Salmon giant Marine Harvest moved the deadline for construction of a new factory in Jøsnøya, northwest Norway, due to a reduced need for extended and modernized slaughter capacity.

It is the second time it has applied to delay the build and led the local council to push for clarification on plans, saying the repeated postponement is creating uncertainty, not least among Marine Harvest's local employees.

There is a particular need for the factory due to infrastructure issues in the region, with restrictions on traffic on the main route to Marine Harvest's next closest plant in Ulvan.

In addition, the water supply in the area of the current factory is constrained and the local council believes any increase in production there may lead to a water shortage.

The investment in Hitra Industrial Park on Jøsnøya has been made to relieve and mitigate the limitations and risks that the current infrastructure entails.

"It is expected that the reduced need is temporary, and Hitra municipality has confidence in the company's plans and ability and willingness to retain and further develop its operations in the municipality, including the new factory on the acquired site in Hitra Industrial Park," said the council.