The island of Frøya is Norway’s largest salmon farming municipality.
Frøya Laks, owned by Helge Gåsø’s investment company Frøy Kapital, has been denied permission by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to operate a salmon farming facility at Klovningen in Frøya municipality, reports E24. The company had applied to establish a new facility with a maximum allowed biomass of 2,433 tonnes.
The Food Safety Authority cited concerns about the serious disease situation in the area, which already hosts significant aquaculture activities. Salmon lice and listed diseases were highlighted as major threats. The authority stated that it would not be responsible to either establish new or expand existing facilities under current conditions.
The Norwegian coast is divided into 13 production areas (PO) to minimize the spread of salmon lice.
Production area 6, which includes Nordmøre and Sør-Trøndelag (including Frøya), changed color from green to yellow in the traffic light system (see fact box) for aquaculture this spring.
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Yellow means that the environmental impact from the aquaculture industry is moderate, and that the breeders in the area are not allowed to increase production.
However, the authority indicated openness to reconsidering the application if the disease situation improves.
Klaus Hatlebrekke, Investment Director at Frøy Kapital, told E24: “We share concerns about the disease situation and will work with the Food Safety Authority to find acceptable solutions to these challenges.”
Frøy Kapital was established in 2022 by Helge Gåsø alongside Harry Bøe, Klaus Hatlebrekke, and Roger Granheim, with a focus on coastal value creation. Earlier this year, the company acquired a stake in Trøndelag-based Måsøval, which operates in Frøya municipality. Frøya Laks plans to collaborate with Måsøval for its salmon production.
