Large flakes of salted and dried cod are weighed and packed in boxes at the factory on Ellingsøya in Ålesund. The cuttlefish will soon end up on dinner tables in Portugal and Brazil. The cuttlefish is sent whole, while foreign companies water it out and cut it into portions. The cuttlefish cannot be eaten as it is sent from the factory. The fish must be soaked in water for two to three days to remove the salt. – We are probably far behind in the homework when it comes to further processing. Portugal is miles ahead, says Kjartan Stokke. He is production manager at Brødrene Sperre. The market abroad is asking for more processed products, and now the Sunnmørs company wants to step up. Kjartan Stokke at Brødrene Sperre says that they wish to develop and produce the cuttlefish. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Must be quick and easy Norway exported clipfish worth 5.6 billion last year. Researchers believe that the companies can make more money from not only producing the cuttlefish, but also manufacturing it. In this way, more clipfish can also be found in Norwegian shops. – It is important to make ready-made goods, which people can quickly and easily use for dinner. A frozen, watered-down product only needs thawing, says project manager Ingebrigt Bjørkevoll at Møreforsking. They have collaborated with Brødrene Sperre for two years. Ingebrigt Bjørkevoll at Møreforsking believes that Norwegian producers should invest in more consumer-friendly clipfish dishes. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Bjørkevoll envisions that it will be as easy to make a clipfish dinner as it is to make salmon. Møreforsking also believes that several ready-made dishes such as cutfish balls, cold cuts and regional dishes will be well received. The Sperre brothers want to focus more on watered-down cutfish in portions. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Watering out with seawater In order to be able to sell a ready-to-cook product, Møreforsking has tested how the cuttlefish can be watered out in an efficient way, on a large scale. At the clipfish company on Ellingsøya, they have built an industrial-scale dewatering line, which takes one tonne of clipfish at a time. The drainage must therefore take place automatically. Seawater is also used for the first 24 hours to save on fresh water. Access to clean seawater is a competitive advantage for the Norwegian company. – This is both environmentally friendly and labour-saving, says Bjørkevoll. After many trials, they have now found the optimal way to water the rockfish, where the salt content is correct. With this industrial line, one can fish out 1,000 kilos of cuttlefish at once Two Sølvmynter film Target for more production Seafood Norway says that it is a target that more of the fish will be produced here at home. Norway is a leader in the production of clipfish in the world, but when the fish is sent in whole flakes, it is not consumer-friendly. – To a far too large extent, we export unprocessed fish, says department head Kyrre Dale. There are various reasons why this happens, but among other things, the factories in the country have not had the equipment to do the job. He thinks what is happening at Brødrene Sperre is positive. – It is great that efforts and investments are being made to create more activity and employment here at home, says Dale. Do you use to make cuttlefish dishes for dinner? Yes, it’s very good No, it’s way too much work Huh? What is clipfish? Show result High salaries Production manager Kjartan Stokke says that the researchers are right that the cuttlefish industry in Norway must move on. – We want to take part in new developments and get closer to the end consumer, says Stokke. One of the reasons why so little of today’s cuttlefish is produced is that it costs a lot to do it in Norway, with high wages. Another challenge is being able to use the whole cuttlefish, not just the finest parts. – We have to find out how to increase the value of the other parts to make it profitable, says Stokke. His hope is that more of the rockfish will also end up on Norwegian dinner tables. Today, the cuttlefish are sent abroad whole in 25 kilo boxes. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news
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Ingebrigt Bjørkevoll at Møreforsking and Brødrene Sperre are researching the release of cuttlefish – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
