Aquaculture (terminated in Statistics Norway), 2007, preliminary figures

The value of salmon sold in 2007 was NOK 15.4 billion, a decrease of 1 per cent compared with the value in 2006, which was a record-breaking year. The average price decreased from NOK 24.73 in 2006 to NOK 20.97 in 2007. A good 736 000 tonnes of salmon were sold in total. This is the largest quantity ever recorded and an increase of 17 per cent from 2006.

Sales quantity of trout also increased in 2007. A total of nearly 78 000 tonnes were sold, an increase of 23.7 per cent from 2006. The value of trout sold in 2007 came close to NOK 1.6 billion, down 1 per cent from 2006. The average price decreased from NOK 25.18 in 2006 to NOK 20.15 in 2007.

Employment up

The employment in aquaculture of salmon and trout fell gradually from 2001. The trend was reversed in 2006, and employment was still rising in 2007. Number of people employed increased by 9.0 per cent from 2006, ending at 3 800. The total labour input was 5.1 million man-hours, an increase of 5.1 per cent compared to 2006. Only 15 per cent of the employees were women, accounting for over 10 per cent of all labour input.

Less fish escaping

The number of salmon reported as lost/wastage increased by 24 per cent from 2006 and amounted to almost 38 million in 2007. About 91 per cent of these fishes were counted and destroyed, while the rest was lost because of escaping, predators, theft etc.

In 2007, 379 000 farmed salmon and trout escaped. This is 556 000 less than in 2006. 70 000 farmed cod were also escaped.

Livestock increasing

At the end of 2007 the stock of live salmon in fish farms was 481 000 tonnes, as compared with 472 000 tonnes at the end of 2006. There were 53 000 tonnes of live trout in the nets in 2007, an increase of 15 per cent from 2006.

Decrease for cod

Farmed cod is the third most important species measured by quantity. 9 611 tonnes of farmed cod were sold in 2007, down by 13 per cent from the previous year. Other fish species sold as farmed fish in 2007 were halibut, char, turbot, mackerel, saithe, eel and catfish.

Shellfish

A total of 2 512 tonnes of shellfish were sold in 2007, a decrease of 33 per cent from 2006 and nearly half as much as in 2005. The sales value came to NOK 24.7 million, up by 13.8 per cent from 2006 and 3.7 per cent compared with 2005. Blue mussels are still the main species. The value of the 2 473.2 tonnes sold came to NOK 18.6 million.

Tables:

• Table 1 Aquaculture. Sales of salmon and rainbow trout. Quantity and first-hand value. 2007*
• Table 2 Aquaculture. Salmon and rainbow trout. Number of workers and labour input, by type of license. 2007*
• Table 3 Aquaculture. Salmon. Stock of fish for food during the period 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007. 1 000 pieces
• Table 4 Aquaculture. Salmon and rainbow trout. Stock of fish for food per 31. december 2007, by generation