Record output of salmon from fish farms

Preliminary figures show that 331,400 tonnes of farmed fish were sold in 1997, an increase of 10 per cent from 1996. Norway has never produced this much salmon before. The same applies to rainbow trout. Sales of rainbow trout increased by 50 per cent last year, to 33,500 tonnes.

Stocks of salmon and rainbow trout in fish farms increased by 12 and 14 per cent respectively compared to the year before.

In 1997 there were 769 edible fish licences in effect for salmon and trout production. Of these 149 farms were in Hordaland and 137 in Nordland. Two hundred and sixty-six hatchery licences were in effect. Some licensees are involved in both fish farming and hatchery operations.

Stocks (biomass) in fish farms producing edible fish amounted to 246,400 tonnes of salmon and 25, 600 tonnes of rainbow trout at 31 December 1997. Stocks of fry and smolt were an estimated 125 million salmon and five million rainbow trout. This amounts to an increase of 1.6 per cent for salmon and 20 per cent for trout.

New Statistics
Rearing of fish, 1997. Preliminary figures.
The statistics are published annually in the Weekly Bulletin of Statistics and in Official Statistics of Norway (NOS) Rearing of Fish. For more information, contact: Anne.Turi.Baklien@ssb.no, tel. +47 62 88 52 30 or Ase.Mobraten@ssb.no, tel. +47 62 88 52 31.

Weekly Bulletin issue no. 40, 1998