SalMar denies China fish smuggling claims

SalMar has strongly denied a Norwegian radio report that it was involved in the illegal import of salmon into China a decade ago.

Worried about seafood being smuggled into the country through Vietnam to get around sanctions imposed on other nations, China imposed major restrictions on seafood shipments from overseas.

The radio station NRK Dagsnytt broadcast a report a few days ago claiming that SalMar was fully aware that its products were being sent on to China unlawfully.

After the clampdown a business woman called Yimin Dong, who NRK claims represented SalMar in China, was jailed for smuggling Norwegian salmon into the country.

The company issued a lengthy statement today which said: “NRK has again told the story of Yimin Dong, who is imprisoned in China and convicted for what NRK describes as smuggling Norwegian salmon.

“NRK has referred to Yimin Dong as SalMar’s China manager and claims that SalMar has been responsible for and knew about the illegal import of salmon to China. Both parts are wrong.

“Yimin Dong has never been employed by SalMar or received salary or other remuneration from the company. Until she was imprisoned, she was for a number of years an important customer for SalMar and other Norwegian seafood companies.”

SalMar said the fish she bought from SalMar was delivered and taken over by her company in Vietnam.

It went on: “It was this company that was responsible for resale and all further handling of the goods, including that reporting to the relevant authorities was handled correctly.

“As far as SalMar knows, it has never been stated by Chinese courts or the country’s authorities that SalMar should have contributed to illegalities in China.”

SalMar’s business relations with Yimin Dong were already established in 2007 after SalMar had carried out investigations which, among other things, confirmed a solid background, with references and expertise that instilled trust.

SalMar said the backdrop to the episode goes back to a time when the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the peace prize to the human rights activist, the late Liu Xiaobo in 2010,

China introduced a series of sanctions against Norwegian business. A total ban on selling Norwegian salmon to China was not introduced. Nevertheless, other markets in Asia emerged as important trading partners and recipients of Norwegian salmon in the time that followed.

At this time, Yimin Dong conducted a significant part of her business by importing salmon to Vietnam.

Her company was an important buyer and importer of Norwegian salmon, including from SalMar.

According to agreements and international rules, it was these companies that were responsible for the goods being paid for and for further correct reporting and handling towards the relevant authorities in the importing country.

Yimin Dong’s husband Bjørn Wikne has expressed to NRK his frustration and anger at the lack of help from SalMar.

SalMar said it understands that Yimin Dong and her loved ones have found themselves in a difficult situation, and is sorry and regrets that the company was not able to establish a better communication about providing humanitarian aid to her in 2019.

SalMar said it did not intervene in the court case at the time because that was what her husband wanted, and added that it is pleased that dialogue has now been established to clarify whether there is anything SalMar and Wikne can do together to remedy the situation for Yimin.