Competitiveness and cooperation in the Nordic Seafood sector

Opening of the Norwegian Chairmanship - Fisheries cooperation under the Nordic Council of Ministers 2012

Oslo 25.01. 2012

Ladies and gentlemen, guests and Nordic friends!

Let me first welcome you to Norway and to this conference on competitiveness and cooperation in the Nordic Seafood sector.

I am proud to represent a sector that has the potential to both strengthen our economies and be a part of solving the world’s needs for sustainably produced food.

Fisheries have been an important livelihood of Nordic people for centuries. In recent years aquaculture has grown in importance and is now one of the fastest growing food production sectors in the world.

But there is a significant potential for seafood production in our part of the world.

In October last year the world’s population reached a milestone. We are now 7 billion people inhabiting the earth. And the growth continues.  In 2050 we might be 9 billion people. The production of food needs to increase by 70 % to meet the demands of the growing population.

Seafood from our part of the world has a natural position and role to play in meeting this demand.

The total Nordic sea area is larger than the continent of Europe. These waters are amongst the most productive on earth.
If we manage our resources sustainably, it represents an opportunity for our economies, our businesses and for our communities.

In spite of a sizable area and large distances the Nordic economies are strongly interlinked. The Nordic countries also share historical and cultural characteristics and values.

It is well known that the value chains of cod, herring and salmon cross the national borders, and that the pleasure of enjoying the rich tradition of dishes based on such seafood is shared among the Nordic countries.

The marine resources of the Nordic waters are highly productive. If managed well and sustainably they will remain so for generations to come.
This, of course has to be a joint effort, and I am fully aware of the importance of Nordic cooperation, and in this respect the Nordic Council of Ministers.

However natural resources alone are not sufficient to secure competitiveness and economic prosperity. To succeed we need to be at the forefront in innovation, business environment, in human capital, and in investment in infrastructure.

The economic viability of fisheries depends on how we cope with overfishing, fluctuations in the market-prices for fish, global competition, and structural changes in the fishing fleet and processing industry.

Likewise the economic prospects of our aquaculture industry depend upon such factors as productivity, quality and the competitiveness of that industry. 
Our fishing and aquaculture industries operate in a highly competitive international market: Therefore the management system has a central role to play in order to secure optimal production of the marine ecosystems and the highest level of competitiveness.

Sustainable development of these industries is essential for the regional cooperation among the Nordic countries is required in order to ensure this.

Such cooperation takes place within the frameworks of NEAFC, ICES, Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Council. It is likely that the scope for further cooperation is considerable.

The challenges we are facing depend on how the Nordic countries succeed in overcoming barriers through extended cooperation. Barriers may be that long term gains from cooperation may be difficult to see, and short term differences between Nordic neighbors may overshadow these benefits.

The Nordic countries also have strong varied linkages to the EU and to countries outside the region. This may easily lead to an under-appreciation of the opportunities within the region itself.

Innovation is a crucial factor for success, if we can make the industry more efficient and develop new products, we can also unleash the potential for sustainable and innovative economic utilization.

This conference is organized by one of the key institutions in the Nordic cooperation network, “Nordic Innovation” whose goal is to encourage and support industry-driven innovation across national borders and between companies in the Nordic region.

As Minister of Fisheries and Coastal affairs in Norway, I am particularly pleased that Nordic Innovation has managed to establish a very impressive Marine Innovation program. 

Marine innovation is a key priority in Norway’s marine policy. This year 40 million kroner is allocated to the national Marine Value Creation Program to stimulate and facilitate innovation in the Marine Sector.

The goal is to strengthen the marine food sectors innovative capacity and competitive strength by increasing the sectors competence. 

I am therefore very pleased to see that a 45 million Nordic marine innovation program is being launched this year, when Norway is chairing the Nordic cooperation of the Nordic Council.

In many ways this can be seen as an interesting extension and development of the Nordic cooperation itself, and more specifically the fisheries cooperation.   I welcome the Nordic Innovations effort to bring the development funds of the Nordic countries together.

I look forward to seeing where this road of opportunity may lead us in the future, and hope that marine innovation is an area for more joint efforts from our countries.

Finally I would like to salute Nordic Innovation, and the participants of the marine innovation program for your enthusiasm, interest and involvement in this important and timely program.

Fisheries and aquaculture is about food-production. There is a need for growth, but this growth must be channeled in a sustainable direction. New approaches are therefore required, and innovation is a key to set the development on a new path.

I wish you all the best for your discussions here today and with your future innovation projects. Your efforts are important.

I am confident that you will take advantage of the opportunity to engage in Nordic cooperation on a practical level. 

Thank you!