A license is required to engage in activities involving fish farming and/or hatcheries in offshore or onshore facilities.
The application form is common for the aquaculture, food safety, environmental, water resources and coastal administrations. The form covers all types of aquaculture in onshore and offshore-based facilities, with the exception of sea-ranching, for which there is a separate form.
Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries - Aquaculture application
Application for new or amended aquaculture permit.
Anyone wishing to operate a fish farm or hatchery.
The requirements that apply concerning enclosures are set out in the guide to the application form.
Act relating to aquaculture (Aquaculture Act)
Act relating to protection against pollution and on waste (Pollution Control Act)
Act relating to Harbours and Fairways, etc. (Harbours and Fairways Act)
Act relating to outdoor recreation (Outdoor Recreation Act)
Act relating to food production and food safety, etc. (Food Act)
Regulations relating to permits for aquaculture of species other than salmon, trout
Regulations relating to the Aquaculture Register (the A-register Regulations)
Regulations relating to the operation of aquaculture facilities (Aquaculture Operation Regulations)
Case processing
The application must be submitted to the county council that will send the application to the municipal authority and sector authorities.
Applicants must ensure that their application is distributed for public consultation and announced in accordance with the municipal authority's instructions. Publication will give neighbours and other stakeholders an opportunity to submit remarks concerning the location of the aquaculture facility before the applicant is subject to substantive deliberations.
The county council will forward the application to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, the Norwegian Coastal Administration, the County Governor and the Directorate of Fisheries' regional office.
The municipal authority's statement and any consultation statements will either be sent together with the application or forwarded on to the sector authorities.
More in-depth information regarding the application process can be found in the guide to the application form.
Fee
The applicant must pay a fee for the processing of applications for aquaculture activities. A processing fee, which is normally NOK 12,000, will be charged. The fee must be paid before the application is processed and a receipt showing that the fee has been paid must be enclosed with the application.
Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries - Aquaculture applications - fees
The Directorate of Fisheries will answer questions regarding the form.
Telephone 03495 or e-mail: postmottak@fiskeridir.no