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Oct 14, 2010 (newstodate): Norway's salmon production is facing the need for consolidation to cope with the increasing requirements on sustainable production. But obsolete legislation constitutes a barrier.
The Norwegian regulations of ownership of licences for the farming of salmon and trout is established in separate rules of regulations.
Thus, a 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 licenses, and one company is not allowed to acquire more than 25 percent of all licences.
According to Norwegian legislation, no company may hold more than 25 percent of the production licenses. Only one comes near that limit - Marine Harvest with currently 22 percent.
-If consolidation is to proceed, Marine Harvest is the only license holder prohibited from taking part in the process. This constitutes a breach with EU rules for competition and free rights of enterprise, says Jorgen Christiansen, Marine Harvest Communication Director.
-We have thus protested the obsolete Norwegian rule to the European Seafood Association to put pressure on the government and seek a revision of the legislation.
Norway now has about 100 licensed seafood producers, small and large, and out of the total production of 843,000 tonnes of salmon in 2009, Marine Harvest stood for 200,000 tonnes, with the second-largest licensed producer contributing 110,000 tonnes, and the third-largest 65,000 tonnes.
-If this industry is to develop in compliance with the increasing requirements on sustainable production and environmental issues, a consolidation is inevitable. And we are determined to remain a driving force in this process, says mr Christiansen.
Norway's exports of fresh salmon by air total 60-70,000 tonnes per year.
The Norwegian regulations of ownership of licences for the farming of salmon and trout is established in separate rules of regulations.
Thus, a 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 licenses, and one company is not allowed to acquire more than 25 percent of all licences.
According to Norwegian legislation, no company may hold more than 25 percent of the production licenses. Only one comes near that limit - Marine Harvest with currently 22 percent.
-If consolidation is to proceed, Marine Harvest is the only license holder prohibited from taking part in the process. This constitutes a breach with EU rules for competition and free rights of enterprise, says Jorgen Christiansen, Marine Harvest Communication Director.
-We have thus protested the obsolete Norwegian rule to the European Seafood Association to put pressure on the government and seek a revision of the legislation.
Norway now has about 100 licensed seafood producers, small and large, and out of the total production of 843,000 tonnes of salmon in 2009, Marine Harvest stood for 200,000 tonnes, with the second-largest licensed producer contributing 110,000 tonnes, and the third-largest 65,000 tonnes.
-If this industry is to develop in compliance with the increasing requirements on sustainable production and environmental issues, a consolidation is inevitable. And we are determined to remain a driving force in this process, says mr Christiansen.
Norway's exports of fresh salmon by air total 60-70,000 tonnes per year.