The objectives of Norges Råfisklag - The Norwegian Fishermen's Sales Organization

Through our services, Norges Råfisklag shall safeguard fishermen's incomes and contribute to a sustainable and profitable growth in the Norwegian fishing industry

- preserving coastal values

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.

The Organization handles the sales of catches from appx. 4.300 Norwegian and foreign fishing vessels of different sizes. Trade is organised through, and in close cooperation with appx. 180 registered fish buyers. In 2009 the collective turnover for the Organization's district was 592.000 catch tonnes (round weight) with a first-hand sales value of NOK 5.2 billion.

The basic principle for all of Norges Råfisklag's business activities is that the ocean's resources shall be managed in a sustainable manner for the sake of future generations (common environmental goal for Norwegian fishery and aquaculture industry).

The Organization has strong links with Norwegian coastal heritage and fishing traditions where the close proximity to the fishing grounds has been of decisive significance for people choosing to live along the coast. For generations, coastal communities have utilised this close proximity and the rich fishing grounds to pursue a combination of fjord, inshore and deep-sea fishing. This is the hallmark of the industry and has influenced the Organization to develop price and sales systems that will continue to secure stability in trade for small and large enterprises alike, under secure and good economic conditions.

Norges Råfisklag is owned by the fishermen through the county organizations of The Norwegian Fishermen's Association in Norges Råfisklags district, The Norwegian Seamen's Union, The Fishing Vessel Owners Union and The Norwegian Coastal Fishermen's Association.