The data for this page has been provided by FHL Aquaculture, the organisation responsible for professional Norwegian aquaculture 

The aquaculture industry in Norway

Some 30 years ago one started to see the vast potential for effective food production in " the farming of the sea".  As a result of the rapid development over these few decades the fish meat production of the fish farming industry, by rearing only Salmon and Trout, is currently bigger than the total meat production of the entire Norwegian agriculture industry.

Number one producer of Atlantic salmon

Norway is the leading fish farming country in the world in terms of the production of Atlantic salmon.  Hardly anyone considered this level of production feasible without overcoming evident major obstacles, but the Norwegian fish farming industry has demonstrated a fantastic ability to resolve difficult problems, once they have been prioritised by a united industry.

Salmon is by far the number one farmed fish in Norway, but the farming of Rainbow trout is fairly widespread too.  Char is now being cultivated in number of places.  A lot of work is being done to familiarise the aquaculture industry with other species, such as the mussel, halibut, oyster, cod, Atlantic catfish, turbot and scallop.

An industry undergoing continuous change

In recent years, significant structural changes have taken place in the Norwegian fish farming industry.  The requirements that no one owner could possess several facilities and that local owners must constitute an ownership majority were lifted in 1991.  In order to engage in fish and shellfish farming in Norway, a licence (concession) is needed from the authorities.  There is currently a clear trend towards a constellation where fewer companies control an increasing share of the licences for Salmon and Trout farming.  Furthermore, many companies enter into different types of co-operation.

Important jobs in rural Norway

Almost 4,000 people are employed in fish and shellfish farming in Norway today, but a lot more are engaged indirectly in the aquaculture industry.  An estimated total of more than 20,000 men and women are employed directly in the farming of fish and shellfish, or they work in industries supplying products and services to fish farms.  Most of them live in small communities that are completely dependent on the aquaculture industry to secure jobs and to maintain the dispersed population in coastal Norway

Major consumer of transport services

The aquaculture industry in Norway annually purchases transport services for several million NOK.  The fish are transported to domestic and overseas markets by road, sea and air.  A rough estimate indicates that every 30 minutes, 365 days a year, one large lorry (hauling 20 tonnes of fish) will cross the Norwegian border for the various international markets.  Many transport companies in Norway, both small and large, depend on orders from the aquaculture industry.  There is also a significant production of packaging for this industry.

Effective utilisation of resources

Compared to any other production of food in Norway, feed is used very effectively in fish farming.  In order to put on one kilogram (KG), of farmed salmon would need 1.16 Kg. of feed, where is a chicken would need 1.94 Kg. and a pig three Kg..  In 1998, some 566,000 tonnes of dry fish feed was sold to the Norwegian fish farming industry.  Fishmeal and fish oil represent the main components of the feed, which is made of fish not usually used for human consumption.  The co-operation between fishing, fishmeal and fish oil industries and fish farming is excellent example of the effective management of common resources and of adding value.

A pathfinder in aquaculture technology

The equipment needed by the industry is, to a large extent, developed and produced in Norway.  Norwegian manufacturers service the domestic market as well as overseas markets in a number of countries such as Canada, Chile, Scotland, island and the Faeroe Islands.

Farming other species

The production of salmon is predominant in the Norwegian fish farming industry, but rainbow trout is a good second.  Over the years, however, efforts have been made to introduce the farming of additional species, particularly halibut and scallop.  Earlier in this century, Norway actually produced oysters. 

There is currently an increasing focus on the production of the blue mussel, which will entail new and important employment.  At this point, there is only insignificant production of species such as halibut, char, scallop & And Atlantic catfish.  Hopefully, these production sectors will pick up in the future.

Research

Several research centres are established on the coast and research is conducted in a number of different fields related to the fish farming industry.  The growth of the industry is dependent on resources being allocated to the acquisition of new and more sophisticated knowledge.  In the beginning, however, the industry tended to be at the forefront with a research environment more or less reluctantly in tow.  Knowledge is a fundamental factor in order to ensure that aquaculture be undertaken in the most effective way possible while preserving the natural environment along the coast. Norway is one of the leading nations in the fields of stock enhancement of Salmon and Trout, in addition to research and development of various other areas related to aquaculture.

Norwegian aquaculture in harmony with nature

The farming of salmon has become a significant industry in Norway.  Norway is blessed with ideal natural conditions for fish and shellfish farming, and what we see today is only the beginning.  The long coastline with sea temperatures that are appropriate for various types of aquaculture and the unpolluted waters are essential factors.  Access to unpolluted waters is vital for the favourable development of the aquaculture industry. 

Without a clear and unspoilt environment along the shores of Norway, aquaculture could hardly have become a growth industry.  The single most important marketing asset of Norwegian aquaculture is first-rate fish, from a clean, unpolluted environment, and Norwegian fish farmers take this aspect very seriously.  The industry depends on unspoilt nature and an impeccable reputation; if the water and the ecosystem become polluted, the entire basis of the industry will erode.

Access to suitable waters is a prerequisite for operating in harmony with nature

Over the last few years, great changes have taken place in terms of the localisation of installations and the establishment of routines that are in harmony with nature.  As a result of this, the old and sheltered sites have been abandoned for new and more productive ones.  This is knowledge based on experience and is used by the fish farmer in his daily work.  It is a widespread misconception that the aquaculture industry pollutes coastal waters.  Compared to other primary industries, fish farming requires only a little area.  The industry is evenly distributed along the coast, including Counties from the very south to the far north of Norway.  While some 4,000 installations are in use, they only take up a tiny fraction of the coastline area.  Traffic is prohibited inside a range of 20 m distance, and fishing is not allowed closer than 100 m to all fish farming installations.

Fish health is important

The environment in and around fish farms is vital for fish health and growth rates and ,thus, the profitability of the industry.  Better vaccines, cost-effective operations and excellent locations have radically improved fish health.  It is now mandatory that a professionally competent person in the farm checks on fish health in all the farm's installations on a regular basis.

Environmental challenges

Fish escaping from the cages internal considerable financial losses to the fish, There is still insufficient knowledge about the negative effects that are caused by escaping fish.  It is the fish farmer's unquestionable responsibility to ensure that farmed fish stay in the cages.  It is in everybody's interest that farmed fish do not escape, and the industry is continuously working to minimise the number of escapees.

Sea lice is a parasite that lives in the sea

This parasite may pose a problem to fish both inside and outside cages.  Fish in cages, however, can be treated to avoid damage, but this would be impossible to do for wild fish.  Therefore, it is important that fish farmers ensure that the sea lice situation is kept at a natural level.  The industry and the authorities have introduced an action plan designed to control sea lice in fish farms.  This experience has shown that the programme is very effective.

The ultimate goal of the aquaculture industry in Norway is that
all activities are conducted in harmony with nature.