Land-based salmon farm moves a step nearer approval
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has finally said yes to Helgeland Miljøfisk's plans for a 40,000-tonne flow-through facility in Brønnøy, Helgeland, central Norway.
Helgeland Miljøfisk said in a press release that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority notified it on Friday afternoon that it is reversing the decision to reject it and is approving the development.
The company requires just one more permit, from the State Administrator of Nordland, before Nordland County Municipality can gave the project the go-ahead.
"Finally! We have been waiting for this announcement for a long time. It has been a long process, over three years. I am relieved and happy that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has accepted our complaint and given us permission," Helgeland Miljøfisk chief executive Sten Roald Lorentzen said in a press release.
Several rejections
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has previously rejected the farm plans on several occasions, most recently in January. At that time, the Authority said it made its decision because Helgeland Miljøfisk did not plan to clean the intake water, had not planned to have a roof over the land-based farming tanks, and had not established good enough plans related to internal control and biosecurity.
"We have worked intensely to find good enough solutions, and we therefore expected a yes. It is incredibly good to get it in black and white," said Lorentzen.
In its decision notice, the Authority said it considers that the measures described in the company's submission mean that the risk of infection to, within, and from the facility will now be acceptable.
"Based on the new information in the case, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's aquaculture inspection division is reversing the decision in the case," the Authority said.
Answered everything
Lorentzen is crossing his fingers that the State Administrator of Nordland will soon approve the facility, where the plan is to produce up to 40,000 tonnes of fish per year.
It is the State Administrator who must grant a permit under the Pollution Act, but after several years of processing, the State Administrator in Nordland refused in February. This came despite a written message from the authorities along the way that "they signed a permit". Helgeland Miljøfisk has appealed the decision, and is now waiting for the response from the new processing.
"We believe we have answered all of the questions and objections from the State Administrator, in the same way as we have from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. We expect to receive permission from them as well," said Lorentzen.
He hopes to start construction activities during the year.
"That is definitely the plan. The Toftøya initiative will mean a lot to Helgeland. We are so lucky that we have many people who support us on the way to our goal. We appreciate that support immensely. Now we are one step closer."
Facts:
Helgeland Miljøfisk is owned by Aquaculture Innovation, which is in turn owned by Torghatten Aqua. The companies are headquartered in Toft outside Brønnøysund.
