A total of 30 Norwegian salmon farming companies purchased additional salmon licenses worth NOK 5.9 billion (€560 million/$669 million) in a much-anticipated auction held by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.
SalMar took the lead purchasing licenses to produce and additional 8,057 metric tons between central and northern Norway.
On average, each additional metric ton was sold for NOK 219,758 (€21,000/$25,000).
"We have now sold new salmon permits for twice as much as the previous auction," Minister of Fisheries and Seafood Odd-Emil Ingebrigtsen said.
"This confirms that we have a forward-looking and offensive industry. This is good, and important for jobs and value creation along the coast."
There were 42 companies registered in the auction. Of those, 30 ended up buying, with almost all capacity being sold.
