Several marine areas are now to be assessed for the impact of farming activities. – This marks the start of what could become a major future industry for Norway, and especially in the north, says Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bjørnar Skjæran (Ap) in a press release. In 2019, the Directorate of Fisheries recommended 11 areas that could be investigated for offshore aquaculture. The government will initially start the process of assessing Trænabanken in Nordland, Frøyabanken north outside Trondheim and Norskerenna south outside Stavanger. On Tuesday, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bjørnar Skjæran will visit Lovund on Helgeland. Here, several players have wanted to open up the sea areas outside the island for offshore aquaculture. Photo: INGEBORG GRINDHEIM SLINDE / news According to Skjæran, consequences must be assessed both in terms of the environment and other interests in the area. Following such an assessment, a decision must be made as to whether parts of the area should be announced for offshore aquaculture. It is the King in Council who must decide which areas are to be opened. The hope is that the investigation will be completed during 2023, the government states. Trænabanken is a larger plateau outside Træna at the far end of the Helgeland coast, between Røstbanken in the north and Sklinnabanken in the south. Trænabanken is 200–300 meters deep. Photo: Directorate of Fisheries Wants to follow the example of the oil industry Until now, Norway has only had aquaculture in its infancy. This has led to discussions about salmon lice, salmon escaping and the deterioration of fjords. Territorial conflicts and problems with salmon lice have therefore meant that parts of the industry now want to place the cages further out to sea. One of those who want to invest in offshore aquaculture is the company Utror, whose main owner is Lovundlaks in Nordland. – We are satisfied that the authorities are now taking the next step for the development of a new aquaculture industry in the open sea, says general manager Olav-Andreas Ervik to news. Former CEO of Salmar, Olav-Andreas Ervik, is general manager of UTROR, which is based in Lovund. Utror was established to investigate the possibilities for aquaculture at sea in identified areas off the coast of Helgeland. Photo: Morten Andersen / news By 2050, offshore farming could generate an annual value creation of around NOK 100 billion, according to a recent SINTEF report. It will also mean several thousand employees including spin-offs, according to the report. But there is still a lack of technology to be able to effectively farm at sea. Ervik believes today’s decision is nonetheless the start of a new era for the aquaculture industry. – As of today, we are in an early phase, but a good set of regulations, predictable framework conditions and technological development will be decisive for farming at sea over the next decades to develop into a large and important industry for Norway. The fishermen are skeptical Farming far out to sea is not uncontroversial. The Norwegian Fishermen’s Association has expressed skepticism about farming mare in particular parts of Trænabanken in a previous consultation response. “There is also fishing for pollock, cod, ling and tusk, especially in the eastern part of the area. In the deepest parts of the area, a significant part of the Norwegian whiting/stick herring quota is caught” The Ministry of Fisheries hopes that the assessments will be completed during 2023. – It is important that all relevant stakeholders have the opportunity to provide input in the assessment, and that together we works to find good solutions for land sharing and coexistence in the open sea, adds Ervik in Utror. Helene meets Aino Olaisen, the salmon farmer who has gotten salmon and people to breed on the island of Lovund on the Helgeland coast. Animal welfare and taxes are discussed.
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