 | Norway Salmon Farming News |
The Norwegian Confederation of Labour Unions (LO) Issues Report Slamming Marine Harvest Labor Operations in Chile
Remove Salmon Farms to Protect Wild Fish
In an interview with Altaposten John Fredriksen, one of Norway's richest men and principal shareholder in the aquaculture company Marine Harvest, was quoted saying that salmon farms should not be allowed near runs of wild salmon. Read the Altaposten article from July 19th, 2007.
In related news:
Pure Salmon Visits Norway for Marine Harvest AGM
Marine Harvest Ignores Shareholder Resolution, Refuses to Reform Company's Executive Compensation Policies
Chilean Labor Unions Unite, Protest Substandard Industry Practices
The Pure Salmon Campaign Files Shareholder Resolutions at Cermaq and Marine Harvest
Read two recent articles that ran in Dagens Naerinsliv highlighting Cermaq’s impacts in Canada and Pure Salmon’s shareholder resolution.
- Read the resolution and supporting statement submitted to Cermaq [PDF]
- Read the resolution submitted to Marine Harvest [PDF]
Norwegian Newspaper Covers Cermaq’s Impacts
Norwegian Government Releases Data on Fish Escapes
Finally responding to a request made by the Pure Salmon Campaign one year ago, the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries released company specific data on the escape of 1.17 million farmed salmon in 2006.
Marine Harvest CEO Divests Fully from His Company
In response to Marine Harvest CEO Atle Eide selling his entire stake in the company, NET Fund, with the support of the Pure Salmon Campaign, today filed a shareholder resolution calling on the Marine Harvest board to reform its executive compensation to prohibit this action in the future.
Flaws Found During Russian Inspection of Norwegian Seafood Producers
Russian inspectors have finished their inspection of ten Norwegian seafood producers and report that they have found rust and mold in some production facilities.
UK's Office of Fair Trading to Investigate Merger of Pan Fish and Marine Harvest
On July 6, 2006 the OFT referred the proposed acquisition by Pan Fish ASA of Marine Harvest NV to the Competition Commission stating that the loss of rivalry between these companies may cause an increase in the price of farmed Atlantic salmon, and thereby harm UK consumers.
Pure Salmon Campaign gets exposure in the International Herald Tribune
Pan Fish urged to stop exporting environmental problems and bad labor practices
The Pure Salmon Campaign will file a shareholder resolution at Pan Fish's annual general meeting in Stavanger Norway on May 30 asking the company to adopt closed containment technology to remedy environmental impacts on salmon farms. Accompanied by two First Nations leaders from Canada and a Chilean, the campaign plans on providing first-hand accounts of how Pan Fish's operations are exporting environmental problems and poor labor conditions to other countries.
Further Developments On Pan Fish Consolidation Of Industry
The Pure Salmon Campaign met with the Office of Fair Trade in London on May 25 about the Pan Fish merger.
Fjord Shareholders Direct Board to Review Pure Salmon Reform Plan
Pan Fish CEO loses bid for Fjord board seat following Pure Salmon questions
Cermaq Board Agrees to Review Pure Salmon Reform Plan
Current farmed salmon practices cited as harmful for health and environment
Questions about Possible Market Manipulation Raised with CEOs
In e-mails dated April 21, 2006, the Pure Salmon Campaign raised tough questions with the CEOs of both Pan Fish and Fjord Seafood about a series of disclosures and trading events pertaining to Pan Fish's acquisition of Fjord stock. The question is whether Pan Fish knowingly manipulated the market price of Fjord stock days before acquiring additional shares in the company, bringing Pan Fish ownership shares to 57.7 percent in Fjord Seafood.
Pure Salmon Files Shareholder Resolutions in Norway
The Pure Salmon Campaign has recently filed shareholder resolutions asking Pan Fish, Fjord and Cermaq to reform industry practices. As shareholders in each of these companies the Pure Salmon Campaign believes it makes long term economic sense to establish sustainable operations — and that means closed containment systems not open net pens. We are concerned that "lowest cost production" may cut corners in terms of environmental, social, health and safety and food safety issues. By supporting our resolution shareholders will be benefiting both ecology and economy.
Pure Salmon Questions Panfish and Marine Harvest Merger
The Pure Salmon Campaign asked competition authorities in Norway, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Commission to exercise special rigor when considering the merger of Panfish and Marine Harvest. The merger of two of the largest salmon farming companies raises concerns that a monopolized industry, by nature, will be less responsive to consumer and community concerns than a competitive industry.
Find out more:
Norwegian Report on Contaminants in Farmed Salmon
The Norwegian Scientific Committee on Food Safety (VKM) released a report on the risks and benefits of fish and seafood consumption in Norway. As part of this two-year study, the ad-hoc group composed of a committee of scientists organized by the Norwegian government looked at contaminants in farmed salmon feed and recommended that exposure to dioxin and dioxin-like PCBs can be reduced by changing or purifying the feed.
In light of this new study, we call on industry to begin cleaning the feed immediately.
Find out more:
Concerns Raised Over Salmon Feed Contamination and Controls in Norway
Pure Salmon Campaign has been alerted to concerns regarding the rigor of Norwegian government oversight and controls in the salmon farming industry. On February 24, the Pure Salmon Campaign sent letters to Norwegian Ministers of Health and Agriculture raising questions concerning toxins, including PCBs, lead and cadmium contamination in salmon feed used in Norway.
Among the issues raised in the letters were safety of Norwegian food and seafood, testing and tracking of fish feed and farmed salmon, and conflicts in management.
Norwegian Government Scientist Points Out Problems with Salmon Feed at Costco Annual Meeting
At Costco's annual general meeting, Pure Salmon and a Norwegian government scientist discuss their concerns about one of the local retail giant's most popular products — farmed salmon.
Costco is one of the largest purveyors of farmed salmon in the United States. Most of the farmed salmon Costco sells comes from Norwegian-based companies, which dominate the industry.
Cadmium was found in Norwegian farmed salmon feed as far back as April 2005, according to the World Trade Organization. This discovery prompted the Canadian government to destroy the contaminated feed shipments. Furthermore, late last year, Russian authorities placed a temporary ban on the import of Norwegian farmed salmon, citing high levels of cadmium and lead.
Separately, Norwegian authorities disclosed they had found nitrites in smoked salmon. Nitrites are banned for use in food products as it reacts with amines in foodstuffs and transforms into carcinogenic nitrosamines. Nitrites stabilize food color and influence taste.
Russia says "Nyet" to Norwegian Salmon
There are growing concerns about the levels of cadmium and lead found in Norwegian farmed salmon exported to Russia. Russia has banned Norwegian farmed salmon since 5 December 2005. On the eve of a meeting between the two governments that may result in a lifting of the ban, more of the story is coming out. Cadmium was found in farmed salmon feed as far back as April 2005 and the area of dispute centers on the failure of the VKM to issue any official warning about potential contamination of farmed salmon.
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