Bad weather reduced catches last week, resulting in a sharp decline in fish landings and sales. Norway’s Råfisklag reports that turnover in week 39 fell to NOK 144 million, down from NOK 213 million the week before.
The coastal fleet was hit hardest, with storms making fishing difficult. Landings of cod, saithe, haddock and king crab were all lower than in week 38. Most deliveries that arrived were made in Finnmark, followed by Troms and Nordland.
Coastal fleet slowed by weather
Catches of fresh fish plunged. Cod sales decreased from NOK 14 million to NOK 9 million, while saithe sales dropped from NOK 19 million to NOK 8 million.
Haddock slid to NOK 3.6 million, down from NOK 6.3 million the week before. King crab landings also fell sharply, from 40 tonnes worth NOK 15 million to just 13 tonnes worth NOK 4.9 million.
Frozen fish steady
The offshore fleet delivered more frozen fish to neutral cold stores. Sales of frozen raw materials reached NOK 101 million, remaining almost unchanged from the previous week.
Cod and saithe were the top species, worth NOK 42 million and NOK 33 million respectively. In total, 3,483 tonnes of frozen fish were landed, up from 2,959 tonnes the week before.
Year-to-date is still higher than 2024
Despite the weekly drop, total turnover for the year so far stands at NOK 16.4 billion, up from NOK 13.4 billion at the same point last year. Norwegian vessels account for the bulk, with NOK 13.9 billion, while foreign vessels landed catches worth NOK 2.5 billion.
Råfisklaget’s figures show that while offshore deliveries remain stable, the coastal fleet continues to face challenges from weather and shifting quotas. As autumn storms intensify, industry players anticipate more volatile weeks ahead.