Fishing, sealing and whaling
Statistical sources
Information on the fishing industry prior to 1868 is published in the five-year reports of the county governors. In 1868 the fishing statistics were for the first time published in a separate publication, Beretninger om Norges fiskerier. From 1876 the statistics assumed a more permanent character, as from that year on it was based on special forms that had to be completed by the local chiefs of police and other administrative officials, and the title of the annual publication was changed to NOS Statistik over Norges fiskerier. Statistics Norway was responsible for the compilation of the fishery statistics up to 1899. Beginning 1900 the Directorate of Fisheries took over the compilation of the statistics. The statistics were published in NOS Fiskerier up to and including 1909, in NOS Norges Fiskerier 1910-1959, and in NOS Fiskeristatistikk from 1960. Since 1977 the publication has been issued by Statistics Norway in co-operation with the Directorate.
Statistics Norway has carried out fishery censuses in 1948, 1960 and 1971. The results must not be directly compared with the ordinary fishery statistics, the compilation of data being based on different principles.
The figures relating to fishermen are furnished by the municipal fishery committees. The fishing fleet statistics are compiled on the basis of the Director of Fisheries' register of fishing vessels.
Up to and including 1907 statistics relating to catch were based on reported catch in each district, but since 1908 it has been based on actual landings in each district. In 1908 the scope of the statistics was widened to include information on fishing vessels and gear, and a more detailed breakdown of catches by species was introduced.
Since 1943 the fishermen's marketing organizations have to an increasing extent assumed the role of suppliers of information for the fishery statistics. They are entitled by law to take over and sell practically all species of fish on landing, except fish from stations for rearing of fish.
The whaling statistics are compiled by the Directorate of Fisheries. In the period 1943-1987 the publication Småhvalfangsten was issued. From 1988 to 1992 inclusive all commercial catch of small-whale was forbidden.
Statistics Norway compiles statistics of salmon and sea trout taken within the limit of the fishing zone. The statistics are based upon reports from the salmon fishery boards. Data for catch of salmon and sea trout in seas are included in the fishery statistics.
In the period 1963-1985 the statistics of salmon and sea trout fishing were published in NOS Salmon and Sea Trout Fisheries, and since 1986 in NOS Fishing and Rearing of Salmon etc.
Statistics Norway has since 1971 carried out statistics on rearing of fish. As from 1973 the Directorate of Fisheries has been in charge of collecting the data. In 1987 and earlier years only units with slaughtering of salmon and/or rainbow trout were included.
Development trends
Fishermen and fishing vessels
There has been a steady decline in the number of fishermen, both those with fishing as their main occupation and those for whom fishing is a secondary occupation. From 1928 to 1981 the total number of fishermen fell by 66 300, a reduction of 65 per cent. In 1982 the Ministry of Fisheries changed the rules governing the registration of fishermen, introducing certain requirements regarding the time spent fishing and stipulating a minimum income. As a result it is not possible to compare the figures since 1983 with the figures from previous years. During the period from 1983 to 1990 the number of fishermen has remained fairly constant.
From 1931 until 1961 the number of registered fishing vessels increased from 22 000 to 42 100, an increase of 90 per cent in 30 years. Since then the number of vessels has decreased by more than half. In 1990 the Directorate of Fisheries' register comprised 17 400 vessels.
The growth as well as the later reduction of the fishing fleet deals mainly with the open fishing vessels. The open fishing vessels represented 94 per cent of the increase from 1931 to 1961 regarding the total number of fishing vessels, and 84 per cent of the decrease in the fleet form 1961 to 1990. The fleet of decked fishing vessels which increased slightly in numbers toward 1960, has during the last 30 years been reduced by 32 per cent.
Catch
Since 1975 the size of catches has been measured by the weight of the fish when caught. Prior to 1975 the catch was measured by the weight of the fish when delivered ashore. The size of catches measured by the weight of the fish when caught exceeds the weight of the fish when delivered ashore by between 7 to 10 per cent.
In 1920 a total of 484 000 tons was landed. By 1974 the total catch had risen to 3 398 000 tons. During the period from 1975 to 1990 the catch fell from 2 542 000 to 1 592 000 tons. North of 62_N the total catch fell by 80 per cent from 1977 to 1990, whereas in the North Sea and the Skagerrak it increased by 26 per cent.
Costs and income
In the period from 1970 to 1990 the first-hand value of the salt-water catch rose from 788 to 5 428 million kroner. Costs during the same period increased from 428 to 3 390 million kroner.
Fish farming
In 1975 a total of 138 fish farms produced 2 517 tons of edible fish. By 1990 the figures had risen to 861 farms producing 150 651 tons of fish. In 1975 salmon accounted for 34 per cent of total production but by 1990 had increased to 97 per cent.