Vattudalen's fish have been fishing in Ströms vattudal for about 10 years.
At the turn of the year, the current permit expires and the company had applied for an extension of 20 years, as well as permission to increase production 1,400 tonnes per year.
The Land and Environment Court grants a permit for 15 years for fish farming, but with regard to the extension, the court writes:
The Court's assessment is that such an increase may involve an adventure in achieving the current environmental quality standard on the basis of the uncertainties contained in assessments and calculations and on the basis of the precautionary principle. This assessment is based on several different aspects, such as the fact that for some of the measuring points increased phosphorus levels have been registered over time, that different applications of the current regulation can lead to some difference in the reference value for phosphorus, that there are different views on what the reference value for phosphorus should be determined. and that small changes in this reference value have a relatively large effect on the status classification for nutrient-poor lakes such as Ströms Vattudal. The court thus assesses that an expansion of the business according to the company's first claim is not permissible on the basis of ch. 4 § MB.
The verdict can be appealed to a higher court no later than 6 August.