Dag Sletmo, Senior Vice President at seafood lending giant DNB, has drawn attention to the increasing scrutiny of fish health within the financial industry.
Speaking at a seminar during Arendalsuka, an annual political event in Norway, Sletmo noted that the industry’s rising concern stems from two key factors: the direct correlation between fish welfare and financial results, and the potential for fish welfare, especially mortality rates, to become a highly contentious issue in the public domain.
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Sletmo emphasized the urgency for salmon farmers to take a proactive approach in addressing these health challenges, suggesting that if the industry fails to manage these issues transparently and effectively, it could face increasingly stringent regulations that may not be well-targeted.
“This is due to two elements. One is correlation with financial results. But there is also a great concern that fish welfare is an explosive topic. You can’t say that people should stop emitting CO₂ today, but you can say that you should stop treating animals as we do today. The financial industry has become concerned about the social license of salmon farming. It is probably especially mortality that has become preoccupied,” he said.
“And then I think it is important that the fish farmers are forward-leaning and address the problems as much as possible – and that they do it in a way that politicians and society at large have confidence in. The alternative quickly becomes rigid detail-oriented regulations that do not necessarily hit the mark.
The remarks followed a seminar hosted by DNB, DNV, and Tekna, where differing views on how to enhance fish health were discussed.
Arendalsuka is an annual political and societal event held in Arendal, Norway. It is a forum for political debate, discussion, and dialogue in the country, bringing together politicians, business leaders, NGOs, media, and the public. The event typically takes place in mid-August and spans several days, featuring a wide range of seminars, debates, panel discussions, and other activities focused on current political, economic, and social issues.
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