Oslo under fire for ‘lack of ambition’ on seafood

The Norwegian employer organisation Sjømatbedriftene (Seafood Companies) has expressed concern over its government’s “lack of ambition” for the industry.

The comments followed the organisation’s recent national meeting. While Seafood Companies has called for the government to think again about the so-called “salmon tax” or ground rent tax, the organisation says the problem goes deeper than that.

Reporting on the meeting, Managing Director Robert Holmøy Eriksson said the tax had become an enormous burden on the industry, but he added that many members were also unhappy with the government’s lack of delivery on new and improved environmental technology and on growing the seafood processing sector in Norway.

Eriksson maintained that the protection of private ownership and the industry’s framework conditions were becoming increasingly important, adding it was crucial his organisation succeeded with its business policy work.

Seafood Companies describes itself as a national, politically independent business organisation that represents all stages of the seafood industry from production to sale.

It says its purpose is to develop the marine industries in a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable way while, at the same time, looking after the members’ interests.

The national meeting also announced the creation of a separate committee for land based farming.

Eriksson said: “We already have members such as Salmon Evolution, Giant Salmon [Gigante Salmon], and Salfjord. In addition, several of the country-based ones have made contact and are in the loop to sign up. “

He added: “If we are to reach the potential of five million tonnes of salmon and trout by 2050, we need to be completely dependent on a sustainable and balanced production between traditional farming, land-based farming and farming at sea.”