This week the consultation period for the government's proposal for a land rent tax on aquaculture ended. Throughout the consultation period, we at Utror have been actively working on the issue from an aquaculture-to-sea perspective through the preparation of our own consultation response and dialogue with authorities, industry players, interest organizations and other stakeholders.

Earlier this year, the Directorate of Fisheries prepared a report recommending three areas for offshore aquaculture, of which Trænabanken off Helgeland was one of the three areas. During his visit to Lovund today, Minister of Fisheries and the Oceans Bjørnar Skjæran announced on behalf of the government that the area will be subject to an impact assessment for offshore aquaculture.

Commissioned by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, the Directorate of Fisheries has prepared a report with recommendations for three areas for offshore aquaculture.

It all started in June 1972, when a small seaplane carrying salmon smolt landed on Lovund – an island at the far end of the Helgeland sea. That was the start of the salmon adventure for the family company Lovundlaks and the entire aquaculture industry in Nordland.