“No one has been charged in the case as of now,” say police.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has reported Austevoll-based aquaculture service company Seivik to the police for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
The investigation relates to a specific incident involving fish dying at Lerøy’s facility on Reitholmen in autumn 2023, and centres on accusations that Seivik failed to properly kill salmon.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s unannounced inspection at the Reitholmen farm, brought the issue to light. Seivik, owned by shipping company Br Bakke, was implicated in the incident.
Police prosecutor, Kristina Munkejord, from the West police district’s department for organized crime, finance and the environment, has confirmed receiving the report.
“It is true that we have received a report. No one has been charged in the case as of now,” she told NRK. “I cannot say more at the present time.”
Both Br. Bakke and Lerøy have denied that salmon that had already died before processing were being sold, attributing poor bleeding practices to various challenging conditions, including a significant number of sick and dead fish.
Arne Bakke, general manager at Seivik and Br Bakke, expressed surprise at the news, noting he had not been approached by the police on the matter. “I have not been questioned by the police about this,” he told NRK.
