Pelagic sector warns quotas costs offshore wind pressures and CO2 tax threaten fishing industry stability amid ongoing negotiations
Industry Claims Resilience Despite Tight Quotas and Market Uncertainty
The Norwegian pelagic fishing industry has delivered stronger-than-expected results despite tightening constraints, according to Kristian Sandtorv, chairman of Pelagisk Forening (the Norwegian Pelagic Association).
Opening the association’s annual meeting at Hotel Norge, Sandtorv told delegates that 2025 had confounded expectations. “Despite low quotas and considerable uncertainty, 2025 ended well for most. The results were better than many had imagined. It shows that the industry delivers even when the framework is tight,” he said.
However, he warned that 2026 would remain difficult. “Quotas are low this year as well, and the market is restless. Uncertainty continues to follow us – both in terms of price developments, demand and international framework conditions.”
Media Criticism and Supply Chain Disputes Resurface
Sandtorv pushed back against repeated claims that the Norwegian fleet is failing to supply domestic processors.
“I still question the repetitive claims that the fishing fleet does not deliver enough raw material to Norway. The figures from the sales teams speak for themselves,” he said.
He accused media coverage of distorting the situation, particularly around herring landings abroad. “The media portrayal is misleading when individual herring deliveries to Denmark are highlighted without mentioning that several Norwegian facilities were closed or did not have the capacity to receive more fish, or that the Norwegian receiving facilities buy foreign catches.”
CO2 Tax Branded Counterproductive by Industry Leadership
The chairman delivered a direct attack on Norway’s CO₂ tax policy, arguing it undermines competitiveness without reducing emissions.
“Norwegian fishermen are thus paying a fee that neither cuts emissions nor is fair; the fee becomes an obstacle – not a climate measure,” he said.
A temporary suspension of the tax between April and September has been agreed in the Norwegian parliament, but Sandtorv made clear the industry wants a permanent change. “We have worked for a long time on the CO2 tax and will continue to work to make this a permanent measure.”
He also warned of unintended consequences. “The consequence could be reduced extraction of climate-friendly Norwegian seafood and increased imports of less sustainable proteins.”
International Negotiations Intensify as Disputes Continue
The Pelagic Association is increasing its involvement in international fisheries negotiations, including hiring former chairman Jonny Lokøy to support the work.
Progress has been made on Norwegian Spring Spawning herring, but Sandtorv admitted wider agreements remain uncertain. “We hope that a comprehensive agreement on mackerel is approaching. There is still a way to go before we reach our goal.”
Relations with Iceland remain strained, particularly over capelin allocations. Norway’s share has fallen from 15% in 1980 to just 1% under the current Iceland-Greenland arrangement, a deal Norway refuses to join.
“The agreement situation we are in shows how demanding it can be to find common solutions with Iceland,” Sandtorv said, calling on authorities to give the issue greater political priority.
Offshore Wind Expansion Sparks Direct Conflict With Fishing Grounds
A growing battle over marine space dominated much of the speech, with offshore wind singled out as a direct threat to the fishing sector.
“It is unrealistic to talk about coexistence when wind turbines are placed in the middle of areas that are the very foundation of the industry,” Sandtorv said.
He argued that current planning lacks adequate scientific backing. “The knowledge base underlying the report is weak, especially when it comes to effects on fish, noise, current conditions and overall load.”
Concerns were also raised about foreign ownership in offshore wind developments and the use of public funding. “When billions of Norwegian tax dollars are used to subsidise development in our sea areas, while the fishing industry is displaced and the values are largely moved out of the country, the legitimacy of the process is weakened.”
Fishing Industry Role in Food Security Questioned
Sandtorv criticised what he described as a failure to recognise seafood as a core component of national food security.
“In the Total Emergency Preparedness Report, grains and potatoes are highlighted as the cornerstones of food preparedness, while seafood is not mentioned. It is a paradox,” he said.
“Wild fish is one of our largest and most climate-friendly food resources… yet the industry is treated as if it stands outside the very foundation of Norwegian food supply.”
Snow Crab Closure and Regulation Heavily Criticised
The closure of the snow crab fishery was described in stark terms. “The closure of the snow crab fishery was a disaster, the aftermath of which we are still seeing,” Sandtorv said.
He criticised both the timing and the regulatory response, arguing that measures introduced in late December disrupted vessel operations. “Next year’s regulation must be more predictable and come much earlier.”
Marine Research Cuts Raise Long-Term Concerns
Sandtorv also warned that budget reductions at Institute of Marine Research risk undermining fisheries management.
“Fewer trips and less research means less knowledge about the ocean, at a time when we really need it more than ever,” he said.
He pointed to increasing pressure on marine ecosystems from multiple sectors, including offshore wind, carbon storage and mineral extraction. “As pressure on the ocean increases, knowledge must increase, not decrease.”
Mackerel Crisis Linked to Weak Recruitment, Not Overfishing Alone
Addressing one of the industry’s most valuable stocks, Sandtorv rejected the dominant narrative around mackerel.
“The explanation that often dominates the public – that this is just about overfishing – gives a wrong picture,” he said.
He argued that revised stock assessments and consistently weak recruitment are the primary drivers of the current situation. “Mackerel alone accounted for export revenues of 8.5 billion in 2025. It goes without saying that the industry depends on a good reputation in the markets.”
Marine Mammal Impact and Capelin Research Gaps Highlighted
Sandtorv raised concerns about increasing interactions between fishing vessels and marine mammals, particularly killer whales and humpback whales.
“For fishermen, there is a clear change in the sea… they have become a daily part of the fishery,” he said, warning of operational disruption and broader ecosystem imbalance.
He claimed marine mammals consume around 25 million tonnes of seafood annually, compared to 4.2 million tonnes caught by the global fishing fleet, and called for a more open debate on management.
On capelin, he urged Norway to adopt stronger research models, pointing to Iceland’s approach as a benchmark. “This is what we are asking for for capelin in the Barents Sea as well.”
