Norway’s Fishing Season Kicks Off: First NVG Herring Landed, North Sea Mackerel Hampered by Storms

In Week 41 of 2025, Norway’s fishing industry entered a seasonal milestone — the first batch of NVG herring (spring-spawning herring) landed in northern waters, while North Sea mackerel fishing was hindered by storms, resulting in a mixed start.

Northern Waters: First NVG Herring Landed, with Good Size

The vessels Zenit and Vikingbank successively caught the first NVG herring in northern waters, with a national cumulative catch of 2,230 metric tons. The herring had an average weight of 235-322 grams and good size, reflecting abundant resources.Low water temperatures and stable ocean currents provided a suitable environment for herring shoaling, marking the start of the herring migration period and laying the foundation for output growth in the subsequent main fishing season.

North Sea: Mackerel Hit by Storms, Weekend Weather Recovery Boosts Catch

• Heavy winds and rain forced most fleets to suspend operations. After weather improved on the weekend, mackerel catches reached 1,744 metric tons on Saturday and 3,260 metric tons on Sunday, with a full-week cumulative catch of 8,044 metric tons.

• The new vessel Knester caught 385 metric tons on its maiden voyage. A total of 38 fishing boats (34 Norwegian, 4 foreign) operated mainly in the UK’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), with mackerel averaging 420-505 grams per fish, meeting market expectations.

• Coastal mackerel activity was sluggish; only the Johlena reported an 8-metric-ton catch on Wednesday.

Other Catches: Sprat and Blue Whiting Contribute Modestly

• Coastal sprat: 4 fishing operations in Hardangerfjorden and Rogaland yielded a total of 50 metric tons, supplementing income for inshore fleets.

• Deep-sea blue whiting: The Piraja caught 330 metric tons in the "Kanten" fishing ground, marking the start of Norway’s autumn deep-sea fishing.

Outlook: Mackerel Under Pressure, Herring to Be Core Growth Driver

Over the next two weeks, frequent North Sea storms and falling temperatures may continue to impact mackerel fishing, posing high risks of output fluctuations. The main NVG herring fishing season will pick up, set to become the core growth driver for Norway’s fishing industry in the second half of the year.On the market side, the stable supply of NVG herring is expected to offset mackerel output fluctuations and support the balance between supply and demand in Europe’s autumn-winter seafood market.