Norway is balancing the fishing industry's competitive requirements with sustainable management of sea resources.
Norway, a leading fishing nation has more than 83,000 kms of coastline. Naturally, the catch from the sea has always been an important food source and a significant economic resource. With time, new technology has married traditional fishing methods and Norway has strengthened its role as a leading sustainable conservator of the ocean's riches. There are growing challenges to the equitable management of the sea's resources and Norway is leading the search for solutions.
Booming business
In a recent address to the 16th Groundfish Forum in Bergen, Helga Pedersen, Norwegian Minister of Fisheries, underlined her government's 'Fresh Fish Strategy'. This thrust aims to improve the industry's capability to deliver fresh wild fish year round and also increase the co-operation between the fishery and aquaculture industries.
"The seafood industry is still one of the major industries in Norway, and currently we are the world's second-largest seafood exporter. This makes the seafood business important to Norway," said Pedersen.
"Fish resources are limited and they must be managed accordingly. Norwegian resource management reflects the best scientific advice available, taking into account the principle of the precautionary approach and sustainable use. Our challenge is to ensure that this growth is sustainable. The industry's requirements for competitive conditions must be combined with the protection of fish stocks and the environment in general."
Competitive advantage
A huge competitive advantage for the Norwegian seafood industry is its proximity to the European market, which allows Norway to deliver fresh, high-quality seafood to about 500 million consumers.
The 'Fresh Fish Strategy', according to Pedersen, facilitates a continuous supply of fresh fish to the industry, encourages increased co-operation between the fishing and aquaculture industries, and boosts measures to ensure high quality, both in the raw material and in the final product.
An important challenge to Norway and the seafood industry is Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUU fishing), which injures the marine ecosystem by depleting fish stocks, hinders fishermen as their quotas are reduced to compensate for the illegal fishing, and throws up cheap, illegal fish, which competes with legally caught seafood.
To gain transparency in its role as a leading player, Norway has established co-operation with the EU, Russia and 15 other countries.
Agreements with the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) have helped promote profitable, safe, legal and environmentally friendly fishing.
"Breeding of salmon and other species is a very efficient method of food production. It is important that the aquaculture industry continues its growth in Norway.
Aquaculture industry
"The aquaculture companies can move production between countries with the best regulatory framework, including access to suitable production areas. We have, therefore, developed a strategy to contribute to sustainable growth and competitiveness in the aquaculture sector," Pedersen added.
The strategy calls for a competitive Norwegian aquaculture industry based on a regulatory framework combined with protection of the environment, fish health and fish welfare.
The strategy includes a new salmon licensing round in 2009 as well as a possible area fee to stimulate local authorities to expand the areas made available for aquaculture activities.
To gain a clearer vision, the Ministry of Fisheries will host an international conference on Seafood and Health in Bergen in 2008.
Organised by the National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research, it will target the seafood industry, scientists and consumers.
Intelligent farming
Thanks to the intelligent farming of the sea, by rearing only salmon and trout, the production of the fish farming industry is currently bigger than the meat production of the entire Norwegian agriculture industry.
Norway is the leading fish farming country in Atlantic salmon. The farming of Rainbow trout is also widespread, char is being cultivated in a number of places, and other species such as the mussel, halibut, oyster, cod, Atlantic catfish, turbot and scallop are also bred.
Additionally, the co-operation among the fishing, fishmeal and fish oil industries and fish farming is an excellent example of the effective management of common resources. The equipment needed by the fishing industry is also, to a large extent, developed and produced in Norway.
Norwegian manufacturers service the domestic market as well as those in Canada, Chile, Scotland and the Faeroe Islands. Research in fields related to the fish farming industry is also conducted.
