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.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
(vasep.com.vn) Changing markets, shifting buyer demand, and increasingly complex trade barriers are raising a key question for Vietnam’s seafood industry: Where will the new growth opportunities lie in 2027–2029?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As of the end of August 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States reached $21 million, representing a steep 48% year-over-year decline and accounting for 23% of the country's total tilapia export turnover. Frozen fillets accounted for 78% with the remainder consisting of whole frozen tilapia and frozen cuts.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a volatile first half of the year, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Brazil registered robust growth in July and August 2026. In August alone, export turnover reached $19 million, surging 73% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively for the first eight months, total export value reached $124 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Besides modifying their boats, many fishermen in Dak Lak province are making efforts to venture out to sea to harvest seafood during the rough sea season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the Responsible Seafood Summit and TCRS Shrimp Summit 2026, organized by the GSA (Global Seafood Alliance) in Bangkok, Thailand, the conversation about the future of the shrimp industry began with one of its most important foundations: seedstock quality.
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