It is obvious that in near future the regulation of the Norwegian salmon farming industry will gradually be adapted to the need to secure a sustainable development of the industry. This development is expected to bring about a consolidation of the industry. Therefore, Marine Harvest has filed a complaint on the restrictions on ownership of Norwegian salmon farming and seeks permission to participate in the consolidation process of the same.
The complaint was file to EFTA’s surveillance authority, ESA, which specifies that the current regulation is in violation with article 31 and Article 40 of the EEA-agreement. It also says that the present ownership regulations of the aquaculture industry are outdated. The regulation also, for all practical purposes, apply to one company only and thereby distort competition.
The press release of Marine Harvest states that the Government’s strategy for a sustainable aquaculture industry and the ongoing transition to production in larger zones, could lead to a need for a consolidation of the industry.
Marit Solberg, Managing Director of Marine Harvest Norway AS, said that the company wants to contribute actively in securing a sustainable development of this industry and, consequently, the company is ready to participate in this consolidation process.
The present rules of the country states that the company has to apply to the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs for a permission to acquire more than 15 percent of the total number of licences, and one company is not allowed to acquire more than 25 percent of all licences. Marine Harvest Norway AS today holds 216 standard licences to produce edible fish, which corresponds to about 22 percent of the total licensed biomass.
The company said that the present regulations restrict a development of the industry towards larger entities which can secure a sustainable development of the industry. As a consequence, Marine Harvest has chosen to make use of its right to present today’s regulations to ESA for evaluation.
