R&D in the seafood industry

R&D resources of NOK 5.3 billion within the seafood industry in 2023

In total, respondents reported current expenditure on R&D within the seafood industry of NOK 5.3 billion in 2023. R&D resources allocated to aquaculture amounted to nearly NOK 4 billion, while fisheries-related R&D resources amounted to just under NOK 1.4 billion.

Of the total R&D resources directed at the seafood industry, the business enterprise sector carried out R&D worth NOK 2.9 billion in 2023 (enterprises with 5 or more employees). The institute sector contributed just under NOK 1.6 billion, while the higher education sector's contribution was just over NOK 800 million.

The business enterprise sector was dominant within aquaculture, accounting for just over 60 percent of the total R&D resources in this area, while the institute sector was the largest contributor to fisheries-related R&D, with around 45 percent of total resources.

R&D related to technology and equipment amounted to NOK 1.1 billion

For the seafood industry as a whole, R&D related to technology and equipment was the largest area. Within aquaculture, the research area of health and disease was the largest (NOK 860 million), followed by feed, feed resources and nutrition, as well as technology and equipment. Together, these three areas accounted for over 60 percent of Norwegian aquaculture research in 2023. Within fisheries-related R&D, monitoring and estimation (from marine R&D) was the largest area, with approximately NOK 370 million in current R&D expenditure. The second largest area was R&D within technology and equipment, followed by food and processing industries.

9 percent real growth in seafood industry R&D from 2017 to 2023, decline in 2024

For the seafood industry as a whole, there was real growth of nine percent from 2017 to 2023 – the same rate as for Norway's total R&D over the same period. Within aquaculture, real growth in current R&D expenditure exceeded the growth in total R&D for the years 2017–2023 at 14 percent, while fisheries-related R&D reported a real decline of five percent over the period. The largest real growth — 84 percent — was found in the smallest sector, the higher education sector. The institute sector experienced a seven percent decline in R&D, while the business enterprise sector experienced real growth of six percent during this period. The business enterprise sector financed the majority of the R&D activity.

For 2024, figures are available only for the business enterprise sector (10 or more employees) and the institute sector; both sectors show a negative trend in R&D activity, as did the country's total current R&D expenditure. In the institute sector, there was an overall real decline in seafood industry R&D of 22 percent, with the largest decline in fisheries-related R&D. Part of this decline may be attributable to changes in reporting practices at certain institutions. In the business enterprise sector, there was a real decline in seafood industry R&D of 11 percent in 2024. Within the business enterprise sector, aquaculture saw the steepest decline.