The smell of money

Can you smell it? The fresh, salty sea air mixed with the scent of fish? In Ålesund, we like to say that this is the smell of money, and with good reason: The entire history and wealth of the city is built on the fish from the sea. Now we pass Aspøya and Skarbøvika, both outer districts of Ålesund, where several of Norway's largest exporters of seafood are located. From these quays, large quantities of fish are shipped out into the world every day, everything from fresh salmon – one of Norway's most important exports – to traditional whitefish such as cod and saithe. But perhaps best known of all is herring, the "silver of the sea", which historically made Ålesund one of the country's richest cities. As early as the early 20th century, fishermen flocked here to hunt for huge shoals of herring, and the city quickly became a center for herring fishing and export. Today, modern fish factories continue this legacy, with advanced technology that ensures that the fish is delivered fresh and of top quality to customers all over the world. When you smell the sea and fish, you also smell the scent of Ålesund's history, culture and prosperity.