First, it was additional funding for communities where fish farming activities are located, now Norway announced an investment to boost ocean research. Fifteen companies will initiate projects thanks to funding from the Research Council for innovation within fisheries, aquaculture, and maritime industries, which has granted a total of NOK 130 million (EUR 11 million / USD 11.9 million) for their development.
"We need the business sector to lead in research and innovation," said Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Cecilie Myrseth. Among the projects selected are, for example, some for the development of more environmentally friendly fishing gear, or the one presented by Skretting for developing a feed to reduce diseases in juvenile fish.
"To keep the Norwegian marine and maritime industries at the forefront globally, we must have research and development at the forefront. The research in the companies that have now received support will contribute to sustainable growth and sensible management of our oceans in the future," said Mari Sundli Tveit, CEO of the Research Councill.
She thus furthered the idea of the need for the business sector to take the lead in research and innovation, as emphasized by Minister Myrseth, who added: "The research these companies will conduct will provide us with important knowledge that both the authorities and the business sector can use as we develop the blue industries. The projects contribute to Norway continuing to lead internationally in sustainability and innovation at sea."
The fifteen projects selected range from research for safer and more efficient maritime operations, to the development of sustainable fishing gear, to improving the welfare of juvenile fish. In the latter field, the company selected was Skretting, with a project to develop a new fish feed against nephrocalcinosis in juvenile fish.
As highlighted by the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans, in 2022 this disease was ranked as the second leading cause of mortality, poor welfare and reduced growth in Norwegian juvenile fish farms, so finding a solution is a major challenge. The project presented by Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre AS in Stavanger aims to develop a diet to prevent or treat the disease, thus contributing to increased health and welfare of salmon. It will be funded with NOK 8.8 million (EUR 747 thousand / USD 809 thousand) to achieve this.
Other project examples are, for instance, Ervik Havfiske AS from Stadlandet, which receives NOK 10 million (EUR 849 thousand / USD 919 thousand) for research to make the snow crab fishery more sustainable and profitable by developing the entire fishery from catch to marketable product. The objective is to develop more efficient traps that should also be able to use alternative marine raw materials for bait purposes and achieve a processed product with consistent quality.
Likewise, Norbait AS, Måløy, Vestland, is receiving NOK 3.5 million (EUR 297 thousand / USD 321 thousand) for a project to develop cost-effective traps and lines for commercial fishing based on marine by-products and biodegradable additives. The new baits should fish at least as well as traditional baits and also contribute to reducing plastic pollution from the fishing industry.
If you are interested in seeing all the projects funded, you can do so by clicking here.
