Norwegian salmon farming giant Mowi needs two transfer licenses approved soon in order to avoid culling more than 1 million fish that could cost the company $25 million (€21 million) and force it to lay off dozens of employees, the company said Wednesday.

Mowi Canada West is asking a Canada federal court to suspend two aspects of the Discovery Island Policy related to two licensed farming sites -- Phillips Arm and Hardwicke -- and allow for the fish to be transferred to the sites.