Norway’s Minister for Fisheries and Oceans wants to see more women in the seafood industry. Now Minister Cecilie Myrseth is distributing NoK2 million for equality support.
‘It’s important for girls to have female role models who show that this is a profession for them too,‘ Cecilie Myrseth said.
Last year, the government put out a call for projects seeking support for gender equality in the fishing industry. 19 applications were received, and of these, 12 different projects have received a total of NoK1,943,000. These projects are aimed at both women and men.
‘It is a key point that the projects are not only aimed at women. If we are to change attitudes, it is necessary that both women and men learn that you can work in this industry regardless of your gender,’ she said, and stated that the main objective is to increase the proportion of women in the industry.
Several projects that build networks for female fishermen have received support. Hun fisker, Havets Verdiskapere and Nordkappregionens Næringshage have previously received start-up support, and now they are receiving support to invest further.
‘The government has provided finance for the start-up of several networks for women in the fishing industry. These aim to increase recruitment, and show the outside world that there are also good female fishermen. These networks continue to be active, a lot has been achieved, and it is important to support the good work they are doing,’ she said, commenting that stimulating network building was also one of the measures highlighted in Nofima’s Better equality in fisheries report.
‘If we are to ensure activity and settlement in the coastal communities, we must work to ensure that both young women and men choose the sea as a career path,’ Cecilie Myrseth said.
‘The government works with recruitment in several ways. Among other things, through the youth fishing scheme, teaching and apprentice quotas, youth support and the scheme with recruitment quota bonus. This is in addition to the work aimed at equality in the industry.’
