A major auction of salmon farming licenses was held by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries this week, but the country's leading salmon farmers skipped the event in protest of the government's proposed new tax on the sector.

From a total of 32,887 metric tons up for grabs at the auction, 24,644 metric tons of capacity has been sold, meaning 8,243 metric tons, or roughly 25 percent, was passed over.

Of the 22 companies that bought licenses, none of the country's major players bought additional capacity: No Mowi, no SalMar, no Leroy, no Grieg, no Cermaq and no Norway Royal Salmon (NRS).