A number of Norwegian seafood firms including Marine Harvest, Cermaq, SalMar and Leroy Seafood Group have been forced to lay off staff members as a salmon shortage in the area persists.
An influx in sea lice the previous fall caused many Norwegian companies to conduct their salmon slaughters earlier than expected, thus leaving less for the winter months, reported iFinnmark. The firms have also reduced the number of shifts alongside the layoffs to accommodate for the current lack of salmon stock available for slaughter.
Scott William Howell, club manager for the Norwegian Food and Beverage Federation, suggested that the state soften its regulations and allow the companies themselves more control over when to slaughter stocks as to reap the most business, reported iFinnmark.
Norwegian Fisheries Minister Per Sandberg also spoke of a desire for a more flexible system for processing salmon, and commiserated with the companies, noting that it is difficult to lay off employees, according to newspaper Dagens Næringsliv.
