Aquaculture Stewardship Council slams Norway's additional tax on harvested salmon
The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) said it is again strongly responding to the recently announced addition to the norm price of NOK1.50 (US$0.14) per kg for ASC-certified fish, warning that this will have serious and unintended environmental consequences for the Norwegian aquaculture industry.
The council said the Norm Price Council has introduced a special tax on ASC-certified salmon, despite the fact that the ASC programme sets significantly stricter environmental and social requirements than what the Norwegian authorities have implemented themselves. The purpose is to tax farmers for the increased income they achieve by selling sustainably farmed fish.
"We understand that this addition to the norm price is purely fiscal and intended to generate revenue," said Laetitia Rosing, Producer Outreach and Regional Manager Nordics at ASC. "Nevertheless, the added fee will undermine several years of progress towards more sustainable aquaculture in Norway.
"This is a tax on accountability when authorities should make it attractive for farmers to choose the most responsible and transparent certification scheme on the market."
ASC said its certified farmers face a significant financial burden, while other less stringent sustainability schemes are not affected by the additional tax. The organisation fears that the aquaculture industry’s environmental work will be weakened.
"The Norm Price Council has shown a lack of understanding of how certification schemes and market forces interact" added Rosing. "Instead of promoting sustainability, this tax creates a zero-sum game where the consequence is weaker environmental standards and increased reputational risk for the Norwegian aquaculture industry."
ASC added that it has repeatedly attempted to enter into dialogue with Norwegian authorities to discuss the consequences of this tax, most recently in the form of a letter to the Ministry of Finance in January. The council said its request for an urgent meeting has remained unanswered.
The council expects that there will be consequences such as increased reputational risk for Norwegian salmon, as export markets demand increasingly stronger sustainability commitments.
"This decision will be a direct step backwards for responsible aquaculture," Rosing concluded. "The Norm Price Council may not have intended to oppose sustainability, but that is precisely what they are doing.
"We urge the Norwegian authorities to re-evaluate this tax and enter into dialogue to find a fair and balanced solution that does not punish those who are leading the industry towards a more responsible future."
