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

The total amount of sold salmonid fish for 2008 exceeded 846 353 tonnes, resulting in a total first hand value of NOK 17.4 billion. The aquaculture industry has experienced considerable growth in recent years, but the increase from 2007 to 2008 was 1 per cent, which is modest compared to the 18.4 per cent increase from 2006 to 2007.

For salmon, the sales quantity had a slight decrease of 1 per cent from 2007 to 2008. The corresponding fall in first hand value was NOK 271 million. The average price per kilo reached NOK 20.60, which is a reduction of 1 per cent.

The sales quantity of trout increased by 10 per cent, as opposed to the preliminary figures for 2008, which indicated a 2.3 per cent fall in first hand value. Eventually, 2008 turned out to be the best year for rainbow trout sales ever to be recorded. However, the average price per kilo fell by 4 per cent and ended on NOK 19.20 for the whole year.

More cod - less halibut

The farmed cod industry achieved 63 per cent more sales in 2007 compared to 2008, while the average price per kilo decreased from NOK 22.30 to NOK 20.60. Sales of farmed halibut fell considerably after a peak year in 2007.

Increasing employment

In salmon and rainbow trout production, employment rose by 7 per cent in 2008. For hatcheries and fingerling production the situation was unchanged compared to the previous year.

Higher loss caused by disease

The total loss in the reared fish industry for 2008 reached 9.5 per cent. Salmon had the lowest loss with 8.9 per cent, while the average loss for cod was 15 per cent. For salmon and rainbow trout this can largely be explained by the outbreak of pancreas disease.

Shellfish further down

In the shellfish industry, blue mussels remained the dominating product, with an annual production of 2 035 tonnes in 2008. For shellfish in general there has been a downward trend since 2005. The first hand value fell by 46 per cent, and the quantity was reduced by 24 per cent from 2007 to 2008.

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. 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 rainbow trout. 2008
• Table 4 Number of licences running, workers and labour input, by type of production and county. Other fish species than salmon and rainbow trout. 2008
• Table 5 Stock of live fish for food, by species of fish and county. All fish species. 2008. 1 000 pieces
• Table 6 Sales of shellfish, by fish species. 2000-2008.Tonnes and NOK 1 000