On Thursday 19 December, there will be a lecture in Matís' premises at Vínlandsleið 12 Reykjavík, on the organization and impact of salmon farming in northern Norway. The lecturer will be Gunnar Davíðsson, who works as a department manager for the county council of Troms county in Norway.
Troms is about half the size of Iceland with about half of the population in this country. Salmon farming is a hugely important industry in the county, with production of 190 thousand tons per year.
A total of 10 juvenile fish farms are operated in Troms and 16 fish farms operate nine slaughterhouses and farms in more than 100 fish farms. The aquaculture companies buy goods and services in the county for about ISK 40 billion a year. Jobs in aquaculture in the county are well distributed in the sparsely populated municipalities of the county, which are 24 today. About 70% goods and services are purchased from companies in Troms and the neighboring county of Nordland. The fire and service around the industry calls for both vocational education and expertise and attracts young people as the wages are good and the activities profitable. Aquaculture has increased attendance in vocational education and university studies related to the industry and also had a positive effect on tourism in the county.
The meeting will review the impact of aquaculture on the economy and development in Troms and try to answer the question of what lessons Icelanders can learn from the experience of the people of Troms county. What is Norway's experience of salmon farming in northern Norway, where conditions are often similar to conditions in the Westfjords and Eastfjords? Can the Norwegian experience help to assess the impact of salmon farming on the economy and human life of fjord settlements in Iceland?
Everyone who is interested in salmon farming as an industry and has a homecoming is encouraged to come and participate in an informative lecture.
The meeting will be held in Matís' hall on the third floor at 15:00 to 16:30. Meeting guests will be offered refreshments during the meeting.
The meeting will be chaired by Gunnar Þórðarson.