Norwegian Seafood & Fishing Industry Statistics 2022

The Norwegian seafood industry has grown from strength to strength over the last couple of decades. This fact was illustrated at the start of this year, as January 2022 saw seafood worth NOK 10.3 billion exported. 

This was an increase of 26% on 2021. At the time, this was the highest value of seafood exports that Norway had ever experienced. 

This was again surpassed in March, so to say it’s been a successful first quarter of 2022 would be an understatement. Of course, those stats don’t tell the full story, so here are 10 statistics that give you an insight into one of Norway’s most prized industries. 

Globally Competitive 

It is unsurprising that Norway has such an affinity for seafood production, especially when you look at the facts. It is a country with a long history of producing excellent sea produce and one with the potential to become an even bigger player in the global market. 

• Norway’s coastline is the second longest in the world, at a length of 100,915 km including all the islands. Thus, there has always been a fishing culture within the country and one where they embrace the natural resource around them. 
• This has led them to becoming the world’s second largest exporter of seafood. Only China can claim to export more seafood than Norway. 
• In 2021, Norwegian seafood producers exported 1.7 million tonnes of seafood to the EU worth NOK 70 billion.

A Big Player In The Norwegian Economy 

The seafood industry is valued greatly by the Norwegian economy, and it is easy to see why. Right now, it contributes massive levels of revenue to the country’s GDP and as the world further embraces the values of seafood, it will grow even more. 

• The industry is so vast that it is the second largest contributor to Norway’s economy, after oil and gas. The Scandinavian country knows how to make the most of the valuable resources that are on its doorstep. 
• Norway exported 3.1 million tonnes of seafood worth NOK 120.8 billion in 2021. That represents the equivalent of 42 million seafood meals every single day of the year. That is a lot of seafood! 

What Is It Exporting? 

We know that Norway exports a lot of seafood, but what exactly is it exporting? 

• Salmon were the leading species being exported in 2021, with a value of NOK 81.4 billion. Cod was second, at a value of NOK 9.8 billion. 
• The year 2021 was a record year for the salmon industry in terms of harvest volumes. The harvest volumes as of October 2021 were also, 12% higher than that at the same the year before. 

The above barely touches on the wide array of seafood produce available within the country. The likes of trout, crab and whole bunch of other ingredients are caught and exported by producers within the Norwegian seafood industry. 

Sustainability

• Norwegian salmon is not only renowned for its taste, but also for its sustainability. The Coller FAIRR index of the world’s most sustainable protein producers have ranked Norwegian aquaculture companies as best in class for the past four years. 
• On top of that, Norwegian cod also comes from one of the world’s most sustainable fish stocks. The Northeast Arctic cod, the stock from which close to 100% of all exported Norwegian cod originates, is certified by the MSC and has a Norwegian quota of more than 300 000 tons.

Sustainability is an area that is of the upmost importance to the Norwegian seafood industry. Thus, as customers become more conscious, there will be further opportunities for ethical producers to take advantage of. 

A Market Going Forward 

There are many reasons to be optimistic about the future of Norwegian seafood. One of them is their domestic market, which has yet to be tapped into. 

As of yet, the Norwegian public doesn’t eat enough seafood produce. However, as consumers become more informed of its benefits, that could change. Particularly if the youth of today realise the benefits of consuming more fish and seafood. 

• For instance, a report from the Norwegian Seafood Council showed that only two out of every 10 children eat enough seafood. This represents an opportunity for the industry to target a new and untapped marketplace. 

Those are just 10 interesting statistics about Norway’s thriving seafood industry. If you want to read about even more fascinating insights into this area, then click here (insert link to news page on home site).