1. Norway

Introduction

Norway is one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of aquatic foods, and the seafood industry remains a key national sector. In 2023, the sector accounted for 2.3% of mainland GDP and employed 96,000 persons, directly and indirectly, corresponding to 3% of the workforce. Of these, we find 42,000 in the core activities and 54 000 as spillover effects among suppliers, their suppliers, and so on (Nyrud et al., 2024). Aquaculture, and in particular Atlantic salmon farming, is the dominant segment and generates more than half of the industry’s total value creation.

With a small domestic population, Norway exports most of its seafood production. The EU is the most important destination, and the Nordic countries account for 12% of Norwegian exports for human consumption and 25% of Norwegian imports of aquatic foods.

A large share of exported volumes is processed abroad, mainly in European hub and processing markets such as Denmark, Poland, and the Netherlands, as well as in Asia. These products are either consumed locally or re-exported to other markets. Although Norway also produces emerging aquatic foods such as algae and seaweed, these volumes remain insignificant in the context of human consumption.

Primary production

Norway’s aquatic food production is built on both capture fishery and aquaculture. Capture fisheries in Norway comprise all wild-caught aquatic resources, including fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and algae, delivered for human consumption, reduction, or other uses. The sector shows considerable variation across species groups, both in landed volumes and economic value. While capture fisheries remain more important in terms of total quantity, aquaculture dominates Norwegian seafood production by value.

Capture fishery

Norway’s capture fishery consists of a wide variety of wild-caught species. Pelagic species such as Norwegian spring-spawning herring and mackerel account for the largest volumes, whereas demersal species, particularly cod, drive economic value. In addition to fish landed for human consumption, a substantial share of pelagic species is directed to reduction, mainly for meal and oil production. Landings of crustaceans and molluscs are modest in volume but important to specific coastal regions and market segments. Nearly all harvested seaweed is directed to non-food uses or employed as an ingredient in food processing, for example, in the production of alginate. The figures in Table 1.1 represent the total catch by Norwegian vessels that is landed in Norway, where about 1,487,043 tonnes were available for consumption, at a value of NOK 27.7 billion, in 2023. In addition, 58,769 tonnes of fish for human consumption were caught by Norwegian vessels and landed abroad. The majority of this was landings of pelagic species such as capelin, Norwegian Spring-spawning herring, and mackerel in Iceland and the Faroe Islands, and North Sea herring in Denmark. These figures should appear in the export statistics and will not be included in the residual analysis.

The availability of aquatic food from fisheries varies considerably from year to year, largely due to quota fluctuations. Among demersal species, cod volumes declined sharply in 2023, while saithe landings increased, and overall demersal value recovered strongly from the low point in 2021, though it remained slightly below the 2022 level. Pelagic catches rose until 2021 and subsequently decreased, yet the total value climbed to NOK 8.2 billion in 2023, driven by strong prices for herring and mackerel. Shellfish and other invertebrates showed steady growth in landed volume, with a value peak in 2022, followed by a mild decline in 2023. Production for reduction purposes displayed high volatility, notably due to a significant rebound in blue whiting landings in 2023.

Table 1.1: Primary production from fisheries. Source: Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, 2025b.

	Quantity (tonnes live weight)					Value (NOK million)
	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Fishery for human consumption	1,384,548	1,438,463	1,661,913	1,587,016	1,487,043	18,910	18,949	12,872	26,875	27,655
Demersal fish, flatfish, deep-sea spc.	727,784	722,479	792,265	772,642	736,098	12,721	11,855	8,325	16,807	16,732
Cod	328,589	331,198	381,457	354,213	293,609	7,450	7,334	4,980	9,874	9,433
Saithe	191,862	189,159	190,411	209,356	228,120	1,638	1,651	1,131	2,763	3,008
Haddock	94,992	88,847	101,551	89,467	92,265	1,568	1,263	1,122	1,695	1,513
Redfish	31,646	40,680	52,645	49,273	52,821	324	330	304	577	698
Greenland halibut	17,020	17,259	16,291	16,884	16,919	646	450	268	669	817
Other	63,675	55,336	49,909	53,451	52,364	1,094	828	520	1,229	1,261
Pelagic fish	615,560	678,677	820,229	757,285	685,132	4,524	5,494	2,630	7,058	8,197
Norwegian Spring-spawning herring	391,017	395,269	467,767	359,237	356,182	1,709	2,273	1,232	2,558	3,349
Mackerel	149,669	203,102	253,202	282,348	198,832	2,396	2,688	581	3,679	3,621
North sea herring	55,700	64,313	57,571	55,350	59,376	317	440	345	403	628
Other	19,174	15,993	41,689	60,350	70,741	102	93	472	419	599
Molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms	39,004	34,998	47,546	55,174	63,733	1,658	1,592	1,915	3,005	2,719
Northern shrimp	26,162	22,844	31,343	37,586	38 106	941	799	815	1,208	1,165
Snow crab	4,056	4,315	6,861	7,964	7,636	265	283	641	735	449
King crab	1,724	2,081	2,121	2,166	2,802	303	371	359	841	781
Other	7,062	5,758	7,221	7,458	15,189	149	139	101	220	324
Cartilaginous fish	2,201	2,309	1,874	1,915	2,080	7	8	2	4	7
Aquatic food for reduction	536,818	629,263	382,553	441,275	456,447	1,654	2,208	1,136	1,763	1,854
Blue whiting	259,774	291,542	168,613	125,362	327,731	661	953	408	329	1 080
North sea herring	56,092	38,926	28,853	65,504	43,797	269	209	145	362	317
Other	220,952	298,795	185,087	250,408	84,919	724	1,046	583	1,072	456
Aquatic food: other uses	166,095	155,214	162,961	173,612	189,762	254	254	161	223	234
Total Fishery	2,087,461	2,222,939	2,207,426	2,201,903	2,133,251	20,817	21,411	14,170	28,860	29,743

Another aspect not analysed further in this report is the seasonal pattern of catches throughout the year. Figure 1.1 presents the average monthly landings of aquatic food for human consumption from 2019 to 2023. Clear seasonal peaks emerge across all species groups. Cod and other demersal species dominate landings in winter and early spring, reflecting established seasonal fisheries such as the Skrei fishery. Pelagic species, in contrast, show pronounced peaks in the autumn and in the first months of the year, primarily driven by herring and mackerel fisheries. Shellfish, molluscs, and echinoderms display a more even distribution throughout the year, though several species, particularly shrimp and snow crab, show elevated activity in early summer and autumn. Flatfish and other deep-water species also exhibit stable seasonal patterns, with modest increases in spring and early summer. Cartilaginous fish contribute only small volumes, but their catches show slight peaks in late autumn. Overall, these seasonal dynamics influence both the availability of raw material and the temporal distribution of processing activity within the seafood sector.

Figure 1.1: Average monthly landings of catch by Norwegian vessels 2019-2023. Source: The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (2025)

Aquaculture production

Total aquaculture production for human consumption, presented in Table 1.2, amounted to 1.65 million tonnes in 2023, valued at NOK 114.2 billion. Atlantic salmon remains the dominant species, representing 93% of volume and 94% of total value. Trout accounted for 91,000 tonnes, valued at approximately NOK 6 billion.

Production of other farmed species remains limited but is increasing. Farmed Atlantic cod has grown from zero in 2019 to 11.4 thousand tonnes in 2023, following earlier biological and market-related challenges. Farmed molluscs and crustaceans remain small in scale, and seaweed cultivation is still at an early stage, with 768  tonnes produced in 2023, of which 22% was used for human consumption. Aquaculture for other uses includes algae.

Table 1.2: Primary production from Aquaculture. Source: Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, 2025a.

	Quantity (tonnes live weight)					Value (NOK million)
	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Aquaculture for human consumption	1,452,026	1,489,577	1,664,866	1,661,520	1,649,847	71,709	68,716	80,434	108,259	114,239
Atlantic salmon	1,364,042	1,388,434	1,562,415	1,564,948	1,542,480	67,990	64,677	75,783	102,464	107,534
Trout	83,489	96,263	95,058	85,615	90,641	3,477	3,782	4,228	5,237	5,856
Cod	0	163	1,622	5,116	11,389	0	8	67	189	450
Molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms	2,164	2,071	2,200	2,646	2,234	29	21	30	17	39
Halibut	1,524	1,870	2,716	2,291	1,903	155	175	267	278	259
Other	807	776	855	905	1200	58	53	59	74	100
Aquaculture other uses	117	336	246	221	137	4,359	8,618	6,224	4,227	4,561

Regulation and management

Norway has one of the world’s longest coastlines, stretching from Kattegat and Skagerrak in the southeast to the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, and Barents Sea in the north. Including Svalbard, the country’s maritime zones are about seven times larger than its land area. Inland lakes and rivers also provide fish resources, but mainly for recreation and household consumption. In 2023, 62% of the catch by Norwegian vessels was taken within the Norwegian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This was followed by fisheries in international waters, primarily in the Antarctica and Irminger Sea/Reykjanes Ridge areas, accounting for 19% of the total catch. Catches in the United Kingdom EEZ accounted for 7%, the EU zone for 4%, and the Fisheries Protection Zone around Svalbard for 3%; the remaining ~5% was taken in other areas, including the Icelandic, Faroese, and Russian EEZs.

Modern fisheries management in Norway emerged after the collapse of the spring-spawning herring stock in the 1970s, which underscored the need for strict regulation. The introduction of 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) in 1977 gave Norway control over its marine resources and enabled regulated fishing. Over the past five decades, the sector has shifted from open access and heavy subsidies to a quota-based system with individual transferable quotas (ITQs), turning it into a resource rent-generating industry. Today, both fisheries and aquaculture are tightly managed.

Norwegian fisheries management is grounded in scientific advice and international cooperation. Stock assessments from the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR) and recommendations from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) guide annual Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and conservation measures. These decisions are negotiated through bilateral and multilateral agreements with partners such as the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Russia, and coordinated through regional bodies such as the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC). Norway also adheres to global frameworks, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, ensuring sustainable practices and joint efforts to combat illegal fishing.

Table 1.3 shows fishing pressure and stock size for the main commercially important stocks in Norwegian and adjacent waters, evaluated relative to maximum sustainable yield (MSY) reference points in the 2025 advice. Green indicates stocks for which fishing mortality is at or below the MSY level and whose spawning stock biomass is above the MSY trigger level. Red indicates stocks that are either fished above MSY or whose spawning-stock biomass is below the MSY trigger. “Not defined” denotes stocks for which MSY reference points are not available and which are managed using alternative precautionary or management‐plan targets.

Table 1.3: Status of main stocks for Norwegian fisheries: stock status and fishing pressure. Source: ICES (2025b, 2025c, 2025d, 2025f, 2025h, 2025k, 2025l, 2025p, 2025q); IMR (2024a, 2024b, 2024c; 2025a, 2025b)

Species/stock	Fishing pressure	Stock size
Species/stock	F ≤ FMSY	SSB ≥ MSY Btrigger
Northeast Arctic cod (cod.27.1-2)	Not good	Not good
North Sea cod (Southern substock)	Not good	Not good
Northern Norwegian Coastal Cod (north of 67°N)	Not defined	Not defined
Southern Norwegian Coastal cod (between 62°N and 67°N)	Not good	Not good
Northeast Arctic saithe (subareas 1–2)	Good	Good
Saithe in the North Sea and Skagerrak	Not good	Not good
Northeast Arctic haddock (subareas 1-2)	Not good	Good
Haddock North Sea, Skagerrak (had.27.46a20)	Good	Good
Norwegian spring-spawning herring (subareas 1, 2, 5; divisions 4.a, 14.a)	Good	Not good
North Sea autumn-spawning herring (Subarea 4 and divisions 3.a and 7.d)	Not good	Good
Northeast Arctic Mackerel	Not good	Not good
Northern shrimp (Barents Sea, subareas 1–2)	Good	Good
Northern shrimp (Skagerrak & Norwegian Trench, 3.a–4.a East)	Good	Not good

For several major stocks, fishing pressure is now at or below MSY, including haddock in the North Sea and Skagerrak, Norwegian springspawning herring, North Sea autumnspawning herring, Northeast Atlantic mackerel, and northern shrimp in both the Barents Sea and the Skagerrak–Norwegian Trench. However, for many of these stocks the spawningstock biomass (SSB) is still below the MSY Btrigger level, which means the stocks are recovering even though fishing pressure has been reduced. This is particularly the case for Norwegian springspawning herring, Northeast Atlantic mackerel, and northern shrimp in the Skagerrak–Norwegian Trench.

In contrast, several key demersal stocks still have fishing pressure above MSY and/or SSB below the MSY trigger. Northeast Arctic cod and North Sea cod (southern substock) both have F > MSY and SSB < MSY Btrigger, indicating weak status relative to MSY benchmarks. Northeast Arctic saithe and Northeast Arctic haddock show different patterns: both have SSB ≥ MSY Btrigger, but fishing pressure still exceeds MSY for saithe and is slightly above MSY for haddock. In the North Sea and Skagerrak, saithe is fished at or below MSY, but SSB remains below the trigger.

Northern Norwegian coastal cod (north of 67°N) lacks defined MSY reference points and is therefore shown as “not defined”, reflecting the use of management‑plan or precautionary targets rather than formal MSY benchmarks. Overall, the 2025 advice indicates that while fishing pressure has been brought down to sustainable levels for several pelagic and invertebrate stocks, many stocks in Norwegian waters still have SSB below MSY‑based thresholds, and some demersal stocks continue to show F > MSY and/or SSB < MSY Btrigger. Rebuilding spawning‑stock biomass therefore remains a central task, even where current harvest levels are consistent with MSY.

Aquaculture

Norwegian aquaculture is regulated under the Aquaculture Act and operates under a licensing system based on Maximum Total Biomass (MTB). Salmon farming is controlled through a traffic-light system that adjusts production based on environmental indicators such as sea lice levels, and farms must meet strict standards for fish health, welfare, and biosecurity. The Norwegian government’s White Paper The Future of Aquaculture (Regjeringen, 2025) outlines a new impact-based regulatory framework that proposes replacing today’s volume-based limits with a system based on actual environmental effects, including tradable quotas for sea lice emissions and a fee on lost fish. Other farmed species, such as cod and halibut, fall under the same regulative framework with species-specific rules: cod farming requires monitoring of sexual maturity and spawning risk to protect wild stocks, while halibut farming operates under MTB licenses with strict hygiene and annual safety monitoring. Across all species, Norway promotes environmental responsibility and incentivises green technologies to reduce ecological impact.

Tourist and recreational fishing

Tourist and recreational fishing in Norway are regulated to ensure sustainable use of marine and freshwater resources. Sea angling remains generally allowed for everybody without a license, but other types of regulations have tightened substantially in recent years. Tourist fishing in Norway is regulated much more strictly than recreational fishing by Norwegian residents. Tourists must fish through a registered tourist fishing enterprise if they want to export their catch, and these businesses are required to submit daily digital catch reports, covering all catches, including released fish. Tourists may only use handheld gear, face strict documentation rules, and are subject to steadily tightening export quotas, 15 kg from 2026 and 10 kg from 2027. Norwegian recreational fishers may fish freely with rod and handline and may also use certain forms of passive gear under strict limits. Both groups must follow conservation rules, such as respecting minimum and maximum size limits for different species and observing a fishing prohibition during the closed season for certain species, such as halibut. Reliable figures on tourist and recreational fishing are difficult to obtain, as reporting is limited and participation outside registered operators is largely unmonitored.

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Processing and Value Chain Overview: Norway

Figure 1.2 illustrates the Norwegian fisheries and aquaculture value chains. In aquaculture, production begins with smolt farming, where juvenile salmon are raised before being transferred to sea cages for grow-out farming. Once harvested, the fish enter primary processing (slaughtering and initial preparation), followed by secondary processing (filleting, value-added processing, or ready-to-eat products), either in Norway or abroad, before reaching final markets in retail and foodservice.

In the fisheries value chain, wild fish are harvested by the fishing fleet and delivered to local fish processing plants. Here, the fish may undergo further processing, but it is often sold unprocessed to processors or buyers domestically or abroad. The products then move through importers or wholesalers and may undergo additional processing before reaching their end markets globally.

Together, these chains form an integrated system that delivers Norwegian seafood from ocean to consumer.

Figure 1.2: Norwegian aquatic food value chain. Source: inspired by Bergesen & Tveterås (2019).

Of the total landings by Norwegian vessels of about 2.5 million tonnes, 84% is landed in Norway, where 70% is fish for human consumption. The remaining 14% of landings by Norwegian vessels are primarily pelagic species for reduction abroad. Norwegian landings abroad are included in the export statistics.

In 2023, 85% of landings at Norwegian ports were by Norwegian vessels, 5% by Nordic vessels (the Faroes, Denmark, and Iceland), and 9% by vessels from other countries, with British vessels dominating. About 71% of the foreign landings in Norway are for human consumption. All landings from foreign vessels in Norway bought by Norwegian companies are included in the official trade statistics.

Table 1.4 presents the number of companies in each sector, total fisheries landings, and aquaculture production by region. About half of the total primary production of aquatic food for human consumption takes place in the two northernmost regions, where both whitefish, pelagic, and crustacean fisheries are particularly important. Møre og Romsdal and Vestland also play significant roles. The eastern regions, despite being home to half the country’s population, account for only 4% of the country's aquatic food production.

There is a strong correlation between where fish are landed or produced and where companies are located. Nearly 60% of companies, as well as production, are in the two northernmost counties (Troms and Finnmark, and Nordland). However, processing does not necessarily occur at the landing site. Fish is frequently sold between companies and across regions. Due to limited public data between catch and exports, it is not possible to determine the exact quantities processed by each company.

Troms and Finnmark, Nordland, and Vestland are the dominant counties in Norwegian seafood production. More than half of all whitefish landings occur in Troms and Finnmark, although most companies are in Nordland. Troms and Finnmark also have the largest share of crustacean landings (primarily Northern shrimp and crabs). Møre og Romsdal dominates the pelagic industry.

Table 1.4: Regional distribution of processors and total landings/farming. Source: Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (2025a,b)

Region

Human consumption
Farmed		Whitefish		Pelagic		Crustaceans		Total
N. of comp	Tot. Prod	N. of comp	Tot. Landings	N. of comp	Tot. Landings	N. of comp	Tot. Landings	N. of comp	Tot. Landings
Troms and Finnmark	13	342,741	56	407,241	2	57,666	24	46,504	95	854,152
Nordland	13	367,032	73	143,656	4	132,176	3	7,048	93	649,912
Trøndelag	17	2,43,100	10	4,456	2	62,760	11	2,717	40	313,033
Møre og Romsdal	16	222,704	41	144,497	9	209,119	5	1,955	71	578,275
Vestland	23	344,543	11	28,536	5	138,602	6	280	45	511,961
Rogaland	6	107,850	5	8,107	4	54,964	7	1,205	22	172,126
Other	9	21,877	11	1,686		29,844	11	4,024	31	57,430
Total	97	1,649,847	207	738,178	26	685,132	67	63,733	397	3,136,890

The regions where most of Norway's seafood production takes place are also the least populated (see Table 1.5). Located in the far north, these regions are also the furthest away from the main markets. Troms and Finnmark, and Nordland, each with around 240 000 inhabitants, stand out with exceptionally high primary production per capita, 3 523 and 2 696 kg, respectively. In contrast, more densely populated regions such as Rogaland and Trøndelag have far lower percapita production levels. The rest of the country, home to more than 3 million people, accounts for only 18 kg of primary production per capita. This illustrates how seafood production is heavily concentrated in sparsely populated coastal regions, where natural conditions, coastline availability, and industrial structure support large-scale aquaculture and fisheries activity.

	Inhabitants (1000)	Primary production per capita
Troms and Finnmark	242	3,523
Nordland	241	2,696
Trøndelag	478	654
Møre og Romsdal	268	2,155
Vestland	646	792
Rogaland	492	350
Other	3 ,120	18
Total	5,489	571

Table 1.5: Inhabitants and primary production available per capita, 2023. Source: SSB (2025)

Marine products for reduction

A substantial share of pelagic fish is used to produce fishmeal and fish oil. In addition to feed production, fishmeal and fish oil serve as key ingredients in omega-3 supplements, protein powders, and a range of health and nutraceutical products.

There are five feed producers in Norway: Cargill/EWOS, Biomar, Skretting, MOWI Feed, and Polarfeed, with ten production facilities spread along the Norwegian coast, from Finnmark in the north to Rogaland in the south. Only Polarfeed is Norwegian owned. In addition, there are smaller producers specializing in live feed and starter feed for farmed cod (Iversen et al., 2024).

In addition, these industries rely on cutoffs from the processing industry, for which no publicly available figures are available.

Region	Meal and oil
	Number of companies		Total landings
	Primary production	Refinery	Total landings
Troms and Finnmark	3	1	2,044
Nordland	8	1	13,303
Trøndelag	4	1	886
Møre og Romsdal	3	8	58,116
Vestland	3		51,817
Rogaland	5		329,963
Other		2	318
Total	26	13	456,447

Table 1.6: Regional distribution of meal and oil companies. Source: Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (2025b)

Fish processing in Norway and abroad

The Norwegian industry primarily relies on domestically sourced fish. Some segments, however, depend on imported raw materials; for example, salted and dried cod producers can use frozen fish, including from foreign vessels. The pelagic industry also uses fresh fish from foreign vessels landed in Norway, for both human consumption and reduction.

However, compared to the substantial primary production of aquatic food in Norway, the processing sector is relatively small. Table 1.7 displays the estimated quantities of whole fish available for the Norwegian processing industry. Of the 3.2 million tonnes of whole fish available in Norway, 2.1 million tonnes are exported as whole fish. This leaves 1.1 million tonnes that can potentially be used by Norwegian processing (for domestic or foreign consumption). However, some of this fish is frozen, either on land or onboard the vessels. About one-third of the wild-caught fish intended for human consumption, such as cod, saithe, and haddock, is frozen onboard. A substantial share of this frozen fish is landed at independent cold‑storage facilities for later export. These volumes should, in principle, be captured in export statistics; however, because frozen fish is a durable product, some of it may be exported in the year after it is caught. Consequently, exports reported in a given year may include fish landed the previous year.

This, however, does not illustrate the capacity, as it is potentially substantially larger. Filleting of wild-caught fish is highly seasonal, and a lack of fish due to fewer fish leaves the facilities with no production for many periods of the year. However, when the fish is available, the capacity is used to its maximum.

Specie	Primary production	Imports	Exports	Available for production in Norway
Atlantic salmon	1,542,480	264	1,117,766	424,979
Trout	90,641	314	76,839	14,117
Herring	415,558	46,105	86,484	375,179
Mackerel	198,827	108,532	296,357	11,002
Cod	280,521	25,547	142,895	163,172
Saithe	189,423	5,674	82,322	112,774
Haddock	75,262	119	74,092	1,288
Shrimps	38,106	9,727	13,227	34,606
Other	200,431	12,950	209,076	4,306
Total	3,031,249	209,233	2,099,058	1,141,423

Table 1.7: Primary production, imports, exports, and quantities available for production in Norway. Source: own estimations based on data from The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (2025a,b) and NSC/SSB (2025).

Exports and hub markets

About two-thirds of Norway's total exports of aquatic food for human consumption consist of whole fresh or frozen fish. Approximately 14% of Norway’s exports (in liveweight equivalent) go to other Nordic countries, and more than 80% of this is whole, unprocessed fish.

Among the Nordic countries, Denmark and, to some extent, Sweden serve as important hubs and processing markets for Norwegian seafood. Several nonNordic countries also rely on Norwegian raw material in their processing industries, including the Netherlands and Poland. In addition, large volumes are shipped overseas for secondary processing, particularly to China, where Norwegian fish is processed for other end markets, for example, frozen whitefish fillets for European consumers and mackerel products for the Japanese market. It is estimated that around 40% of Norway’s most important species pass through hub or processing markets before reaching their final consumer destinations (Kontali Analyse AS, 2016; 2019).

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Trade flows of Aquatic food: Norway

Imports for human consumption

Norway imported around 250 thousand tonnes of aquatic food for human consumption in 2023. The largest category of imported aquatic foods for human consumption is fresh/chilled products, with more than 90% consisting of fresh whole mackerel, herring, and blue whiting. A share of the imported fresh produce is primarily for meal and oil production. This share is calculated based on official landings statistics and subtracted from the following tables.

Cod and saithe dominate the frozen whole category (95%), with the majority being imports from Russian vessels used in Norwegian (salted and dried) production.

Imports from the Nordic countries are also dominated by fresh products, particularly fresh whole herring and mackerel, which accounted for 66% of imports in 2023. These are primarily landings of Nordic vessels at Norwegian ports, and blue whiting, mackerel, and herring are the dominant species. In 2023, 66% of imports of aquatic food for human consumption were from r European countries outside the Nordic region, while 4% originated from Asia, and 5% from North America.

Given that a relatively large share of fish exported from Norway is shipped as whole fish, a considerable portion of it is subsequently processed abroad. It is assumed that a substantial share of this processed fish is re-imported into Norway. Because the origin of fish cannot be identified in official trade statistics, the actual share of Norwegian fish in imported processed products is uncertain. However, if we assume that the majority of processed fish (i.e., filleted, salted, or otherwise processed) of the major species (cod, saithe, haddock, salmon, trout, herring, and mackerel) originates from Norwegian catches, the data suggest that only about 17,000 tonnes, or roughly 6% of total imports, can reasonably be assumed to be of Norwegian origin. Of this amount, approximately 7,000 tonnes are imported from other Nordic countries, representing around 12% of Norway’s fish imports from the Nordic region. It is nevertheless likely that some of this fish is originally from, for instance, Russia or the US, particularly products that enter Norway after processing in China.

Products and species	Quantity (tonnes live weight )		Value (million NOK)
Products and species	Import total	Import Nordic	Import total	Import Nordic
Salmon	473	434	76	72
Fresh whole/live	264	263	23	23
Frozen whole	1		0
Fillets	85	62	10	8
Salted, dried, smoked	90	87	10	10
Processed	34	22	3	3
Other	0	0	30	28
Herring	47,528	14,763	502	168
Fresh whole/live	46,093	14,063	457	148
Frozen whole	12	1	0	0
Fillets	5	5	0	0
Salted, dried, smoked	16	10	1	1
Processed	1,402	684	44	18
Other	0	0	0	0
Mackerel	108,877	16,583	1,814	207
Fresh whole/live	108,530	16,244	1,810	203
Frozen whole	2		0
Fillets	345	339	4	4
Cod	36,022	6,815	1,284	188
Fresh whole/live	1,473	1,473	28	28
Frozen whole	24,073	2,416	818	75
Fillets	7,554	471	284	18
Salted, dried, smoked	201	26	11	3
Processed	2,721	2,429	62	56
Other	0	0	79	8
Saithe	8,518	1,736	154	42
Fresh whole/live	103	102	1	1
Frozen whole	5,571		81
Fillets	1,938	887	33	10
Processed	907	747	39	30
Other	0	0	1	0
Trout	365	323	17	14
Fresh whole/live	314	314	14	14
Frozen whole	0		0
Fillets	51	9	3	1
Haddock	2,157	1,558	52	44
Fresh whole/live	61		1
Frozen whole	58	61	1	1
Fillets	2,038	1,497	38	32
Other	0	0	13	11
Prawns	13,808	7,809	1,030	463
Fresh/live	214	163	18	12
Frozen whole	9,513	6,611	517	326
Processed (peeled)	4,081	1,035	495	125
Other	33,751	13,940	1,148	373
Fresh/live	9,806	9,294	160	82
Frozen	3,144	1,063	139	38
Fillets	4,769	572	114	17
Salted, dried, smoked	1,096	153	46	20
Processed	14,880	2,858	589	170
Other	56	0	100	46
Total	251,501	63,960	6,077	1,570
Fresh/live	166,858	41,917	2,511	511
Frozen	42,375	10,151	1,557	441
Fillets	16,784	3,841	485	89
Salted, dried, smoked	1,403	276	69	33
Processed	24,026	7,774	1,233	402
Other	56	0	222	94

Table 1.8: Imports of fish for human consumption in 2023 (tonnes). Source: NSC/SSB, 2025.

Imports of Marine Ingredients and Feed

Imports of fresh whole pelagic species include blue whiting, mackerel, sardines/sprat, and herring, which are landed by foreign vessels in Norway. The majority are landings by Nordic vessels.

Flour/meal and pellets are sourced primarily from Iceland, Denmark, and the Faroe Islands (79%), with 17% from North and South America, and the remaining from the rest of Europe.

About 50% of the fish oil is sourced from Nordic countries, while the rest is dominated by overseas markets such as Mexico (10%), Mauritania (9%), and Chile (9%).

The other category consists primarily of algae, and fish oil/flour not for human consumption.

Norwegian aquaculture production is heavily dependent on imports of feed, according to Aas et al (2022): only 8% of the ingredients were sourced from Norway, specifically the fish meal and fish oil. The remaining 92%, including all micro-ingredients, were imported. According to them, salmon feed in 2020 was composed of 12.1% fish meal and 10.3% fish oil, alongside 40.5% plant-based protein sources and 20.1% vegetable oils. Carbohydrate sources accounted for 12.5% of the feed, while micro-ingredients made up 4.1%. An additional 0.4% consisted of emerging ingredients, including insect meal, single-cell proteins, fermented products, and microalgae. This amounted to 1,976,709 tonnes of ingredients, where 239,710 tonnes of marine protein and 203,598 tonnes of marine oils (including 4,531 tonnes of oil from by-products from farmed fish.

Product categories	Quantity (tonnes product weight)		Value (million NOK)
Product categories	Import total	Import Nordic	Import total	Import Nordic
Fresh whole pelagic	44,472	43,946	248	236
Flour/meal/pellets	228,143	180,282	5,068	3,981
Oil	173,250	88,444	8,556	3,885
Other	93,865	64,191	1,924	355
Total	539,730	376,862	15,796	8,458

Table 1.9: Imports of marine ingredients in 2023 (tonnes). Source: NSC/SSB, 2025.

Exports for human consumption

Total exports of aquatic food for human consumption in 2023 amounted to about 3.1 billion tonnes in live weight. About 67% of the total export volume, measured by live weight, is whole fresh/frozen/live fish. As only a small share of this whole fish is made available to consumers in this state, this suggests that a substantial share is further processed abroad . The main destination markets for the whole products are Poland, Denmark, China, and the Netherlands, which are typical producers or hubs, followed by countries such as France, the UK, and Spain, which are consumer markets but also have substantial fish processing industries.

In addition to the dominance of whole salmon exports, Table 1.10 also illustrates how strongly species differ in their product composition and degree of processing. Pelagic species such as herring and mackerel are exported mainly as frozen whole fish, whereas demersal species, particularly cod and saithe, show a much more diversified product structure, with significant volumes in salted/dried/smoked categories. This reflects long-standing processing traditions and market preferences in Southern Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. Processed products (including fillets) remain a comparatively small share of total export volume across most species, but they account for a disproportionately high share of value, underscoring the greater profitability of value-added production. The Nordic region accounts for only a modest share of Norway’s total exports (12%) but stands out for a higher share of fresh whole/live products, especially salmon, cod, and saithe, reflecting well-integrated regional supply chains and short distances. About 34% of exports of aquatic food for human consumption were for overseas markets in 2023, of which 19% were to Asia and 8% to North America. While 54% is destined for other European markets.

Products and species	Quantity (tonnes live weight)		Value (million NOK)
Products and species	Export total	Export Nordic	Export total	Export Nordic
Salmon	1,407,329	191,105	122,268	15,336
Fresh whole/live	1,093,726	155,350	91,123	12,217
Frozen whole	24,040	1,079	1,990	83
Fillets	285,882	34,154	27,669	2,996
Salted, dried, smoked	3,382	496	387	30
Processed	298	26	27	3
Other	0	0	1,072	6
Herring	371,243	36,403	4,002	427
Fresh whole/live	14,696	14,695	139	139
Frozen whole	71,788	38	953	0
Fillets	245,424	1,459	2,259	16
Salted, dried, smoked	9,698	6,223	125	76
Processed	29,637	13,989	417	193
Other	0	0	110	2
Mackerel	325,110	3,781	6,666	76
Fresh whole/live	8,690	3,534	162	70
Frozen whole	287,667	236	6,106	5
Fillets	28,701	0	396	0
Processed	51	11	3	1
Cod	306,360	49,800	12,214	1,904
Fresh whole/live	66,687	35,793	2,464	1,314
Frozen whole	76,208	2,058	2,636	66
Fillets	31,625	11,610	1,124	491
Salted, dried, smoked	131,683	290	5,901	11
Processed	157	49	88	22
Saithe	263,646	26,404	3,960	478
Fresh whole/live	28,069	20,945	496	361
Frozen whole	54,253	1,794	798	29
Fillets	11,392	3,655	252	87
Salted, dried, smoked	169,932	10	2,411	0
Other	0	0	3	1
Trout	92,963	3,461	5,487	151
Fresh whole/live	66,246	2,192	3,544	93
Frozen whole	10,592	795	487	33
Fillets	13,207	362	1,097	21
Salted, dried, smoked	2,917	112	359	5
Haddock	80,779	10,742	1,704	247
Fresh whole/live	14,392	8,862	325	187
Frozen whole	59,700	15	1,203	1
Fillets	6,607	1,865	174	59
Salted, dried, smoked	79	0	1	0
Other	0	0	1	0
Prawns	23 341	13 985	1 261	655
Fresh/live	679	675	20	20
Frozen whole	12,547	8,483	384	216
Processed (peeled)	9,499	4,213	797	360
Salted, dried, smoked	615	613	60	60
Other	252,963	31,703	7,334	1,243
Fresh/live	93,392	27,842	2,184	863
Frozen	115,684	2,847	3,301	154
Fillets	646	328	24	11
Salted, dried, smoked	42,696	483	1 178	58
Processed	521	180	73	89
Other	23	22	575	69
Total	3,123,732	367,383	164,894	20,518
Fresh/live	1,386,578	269,888	100,456	15,264
Frozen	712,480	17,343	17,858	588
Fillets	623,484	53,433	32,995	3,681
Salted, dried, smoked	361,003	8,227	10,422	240
Processed	40,164	18,469	1,404	667
Other	24	22	1,759	77

Table 1.10: Exports of fish for human consumption in 2023 (tonnes). Source: NSC/SSB, 2025.

Exports of Marine Ingredients and Feed

Exports of aquatic produce for feed and other uses amounted to 411 thousand tonnes in 2023, and more than half were to the other Nordic countries.

Exports for Feed and other products are dominated by fresh whole pelagic (blue whiting, mackerel, sardines/sprats, and herring), which are landings by Norwegian vessels in foreign ports, mainly in other Nordic countries, where Denmark is by far the most important.

The main markets for Norwegian fish meal and pellets are the United Kingdom (32%), the USA (15%), the Faroe Islands (13%), and Denmark (10%).

Most of the fish oil is exported to Turkey (51%), followed by Denmark (17%) and Greece (9%). Other markets are a combination of other European and overseas markets.

Product categories	Quantity (tonnes product weight)		Value (million NOK)
Product categories	Export total	Export Nordic	Export total	Export Nordic
Fresh whole pelagic	68,435	52,251	246	199
Flour/meal/pellets	67,214	16,135	1,505	278
Oil	81,882	14,506	1,884	369
Other	193,267	146,548	3,236	598
Total	410,798	229,441	6,871	1,444

Table 1.11: Exports of marine ingredients in 2023 (tonnes). Source: NSC/SSB, 2025.

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Aquatic food available for consumption in Norway

Aquatic food available for consumption in Norway reflects the balance between domestic production and trade. Norway has substantial harvests from both capture fisheries and aquaculture, but a large share of this production is exported. The figures below show the volumes that remain in the country after accounting for these trade flows, expressed as live-weight equivalents and grouped by key species.

The wide range of product forms produced and traded in Norway means that precise conversion factors are not available; some trade categories are broad and may include multiple product types. The species shown in the table should therefore be regarded as illustrative examples. For example, for salmon, a large share of exports consists of whole fish, which makes live‑weight estimates relatively reliable. For cod, however, nearly half of the production is salted, dried, or both, and differences in processing practices and storage times affect the appropriate conversion to live weight .

It is important to emphasize that these figures do not represent what is actually consumed in Norway, but rather what is theoretically available. Storage losses, waste, re-exports, and irregularities such as unreported landings (Svorken et al., 2023) all influence the quantities ultimately consumed. Recreational fishing for own consumption is also not included in these figures.

The estimates are presented in Table 1.13. In total, 48 kg per capita is available for human consumption in 2023. These figures are closely aligned with FAO’s estimate of 49 kg per capita (FAO, 2026). Salmon is by far the largest species, followed by herring and cod. For comparison, the Norwegian Directorate of Health reports that 30.4 kg per capita in live weight (equivalent to 18.5 kg per capita edible weight) of fish and seafood was available to consumers in 2023, based on sales from wholesalers to retail and foodservice (Norwegian Directorate of Health, 2025) .

	Primary production	Imports	Exports	Export share	Available for consumption
Total quantities (tonnes)	3,136,890	251,501	3,123,732	92%	264,659
Salmon	1,542,480	473	1,407,329	91%	135,624
Herring	415,558	47,528	371,243	80%	91,844
Cod	304,998	36,022	306,360	90%	34,660
Other	873,854	167,477	1,038,801	100%	2,530
Quantities per capita (kg/year)	571	46	569		48
Salmon	281	0	256		25
Herring	76	9	68		17
Cod	56	7	56		6
Other	159	31	189		0,5

Table 1.12: Available for consumption in Norway in 2023, total and a selection of species. Tonnes, live weight. Source: Own estimations based on The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (2025a,b) and NSC/SSB (2025).

Potential availability

In a theoretical scenario where all landings were directed to human consumption, total availability would increase by nearly 650 thousand tonnes to about 3,78 million tonnes. This would raise aquatic food availability from the current 48 kg per capita per year to 165 kg per capita per year. Of this, the volume of herring and mackerel that, in 2023, was for reduction, would contribute nearly 64,000 tonnes. However, approximately 338,000 tonnes would come from blue whiting, which currently is not used for human consumption in Norway. This theoretical scenario illustrates the magnitude of Norway’s latent seafood resources, even though only a share of these volumes is realistically available for human consumption

A more likely scenario would be to increase only the 64,000 tonnes from herring and mackerel, which would still increase the availability of aquatic food to 60 kg per capita per year.

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Challenges, threats, and opportunities

Norway possesses a significant untapped potential for national food security through its massive seafood production. According to Grünfeld et al. (2023), the theoretical maximum capacity is estimated at 76% of the average daily requirement (2350 kcal). Aquaculture, particularly the production of fat-rich salmon, is a primary source of calories in this context, accounting for roughly two-thirds of the total potential caloric output (Grünfeld et al., 2023). However, seafood production in Norway fluctuates to such an extent that in some months (such as October and November) it can cover more than 100% of the population’s energy needs, while in other months (such as April and May) it falls to around 55–60% (Grünfeld et al., 2023).

In addition to its potential for food security, Norway faces several governance-related challenges, particularly in the international management of shared pelagic stocks. The nations fishing for mackerel have disagreed on quota allocations, leading to catches far above scientific advice, declining recruitment, and a marked reduction in stock size and distribution over the past decade (Institute of Marine Research, 2025b). The situation is similar for Norwegian spring-spawning herring, where the fishing nations do not agree on each country’s total quota. Thus, since 2013, it has been fished substantially more than recommended by scientists (Institute of Marine Research, 2023).

Climate change represents another primary structural driver shaping future opportunities and risks for Norwegian fisheries. Its impact is expected to differ across Norwegian species (Kjesbu et al., 2021). Cold‑temperate stocks in northern areas, such as Northeast Arctic cod, Northeast Arctic haddock, Northeast Arctic saithe, Norwegian Coastal cod (North), Norwegian spring‑spawning herring, Northern shrimp (northern stock), and Northeast Atlantic mackerel, are projected to benefit from warming due to expanded feeding areas, increased primary and secondary production, and retreating sea ice. In contrast, cold‑temperate stocks located near their southern thermal limits, including North Sea cod and Norwegian Coastal cod (South), are expected to decline as rising temperatures exceed tolerable thresholds and key prey organisms shift northward. North Sea herring represents an exception among North Sea cold‑temperate stocks, as it is nonetheless projected to experience a positive directional effect. The assessments are based on a combination of expert analyses and scientific models of physical and biological ocean processes for the year 2041, under a moderate greenhouse gas emissions scenario.

Stocks	Directional effect of climate change
Northeast Arctic cod	Positive
North sea cod	Negative
Cod, Norwegian Coastal - North	Positive
Cod, Norwegian Coastal - South	Negative
Northeast Arctic saithe	Positive
Norwegian spring-spawning herring	Positive
Northeast Arctic haddock	Positive
North sea herring	Positive
Northern shrimp	Positive
Northeast Atlantic mackerel	Positive

Table 1.13: Climate risk for different species (Kjesbu et al., 2021).

Despite Norway’s large production capacity, several systemic vulnerabilities could limit the country’s ability to utilise this potential in a crisis. Grünfeld et al. (2023) also find that Norway possesses a highly robust cold-storage and logistics infrastructure: national freezing and storage capacity is more than sufficient to smooth out seasonal fluctuations in landings, and domestic transport capacity is considered adequate to redirect seafood from export markets to domestic consumption when needed.

However, the seafood value chain remains highly exposed to external shocks. Energy supply is identified as the most critical threat: the entire infrastructure, from diesel-dependent fishing vessels to electricity-reliant cold storage and domestic transport, depends on prioritized energy access during a crisis (Grünfeld et al., 2023). Geopolitical conflicts or trade disruptions could also reduce the availability of feed inputs and restrict access to vital fishing grounds such as the Barents Sea (Grünfeld et al., 2023).

Norway always maintains a substantial standing biomass in sea-based aquaculture. As of 31 December 2023, the live biomass of Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout amounted to 882,261  tonnes (Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, 2025a). This biomass is not included in the earlier availability estimates because it represents fish that have not yet been slaughtered. However, in a crisis, it constitutes a significant strategic reserve that could, in principle, be slaughtered and redirected to domestic consumption. The presence of such a large livestock underscores aquaculture’s dual role, both as a significant export industry and as a potential buffer for national food security.

A further major vulnerability concerns reliance on feed. The aquaculture industry depends heavily on imported feed ingredients: 92% of the raw materials for fish feed are currently sourced from abroad (Aas et al., 2022). Disruptions in global supply chains for fishmeal, fish oil, plant proteins, or micro‑ingredients would quickly constrain Norwegian aquaculture production. This reliance is considered one of the sector’s most significant systemic vulnerabilities. There is political recognition of this risk, and Norway aim to increase the share of domestically produced feed ingredients to 25% by 2034 (Research Council of Norway, 2025).

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