OFFSHORE FARMING

Norway moves to enable large-scale offshore salmon farming

Norway, 19 June 2025 | Public consultation proposes regulatory changes to allow larger marine zones and long-term development plans for offshore aquaculture

MOWI granja salmón en Noruega

The Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries has launched a public consultation on proposed changes to the country’s salmon farming regulations, aiming to support the growth of offshore aquaculture. The initiative marks a significant step in laying the groundwork for a regulatory framework tailored to this emerging sector in Norwegian waters.

Among the key changes is the move from individual site allocations to the designation of large marine zones, enabling companies to plan long-term development. Applicants would be required to submit a detailed plan covering the establishment, operation, development, and eventual decommissioning of offshore facilities.

“This will ensure biosecure and sustainable development in the areas opened for this new activity. By allocating larger areas, we’re also supporting industrial development and laying the groundwork for infrastructure dedicated to offshore aquaculture,” said Marianne Sivertsen Næss, Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

These comprehensive plans would include structured layouts for farming sites, designed to maintain high standards of biosecurity and to accommodate coexistence with other maritime industries. Insights from early offshore aquaculture projects will also be incorporated to refine best practices and support collaboration with regulators and stakeholders.

“Offshore aquaculture represents a major opportunity for sustainable food production in Norwegian waters, and it demands significant regulatory development to enable it. This proposal is another milestone in that process, and I’m pleased to signal support to the companies I know are working strategically and purposefully to take part in this new opportunity at sea,” Siverstsen Næss added.

Developing aquaculture offshore will require entirely new infrastructure-including smolt production facilities, support vessels such as well boats, and suitable technology for fish handling and transportation in harsher sea conditions. By allocating larger areas, the authorities aim to give producers the space and certainty to phase in projects responsibly while meeting environmental standards.

The consultation also proposes setting minimum technical and operational competency requirements for applicants, ensuring that only qualified operators are eligible for site allocations. These standards will be further clarified in upcoming regulations that will govern how areas awarded in future competitive processes. The Ministry has already begun work on a new regulation focused specifically on offshore are allocation-considered the next milestone in the sector’s regulatory evolution.

The consultation will remain open for the coming weeks, offering industry stakeholders and interested parties a chance to contribute to the development of a secure, sustainable and forward-looking offshore aquaculture model for Norway.