The reconvening of Alþingi has been postponed until September 8th, bringing the 157th legislative session to a close without the aquaculture bill being passed.
We at the Icelandic Wildlife Fund would like to thank the coalition parties for setting this deeply flawed bill aside, and the Center Party for their support of this sensible outcome.
As it stood, this bill would have become the worst legislation on fish farming since the industry’s inception in Iceland. Preventing it from being placed on the agenda is therefore an invaluable step in the right direction.
This bill cannot serve as a starting point for new aquaculture legislation when the matter is revisited. The special interests of four companies listed on the Norwegian stock exchange—prioritized at the expense of farmed animals, nature, and Iceland’s ecosystems—must, of course, never form the foundation of laws governing this invasive and polluting industry.
And to our dear fellow campaigners who helped guide the MPs who needed to realize what was at stake: thank you for your contribution! ❤️
We succeeded, but it was a close call. The fight continues.
The photo shows a wild Icelandic salmon on its way to its spawning grounds and was taken by Einar Falur Ingólfsson.