in Norway.

The contracts, announced to the Oslo Stock Exchange, don't name the companies involved but are valued at €6 million ($6.8 million) and €19.8 million ($22.5 million).

Land-based operations have become an increasingly important revenue stream for the company.