Iceland's PM defends salmon farming
As Iceland’s general election campaign draws to a close, several leading politicians are coming out to defend fish farming against its critics.
Aquaculture, particularly when carried out in open net-pens in the fjords, has become a divisive issue in some parts of the country over the past couple of years, following a couple of large scale salmon escapes.
Most sports fishing and environmental groups want to see open pen farming curtailed or abolished altogether. But the coalition government has resisted such calls.
Iceland’s Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson came out in favour of the aquaculture industry at an open meeting in Isafjordur earlier this week.
According to the regional news site bb.is the Independence Party chief said fish farming was among the new industries that had brought jobs and extra income to the Westfjords region.
The region is now home to the largest concentration of salmon farming in Iceland – and is set to grow further.
bb.is said the Premier defended fish farming and spoke of the need to let the industry work and produce value for the benefit of the country.
It was also pointed out that the Icelandic salmon industry faced higher taxes than companies in Norway or the Faroe Islands.
Icelanders go to the polls on Saturday, and while aquaculture has featured strongly in the campaign, bread and butter issues such as the cost of living , housing and healthcare have dominated.
The Independence – Left Green – Progressive party coalition government broke down last month over a number of issues including asylum seekers.
Storms are predicted this weekend which could delay voting and the count in some parts of the country.
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