Subject day fishing: The industry wants more
Dec 8, 2025
Local value creation, CO₂ tax, new perspectives on by-products, and good discussions about what future fisheries will require were among the topics the participants at this year's Fisheries Professional Day had to grapple with.
The Battle for Raw Materials
On Wednesday, December 3rd, GCE Blue Maritime Cluster and NCE Blue Legasea held the Industry Day Fisheries for the third time, this time at Nordic Wildfish's new premises in Valderøya, Giske. The theme was The Battle for Raw Materials – highly relevant at a time of changes for the fishing industry. The day featured lectures, panels, and discussions on how to secure, develop, and utilize Norwegian marine raw materials as effectively as possible.
Anders Bjørnerem, managing director of Nordic Wildfish, opened by emphasizing the importance of local fisheries and the expertise in the region, and how framework conditions, CO₂ tax, and geopolitical unrest impact future growth and value creation.
Anders Bjørnerem, managing director of Nordic Wildfish.
New Biomarine Opportunities – and Nature's Frameworks
The Nordnesgruppen presented krill as a future resource with significant value potential. The Institute of Marine Research followed up with a clear overview of climate change, shifts in stocks, and implications for the fish's grazing grounds – as well as the need for knowledge and adaptability.
After the break, Oddvar Strand (MH Service) showcased the fishing industry's important contributions to Norway and introduced Gjøsund harbor and the project's ongoing vision. Giske mayor Kenneth Langvatn emphasized the importance of such initiatives for local and national value creation. Marion Remøy from Sparebanken Norge presented global driving forces affecting catches, prices, and access: from quotas and markets to geopolitics.
Bycatch: Large, Underutilized Potential
Wenche Uksnøy from Legsea then introduced the Foodimar project, which the cluster is working on in collaboration with SINTEF, before Rune Frostad (Pretio) presented their pathway from bycatch to globally high-value products. Rachel Durand (SINTEF) and Elisabeth Remøy (ÅKP) reviewed technology, market opportunities, and necessary attitude changes for increased landings and value creation from bycatch of whitefish. Participants were also able to share their reflections via Mentimeter, and the discussion clearly pointed out the need for accessible technology, better handling and storage, predictable markets, and stable resource access. The goal is to land more fish and develop it into high-value products.
Elisabeth Remøy (ÅKP), sharing reflections from the participants.
Technological Opportunities in Transition
The final part of the industry day focused more on technology and vessel development, which will also be crucial for ensuring future raw materials. Kongsberg Maritime, represented by Kristoffer Remme, showed how small technological adjustments can lead to significant energy savings in the fleet. CEO of Optimar, Siggi Olason, shared insights into the company's repositioning based on consumer demands and market needs, before Marius Sorthe presented Catch ID. Finally, Mathias Grebstad demonstrated Optimar Commander, a step towards better collaboration, precision, traceability, and profitability. The academic part of the day concluded with a company visit to Optimar, before participants returned to Nordic Wildfish for dinner and entertainment.
Company visit at Optimar.
Voices from the Industry
Throughout the day, the engagement was significant – both from the stage and among participants. Not least, the importance of meeting across fleets, industry, management, and research was highlighted.
"I think it is very good that Nordic Wildfish opens up for a day like this with important topics. This is really great," said fisherman Sindre Johan Dyb, who had just returned from the Barents Sea.
Sindre Johan Dyb, from Veidar.
He emphasized how valuable it is to participate in such events when one is often out at sea:
"We fishermen meet far too rarely. Either we are out sailing, or there are many things to fix on land. So it is incredibly important to have such days."
Several pointed out both community and learning as important benefits:
"It's nice to gather so many from the industry – not just school and research," said Per Magne Eggesbø, who also emphasized the openness that characterizes the fleet: "We exchange information all the time and develop based on that."
Bycatch as Opportunity and Challenge
The topic of bycatch particularly engaged:
"There is a lot of value that we need to figure out how to extract," said Leif Alnes.
From the fleet, important practical challenges were raised, including by Jon Grimstad, who pointed out both economics and logistics:
"When the price is good, more comes ashore. It is about covering costs. Logistics and reception also need to be in place; quality deteriorates quickly."
Jon Grimstad and Per Magne Eggesbø.
Per Magne followed up: "If it hadn't been for the truck being ready to pick up the oil at the dock, we couldn't have been doing this. It requires customers and long-term relationships."
Framework Conditions Must Be Adapted
Arild Austnes and Ellen Drønnen also touched on challenges related to CO₂ tax and technology development:
"There are no real alternatives to diesel for the deep-sea fishing fleet. Batteries work for other vessels, but not for deep-sea fishermen – then you lose the cargo hold and it’s no longer a fishing vessel," highlighted Arild Austnes.
Arild Austnes, Ellen Drønnen, and Leif Alnes.
"One must be given time to actually develop alternative solutions before penalizing the industry," Drønnen added.
Politicians also received a slight friendly jab:
"We should have had more elected representatives on such an important day as this," said Giske mayor Kenneth Langvatn.
Satisfied audience at Industry Day Fisheries 2025.
This year's industry day showed how important it is to meet across fleets, industry, research, and management. From framework conditions and CO₂ tax to technology, bycatch, and new biomarine opportunities – the discussions pointed to one thing: the future of fishing requires collaboration, knowledge, and a willingness to change. With the competence and engagement that emerged that day, the industry has a strong foundation to ensure value creation and sustainability in the years to come.
