Origin Matters - Choose Sustainable Seafood from Norway

ORIGIN MATTERS

Choose Sustainable Seafood from Norway

With brutally cold temperatures and a rough climate, Norway is an inhospitable place for humans – but these unforgiving qualities also make Norway the perfect home for seafood.

The Norwegian coast, including all the islands and fjords, is over 100,000km long – more than double the length of the equator. Norway’s chilly coastal waters provide the perfect conditions for both inshore fisheries and aquaculture. Which is why, for thousands of years, the hardy Norwegians who settled in this tough landscape have made fishing their livelihood.

Seafood is Norway’s second biggest industry (after oil). As such, fishing is an inextricable part of the Norwegian economy, and a deep love of the sea is embedded in Norwegian culture.

Its fishing traditions date back thousands of years, from the Vikings, who battled the cold to build communities along the coast, to Leif Erikson, the famous explorer, whose voyage to America was possible only thanks to a steady supply of dried cod – a product created using fresh cod, wooden racks and the power of Norway’s climate as an open-air dryer. It is no surprise, then, that today Norway is a fishing nation bursting at the seams with years of knowledge. Quite simply, fishing is in Norwegians’ genes.

Sustainable wild fisheries management leaders From pioneering management and regulations to diverse fishing fleets, everything the Norwegians do has sustainability at its heart. All Norwegian cod and haddock is MSC-certified. So important is responsible stewardship that it has underpinned the entire cod fishing process since 1987, when Norway imposed a discard ban. In the years since, there have been virtually no cases of illegal, unreported or unregulated cod fishing in Norwegian waters.

Over the years the industry has evolved from free fishing to strict regulation. Fisheries use a range of catch methods, from trawling to hand-line, and Norway was the first country to implement a quota system. The quotas in place are recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea – a leading international research body, which assesses stocks and helps the Norwegians plan for the future. Implementing its strict quotas enables Norwegians to maintain healthy fish stocks, ensuring that they have never overfished – and never will.

Be proud to cite and shout about “Norwegian” seafood on your menu Whether you choose seafood from Norway for its superior quality, green credentials or simply the story, you’ll be sourcing ingredients from a country where they take great pride in their fishing methods and rich heritage. Where fishing is not just an industry but a way of life, so be proud to cite “Norwegian” produce on your fish and chip menu. For further information on quality, legislation and sustainability please visit www.seafoodfromnorway.co.uk