Aker Seafoods ASA has received on the July 6 the decisions of the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs in the cases regarding alleged dumping of catch from the vessels “Hekktind” (owned by the company‘s subsidiary Nordland Havfiske AS) og “Doggi” (owned by the company‘s subsidiary Hammerfest Industrifiske AS).
The ministry has decided that the vessels must be taken out of active fishing operations for a period of 5 months for “Hekktind” and 3 months for “Doggi”, in both cases with effect from 1 August 2012. This is a considerably milder reaction than the initially notified suspension of fishing licenses of 12 months for “Hekktind” and 6 months for “Doggi”. However, Aker Seafoods still believes that the suspension that now has been imposed lacks justification, and will consider contemplating legal action to have the ministry‘s decisions set aside or to claim compensation. As far as “Hekktind” is concerned, the basis for the decision of the ministry will be reviewed initially by the courts in a criminal case against the vessel owning company that will be heard in October this year.
Both vessels have harvested a substantial volume of this year‘s quotas of cod. The consequence of the decision is assumed to be limited, however the final consequence will not be clear until the fishing of this year‘s quotas has come to an end. The decision may result in reduced access to raw material for the on-shore processing plants that are entitled to receive catch form the company‘s vessels.
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Source: Akerseafoods, July 11, 2012