Big payout for Norway’s aquaculture communities

The money will go to more than 143 authorities of varying sizes to invest largely as they please in local welfare and development projects.

 

Fisheries and Oceans Minister Marianne Sivertsen Næss said: “This means a lot for the coast. Through the Aquaculture Fund, we ensure that local communities that make sea areas available for aquaculture can take part in value creation. 

 

“The money gives municipalities greater room for manoeuvre to invest in welfare services and local development for their residents.”

 

She added: “This is the largest total payment in a two-year allocation period. The payment comes without any strings attached, and the municipalities are free to assess for themselves how the money best contributes to creating welfare for their residents.”

 

The Aquaculture Fund receives income from the sale of new permit capacity for fish farming, as well as from the production fee for salmon farming.

 

Auctions are held every other year, and it is therefore natural to see the payments through the Aquaculture Fund in the context of two years. Last year’s payment of NOK 4.7bn (£331m) was exceptionally high because of the revenue the government received from salmon licence auctions, during that period.

 

The size of payments vary considerably and are usually based on the level of farming activity. The biggest payment of NOK 245.6 million (£3.4m) goes to Froya, an area of intense salmon rearing while Nærøysund in Trøndelag county receives NOK 40.7 million (£3 .4m).

 

At the lower end of the scale, Lyngdal will receive just over NOK 556,000 or £42,000.

 

Since the start of the fund eight years ago more than NOK 17 billion or £1.2 billion has been paid to fish farming communities.