Norwegian aquaculture giant NTS, owner of Midt-Norsk Havbruk and the largest shareholder in Norway Royal Salmon, had a healthy start to the year, despite struggling with lower sales prices and higher costs in its salmon division.

The group's earnings before interest taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), before fair value adjustment, climbed 21 percent in the first quarter to NOK 159 million (€15.9