From the fishing grounds to the market
Norges Råfisklag, known in English as the the Norwegian Fishermen's Sales Organization, handles important national functions within the trade of seafood. Norges Råfisklag, together with five other fish Sales Organizations in Norway, have also an important national role according to resource control of our fish stocks.
Norges Råfisklag organises and arranges the sales of codfish, shellfish and molluscs that are landed along the coast from Nordmøre in the south-west to Finnmark in the north-east. The most important species are cod, coalfish, haddock and shrimps/prawns. Fishing is carried out along the Norwegian coast, in the Barents Sea and around Spitsbergen.
Norges Råfisklag's head office is in Tromsø, with regional offices in Svolvær and Kristiansund. The Organization has approximately 60 employees.
Norges Råfisklag is engaged in safeguarding the incomes of the fishermen. An important premise is, however, to ensure over time that the ocean's resources are utilised in a sustainable manner and to achieve profitable growth in the entire fishing industry. Contributing to this social responsibility and development is one of the principles of the Organization.
Norges Råfisklag is the fishermen's own sales organization. The Organization has a well-developed service system and offers fishermen and buyers a number of services directly related to trading, sales and settlements. Fishermen and buyers can make direct mutual agreements in regard to supply, catches can be put out for auction on the Organization's modern electronic auction system, or longer-term contracts can be made. A foundation for the whole system is the Organization's business regulations, a market-based minimum price scheme and an effective settlement system that guarantees settlements for fishermen. This helps to safeguard equal competition conditions for participants in our raw fish market.
The organization was established in 1938. An important aim of the Organization has been to provide for clear, fair and controlled conditions in regard to fishing and trading of catches between fishermen and buyers. The Raw Fish Act is the foundation and the premise that enables the Organization and the other fish sales organisations to function in this role.