Marine Operators is one of the applicants who is now receiving support. Here is Minister for Climate and Environment Andreas Bjelland Eriksen with representatives from Marine Operators, Fiskarlaget Sør and the technology company Ocean Front. Photo: Ministry of Climate and Environment/Martine Røiseland
Record Funding Allocation Signals Urgency Around Fjord Decline
The Norwegian government has awarded NOK 90 million (approx. €7.8 million/£6.7 million) to 64 environmental projects aimed at restoring the Oslo Fjord, in what is being described as a record-level intervention.
Announcing the funding, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen said the scale of applications reflected growing concern over the fjord’s deteriorating condition.
“It is urgent to improve the condition of the Oslo Fjord. This award shows that there is an overwhelming commitment to saving our fjord,” he said.
The Norwegian Environment Agency received applications worth NOK 400 million (approx. €34.5 million/£29.5 million), nearly nine times the amount requested the previous year and more than double the number of applications submitted.
Fishermen Account for Significant Share Of Projects
A notable feature of this year’s allocation is the level of involvement from the fishing community.
Projects involving fishermen account for nearly half of the total funding, reflecting a deliberate effort by government to bring practical, on-the-water expertise into restoration efforts.
“I am pleased that several of the fishermen in the Oslofjord want to contribute to the work, with their unique expertise about life in the fjord,” said Eriksen.
Applications came from a wide range of stakeholders, including research institutions, environmental organisations, municipalities and industry participants, with a strong emphasis placed on collaborative approaches.
Industry Participation Moves from Fishing to Restoration
Among those receiving funding is Færder Sjømat, which confirmed it will temporarily halt shrimp fishing to focus on marine clean-up operations.
In a public statement, the company said, “We are temporarily pausing shrimp fishing to go ‘all in’ on removing ghost gear across the Oslofjord.”
The company has secured NOK 16 million (approx. €1.4 million/£1.2 million) to remove lost fishing gear from the seabed, with ambitions to recover thousands of items.
“We have the ambition to retrieve several thousand ghost gears lying in the fjord and creating major challenges for marine life,” the company stated.
It added that the scale of the project requires a shift in operational priorities. “To meet deadlines and ambitions, we must prioritise hard in the period ahead.”
Collaboration Emphasised as Key To Delivering Results
The government has placed particular emphasis on cross-sector cooperation, with many projects combining scientific research, local knowledge and operational capacity.
“I am particularly pleased that many have come together in solid collaborative projects, where researchers, non-profit organisations and fishermen work together,” Eriksen said.
He argued that combining expertise is essential if the programme is to deliver measurable improvements. “It is crucial that we use the expertise that exists about the Oslo Fjord to create noticeable results.”
Questions Remain Over Long-Term Impact
While the scale of funding and participation is significant, the underlying environmental challenges facing the Oslo Fjord remain substantial.
The high volume of applications, far exceeding available funding, points to both the scale of degradation and the level of unmet demand for restoration measures.
For the fishing industry, the shift towards environmental work also raises practical questions about balancing conservation efforts with commercial viability, particularly where vessels are stepping away from active fishing to participate in clean-up operations.
Whether this latest funding round delivers lasting improvements will depend not just on project delivery, but on whether broader pressures on the fjord are addressed in parallel.
Values are based on approximate April 2026 exchange rates.
