Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Marianne Sivertsen Næss.
Photo: NFD / David Berg.
Eleven municipal fishing port projects across Norway have been awarded a combined NOK 85.2 million in government funding, in a move aimed at strengthening Norwegian coastal infrastructure and supporting the country’s fishing industry.
The funding, announced by both the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and the Norwegian Coastal Administration, will benefit ports in the counties of Finnmark, Nordland, Trøndelag, and Møre og Romsdal. The grants will contribute to the construction and improvement of fixed and floating quays, dredging operations, and wave-dampening measures.
“Good fishing ports make sea transport safer and more efficient, and ensure that coastal communities reliant on fisheries can continue to develop,” said Fisheries and Oceans Minister Marianne Sivertsen Næss, in a press statement. “The government prioritises these ports because they support jobs and value creation along the coast.”
The grant scheme is intended to help municipalities carry out essential but capital-intensive port projects that would be difficult to fund without national support. Approved grants may cover up to 50% of a project’s total cost.
According to the Coastal Administration, 20 applications were submitted by the extended deadline of 1 May, requesting a total of around NOK 230 million. Following a review process, 11 projects were selected for support.
“Good fishing ports are absolutely essential for both safety and value creation. They are the foundation for economic activity and employment in many of our smallest and most vulnerable communities,” said Ruben Alseth, Head of Department at the Norwegian Coastal Administration.
The projects awarded funding this month include four in Finnmark, four in Nordland, one in Trøndelag, and two in Møre og Romsdal. Among the largest is the Ballstad port project in Vestvågøy municipality, which has a total cost exceeding NOK 83 million, and will receive over NOK 41 million in state funding.
“The projects receiving grants now will have effects that go beyond the individual ports,” said Sven Martin Tønnessen, Director of Transport, Ports and Fairways at the Coastal Administration.
“They strengthen the entire value chain, from fishing boat to market. At the same time, they support coastal communities as places to live and work," he added.
The funding scheme was reintroduced by the current Norwegian government alongside the re-assumption of state responsibility for fishing port infrastructure.
In July last year, the government allocated NOK 94.5 million in subsidies to Oslo Port, Sandnes Port, and Røst Municipality, in support of more efficient and environmentally-friendly ports.
