Seafood show organiser blames Norway's salmon tax for postponement

The inaugural edition of a seafood exhibition due to take place in October in Amsterdam has been postponed for a year because of market turbulence caused by Norway’s salmon tax, the organiser said today.

ColdWater Seafood fair is being run by Norwegian company, AqKva, which said the scope of the fair is almost 50% of Norwegian origin, and a lot of long-term seafood contracts had not been renewed because of uncertainty created by the tax proposal.

The salmon tax, also known as the ground rent tax, was announced in September 2022 and is effective from the start of this year, although details have yet to be finalised and the tax will be applied retrospectively. It likely to add a 35-40% tax on top of the 22% salmonid farmers already pay on what the Norwegian government claims are extraordinary profits.

Several cancellations

AqKva said the market response since the announced additional taxation had led to several cancellations and show organisers would rather wait until the whole market is ready to join in for the first time in Amsterdam.

The company’s chief executive, Vidar Onarheim, said: “It is a pity for the whole industry that a taxation system is changed overnight, and we feel strongly with the market operators and their uncertain situation. We will therefore postpone by one year, giving us even more time to plan a world leading exhibition and conference on sustainable seafood.”

The date of the 2024 event will be announced as soon as possible, said AqKva.

“We are determined to make Coldwater Seafood 2024 an unforgettable event for all participants, and we thank all those who have already expressed their support and understanding and look forward to seeing you in 2024 to celebrate the fishing and seafood industry,” said Vindheim.