Norway: Directorate of Fisheries Revokes Fishing Licences for Three Vessels

Aker Seafoods ASA has received the decisions of the Directorate of Fisheries regarding alleged lack of compliance of the regulations towards the landingnotes and contractnotes in some of the companies in the Aker Seafoods group, and also alleged breach of the processing obligations that applies to the supply obligations that are part of the Aker Seafoods groups’ license of fishing cod and haddock.

The Directorate of Fisheries demands that the vessels “Jergul”, “Skaidi” (both owned by Aker Seafoods’ subsidary Finnmark Havfiske AS) and “Stamsund” (owned by the subsidary Nordland Havfiske AS) are taken out of the fishery in three months for “Jergul” and “Skaidi” and one month for “Stamsund”, all with effect from 1 November 2012.

Aker Seafoods are of the opinion that there are not grounds for such withdrawal of fishery permission is considering filing a complaint to the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs. Aker Seafoods is of the opinion that the company have complied with the regulations, and that the purpose of the supply- and processing obligations are fullfilled through Aker Seafoods’ handling of catch.

All of the affected vessels have fished a substantial part of the cod-quotas for the year. The consequence of the decisions is therefore limited, but the final impact will be clear when the fishery on the years quotas is finished. The decisions will lead to reduced supply of fresh fish for the processing plants that is entitled to take catch from the company’s vessels.