Cod, salmon, herring, red king crab. These are a few of the Norwegian delicacies that not only make for great meals, but also sustain thriving and dynamic communities along the coast. Norway is a relatively small country with the world’s second longest coastline. It makes sense, then, that most of our towns and cities are located on the coast. Countless communities, large and small, are dotted along the length of the 18,500-mile mainland coastline and on the islands beyond. Fishing, trade and seafaring have always been cornerstones of the Norwegian way of life.
Securing the future
The seafood industry is not just important for the Norwegian economy, but for each individual town and village and the people living there. Growth within the fishing and aquaculture sector provides employment and income for a much wider community than those directly involved in the industry. In turn, this secures the future for many people. For every ten jobs in core activities in Norwegian fisheries, eight jobs are created in other sectors of the Norwegian economy. For every one Norwegian krone ($0.12) of value generated in the fisheries, 3.50 kroner ($0.41) are generated in other sectors.
This is perhaps easiest to see in the north, where the seafood industry forms the backbone of society. Here the distances are long, and towns are few and far between. But as long as the lights are on in the fisheries, there’s a life to be had in those tiny, Arctic fishing villages, whether you work in the industry or you’re a truck driver, teacher or police officer.
What keeps the communities afloat?
The Norwegian seafood industry is pushing the boundaries to be economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. Its success should not only be assessed in terms of profit, but also in its benefit to people and the planet. Fishing in Norway is a question of survival. It is also a story about craftsmanship and living in harmony with nature. Fish is what we know, and many of these fishing villages have relied on fishing for centuries or more. We want people to continue to live off the sea and care for our natural resources. To do that, we need to use our local expertise and keep catching or farming, processing and exporting the world’s very best seafood. That’s what keeps these communities afloat.