Minister takes 13,000 signatures against Seyðisfjörður sea-cage farming to cabinet

Environment, energy and climate minister Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson received more than 13,000 signatures opposing planned sea-cage salmon farming in Seyðisfjörður on Monday, mbl.is reports. He plans to take the signatures and an accompanying set of demands to a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

“When 13,000 signatures arrive, representing such a clear demand from a large group of people, it is right for the government to listen,” Jóhannsson told mbl.is. He said he admired the campaigners’ determination.

The minister said the signatures would contribute to wider discussion about sea-cage farming and how to strengthen the legal framework. He does not oversee aquaculture or the planning of marine and coastal areas, but is responsible for nature conservation and biodiversity. He said a stronger legal framework for sea-cage farming was urgently needed.

Salmon farming company Kaldvík had temporarily put its plans for Seyðisfjörður on hold because of delays in the permitting process, its chief executive, Vidar Aspehaug, told mbl.is earlier this month. The situation changed on September 11, when the company received permits for a maximum standing biomass of 10,000 tonnes across three farming areas in the fjord.

Jóhannsson said it was generally not appropriate to begin polluting activities against the wishes of the local community. He pointed to the Westfjords, where he said there was strong community support for the industry and that it had helped the region. He added that he was concerned when such disputes divided communities, and said local communities should have greater influence over developments, including wind power projects.