“Offshore aquaculture presents a tremendous opportunity for the entire seafood industry and its supply chain, and it’s crucial that we seize this opportunity effectively," said Ole Fretheim, Head of Aquaculture Technology at Sjømat Norge. Pictured: SalMar Aker Ocean's Ocean Farm 1, the world's first offshore salmon farm.
Photo: SalMar Aker Ocean.
The Norwegian aquaculture industry is celebrating a major milestone as Norway's Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Marianne Sivertsen Næss has announced plans to issue licences for offshore aquaculture in the first quarter of 2025.
The move has been met with widespread enthusiasm among industry players such as Sjømat Norge (Seafood Norway), SalMar Aker Ocean, Viewpoint, and Utror, who see it as a critical step toward realizing the potential of aquaculture far out at sea.
“This is an important and correct step from the minister,” said Ole Fretheim, Head of Aquaculture Technology at Sjømat Norge, in a news release. “Offshore aquaculture represents a gigantic opportunity for Norway—not only to increase sustainable food production but also to secure Norway’s position as a leading seafood nation in the future.”
The announcement of a fixed timeline for offshore licences has been a long-awaited signal for the industry, which now gears up for the work ahead.
“Now that the timeline has been set, the real work begins,” said Fretheim. “Offshore aquaculture presents a tremendous opportunity for the entire seafood industry and its supply chain, and it’s crucial that we seize this opportunity effectively.”
Sjømat Norge now calls for the government needs to communicate clear guidelines and requirements, noting that a pre-qualification process is planned to ensure that only "serious companies" with the necessary expertise and resources are allowed to compete for offshore licences.
However, the organization points out, many of the specific requirements for pre-qualification and the technical regulations for facilities are still unknown, creating urgency among potential participants.
Sjømat Norge emphasized the need for timely information from authorities. “We hope that the necessary details will be provided quickly so that participants can prepare thoroughly for pre-qualification and the subsequent competition,” Fretheim said.