According to Norges Råfisklag, sales of landed fish in Norway were worth NoK11.40 billion last year, the Norwegian industry’s second highest year ever, and following the record-breaking sales figures of NoK11.50 billion in 2016. Norwegian fishing vessels accounted for NoK9.50 billion of this total, up on last year’s NoK9.10 billion figure.
‘For Norwegian fishermen, the 2017 turnover is a well-deserved reward for their efforts,’ said Norges Råfisklag managing director Trygve Myrvang, adding that for the Norwegian fleet in the Råfisklag area from Nordmøre up to Finnmark, 2017 represents their fourth consecutive record-busting year.
He explained that the increase is due to the fact that the Norwegian fleet increased its landings in the Råfisklag district during 2017. At the same time, a significant price increase in cod contributed to the total value of Norwegian cod landings increased by NoK577 million to a total of NoK6014 million.
The total value of Norwegian haddock landings also rose by NoK236 million, largely due to the increase in volume, alongside higher prices increase of frozen haddock. Shrimp landings showed a negative trend in 2017 with a significant reduction in volume, which resulted in a drop of NoK135 million.
There was also a downward trend in landings from foreign vessels, from NoK2472 million in 2016 to NoK1868 million last year.
Landings of snow crab from all nations fell significantly in 2017, compared to the 2016 figures, while landings of fish from the Russian fleet fell to 142,000 tonnes, a 13,000 tonne reduction, although Russian landings remain the bulk of turnover from foreign vessels at NoK1.5 billion.
A total of 1,105,000 tonnes were handled by Norges Råfisklag in 2017, making it the fourth year in succession with a figure exceeding a million tonnes
Cod remains king as a total of 470,000 tonnes of cod valued at NoK7266 million were sold in total from Norwegian and foreign fishing vessels. This is a decrease of 2% in quantity, but an increase of 7% in value from 2016. Cod accounts for 43% of the overall quantity and 64% of values handled by Norges Råfisklag during 2017. Haddock accounted for 12% of values, saithe for 6%, shrimp and blue whiting for 4% each, and king crab for 3% of the 2017 values.
