We know more about fish than about fishermen

In order to realise the market value potential in the fisheries industry, we must also understand the behaviour of the fishing fleet and how it can be motivated to supply the demanded raw materials.

Little research has focused on the fishing fleet’s catch behaviour and how this is controlled and motivated.

“This research project will help the authorities and the fisheries industry find a better tool for understanding what motivates behaviour in the fishing fleet, and thus how management systems should be developed to help create greater values. The starting point will be the consumers’ needs and the potentials for exploiting the competitive advantages of Norwegian seafood”, says Senior Scientist Bent Dreyer, who has led the project.

– Why is it so difficult to motivate for optimal utilisation of the seafood resources?

“Due to efficiency claims, the largest possible volume and lowest cost per produced unit have been emphasised in the industry. When the fish is on land, different products are created based on the raw material’s potentials, and then sold where sales have been possible. At the same time, industry heterogeneity creates various needs for species and sizes of fish. Also, there are some factors over which we have no control, such as climate, the fish’s migration patterns and biology – which means that the quality varies in different seasons and in different geographical areas. These and several other factors make it difficult to control the fisheries.”

Even though fisheries management is complicated, Norway is in the international front. “However, the volumes won’t increase in the future, thus it is important to choose harvesting strategies that emphasise how to reduce uncertainty and how we can improve the market value from the seafood resources”, says Dreyer.

Contact person

Senior Scientist Bent Dreyer, direct telephone +47 77 62 90 23