In the April issue of the organization’s Dansk Akvakultur newsletter the move was dubbed "excellent."

"Norwegian fish farming has strived to have the EU’s anti-dumping measures lifted against imports of salmon farmed in Norway,” the newsletter said. “We have together with a number of other European aquaculture organizations argued for the importance of the EU maintaining the measures."

“The EC has now examined the case’s aspects, and has come to the conclusion that it will not lift the anti-dumping measures against Norwegian salmon,” the report said.

Premature celebration?

But since the newsletter was published, the commission has decided to conduct a new review of the antidumping measures against both Norwegian salmon and Norwegian trout.

The measures will not lifted with while the investigation is in progress, although this could change depending on the outcome of the review.

Discrete lobby

Fish farmers in Denmark mainly farm trout. Last year, they produced around 36,000 tons of rainbow trout, mainly from pond farming. Around 7,000 tons were farmed in the sea, according to figures from the latest IntraFish Industry Report: Aquaculture in the EU and Europe.

These fish farmers feel threatened by Norwegian exports of salmon and trout – and the Danes are not alone on this.

Two weeks ago, IntraFish reported that EU trout producers had had a bigger part to play than previously known in regard to punitive measures against Norway.

Trout is the biggest farmed fish species in the EU. Many of the EU fish farmers contend imports of Norwegian trout hurt them, leading to less desire among Danish authorities remove punitive measures against Norwegian salmonids.

While Danish trout producers say they want protection, the Danish process industry is eager to see free trade, putting officials in a difficult position.

Danish fish farmers praise MIP ruling