SalMar wins approval to convert 6,000-tonne development licences

Salmon farming heavyweight SalMar has secured 6,112 tonnes of biomass allowance in Norway by winning permission to convert eight temporary development licences into permanent standard permits.

The permits – seven of 796 tonnes and one of 540 tonnes – are held by SalMar subsidiary Arctic Offshore Farming AS, in connection with the development of Arctic Offshore Farming concept for exposed offshore locations. The facility is designed as a circular, semi-submersible structure with two cages and a feed barge, where the cages can be operated below the surface to reduce contact with sea lice.

The concept was developed by Norway Royal Salmon (NRS) and Aker, which were granted development permits for the project in 2018. Following the merger between NRS and SalMar in 2022, the permits are currently held by Arctic Offshore Farming AS.

On Friday evening, the Directorate of Fisheries announced that it agreed to allow the permits to be converted because the project had met its target criteria.

During the project period, two production cycles have been completed at the facility. Experience from the production, both biological, technical and operational, has been documented through an extensive measurement program.

Experience from operation

The final report describes both positive experiences and challenges from operating the facility.

Among the conditions highlighted are limitations in the weather window for operations, challenges with sea lice and wounds, and technical challenges related to the net system during operation.

According to the report, the facility is currently approved for a significant wave height of 6.7 metres. The company believes it may be possible to increase this to around 10 or 12 metres if the structure is reinforced.

Location had permit withdrawn

The facility has been operated at the Fellesholmen location in Troms.

In December 2025, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) withdrew the sector permit for the site. The reasons for this included issues related to fish welfare, animal health, and biosecurity. The decision also noted that the location of the facility could make it difficult to access the facility during extended periods of bad weather.

The Directorate of Fisheries nevertheless emphasises that this does not affect the assessment of whether the development project meets the criteria for conversion of the permits.

The Directorate believes that the project has overall met the objectives of the development scheme.

Must pay £10 million

Before the permits can be used as ordinary food fish permits, the company must pay a fee to the state.

The Directorate of Fisheries has calculated the fee at NOK 130,320,784 (£10 million) for the eight permits, including adjustment according to the consumer price index and previous capacity adjustments.

Once the fee has been paid, the company must apply to the Directorate of Fisheries for the placement of the permits in one or more production areas.

After such placement, the company can apply to the county municipality for clearance of the location for operation.

The permits can either be used further in the Arctic Offshore Farming concept or in ordinary aquaculture production.