Norway’s pelagic fishing industry will gather in Ålesund next week when FHF hosts Pelagisk Arena 2026, its flagship conference for the sector, on 7 January at the Scandic Parken hotel.
The one-day event will bring together policymakers, scientists, fleet owners, and processors from across the pelagic value chain to discuss resource status, new research, and market outlooks amid rising pressure on key stocks and tighter environmental regulations.
The programme opens with politics and research, including government policy for the pelagic sector, new rules for process water treatment, and new research results. Sessions will also address sustainability tools for the fishing fleet and recent findings on marine oils from the North Atlantic.
Mackerel and herring under the spotlight
The second session centres on the resource situation in the North-East Atlantic. Topics include natural mortality, changing migration patterns, and a revised assessment method for herring and mackerel.
A panel debate will examine how the mackerel stock moved from record highs to a sharp decline in a short time, and what this means for the industry.
Markets, costs and global outlook
The day ends with market and economic analysis, with updates on Asia, price volatility, and the return of Atlantic bluefin tuna to Norwegian waters. The conference will be chaired by FHF’s new chief executive, Ståle Walderhaug.
FHF, the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund, is a state-owned body, financed by a 0.3% levy on seafood exports, and tasked with funding industry-driven research and development.