For Mayor Sara Sekkingstad, a visit to an exhibition centre has been crucial in determining her career path.

– I want to be a part of the journey

Mayor Sara Sekkingstad revealed a special story when she opened the brand-new visitor centre at Manger in Alver.

3 minutes to read

Mayor Sara Sekkingstad revealed a special story when she opened a new visitor centre in Alver municipality. At the end of October, Lingalaks invited people to the grand opening of the Nordhordland Akvasenter and the company’s new feed barge at Manger in Vestland. While the feed barge Åsta was christened by Lingalaks founder and namesake Åsta Haugarvoll, Sara Sekkingstad, mayor of Alver municipality, performed the official opening.

– We are pleased that Lingalaks is investing in our municipality with both a new feed barge and a new visitor centre. The company has made major investments because they believe in the location and the future of the industry, says Sekkingstad.

Long and proud history

Nordhordland Akvasenter at Manger replaces the former Skjærgårdsfisk Visningssenter and is one of Lingalaks’ two visitor permits. The other is the Hardanger Akvasenter in Øystese in the Kvam municipality. Sekkingstad explains that the aquaculture industry in Alver has a long and proud history. The pioneers at Marøy were among the first to start fish farming.

– Our communities are built along the value creation and jobs on the coast. Our most important export industries are located in the districts. The aquaculture industry is an example of this. From its beginnings at Marøy, the aquaculture industry has grown significantly and remains an important industry. Here, value is created, there are jobs, and ripple effects are generated, says Sekkingstad.

Crucial significance

During the opening, the mayor revealed that visitor centres are close to her heart and have been crucial in her career choice.

– I am currently on leave from a civil engineering degree in aquaculture. The reason I chose aquaculture was precisely because I visited a visitor facility. The knowledge the industry possesses, the experiences it has gained over more than 50 years of development, and its willingness to innovate made me want to join the journey and be able to see the development moving forward.

Positive feedback

Jørgen Wengaard, general manager at Lingalaks Akvasenter AS, is delighted that a visit to a visitor facility has been important for the mayor. Since the opening in October, Wengaard and his colleagues have conducted a few tours at the Nordhordland Akvasenter, but it’s at the start of the new year that all activity will transition from the Skjærgårdsfisk site to the new centre.

– Feedback so far has been very positive, and we are very proud of what we can offer, says Wengaard.

He explains that the goal for a visit to the Nordhordland Akvasenter is to give guests an unforgettable experience and a unique insight into aquaculture in the beautiful archipelago north of Bergen. In addition to the visitor centre, parts of the tour will take place on the pier at Toska. Here, boat transport will go to the barge. An exhibition will also be offered at Knarvik Centre.

– We look forward to being fully operational here and hope for many visitors in the coming times.

Published 27 January 2025

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– I want to be a part of the journey

Long and proud history

Crucial significance

Positive feedback

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