The new measures could reduce sea lice by around 30 percent, Aspaker told a news conference.
"The capacity increase will take effect from 2015," she said.
The government simultaneously abandoned a proposal from a group of experts that would have allowed fish farmers to calculate their quotas (MTB) on a rolling average basis, which could have resulted in an even larger capacity increase.
The long-term average output growth from Norwegian fish farms has been about 10 percent per year.
Several fish farmers, including top producers like Marine Harvest and Cermaq, had criticized the original proposal, arguing the problems with sea lice should get top priority.
"We are very satisfied that the minister is now moving away from the previous proposal of a rolling average MTB," Cermaq Chief Executive Jon Hindar told Reuters, adding that the proposal announced Monday is "consistent with the company's view that the industry needs to keep growing in a sustainable manner".
"At first glance, this is very positive," Hindar said.
But the new plan may limit output growth by even more than the government has proposed, as the environmental goals will be tough to meet, analyst Kolbjoern Giskeoedegaard at Nordea Markets said.
"The conditions are so strict that only companies operating in Troms and Finmark can meet them, said Giskeoedegaard, pointing out that sea lice is a less prevalent phenomenon in Norway's two northernmost counties.
These areas represent about 15-20 percent of the total salmon production in Norway, and several of the fish farmers located there have chosen not to use all of the capacity they have today.
"My assumption is that this will only give a production growth of between 15.000 to 20.000 tonnes next year, which is a very moderate growth", said Giskeoedegaard.
Fish farmers must pay a 1.5 million Norwegian crown ($244,300) fee for each of their 1,000 existing licenses to be allowed to increase output.
The government will not launch any new rounds to award additional licenses until 2017 at the earliest, Aspaker said.
Norway is the world's biggest salmon farmer with around half of the global output and its top producers include Marine Harvest, Salmar, Cermaq, Leroey, Grieg Seafood and Norway Royal Salmon.
The fish farming shares easily outperformed the overall Norwegian stock market, with Marine Harvest up by 1.6 percent and Leroey Seafood the top gainer, up 3.8 percent, by 0940 GMT (5.40 a.m. EDT). The Oslo benchmark index was meanwhile up by 0.3 percent.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s fisheries sector maintained positive growth momentum, with shrimp output exceeding 132 thousand tons. This result contributed to a strong increase in seafood export turnover, despite ongoing volatility in the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
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