Faroese salmon producer Bakkafrost avoids major fine in animal welfare case

A high-profile case against Faroese salmon farming company Bakkafrost, involving a proposed 67 million krona fine for alleged animal welfare violations, has concluded with most charges dropped, Faroese broadcaster Kringvarp Føroya reports.

The company now faces only a minor, undisclosed penalty for breaching transport regulations.

According to the indictment, Bakkafrost was accused of transporting used fish farming equipment between facilities in Suðuroy seven times using two different boats between 23 April and 9 November 2020 without prior approval from the national veterinary authority. Additionally, the company allegedly failed to record two equipment transfers between sites in its mandatory transport logbook.

The prosecutor had also pursued charges related to broader animal welfare violations, but these were dismissed.