Expansion go-ahead for two Icelandic salmon companies
TWO major Icelandic salmon farming companies have been granted licences to produce an extra 18,000 tonnes of fish.
MAST, Iceland’s veterinary authority, has given Arnarlax the go-ahead to farm an additional 10,000 tonnes of sterile salmon in the Isafjord area, in the north-west of the country.
It has also awarded Arctic Sea Farm a new operating licence for up to 8,000 tonnes of salmon and rainbow trout, also in Isafjord.
Arnarlax is part of the SalMar owned Icelandic Salmon company. CEO Bjørn Hembre, said: “This announcement marks another a significant milestone for us. It has been a long process, and we are glad to see our application now moving forward towards the finishing line.
“We are excited about the future and ready to utilize this opportunity for further sustainable growth.”
With this new 10,000-tonne licence, Arnarlax will have a total license capacity of 33,700 tonnes, divided into 23,700 tonnes of fertile salmon in Arnarfjörður, Patreks and Tálknafjörður, and 10,000 tonnes of sterile salmon in Ísafjörður.
Arnarlax said it will provide further updates once the consultation period is ended and after a final decision on the licence.
Arctic Fish is owned by Norway’s Mowi. The announcement allows for 5,200 tonnes of Atlantic salmon and 2,800 tonnes of trout.
The company now has a maximum allowable biomass (MAB) of 27,000 tonnes of salmon and 2,800 tonnes of trout in Isafjord, Iceland’s leading open pen salmon farming area.
The granting of both licences will be seen as proof of the Icelandic government’s commitment to expand the country’s aquaculture industry despite opposition from some sections of the community.
