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

Preliminary figures show that Norwegian vessels delivered a good 1.4 million tonnes of fish during the first six months of 2008, up by 4 per cent compared to the same period last year. The catch of herring and sandeel increased considerably, while the amount of blue whiting and deep water prawn decreased.

Higher sales of fish, including crustaceans and molluscs, have not resulted in higher landed value. Due to lower prices the landed value decreased to NOK 6.1 billion, down 7 per cent compared with the first six months of 2007.

The herring catch increased by 34 per cent, and came to 482 000 tonnes the first six months of 2008. Landed value of herring increased by 10 per cent, to NOK 963 million. This corresponds to 33 per cent of the total catch and 16 per cent of the total landed value in 2008.

Measured by the landed value of catch, cod fishing is the most important of fisheries. The landed value increased by 3 per cent, to NOK 2.8 billion in the first six months of 2008. The cod catch came to 162 000 tonnes, about the same as last year, and accounts for 11 per cent of the total catch quantity and 45 per cent of the catch value.

The catch of blue whiting decreased by 23 per cent, to 398 000 tonnes and accounted for 27 per cent of the total catch in the first six month of 2008.

61 per cent of the catch was used for consumption, while 39 per cent was used for meal, oil, animal feed etc. Almost the entire catch of sand eel, 92 per cent of blue whiting and 13 per cent of the herring catches were delivered for this production in 2008.