A forward-looking seafood industry is one of the main priorities of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans under the Government's plan for Norway for the next four years.
"One of my most important projects going forward is to contribute to a forward-looking and competitive seafood industry in Norway. The seafood industry contributes to jobs along the entire coast and is crucial for activity and settlement in coastal communities, especially in Northern Norway. In a time of increased geopolitical unrest, this is more important than ever, says Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Marianne Sivertsen Næss in a press release.
The government has a clear goal of increasing seafood processing in Norway. The value created by Norwegian seafood resources should remain in Norway to a greater extent.
"Overall, this is about strengthening the social contract," says Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Marianne Sivertsen Næss.
Must be profitable to create value on land
To succeed, working in the seafood industry must be profitable and attractive, while at the same time the industry must be competitive in a global raw materials market.
The seafood industry is diverse – in terms of size, ownership and raw material base. The government will take care of existing industry, while facilitating new development and innovation.
Strengthening the competitiveness of the seafood industry will not happen overnight. That is why we are working on several fronts. We will develop a clearer and more binding link between the extraction of community resources and activity, employment, and investment in local communities. This is a comprehensive and demanding task, but it is crucial to securing jobs, settlement, and optimism for the future along the entire coast, says Minister of Fisheries and the Sea Marianne Sivertsen Næss.
Six measures to strengthen the seafood industry
- Increased quality and value in the wild fish sector.
The government wants to increase the quality of raw materials landed in the wild fish sector. An expert group is now being set up to propose measures to improve the quality of raw materials landed. - Increase seafood consumption in Norway.
The government also wants to increase seafood consumption in the domestic market, in line with national dietary guidelines. This is particularly important as seafood consumption has fallen by 17 percent over the last ten years, including a decline among children and young people. As part of this work, a separate seafood network will be established to bring together actors across the value chain to collaborate as effectively as possible to increase seafood consumption. - Developing the marketplace for fish.
The primary sale of fish in Norway should be a well-functioning marketplace that takes into account the entire value chain. As part of the work to modernize and strengthen the sales system, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries has conducted a follow-up review of the law. The report is open for consultation until February 27. - Review the quota system.
The purpose of the quota system is to ensure a stable supply of raw materials that can contribute to a profitable seafood industry and secure settlement and employment in coastal communities. The government believes that the current system does not sufficiently fulfill this purpose and has therefore appointed a joint committee to review the scheme. - New requirements for weighing systems at fish reception facilities.
The new requirements for automated solutions are intended to ensure better documentation of resource extraction, strengthen confidence in reporting, and contribute to a level playing field in the industry. - Fisheries regulations that strengthen the seafood industry.
The government will facilitate annual fisheries regulations that are better aligned to ensure access to raw materials for the seafood industry. This will help secure jobs and lay the foundation for increased investment and further development along the coast.
Source: regjeringen.no
