Stakeholder perceptions of the Norwegian salmon farming industry and its future challenges

Aquaculture has emerged as the fastest growing sector in global food production, with salmon farming in the lead. Norway is responsible for over half of the world salmon production, but its industry faces significant challenges which must be addressed to achieve sustainability. One key issue is the lack of a unified understanding among stakeholders of how production affects the environment and intersects with the interests of other users. Given this context, this present study aims to understand the diverse perspectives of different groups of stakeholders regarding the expansion challenges faced by the Norwegian salmon farming industry. We assessed environmental, socio-economic, operational, and regulatory aspects, highlighting areas of agreement and disagreement among stakeholders using Q-methodology. Our results reveal four distinct stakeholder groups, two of which reveal polarized views, while the other two present more balanced opinions. We believe that our findings facilitate enriched dialogues among stakeholders and provide insights into the management of the industry, while addressing the dilemma of ensuring sustainability amid pressures for production growth. • Q-study exploring stakeholder views on Norwegian salmon farming industry. • Environmentalists view regulations as too lenient. • A portion of industry executives have polar views from environmentalists. • The enforcement of stringent regulations is the most controversial topic. • All groups concur on the welfare challenge of the salmon industry.