Marine Fishing Tourism and Commercial Fisheries – Can They Be Combined?
Along large parts of the Norwegian coast, commercial fishing and fishing tourism take place side by side. Both are important industries for coastal communities, but we still know relatively little about what affects the possibilities of combining them in a good and safe way. How common is it to engage in both activities? And if it is uncommon, what are the reasons?
The Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic has now initiated a preliminary project to examine exactly this. The aim is to contribute knowledge that can strengthen coexistence, safety and local value creation in coastal communities.
Part of the Follow-up of the Norwegian Ocean Industries Plan
The work is carried out as part of the centre’s academic contribution to the follow-up of The Norwegian Ocean Industries Plan, where the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries has pointed to the need for better knowledge about barriers to multi-use.
This scoping study focuses on multi-use of inputs such as vessels, competence and time, and how these can be used across industries. In 2025, the Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic published the report When Offshore Wind Meets Offshore Aquaculture, which analyses coexistence related to spatial use.
Drawing on Experience from Those Directly Involved
At the core of the scoping study are conversations with actors who are familiar with the issues from the inside. We have interviewed commercial fishermen, actors within fishing tourism and operators who combine the two, as well as relevant authorities and organisations. The Norwegian Fishermen’s Association and NHO Tourism are also partners in the work.
Through the interviews, we see clear challenges but also examples of solutions that can work well. At the same time, the study provides insight into why many choose not to combine the industries, even where it may initially appear possible. A recurring finding so far is the need for better dialogue between industry actors to reduce conflict and unwanted impacts on one another.
What the Scoping Study Will Examine
Building on the centre’s work on coexistence at sea, the scoping study will, among other things:
- gather experiences from actors in both fisheries and fishing tourism
- identify practical, cultural and regulatory barriers
- highlight examples where the combination actually works
- point to topics that may be relevant for further assessment by the authorities
The ambition is not to identify one solution that fits everywhere, but to make visible the variations, dilemmas and room for manoeuvre that exist today.
Results – Spring 2026
The results of the scoping study will be published in spring 2026 in the form of a short report. The report will provide a structured knowledge base for further discussion between industry, administration and authorities, and contribute to more informed choices in work on multi-use and coexistence in the coastal zone.
