The new Norwegian Parliament is now convening, and two key things need to happen: trust must be restored between the aquaculture industry and politicians, and conditions must be put in place for renewed growth.

AKVA group has offices in 11 countries and, throughout our 50-year history, we have exported technology and solutions to more than 60 nations. When we travel the world and meet customers and government officials, we are often asked why Norway in particular has been so successful in aquaculture.

AKVA group ansatt
CCO Ståle Økland in AKVA group. Photo: AKVA group

It is easy to point to natural advantages such as clean fjords and cold water, and we often praise forward-thinking fish farmers and a growing supplier industry. But perhaps the most important success factor is the trust that has been built between government, R&D Institutes and the industry itself.

At AKVA group, we call this the golden triangle of growth. In Norway, there has been a tradition of dialogue, knowledge sharing and joint development. And even though there have been differing views on how best to succeed, the various stakeholders have generally agreed that Norwegian aquaculture is a vital part of the solution to ensure healthy and sustainable food production for a growing global population – and that the jobs and revenues the industry generates benefit both the state and local communities across the country.

Fragile trust

Trust takes time to build but can quickly be broken down. The previous Norwegian parliamentary term was marked by significant disagreements and a polarised – at times heated – debate between politicians and the industry. This was clear during the introduction of the resource tax and later with the aquaculture white paper, which arrived far too late.

Trust was put to the test, and for a time it was mistrust rather than trust that characterised the relationship. This is highly damaging for the industry’s development. Trust must now be restored in order to generate renewed momentum and growth. Responsibility lies with both politicians and the industry, but perhaps most of all with the politicians. A good start would be to change how we speak about one another and to redefine the crucial narrative of what drives growth.

A new understanding of growth

Growth is vital for innovation, sustainability and confidence in the future. In recent years, AKVA group has spent considerable time engaging with politicians – in Norway’s Parliament, at local level, and internationally. In these conversations, we are often met with the view that the industry must first resolve its sustainability challenges before it can grow. This view is widespread in Norway, Chile, Scotland and Canada alike.

It is true that the industry must address sustainability issues such as sea lice, fish health and local environmental impact. But growth is itself a prerequisite for solving them. If aquaculture companies do not see opportunities for expansion, they will not invest in the new and costly technologies that are absolutely necessary to achieve better sustainability. Growth is also essential to attract new talent and to inspire confidence in the future. It drives investment and creates new jobs. In the past, Norwegian politicians spoke often about growth, but this has faded in recent years. This trend must be reversed.

Constructive dialogue

At AKVA group, we look forward to constructive dialogue with our Norwegian elected representatives in the time ahead. As the largest player in a major supplier industry, which today provides 45,000 jobs, we see it as both a responsibility and an obligation to contribute to meaningful and productive conversations.

Our most important message now is that trust between the industry and politicians must be restored, and that growth must once again be placed at the centre of attention.