Hav Line’s harvest vessel has made 15 trips back and forth between cages in Western Norway and the salmon terminal in Hirtshals since its inauguration.
In mid-January, “Norwegian Gannet” went on its first mission. Three months later, 2,800 tons of salmon have been harvested, but the discussion on where the so-called production fish is to be sorted is still ongoing.
The Ministry of Trade and Fisheries is demanding that the fish be sorted in Norway and has sent out a clarification of the fisheries quality regulations’ provisions for consultation. The consultation deadline is March 15, and the amendment to the regulations is scheduled to take effect on April 1.
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Hav Line, on the other hand, has proposed to return the production fish to Norway after sorting in Denmark.
“There are six ferry departures daily from Hirtshals to Norway. Production fish can return to fillet cutting in Norway faster than it will be from a plant on the Norwegian coast,” said CEO Carl-Erik Arnesen in Hav Line to Sysla.
The Ministry believes it is important that the production fish be sorted in Norway to safeguard the reputation of Norwegian salmon.
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“When we transport the production fish back to Norway, we completely remove the risk that fish will be able to damage the industry’s reputation in the market,” said Carl-Erik Arnesen.
Sysla has tried to contact the Ministry without getting an answer.
