Aquaculture (terminated in Statistics Norway), 2008, preliminary figures

In 2008, the first hand value for sold salmon was NOK 15.3 billion, which is NOK 200 million less than the previous year. The average price per kilo was reduced by 1.2 per cent and reached NOK 20.58 per kilo.

For trout, the reduction was somewhat stronger for both sales volume and price. Average sales prices decreased by 3.3 per cent, and sold volumes by 2.7 per cent. The total first hand value amounted to NOK 1.5 billion.

Because of a substantial increase in the sales of farmed cod, the total figures show a small increase from 2007 to 2008. At the same time, the first hand value went down by 2.6 per cent.

Employment still up

In spite of the reductions in sales and production, employment still rose. For salmon and trout production, the number of employees increased by 6.2 per cent from 2007 to 2008. A similar trend was found in hatcheries and fingerling production, with a 5 per cent rise in employment.

More lost, less escaping

The total loss/wastage in salmon and trout farming amounted to 9 per cent of the total stock compared to 8.5 per cent in 2007. In spite of a reduction in the escaping fish problem, the outbreak of Pancreas disease contributed to this increase.

More cod

Farmed cod achieved 63 per cent more sales in 2007 than 2008. The average price per kilo fell from NOK 22.32 to NOK 20.59 for the same period. Both the number of companies involved in cod farming and the number of employees were reduced from 2007 to 2008. Nevertheless, the labour input measured in man-hours increased. The stock of live fish within fish farms was larger by the end of the year.

Other species

For other species like halibut, char and turbot, the 2008 figures showed a reduction in sales, but the average prices per kilo were higher than for 2007. Aqua culturing of halibut peaked in 2007 as a result of a major increase from 2006. In 2008, the sales quantity fell by 31 per cent.

Shellfish

The shellfish industry was exposed to both decreasing employment and sales results in 2008. Employment decreased by 25.8 per cent from earlier years, and has continuously been falling since the peak year of 2005. Since 2007, the total sales have fallen by 27.6 per cent in quantity, and 47.2 per cent in sales value.

Tables:

• Table 1 Sales of slaughtered fish for food. Quantity, by fish species and county. 2008*. Tonnes
• Table 2 Sales of slaughtered fish for food. First hand value, by fish species and county. 2008*. NOK 1 000
• Table 3 Number of licenses running, workers and labour input, by type of production and county. Salmon and trout. 2008*
• Table 4 Stock of live fish for food, by species of fish and county. All fish species. 2008*. 1 000 pieces
• Table 5 Sales of shellfish, by fish species. 2000-2008.Tonnes and NOK 1 000