Norwegian salmon producer SalMar is hoping to reverse a government order to slaughter its fish at a pen affected by pancreas disease.
On Wednesday, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority told the company that all fish at its site in Finnvik, Troms, must be harvested or slaughtered by 31 January.
SalMar has argued that there are measures other than slaughter that should be considered, including biologically acceptable measures that would protect the biomass at the site in a better way and have less effect for employees and local communities. SalMar has until 26 January to appeal the decision.
The site holds a total of 2.1 million salmon with an average weight of about 300 grams. The production value of the fish is about NOK 30 million. The site is planned to be harvested in 2013.
If the harvesting order is enforced, the company said it will work to change its smolt stocking and production plans such that the effects of a potential harvesting of the site will not affect volumes in 2012 and 2013.
