Norway updates “traffic light” aquaculture zones, prompting industry backlash

Norway’s government has set the latest "traffic light" system classifications for the country’s 13 salmon, trout and rainbow trout farming production areas, opening the door to limited growth in three regions while requiring capacity reduction in one.

The decision could result in an increase of around 8,300 tonnes maximum allowed biomass (MAB) in green production areas. At the same time, production capacity in one red area is set to be reduced by an estimated 5,300 tonnes, although the final reduction may be lower depending on exemptions.

The classifications are based on scientific assessments of the impact of sea lice on wild salmon in 2024 and 2025, the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans said. The government previously released data in December indicating that sea lice pressure on wild fish in 2025 largely mirrored the situation recorded the previous year.

“We continue to facilitate growth in the areas where the sea lice impact on wild salmon is acceptable. This also means that production capacity will remain unchanged in areas where the impact is moderate, and that we will reduce production capacity where the impact is unacceptable,” said Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Affairs Marianne Sivertsen Næss.

The Capacity Adjustment Regulations for 2026 have now been sent out for consultation, with a deadline of 31 July.

Three production areas have been given a green light and will be offered up to 6% growth: the Swedish border to Jæren (PO1), Western Finnmark (PO12), and Eastern Finnmark (PO13).

Meanwhile, nine areas have been given a yellow light, meaning production capacity will remain unchanged. These are Ryfylke (PO2), Nordhordland to Stad (PO4), Stad to Hustadvika (PO5), Nordmøre and Sør-Trøndelag (PO6), Nord-Trøndelag with Bindal (PO7), Helgeland to Bodø (PO8), Vestfjorden and Vesterålen (PO9), Andøya to Senja (PO10), and Kvaløya to Loppa (PO11).

However, one area, Karmøy to Sotra (PO3), has been given a red light and will have its production capacity reduced by 6% - the third time this specific production area has faced a capacity reduction under the system, according to the Ministry.

Sivertsen Næss said she was concerned that more areas than before had received yellow classifications, despite the aim of reducing the impact on wild salmonids. The minister said the traffic light system was not intended to be sufficient on its own to reduce the impact of salmon lice on wild salmonids.

“If the industry is to be able to grow, it must make changes to reduce emissions of salmon lice larvae from the facilities,” she said.

Sivertsen Næss emphasised the Norwegian government’s work on a new aquaculture regulatory system, following its white paper on the sector, which aims to strengthen incentives for lower environmental impact.

She also pointed out the government's adoption of its "environmental flexibility" scheme, announced last year, allowing fish farmers in red zones to increase their capacity if they use closed containment aquaculture technology.

Sivertsen Næss said it was "positive" that PO4 had avoided a red classification this year, however.

One production area, Vestfjorden and Vesterålen (PO9), was assessed separately because the scientific evaluations differed between 2024 and 2025. The expert group assessed the area as "moderately" affected in 2024, but in 2025, it found that low and moderate impact were equally likely. However, the steering group advised that the area should still be considered moderately affected in 2025.

The ministry said its assessment took into account factors including physical sea conditions, the state of wild salmon under the quality norm, small and vulnerable salmon stocks, and conditions for sea trout.

PO9 had been assessed as low impact in all previous years from 2016 to 2023, but the Ministry said the recent development towards moderate or low/moderate impact was a negative sign.

Monitoring data indicated moderate mortality of salmon smolt in the area as a whole, while sea trout were considered moderately to highly affected. The ministry also noted there had been abnormally high sea temperatures in late summer 2024 and summer 2025 - a major issue since elevated water temperatures shorten the development time for salmon lice, meaning lice levels may increase earlier and faster than in previous years.

“In my assessment of PO9, I have placed the greatest emphasis on the condition of wild salmonids and the risk that the impact will not increase in the future. I have therefore decided that no growth should be offered in this area now,” Sivertsen Næss said, with the zone classified as "yellow" under the traffic light classification.

This year's decision has drawn criticism from Norwegian seafood trade bodies, which have issued statements warning that further capacity reductions would hurt coastal communities, jobs and investment.

Sjømat Norge (Seafood Norway) said the latest red classification for PO3 was not an automatic requirement under the traffic light system, but a "political choice". The organisation argued that the Production Area Regulations state that the government “may” reduce capacity in red areas, rather than saying that it “shall” or “must” do so.

“Downsizing is not a theoretical exercise in a ministry office. It has already led to the loss of thousands of jobs and several billion in annual value creation,” said Sjømat Norge CEO Geir Ove Ystmark.

According to the industry organisation, the new 6% reduction in PO3 will cost coastal communities between Karmøy and Øygarden almost NOK 700 million (EUR 62.7m / USD 71.1m) in annual value creation and nearly 500 jobs.

The trade body also cited a new Nofima report, which it said found that previous red-light cuts had already cost around 2,000 jobs and NOK 2.9 billion (EUR 259.9m / USD 294.7m) in annual value creation, while coastal municipalities in Western Norway and the state had missed out on more than NOK 600 million (EUR 53.8m / USD 61m) in tax revenues.

Sjømat Norge also said the government should have put further reductions on hold, saying there remains uncertainty regarding the evidence base and the major socio-economic consequences of cuts.

The trade body argued the decision showed the need to accelerate work on reviewing the scientific basis for the system, as requested by the Storting, Norway's parliament. It also called for an environmental flexibility scheme that would not only apply to reduced volumes, but would also provide incentives for new forms of production across the country.

Fellow seafood industry association Sjømatbedriftene also reacted strongly to the decision and called for a complete halt to downsizing under the traffic light system.

“This is the wrong medicine at the wrong time. The government must immediately freeze the traffic light system in all areas except the green ones,” said Sjømatbedriftene CEO Robert H. Eriksson.

Eriksson said the system had not delivered the intended effect and, like Sjomat Norge, argued that the evidence base remained too uncertain to justify further reductions.

“Both professional communities, the Aquaculture Committee and the industry have over time pointed out that the system does not work as intended. When both the effect is disputed and the knowledge base uncertain, it is irresponsible to reduce production,” he said.

He argued there was considerable scientific disagreement over issues including the calculations of infection pressure and mortality on wild smolt.

“When the basis is uncertain, one should show political restraint,” Eriksson added.

The organisation said it made little sense to carry out new reductions using a system that is already expected to be replaced, as work continues on a new regulatory regime for aquaculture.

“We are in the middle of a restructuring. Then one should not make irreversible decisions,” Eriksson said, warning that lower production would affect not only fish farmers, but also processing companies and suppliers, while weakening revenues for municipalities and counties through the Aquaculture Fund.

“The scientific basis is important, but must be weighed against the economy, jobs, emergency preparedness and value creation along the coast,” he argued.

Sjømatbedriftene also criticised the consultation process, saying the consultation had been sent out on a Friday afternoon with a deadline during the summer holiday period. Eriksson said this gave limited opportunity for political scrutiny.

Sjømatbedriftene is now asking the government to postpone the consultation deadline and freeze the traffic light system until a new regulatory regime has been adopted by the Storting. If the Minister of Fisheries does not change course, Eriksson said the organisation would appeal to the Storting to intervene.