No offshore farms until tax differences solved, SalMar chief warns

SalMar founder Gustav Witzøe has warned there will be no expansion of Norway’s offshore fish farming sector until there is more clarification on the ground rent tax, the country’s media is reporting.

One of the biggest difference between the industry and the government is over how the prices on which the tax is based will be determined by the new price control panel.

Witzøe issued the warning during the DNB Markets’ seafood conference on Tuesday.

TDN Direkt reports he said that while the company wanted to expand its offshore venture  the salmon tax issue needed to be settled first.

He was speaking on a panel debate with Regin Jacobsen from Bakkafrost CEO Regin Jacobsen and Mowi’s chief financial officer Kristian Ellingsen.

According to TDN, he said: “It is a bit special of the Fisheries Minister, it is a bit of a shame that he is not present now, that he says that he really believes in offshore. 

“It is a picture of how we experience politicians in relation to being dynamic and developing the industry. The right areas and framework conditions have been put in place, but the most important thing, the ground rent tax, he didn’t mention anything about.”

He added: “If the ground rent tax is not clarified, there will be no offshore activity in Norway. And it is not clarified. Politicians and the industry as such have two points of view on how this industry should be developed.”

SalMar said recently it may follow Mowi and sue the government over the tax.

Former SalMar owner Gustav Witzøe