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NorskStrong growth in fish stocks
”The major fish stocks have shown substantial growth during the last 25 years and today are in very good condition,” says Norway’s Director of Fisheries Liv Holmefjord.
In the same period, the catch volume has remained stable while the value and profitability of catches have increased. This is shown in the report entitled "Financial and biological key figures for the Norwegian fisheries in 2010", which details developments in stocks of spawning fish, catches and their value and profitability in the last 25 years.
”We are very pleased to note these developments, as it shows that a good grasp of fisheries management and the fisheries industry in combination with the prevailing natural conditions has resulted in the positive and sustainable development of resources for the Norwegian fisheries industry,” adds Liv Holmefjord.
Stocks of pelagic fish tripled
The size of stocks of spawning fish serves as a standard method of measuring fish resources, and the figures thus obtained show that stocks of spawning pelagic fish have almost tripled in the last 25 years. In the same period, stocks of major species of demersal fish have more than doubled. In particular, stocks of Norwegian Arctic Cod and Norwegian spring spawning herring have been the driving factor in this development.
Fisheries a profitable industry
The sizeable increase in fish stocks is associated with the implementation of harvesting regulations for a number of species of fish combined with monitoring of resources, which together have contributed to their sustainable exploitation. At the same time, the value of catches – especially of pelagic fish – has shown strong growth. In 1985, catches of pelagic fish were valued at over NOK 2 million and by 2010 this figure had almost tripled to over NOK 6 million.
The profitability curve for Norway’s fishing fleet as a whole is trending upwards, although there are variations between individual vessels and groups of vessels.
“A further contributory factor to the growth in stocks of Norwegian Cod may well be that we have succeeded in reducing illegal fishing in the Barents Sea,” points out Liv Holmefjord.
Minimal subsidies and greater efficiency
The report also shows that the numbers of fishermen and fishing vessels have fallen substantially in recent years, and that today there is virtually no subsidisation of the Norwegian fishing fleet. Whereas subsidies in 1985 totalled NOK 1.2 billion, by 2010 this figure had been reduced to only NOK 60 million.
“We have an ever more efficient fishing fleet that is becoming increasingly commercially viable. However, many challenges remain in regard to Norwegian fisheries management and some fish stocks still need to be further built up in order to provide a good yield for the fisheries industry,” concludes Liv Holmefjord.
Contact person:
Per Sandberg, Director, Statistics Department, tel.: +47 930 14 128