Norwegian fish farmers will have to pay hefty sum when salmon escape

The Norwegian aquaculture industry will now automatically cover the bill when the Directorate of Fisheries is forced to fish escaped farmed salmon.

Additionally, the requirement that the escape of salmon must be defined as “acute” in order for the aquaculture industry to cover the expenses will be removed, the Ministry of Trade and Industry announced in a press release.

“It is the fish farmers who have to pay when fish escape. We are now tightening the requirement so that they have to cover a larger part of the bill when the farmed salmon has to be fished up,” Minister of Fisheries and Seafood Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen (H) noted.

The Norwegian Fisheries Industry’s association for fishing escaped farmed fish (OURO) is the responsible entity on the part of the industry. 

The association must implement measures against escaped salmon, and the Directorate of Fisheries can apply to OURO for reimbursement of expenses. 

Until now, the ministry has only been able to apply for reimbursement if the incident was considered acute.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today