Sjømat Norge will support lifting Norway’s long-standing ban on exports of so-called “production fish”, as part of efforts to secure continued market access for Norwegian seafood in the European Union.
The industry organisation informed members of the decision in an internal email sent Friday afternoon, according to Dagens Næringsliv.
Production fish, known in Norway as “prodfisk”, refers to salmon with wounds or other production-related defects. Under current rules, such fish must generally be corrected domestically, typically through filleting or processing, before export.
Sjømat Norge has previously avoided taking a formal position on whether exports of production fish should be permitted. The issue has divided members, as production fish represents an important raw material source for Norway’s processing industry and associated employment.
The question was also central to the dispute surrounding the slaughter vessel Norwegian Gannet, which ended up in court before the company received an eight-year exemption allowing offshore processing and export.
The Danish Seafood Association (DSA) has long argued that Norway’s export restrictions on production fish distort competition. Danish processors have claimed the rules favour Norwegian processing plants, which can use lower-cost production fish domestically while Danish buyers must import higher-grade salmon at higher prices.
