“Great expectations” – Allocating licenses with special requirements in Norwegian salmon farming

Abstract

Norway is at present the largest salmon producer in the world. Norwegian salmon aquaculture has come a long way since its beginning in the late 1960s; from small-scale operations run by one person to today's industry, dominated by international and national companies. Along the way, the industry's impacts have also changed considerably, regarding effects on local and national economies, employment, and not least in terms of environmental impacts and risks. To manage the impacts and risks, salmon aquaculture requires a license from the state. These have been issued in license rounds. With increasing profitability, the competition for licenses has increased. The rounds have been announced with varying objectives or concerns that the authorities want to achieve. The article presents an analysis of the objectives in the licensing rounds announced from 2002 to 2013. The article describes how each round of licenses has incorporated various central concerns, and how political motivations of shifting governments have influenced the requirements. The authors also investigate to what extent conditions for awarded licenses are controlled and monitored by the authorities, and if and how any breaches have been sanctioned. The article concludes by discussing whether the licensing system is a suitable instrument for meeting the objectives that the authorities have for the aquaculture industry in Norway.