The Gold of the Sea

Did you know that this coastal region is among the most economically productive in Norway, measured per capita? Fewer than 20,000 people live here, yet they generate salmon values worth tens of billions of kroner each year. The salmon swimming in the sea pens off the coast creates jobs both at sea and on land — in slaughterhouses, packing facilities, transport, technology, and research. Today, aquaculture is the driving force behind many local communities. The industry makes it possible to live and work here, and it has also contributed to new infrastructure, better schools, and a rich cultural life. The value created per inhabitant in these municipalities is among the highest in the country, and the export revenues from here help finance everything from hospitals to highways across Norway. But did you know that it’s not just salmon that comes from this region? Out in the ocean, directly west of us, lie some of Norway’s most important oil and gas fields — such as Draugen and Ormen Lange. Together with aquaculture, wild-catch fisheries, and offshore wind power, they make this region an economic powerhouse for the entire country.