Norway is the world's top salmon producer, and fish farming is its second-largest export industry after oil and gas. Leading Norwegian producers include Mowi, Salmar, Leroy Seafood, Grieg Seafood and Norway Royal Salmon.

The ministry invited various stakeholders, including businesses, to express their views on the proposed amendments in a public hearing set to last until Feb. 22, it said in the statement.

(Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis, editing by Gwladys Fouche)