Aquaculture needs more access to land, Seafood Norway tells new parliament

Seafood Norway offered its message to all MPs rather than single out the victorious Labour Party, with which it had differences in the last parliament, by name. It also said that that changes were needed.

Geir Ove Ystmark, Seafood Norway’s Chief Executive said: “We at Sjømat Norge (Seafood Norway) look forward to finding good solutions with the new Storting so that we can jointly build the future of Norway’s second largest export industry.

“It is through collaboration that we will find the strong, robust and lasting solutions that promote Norwegian competitiveness.

“For Seafood Norway, it is important that the new Storting, over the next four years, works to strengthen Norwegian competitiveness and predictability.”

On tax, he said the present system for businesses and owners in Norway was unpredictable and set tax at a high rate. 

“We want broad settlements that create predictability and stand the test of time,” he added.

On access, he said his organisation would work with the new Storting to secure access to land for the aquaculture industry.

“This is crucial for the further development of Norway’s second largest export industry and one of the country’s most important rural industries.”

And on trade agreements and market access, Ystmark said that together with MPS his members wanted to secure access to the EU and other markets, to ensure competitiveness in the short and long term.

He added: “This will also ensure Norway’s preparedness, where the seafood industry has great potential and can contribute and strengthen Norway’s preparedness at a time when we see geopolitical unrest.”