Fishing in fjords with aquaculture – opportunities and challenges
This project aims to document opportunities and challenges associated with fishing in fjords hosting aquaculture facilities.
Start
02. Feb 2026
End
31. Dec 2028
Funded by
The Norwegian Seafood Research Fund, FHF
Cooperation
Sufi, Cermaq Norway Salmon, Salaks, Nord Senja Fisk, Lerøy Aurora, Domstein Sjømat, Grieg Seafood, Lerøy Norway Seafoods, Blått kompetansesenter Nord, Institute of Marine Research, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Cod Cluster and fishermen Cato Larsen, Arne Mathisen, Kjell Larsen and Edgar Olsen
Project Manager(s):
In short
The work includes a synthesis of existing knowledge and experiences from both the capture fisheries sector and the fish processing industry, as well as an assessment of fish availability and quality throughout the year—covering periods of active aquaculture operations as well as fallowing phases.
Furthermore, the project examines the value creation generated by fisheries activities in such areas, with particular emphasis on the interactions between aquaculture and traditional fisheries.
Background
The aquaculture industry has experienced rapid growth since the 1970s, and with nearly 1,400 licenses along the Norwegian coastline, this expansion has created complex challenges for coexistence with traditional fisheries. These conflicts relate to spatial use, environmental impacts, and ecosystem changes. Aquaculture installations may reduce access to traditional fishing grounds and spawning areas, while discharges of feed waste, fecal matter, and chemicals can affect water quality and benthic conditions. There are also concerns that fish may be displaced from fjords with aquaculture activity, and that the quality of catches in proximity to farms may be reduced, including softer muscle texture and increased fillet gaping.
At the same time, there are indications that species such as Atlantic cod and saithe are attracted to aquaculture installations, potentially creating new fishing opportunities and contributing to a more stable year-round supply of fish. This may reduce seasonal peaks in fisheries and strengthen value creation for the fishing fleet, processing industry, and local communities. Shorter travel distances to fishing grounds may also result in reduced fuel consumption and improved economic conditions, particularly for the small-scale fleet.
Significant knowledge gaps remain. There is limited understanding of how aquaculture influences fish behaviour, spawning migrations, and population dynamics, as well as how feeding on farm-derived feed affects the quality of whitefish. Furthermore, the role of fishing in proximity to aquaculture operations in relation to value creation and employment is poorly documented. Both management authorities and industry lack a comprehensive knowledge base to support sustainable coexistence.
Objectives
Our main objective is to document opportunities and challenges associated with fisheries in fjords with aquaculture operations.
Specific objectives
- To synthesise existing knowledge and experiences related to fisheries and the seafood industry in fjords with aquaculture activity, including fishing conducted in proximity to aquaculture installations.
- To document the availability and quality of fish throughout the year in fisheries conducted in fjords with aquaculture operations, both during active production and fallowing periods.
- To assess value creation associated with fisheries in fjords with aquaculture operations.
What we do
In this project, we aim to address knowledge gaps in four ways:
- Mapping existing knowledge and experiences related to fisheries and industry in fjords with aquaculture activity.
- Documenting dynamic changes in the availability of Atlantic cod in an aquaculture fjord and a control fjord over a full production cycle.
- Analysing quality and biological status of whitefish, as well as species composition in fisheries conducted in fjords with aquaculture installations, both during active production and fallowing periods.
- Assessing value creation and economic ripple effects from fisheries targeting whitefish, shrimp, and king crab in fjords with and without aquaculture activity.
The project builds on previous research on the effects of aquaculture on fish behaviour and quality, as well as Nofima’s work on value creation in the seafood sector. The results will provide new and highly requested knowledge to strengthen the evidence base for management authorities, industry stakeholders, and local communities, and will identify opportunities for improved resource utilisation in fjords with aquaculture activity.
More about how we collaborate in this project
The project is led by Nofima, which contributes expertise in fish quality, processing, and value creation. The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) will document the availability, migration patterns, and habitat use of Atlantic cod in fjords with and without aquaculture activity. UiT The Arctic University of Norway contributes methodological development, data analyses, and capacity building, and facilitates student projects.
Industry partners (four aquaculture companies) provide access to farming sites and operational data from a range of fjord systems and production conditions, spanning from Varanger in the north to Rogaland in the south. Six fishers with experience in gillnet fisheries in fjords with aquaculture activity will participate, providing insights into practical challenges and opportunities. In addition, three fish processing plants will contribute by documenting handling practices and market access for fish.
The Cod Cluster and Blått kompetansesenter nord strengthen the project through networks, innovation, and knowledge transfer to industry. Together, the consortium ensures broad geographical coverage and a comprehensive approach to sustainable coexistence between aquaculture and fisheries.
Work Package 1 – Knowledge synthesis and stakeholder experience
Lead: Geir Sogn-Grundvåg (Nofima)
In the first phase, existing knowledge and experiences related to fisheries and the seafood industry in fjords with aquaculture operations, including fisheries conducted in proximity to fish farms, will be synthesised. A common knowledge base will be established by reviewing and systematising existing research on fisheries in aquaculture fjords. This includes studies on fish attraction to cages, environmental impacts, regulatory frameworks, and documented experiences related to fish quality and catch patterns.
In addition, new empirical knowledge will be collected through interviews with fishers, aquaculture producers, the seafood industry, and key management and stakeholder organisations. These activities will identify benefits, challenges, and knowledge gaps associated with fisheries near aquaculture installations. The results will provide an important foundation for subsequent field studies, quality analyses, and assessments of value creation in the following work packages.
Work Package 2 – Availability and behaviour of Atlantic cod
Lead: Pål Arne Bjørn (IMR)
The second phase will document how the availability of Atlantic cod varies throughout the year in fjords with and without aquaculture activity. By comparing a fjord with intensive aquaculture production to a control fjord without aquaculture, the project will assess how aquaculture influences cod migration patterns, habitat use, and temporal presence.
In the control fjord, natural behaviour will be mapped using acoustic tagging, habitat mapping, and environmental data. In fjords with aquaculture, behaviour and spatial distribution will be analysed throughout a full production cycle using telemetry data, echosounders, and biological sampling. The results will be integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding of aquaculture impacts and will form a basis for evaluating year-round fisheries, fish quality, and value creation in subsequent work packages.
Work Package 3 – Fish quality, biological status and species composition
Lead: Silje Kristoffersen (Nofima)
The third phase will document fish quality, biological status, availability, and species composition in fisheries conducted in fjords with aquaculture operations. The project will investigate how proximity to aquaculture installations influences the quality of wild fish, and how these effects vary with season and the aquaculture production cycle.
Standardised gillnet sampling will be conducted at four locations from Rogaland to Varanger, both in proximity to aquaculture sites and in reference areas without aquaculture. The study will compare species composition, fish density, quality, and biological status. Fish will be analysed at landing facilities and in laboratories, including measurements of size, stomach content, and fillet quality.
At one location, extended analyses will be conducted, including sensory evaluations and assessments of suitability for fresh markets and salted fish production. The results will provide practical knowledge that can be applied by fishers and industry to improve handling practices, reduce losses, and increase value creation.
Work Package 4 – Value creation and socio-economic impacts
Lead: Ingrid K. Pettersen (Nofima)
The fourth phase will assess value creation associated with fisheries in fjords with aquaculture activity. The work package will examine how such fisheries contribute to economic value for the fishing fleet, processing industry, and local communities.
By integrating fisheries and aquaculture data in geographic analyses, catch volumes, economic value, and seasonal patterns will be related to distance from aquaculture installations. Comparisons between fjords with and without aquaculture, as well as before and after farm establishment, will be used to analyse effects on catch composition, efficiency, and economic value.
The work package will also assess impacts across fleet segments, industry raw material supply, and local employment, and will map the potential for aquaculture-related fisheries in fjords where such opportunities are currently underutilised. The results will provide a data-driven basis for improved decision-making in both industry and management.
