Norway just found the dumbest way to tax salmon—by punishing sustainability.
Norway’s government has managed a rare feat: a tax so profoundly misguided that it punishes the very thing policymakers claim to support. The new resource rent tax proposal will slap an extra NOK 2 per kilo on ASC-certified salmon while leaving other certification schemes untouched.
That’s right—Norwegian farmers who go the extra mile for sustainability will be financially penalized for their efforts.
Let’s pause to appreciate the sheer absurdity of this. The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is widely recognized as the gold standard for responsible fish farming. Certification requires stringent environmental, fish welfare, and social responsibility standards. But under this proposal, these farms will now have to pay extra for the privilege of being responsible. Meanwhile, less regulated operations get a free pass. If you were deliberately trying to incentivize cutting corners, this would be an excellent way to do it.
ASC CEO Chris Ninnes has every right to be furious. Not only was ASC blindsided—excluded from discussions despite being directly impacted—but the tax mechanism itself is built on a fundamental misunderstanding of the salmon market. The government is treating ASC certification as a luxury product with a fixed price premium, when in reality, the market is far more complex. That’s before you even get into the bureaucracy and mis-taxation risks that could make the whole thing unworkable.
Breaking: ‘Illogical and counterproductive’ – ASC blasts salmon tax proposal
And let’s talk about consistency. Norwegian policymakers regularly champion sustainability, urging fish farmers to invest in innovation, biosecurity, and higher standards. But now, with this tax, they’re making those very investments more expensive. It’s like telling someone to eat healthier while slapping a surcharge on vegetables. If the goal is to create confusion in an industry that’s already navigating complex regulatory waters, this is certainly one way to do it.
The consequences will be serious. Farms will pause or abandon ASC certification, green investments will stall, and Norway’s international reputation as a leader in sustainable aquaculture will take a massive hit. And for what? A poorly thought-out, illogical tax grab.
It’s not too late for the government to change course. But if they don’t, they shouldn’t be shocked when salmon farmers respond in kind—by cutting back investments, shelving expansion plans, and generally treating Norway’s tax policy like a force of nature to be endured, not engaged with.
