Mattilsynet, Norway’s Food Safety Authority, has identified deficiencies in risk management at Mowi’s seawater operations in Norway, following a system audit conducted in February 2026.
The audit included document reviews, management interviews and verification inspections at 11 sites. It assessed the company’s handling of biosafety, fish welfare and internal control systems.
The findings come amid continued high mortality in the sector. Around 55 million salmon died in the seawater phase in 2025, according to Mattilsynet, reflecting ongoing biological and operational challenges.
Mattilsynet identified one formal non-compliance related to risk assessment, planning and mitigation.
The regulator said Mowi has shortcomings in identifying hazards, assessing risk and implementing effective measures. While multiple risks have been mapped, including high sea temperatures and gill health issues, these are not consistently reflected in the company’s overall risk framework.
The audit also found that risk mitigation efforts are largely focused on reducing consequences rather than preventing incidents.
Operational impact and lice breaches
The report links weaknesses in risk management to continued operational issues. Mattilsynet recorded 169 sea lice limit breaches at Mowi sites in 2025.
It also noted that the effect of multiple mitigation measures is not clearly measured, making it difficult to assess whether actions taken are reducing risk.
In addition, a lack of integration between risk management and incident reporting systems means that links between deviations and underlying risks must be handled manually.
The audit identified inconsistent practices in fish welfare monitoring.
Minimum requirements for welfare scoring may be too infrequent to provide a reliable overview of fish health, while the absence of standardised procedures at site level has led to variation in how welfare data is collected and used.
Mattilsynet also pointed to limited use of available data, including from camera systems, in operational decision-making.
Biosafety gaps at site level
Variation was also identified in site-specific biosafety plans.
In some cases, local risk factors such as water currents or proximity to other aquaculture activity were not fully incorporated into assessments. The regulator cited examples where known risks were not reflected in biosafety planning.
The audit follows a system review in 2024, after which Mowi introduced a revised risk management framework.
Mattilsynet confirmed that several measures have been implemented, but said gaps remain, particularly in linking operational risks to strategic oversight and strengthening preventive measures.
Mowi Seawater Norway operates 161 sites across production areas 1 to 12 and holds 226 licences, according to the report. The company accounts for an estimated 23% of Norway’s salmon production.