Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Marianne Sivertsen Næss has announced Norway’s new global initiative on seafood consumption. Photo: NFD/Sofie Dege Dimmen
Pelagic Sector Shows Diverging Trends Across Key Species
Norway’s pelagic sector delivered mixed export results in April, with strong growth in herring contrasting sharply with a continued collapse in mackerel volumes.
According to the Norwegian Seafood Council, lower quotas and reduced landings remain a defining factor across wild-caught fisheries, despite price resilience in several segments.
Herring exports stood out as the only major growth area. Norway exported 13,871 tonnes worth NOK 290 million (approx. €25m/£21m) in April, representing a 53 per cent increase in value and a 51 per cent rise in volume year-on-year.
Jan Eirik Johnsen, Head of Pelagic Species at the Norwegian Seafood Council, said that “the good herring catch last autumn and this winter is resulting in strong export volumes”, adding that record export value had been achieved for April.
A notable shift in product form also emerged, with frozen fillets overtaking whole frozen herring. Skinless fillets of Norwegian spring-spawning herring accounted for 80 per cent of fillet exports, with Poland, Belarus and Lithuania leading demand.
At the same time, the North Sea herring season has begun under tighter quota conditions. The 2026 quota stands at 80,500 tonnes, down from 115,000 tonnes in 2025, despite recent scientific advice indicating potential for higher future quotas.
Mackerel Exports Fall to Lowest Levels in Over A Decade
In contrast, mackerel exports continued to decline sharply.
Norway exported just 3,952 tonnes worth NOK 217 million (approx. €19m/£16m) in April, a 60 per cent drop in volume and a 34 per cent fall in value compared with the same month last year. Export volumes are now at their lowest level since 2011.
Johnsen said that “the trend of low export volumes continues, whilst the price remains stable at around NOK 50 (approx. €4.30/£3.70) per kg for whole frozen mackerel”.
Fillet exports also fell significantly, down from 1,490 tonnes last year to 401 tonnes in April. However, prices reached a new record of NOK 102 (approx. €8.80/£7.50) per kg.
Market dynamics also shifted geographically. Europe overtook Asia as the primary destination, with 1,550 tonnes exported to European markets compared with 1,050 tonnes to Asia. This reversal has been linked to currency movements, with the Norwegian krone strengthening more against the US dollar than the euro.
Eastern European markets, including Ukraine, Lithuania, Romania and Bulgaria, accounted for the largest share of European demand.
King Crab and Snow Crab Reflect Supply Constraints
In the shellfish sector, exports of king crab declined sharply due to seasonal factors.
Norway exported 47 tonnes worth NOK 30 million (approx. €2.6m/£2.2m) in April, representing a 50 per cent drop in volume and a 25 per cent decline in value. The fishery is currently in its closed season, limiting available supply.
Josefine Voraa, Head of Shellfish at the Norwegian Seafood Council, said that “exports of king crab were significantly lower in April… The fishery is now in the off-season, with a closed season in the quota area and fewer volumes available for export”.
Despite lower volumes, demand remains firm, particularly in the United States, which continues to pay high prices for frozen product.
Snow crab exports showed a more stable picture. Norway exported 1,080 tonnes worth NOK 197 million (approx. €17m/£14m), with volume increasing by 3 per cent but value declining by 10 per cent.
The United States remained the largest market, even as Canadian supply increased. Voraa said that “demand in the US remains good overall, even during a period of increased supply from Canada”, although a greater share of product is now being directed towards processing in Asia, affecting average prices.
Prawn Exports Fall Sharply as Prices Hit Record Levels
Prawn exports declined significantly in volume but showed resilience in value due to strong demand and rising prices.
Norway exported 1,531 tonnes worth NOK 126 million (approx. €11m/£9.5m) in April, a 48 per cent drop in volume and a 23 per cent decline in value year-on-year.
Voraa said that “developments in the prawn market must also be viewed in the context of… lower available volumes of cold-water prawns and increased costs in the fishing sector”.
Export prices for frozen, peeled prawns remain at record highs, while a shift in product mix is becoming evident. China has emerged as a key growth market, with export value rising by 51 per cent and volumes increasing by 8 per cent.
Sigmund Bjørgo, the Norwegian Seafood Council’s representative in China, said that “demand for this type of raw prawn is currently very strong, with a significantly higher willingness to pay than in other segments”.
The shift towards raw-frozen consumer prawns for the sashimi segment is driving value growth, even as overall export volumes decline.
Currency and Quotas Continue to Shape Export Performance
Across both pelagic and shellfish sectors, the underlying pattern remains consistent: constrained supply is reducing export volumes, while strong prices and shifting market demand are partially offsetting the decline in value.
The strengthening of the Norwegian krone and external market pressures continue to influence trade flows, but for wild-caught fisheries, quota levels and biological limits remain the dominant factors shaping export performance.
Norway pelagic and shellfish exports show falling volumes, strong prices and shifting markets as quotas and currency pressures reshape seafood trade
