Iceland’s salmon companies will be paying a lot more in fish farming fees next year, it has been announced.
Iceland’s government has announced a 46% increase in fish farming fees starting next year. The new rates will be ISK 45.03 (£0.26) per kilogram for slaughtered salmon and ISK 22.52 (£0.13) for slaughtered rainbow trout. The Icelandic Directorate of Fisheries, Fiskistofa, announced the change, which has sparked concerns within the aquaculture industry due to the sharp increase—over 2,000% since fees were introduced in 2020.
Fees are collected biannually, in August and February, covering six-month periods. The hike is expected to significantly boost government revenue. Fish farming has been a key topic in Iceland’s election debates, with some minor parties advocating for stricter regulations or bans on open fjord operations. However, a right-of-center coalition government is likely, with limited changes anticipated for the industry.