Page 6 - Seafood, Fishing & Aquaculture 2017-2018

The future is bright blue

Providing enough food for a growing population is one of the most challenging
questions in our time. Blue growth is the key to a sustainable future.

The seafood industry is unique: It has a Organization estimates that the world must For Norway’s part, it means that we
long past and an incredibly promising increase food production by 70 percent by have to move from a petroleum-based
future. Historically speaking, fi sheries have 2050 in order to meet the increase in demand. economy to a knowledge-based
been one of Norway’s most important economy. We have to use our experience
industries. Fish became an important The increase in food demand is a in new ways. We have valuable
trading commodity in the 17th century. It tremendous challenge that we must solve knowledge from the oil industry that
has provided people with work, income partly by producing seafood. The main can contribute to new blue growth, one
and food for several hundred years. growth in supplies of seafood will have to example is the development of off-shore
come from aquaculture production. sea-farms.
Today Norway is ranked as the world’s second
largest exporting nation, supplying more than However, ocean farming needs to be We are encouraging innovation and
140 countries worldwide with Norwegian developed in a sustainable way. The technological development. That is why
seafood. The total value of our exports in 2016 footprint on the environment must be at the government recently announced
amounted to 10.2 billion Euros. an acceptable level. As the world largest special licenses for innovation projects.
producer of farmed salmon Norway is This is an incentive to develop and
As Norway’s minister of fi sheries, I am committed to sustainable aquaculture. commercialize new, more environmentally
proud to represent an industry that sustainable technology paving the way for
produces commodities as vitally important Scientists believe that the potential future growth.
as food. The world’s population is growing, for marine growth in Norway can be
and by 2050 we expect to have nine billion quadrupled over the next 30 years. To be The opportunities that lies in our oceans
individuals to inhabit the planet. able to reach this potential we need to will not be realised by themselves. But
expand our knowledge and technology. we can seize the opportunities through
The increased world population, coupled We must create new knowledge-based cooperation and interaction between
with climate change and urbanization, jobs and contribute to the necessary shift government, researchers, commercial
makes it even more important to harvest in the economy. This is a challenge, but actors and industry. Together we can
from the sea. The Food and Agriculture also an opportunity. create a bright blue future.

© Paul Paiewonsky.

Per Sandberg

The Norwegian Minister of Fisheries.
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