Ester Hilmarsdóttir denies bribery allegations against Icelandic Food Agency in MAST controversy

Ester Hilmarsdóttir, the director of the Icelandic Food Agency (MAST), firmly denied allegations of any wrongdoing related to bribery in a written statement. This comes after MAST filed a police report over claims made in an article she published in July, where she accused MAST employees of accepting bribes from fish farming companies.

In her controversial piece, Ester criticized the oversight practices within the aquaculture sector, suggesting that MAST staff were effectively “shaking down” funds provided by wealthy Norwegian investors. MAST employees have characterized these comments as criminal accusations, to which Ester has responded that she did not name any individuals, and her intention was to highlight the potential harm to Icelandic nature caused by financial interests in the industry.

Ester emphasized that her writing is grounded in a broader sociocultural context, recalling a previous incident where a vet at MAST was found to have sold vaccines for farmed fish while also working with the agency. She argues that such cases raise important questions about the institutional culture at MAST and the accountability required from its staff in enforcing regulations.

Hrönn Ólína Jörundsdóttir, MAST’s director, stated that the agency is committed to protecting its employees from threats and violence, deeming the police report necessary given the gravity of the accusations against them. She expressed concerns that the integrity and honor of MAST personnel are being compromised.

Ester’s remarks prompted calls for greater scrutiny of the regulatory body’s enforcement of aquaculture laws, as reports indicate ongoing significant deviations found in inspections of aquaculture operations. Observers are keen to understand why MAST has not acted more decisively in addressing these violations.