Cermaq, owned by the Norwegian state, is keen to expand in Norway after having consolidated in Scotland, Canada and Chile.

This strategy is leading to an "all hands on deck" approach by the biggest players to snap up salmon production licenses.

The battle for the aquaculture company Follalaks in the northern county of Nordland is now over. Cermaq drew the longest straw right in front of the nose of aquaculture investor John Fredriksen, which prompted one (disappointed?) financial analyst to declare restructuring of the Norwegian aquaculture industry just received a hefty salvo to its bows.

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