Norwegian politicians push to curb tourists’ fish exports
Monday 2nd November 2026 on 07:01 in
Finland
Norwegian politicians want to restrict tourists from taking sea-caught fish out of the country, Yle reports, citing Norwegian broadcaster NRK. Some politicians are calling for a complete ban, while others want tighter limits.
Fishing tourists have taken fish worth about 4 billion Norwegian kroner out of Norway over the past three years. The value of this year’s catch has already reached nearly 1.5 billion kroner.
Elisabeth Sørdahl, mayor of Øksnes, a municipality described as one of Norway’s largest fishing municipalities, wants the export quota cut to zero and border checks strengthened. She says fishing tourism should focus on the experience, rather than tourists taking the country’s raw materials abroad for free.
Norway already limits exports of sea-caught fish, including cod. The rules were tightened this year: tourists could previously take out 18 kilograms twice a year, but the quota is now 15 kilograms and will fall to 10 kilograms next year. The fish must be caught through a fishing tourism business, and tourists must provide proof.
The rules apply only to fish caught in salt water. Self-caught salmon, trout, char and other freshwater fish are not covered. In the summer, Norwegian Customs briefly interpreted the rules as covering self-caught freshwater fish as well, but that interpretation was quickly overturned.
Vidar Andreassen, head of the Sjybrygga fishing camp in Lofoten, says a total ban would be disastrous for the business and could cause visitor numbers to collapse. He argues that tourists might choose cheaper destinations if they could not take fish home.
Norway’s fisheries and oceans minister, Marianne Sivertsen Næss, says the government does not plan to ban fish exports completely. It is instead considering a tourist fishing licence and an approval system for fishing tourism businesses. Sørdahl says a licence would add bureaucracy that would be difficult to enforce.
Fishing and the fishing industry are among Norway’s most important livelihoods. The value of the country’s seafood exports reached a record 181.5 billion kroner last year, equivalent to about 15 to 16 billion euros.