June 9, 2006

Norway's farmed fish exports exceeds wild-catch for the first time 

Exports of Norwegian farmed fish has surpassed that of wild-caught fish in the first five months of 2006 for the first time while overall exports for the first five months of the year reached new highs, according to the Norwegian Seafood Export Council.  

Of the NOK 13.5 billion (US$2.2 billion) exports, farmed fish accounted for NOK6.9 billion (US$1.11 billion) compared with NOK6.6 billion (US$1.06) for wild caught seafood.

Overall export values for the first five months of the year broke records, increasing 13.5 percent or NOK1.6 billion (US$258 million) compared with last year.

Value for May exports were also 33 percent higher compared to the same month last year, thanks to high salmon and bacalao prices and an increase in exports of salted fish.

Exports to the EU have also grown 21 percent compared to 2005.

France, Poland, Britain and Spain are the main consumers of Norwegian fish with exports to America catching up.

Fresh and frozen salmon fillets are behind most of the increase, but exports of frozen haddock are also increasing.