Måsøval to challenge compensation award

The Norwegian salmon farmer Måsøval has decided to appeal for more compensation after the company was awarded almost £1m against the Norwegian government over an incorrect pancreatic disease diagnosis.

Måsøval had originally claimed NOK 29.8m (£2.3m) over the incident which took place in August 2019. The company was forced to slaughter tens of thousands of fish at its site in Kattholmenin, western Norway, which had been diagnosed with the viral pancreatic disease PD SAV3 which led to the company slaughtering at the site. Fish at a neighbouring location were also slaughtered.

The diagnosis turned out to be incorrect and Måsøval sued the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries over the error. The case finally went to court in November last year and six weeks later Måsøval was told it had been successful, although the amount of compensation fell well short of the NOK 29.8m claimed.

The sum awarded was for loss of earnings and incurred expenses as a result of the misdiagnosis, plus accrued interest and delay interest.

Måsøval decided to appeal the sum awarded, however, after the government announced last week that it would be putting in its own appeal over the ruling. The company’s decision was announced in a Stock Exchange notice yesterday.

It has been an eventful start to the year for the company. Last month it was revealed that Helge Gåsø, the founder of the NTS salmon group, had increased his stake in the group.

Then last week it emerged that Pure Norwegian Salmon, a subsidiary business Måsøval  bought into in 2021, had been selling condemned frozen salmon for human consumption.

The practice, involving a small amount of fish, had been happening before it acquired a stake in the business, it was also disclosed.