The auction of new salmon production licenses has now been completed. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries has confirmed that 14 aquaculture companies purchased new salmon production licenses for a combined total of €307.8 million.
“I’m delighted that many producers participated in the auction. The support shown reveals we have ambitious producers. That’s great, as growth in the salmon industry can contribute to greater activity and jobs along the Norwegian coast,” said the Minister of Fisheries Per Sandberg.
Three auctions
The Ministry of Fisheries and the Directorate of Fisheries have together completed an auction of new salmon production licenses (18-20 June). The auction was announced after the government introduced the new “traffic light system”, designed to ensure sound, predictable growth in the aquaculture industry.
Three auctions were held; the main auction, and two auctions where the remainder of the licenses were put up for auction.
The outcome of the auctions shows that 14 companies were successful with bids, where they bought license capacity to the tune of €307.8 million in total.
“This has enormous significance for municipal Norway, as they will now be recompensed for all the effort they have put into paving the way for the aquaculture industry,” said Sandberg.
Municipalities to receive €334.4 million
Last winter aquaculture companies had the opportunity to buy production licenses at a fixed price. This harvested €106.2 billion. Coupled with the money raised from the auction amounted to €334.4 million. This will be distributed to the various municipalities through the Aquaculture Fund.
The Aquaculture Fund was established in June 2016. 80 percent of revenue gained from growth in the salmon farming industry is distributed from the fund to all municipalities and county administrative municipalities with marine farming operations.
The type of auction that was selected always carries the risk that not everything will be sold, as was the case with a few licenses. The ministry will consider if, and possibly how, these will be awarded. A decision on this will be announced this autumn.
FINAL LIST:
| Area of production | Bidder | Volume tonnage | Price per tonn in euros |
| 1: Swedish border to Jæren | EIDE FJORDBRUK AS | 100 | 13,941 |
| MARINE HARVEST NORWAY AS | 493 | 13,941 | |
| 7: Nord-Trøndelag with Bindal | EMILSEN FISK AS | 400 | 23,868 |
| NORSK HAVBRUKSSENTER OPPDRETT AS | 265 | 23,868 | |
| MIDT NORSK HAVBRUK AS | 600 | 22,292 | |
| MIDT NORSK HAVBRUK AS | 180 | 22,079 | |
| SALMAR FARMING AS | 183 | 22,292 | |
| SALMAR FARMING AS | 260 | 22,079 | |
| 8: Helgeland to Bodø | LOVUNDLAKS AS | 1,850 | 26,623 |
| EDELFARM AS | 604 | 22,219 | |
| 9: Vestfjorden and Vesterålen | BALLANGEN SJØFARM AS | 200 | 24,510 |
| BALLANGEN SJØFARM AS | 50 | 24,096 | |
| CERMAQ NORWAY AS | 2,000 | 24,510 | |
| CERMAQ NORWAY AS | 30 | 24,096 | |
| EIDSFJORD SJØFARM AS | 200 | 24,510 | |
| LOFOTEN SJØPRODUKTER AS | 53 | 24,510 | |
| LOFOTEN SJØPRODUKTER AS | 20 | 24,096 | |
| LOFOTEN SJØPRODUKTER AS | 32 | 24,510 | |
| 10: Andøya to Senja | EIDSFJORD SJØFARM AS | 517 | 17,326 |
| EIDSFJORD SJØFARM AS | 400 | 17,621 | |
| MARINE HARVEST NORWAY AS | 806 | 17,326 | |
| MARINE HARVEST NORWAY AS | 170 | 17,621 | |
| MARINE HARVEST NORWAY AS | 12 | 17,326 | |
| SALMAR FARMING AS | 333 | 17,326 | |
| STINGRAY MARINE SOLUTIONS AS | 25 | 17,326 | |
| 11: Kvaløya to Loppa | EIDSFJORD SJØFARM AS | 357 | 17,303 |
| MARINE HARVEST NORWAY AS | 566 | 17,303 | |
| MARINE HARVEST NORWAY AS | 4 | 17,090 | |
| NRS FINNMARK AS | 300 | 17,303 | |
| SALMAR FARMING AS | 333 | 17,303 | |
| SALMAR FARMING AS | 10 | 17,090 | |
| 12: West Finnmark | CERMAQ NORWAY AS | 1,200 | 17,621 |
| MARINE HARVEST NORWAY AS | 832 | 17,621 | |
| MARINE HARVEST NORWAY AS | 30 | 17,515 | |
| MARINE HARVEST NORWAY AS | 17 | 17,303 | |
| NRS FINNMARK AS | 400 | 17,621 | |
| NRS FINNMARK AS | 100 | 17,515 | |
| SALMAR FARMING AS | 333 | 17,621 | |
| SALMAR FARMING AS | 47 | 17,303 | |
| 13: East Finnmark | SALMAR FARMING AS | 316 | 16,771 |
| SALMAR FARMING AS | 317 | 15,816 |
