Gaia Salmon ordered to pay $6.7 million in supplier lawsuit
Gaia Salmon has been ordered to pay NOK 75 million ($6.7 million) following a legal dispute over a terminated supplier agreement, according to Norwegian aquaculture news site iLaks.
Eyvi and Total Betong sued the land-based salmon farmer for breach of contract after Gaia Salmon opted for different suppliers for its post-smolt facility in Træna. Oslo District Court ruled in favour of the plaintiffs, awarding them NOK 70 million in damages and an additional NOK 4.7 million in legal costs.
The case centered on a 2021 agreement that granted Eyvi and Total Betong exclusive rights to build Gaia Salmon’s facility, provided financing was secured. Gaia Salmon later terminated the deal, citing financial constraints, and re-tendered the project to multiple suppliers, ultimately selecting VAQ, Overhalla Betongbygg, and Øksnes Entreprenør.
The court rejected Gaia Salmon’s argument that exclusivity only applied to a full grow-out facility, ruling that Eyvi and Total Betong could have delivered a comparable project. However, Gaia Salmon’s board members were cleared of liability, and the plaintiffs were ordered to cover NOK 700,000 of their legal costs.
Gaia Salmon has stated it will review the verdict, while Eyvi and Total Betong’s lawyer called the ruling a partial victory. Neither party has confirmed whether they will appeal.=
