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Norwegian fisheries management

Norway’s fisheries are managed through what we call the “Norwegian model”. This entails a scientific approach to stock management, with quotas on catch, as well as several institutions and the government working together to protect fish stocks. Read more about how it works, and third-party certifications.

PhotoKristoffer Lorentzen

This is the Norwegian model for management of seafood and fisheries

Norwegian seafood management consists of four parts that work together towards a balanced and sustainable seafood industry:

  • Legislation
  • Research and development
  • Regulation
  • Control

Norway’s commitment to management in the seafood sector is firmly embedded in its policies and practices. The management of Norwegian seafood is structured around sustainability principles, aspiring to balance environmental, social, and governance dimensions.

Fisheries in Norway are managed with quotas on catch, as well as several institutions and the government working together through legislation and control to protect fish stocks.
PhotoStian Straumsnes

Public administration and government

The public administration is the government’s administrative apparatus and includes ministries, state-owned companies, public enterprises and subordinate directorates. The key bodies involved in the management of Norwegian seafood are the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Fisheries, the Directorate of Fisheries and various fisheries commissions. These bodies regulate the sector and are responsible for shaping Norwegian fisheries policy.

Legislation and laws that regulate Norwegian management of fisheries:

Governs the harvesting of living marine resources. 

Regulates access to commercial fishing and hunting.

Organisations that ensure compliance:

In addition to this, the management of seafood and implementation of quotas are done in close cooperation with both the Norwegian government, scientists and experts from third-party institutions. This is because research-based knowledge and advice are critical for seafood management.

Collaboration across borders

To ensure sustainable fisheries, it is essential that marine ecosystems are not damaged in ways that compromise future fishing opportunities. Most key fish stocks migrate between Norwegian and international waters, making close cooperation with neighbouring countries a prerequisite for effective management.

Fisheries management is part of an international collaboration, but much of the monitoring and regulation is implemented in Norway, in cooperation and dialogue with other authorities.

International fisheries commissions safeguard fish stocks

International fisheries commissions play an important role in Norway’s management of marine resources. There are currently three key commissions that work to ensure the sustainable conservation and use of fish stocks and fisheries resources in the different maritime areas managed by Norway.

In Norway, the management of fisheries is handled by the combination of legislation, research, regulation and control.
PhotoCamilla Nanseth/Nanseth Media

The quota system

The system was introduced in the 1980s to prevent overfishing. It has evolved and changed over time. Today, quotas  for fishing are allocated to fishing vessels. These quotas can be bought and sold at market rates, and several quotas can be consolidated on a single vessel.

Information about the quota system from the Directorate of fisheries (Norwegian)

Quotas ensure regulated yield of fish stocks

The “Norwegian model” is built on the scientific approach to the governance of our fisheries. One of the important parts of the management are the advised quotas on the wildfish stock.

By following an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, Norway works with collection of data on more than just our targeted fish stocks. Be it minor sub-stocks or effects on other parts of the ecosystem. Data concerning stocks and the wider ecosystem remains key for sustainable fishery practices.

The regulation of the Norwegian fisheries visualized as a cycle.

The regulation and quotas throughout a year

To further explain how the regulation of the Norwegian fisheries operates, it is helpful to visualize it as a cycle. At the start of the cycle, ICES provides quota advice that is submitted for quota negotiations with other states, which is given as input to a regulatory meeting.

The Directorate of Fisheries and the advice from the regulatory meeting is submitted to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Fisheries, which adopts the regulatory regulations, which then leads to changes in the regulations.

Experience from the regulatory year, together with information from research cruises and catch statistics, is then used by ICES to prepare quota advice, which is then submitted for new quota negotiations.

Third-party certifications

In addition to sustainability measures implemented through the Norwegian model, there are several types of sustainability certifications and organisations, some of which are relevant for sustainability in fisheries and aquaculture.

Among them, the MSC-certification (the Marine Stewardship Council) is perhaps the most well-known. Other relevant certifications for fisheries and aquaculture are GLOBAL G.A.P., Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), Fairtrade, the IFS, The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Friends of the Sea, Pro Terra, ISO 14064 and ISO 14001.