26/07/2009

NORWAY: sales monopolies - supporting fishermen without subsidies ?

As I mentioned in my previous post on Canada, the way the market for fish products is organised in Newfoundland reminded me of the Norwegian “sales organisations”.

The “sales organisations” stem from the “Raw fish Act” of 14 December 1951.

According to this Act, which regulates the sale of raw fish ('the Raw Fish Act'), a number of fish species shall be sold through, or subject to approval by these ‘Sales Organisation', regardless of where the fish is caught, and regardless of whether the fish is delivered from foreign or Norwegian vessels. This exclusive right also includes first-hand sales at the fishing ground and during transportation to Norwegian harbour, and includes all catches which a Norwegian fishing vessel brings to a foreign harbour or to a foreign vessel.

The first-hand sale covers also sales of any parts, products or by-products of the above mentioned species. The first-hand sale includes also fish of the above mentioned species processed at sea, and their by-products. The Sales Organisations may upon application, give approval to the fisherman so that he does not have to sell his catch through the Sales Organisations.

The two main monopolistic sales organisations are the “Norges Sildesalslag” (for pelagic species) and the “Norges Råfisklaget” for codfish, shellfish, molluscs and small whales that are landed along the coast from Nordmøre to Finnmark.

Prices are negotiated between buyers and sellers but in case of disagreement it is the sellers, i.e. the “Sales organisations” that have the power, by law, to set the price.

Here are a few links on this issue:

On the “Norges Råfisklaget”:

On the “Norges Sildesalslag”:

On the “Raw fish Act” of 14 December 1951:

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