Why Norway’s Waters Provide the Perfect Habitat for Seafood
When it comes to seafood, transparency is important. People want to know where their food is coming from, so they can recognise if it was caught using sustainable fishing methods.
Transparency is also important when it comes to quality.
For instance, Norway is known to be a country that produces brilliant seafood. If your purchasing this cuisine and it is Norwegian-produced, you know that it likely of good quality.
This is partially because Norway has an abundance of natural advantages when compared to other seafood producing nations. It is also because the Scandinavian country has implemented policies and innovations to allow it to be a global leader in the production of seafood.
Read on to find out more…
Fjords
Culinary experts recognise the Norway as a wonderful place to purchase seafood from. Chefs throughout the world seek out the country’s produce to use in their dishes.
That is because Norway’s waters provide ‘goldilocks’ ecosystems, that are just right for a huge number of different fish and sea creatures.
Fjords play a huge role in this, as they are key to providing this ideal habitat for aqua species to thrive.
Fjords are deep bodies of water, that form along formerly glaciated areas on the coast. They can even contain cold water reefs and can go deep into the surface.
Norway is lucky to have over 1,700 named fjords along its 57,000km-long coastline. Many of these fjords provide the perfect habitat for the oceanic delights that end up on your plate.
Ideal Water
Did you know that the North Atlantic provides the perfect temperature range for salmon to thrive (between 8 and 14c)?
That is why it is unsurprising that Norway is famous for its salmon production.
You should also know that it isn’t just salmon who appreciate these waters, with an abundance of other seafood delicacies a huge part of the culture in these areas.
The warm water flowing from the Gulf of Mexico into the Arctic’s freezing ecosystem create an ideal habitat for both native and migratory schools.
As we go further North along the coastline, where the weather gets more inclement, there are still many species that thrive. For instance, the brown crab, scallop and the renown Norway lobster (a.k.a langoustine) love the cold water in these areas.
A Perfect Current
The currents in the North Atlantic around Norway allow for fish schools to exist perfectly.
This current is neither too slow, nor too quick, and is the envy of other seafood producing countries throughout the globe.
When you pair this with the protection provided within fjords, you can understand why so many different species thrive within these waters. It’s a fisherman’s paradise. Thankfully, there is regulation to ensure that the ecosystem maintains its balance.
One-of-a-kind Environment & Resource
The water around the aforementioned fjords is a mixture of both salt and fresh, which acts as a natural cure to some parasites that could affect the fish if this wasn’t the case.
As we mentioned, Norway’s waters are ideal for many species and thus, they have provided a natural resource on the doorstep for the country’s coastal towns and villages.
Not only is fishing a means of living in these areas, it is also a huge part of their lives and culture.
Ocean Management
Norway is a country that knows how to value its natural resources.
That is why there are strict rules around the management of the waters around this country. These rules allow for clean, fresh water to exist and thus, this allows for scrumptious seafood to thrive.
A recent article on the World Wildlife Federation website discussed Norway’s continuously excellent work in this area.
It read: “Norway is implementing an ecosystem-based approach to managing human activities that affect the marine environment. The system is adaptive, is built on knowledge, incorporates scientific advice and involves all relevant sector authorities.”
Norway’s sea stock comes from an area that not only has natural advantages, but an area that also maintains those advantages through proper rules and regulations.
Innovative Enterprise
As we said, Seafood production is a valued part of Norwegian culture. That is why throughout the years, there has been many innovative designs and development within the industry.
For instance, there has been amazing work done in monitoring and maintaining Norway’s salmon stock, and also within the research and development of fish stocks within the country’s waters.
A recent UN report echoed this sentiment, stating: “The long Norwegian coastline is home to very rich fishing grounds, making Norway the biggest fishing nation in Europe. The Norwegian fisheries and aquaculture sector is very modern and very advanced in terms of technology and management.”
The traditions and culture of the country, as well as its natural conditions, has led to Norway becoming the second largest exporter of seafood in the world.
With these advantages, Norway looks set to remain one of the best seafood producers on the planet. If you want to try food that comes from clean, fresh water and is sustainably managed, then Norwegian seafood could be for you.
