The globalization of the fishing industry and the case of Finnmark

Abstract

The Norwegian fishing industry is in the lucky situation that the quotas increase. Russian catches are delivered in Northern Norway and the aquaculture industry has had a tremendous growth over the last five years. Nevertheless, several sectors of the fishing industry are experiencing crises, especially in Finnmark, the most fishery dependent county. This paradox is explained by looking at the driving forces behind the globalization of the white fish industry, and the local effects, as they are experienced in the fishery dependent communities. The central process is a decoupling of various local economic activities. As each of the economic actors have tried their own optimizing strategies, an increasing fragmentation and instability is brought into the local communities. If the fishing industry is to be in a position to contribute to employment and settlement in coastal Finnmark in the future, a stronger market orientation among all local actors is necessary.