Catch of the day – Fish Market in Oslo

November 6, 2007
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Walking through the streets of Oslo last Friday in sunny weather with crisp, clear air (10C = 47F) to a meeting, I passed some trawlers in Oslo harbour near the town hall. Always prepared with my Nokia mobile phone, I took some pictures for this post about fishing in Norway. Let’s have a look:

Fish Market in Oslo #1

With a long coast line and a ten thousand year history of sailing, fishing has been an important occupation and industry. The Norwegian fishing industry is represented by a diversified ocean-going and coastal fleet of more than 7,000 vessels employing approximately 14.000 people. In addition the processing industry consisting of nearly 800 units and a fish farming industry holding over 2,900 licences. All in all the fishing industry provides direct employment for approximately 37,000 people (out of total 4.7 mill), and forms a basic network of regional economic activities heavily dependent upon the sustainable and rational management of the available marine resources. Thus, the fishing industry is of vital regional and national importance to Norway.

Before I give you some more facts, let’s see some of this trawlers laying in the harbour selling this morning catch to the public:
Fish Market in Oslo #3 Fish Market in Oslo #2

There where freshly boiled shrimp in salt water (70 NOK = $12.70 or 8.75€ pr. kilo), Cod, Pollock, Haddock and some Founder. No mackerel as it was too late in the season, but that’s on of my favourites. Click to see my post of how we eat the shrimps and how we prepare the fish for a feast.

Norway is one of the largest exporters of fish and fish products, which represented an export value of around 36 billion NOK (6.6 b $ or 4.5 b €) in 2006. The export supplies major markets all over the world, of which the European Union, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Ukraine, Brazilian and the USA markets are the most important. Fish exports are Norway’s second largest export commodity. Salmon and trout exports account for more than half of the export value. Other important categories of fish products are traditional products like dried and salted fish, frozen and filleted fish, and other processed products.

From facts to figures: My regular readers know my favourite saying: ‘There is no such as bad weather, only bad clothes’. There is no problem surviving in Norway through the winter time if you know how to dress and we have long tradition for that too. So while walking through the city I saw this side walk café perfectly equipped for the fall season, with sheep skins to keep the customers toasty warm in the clear fall weather:

Cafe in Oslo, Norway

Next time your visit Oslo at this time of the year, I’ll gladly invite you for a cup of coffee or tea or even a cold beer if you like:-)

Wednesday I’m going on a business trip to Milan, so I’ll be quite busy the next days. Please don’t feel neglected if it takes a bit more time to get back to you, including thanking all and every one of you for all your greetings and warm words on my Birthday – I’m overwhelmed!

Fall, Food, Habits