Nofima evaluated routing schemes in the Norwegian fishing industry for the period 2008-2012.
Arrangements must outweigh the disadvantages in that it is far from fishing grounds and fish buyer or between fish landing and producer. The grants are administered by the various sales organizations and is limited to fish from coastal vessels.
The objective of keeping the grant is to help maintain a varied fleet structure and local fishing environment, the fish resources are exploited in several areas and a more efficient harvesting.
The report shows that the way sales organizations manage subsidy is relatively well in line with targets. There is still room for improvement, according to the researchers:
"There is a need for more flexibility to meet fluctuations in demand, both between and within budget. We also see it as natural that the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs has a stronger hand at the helm of the distribution of grants, to avoid the formation of rigid patterns under changing needs," said researcher John R. Isaksen.
The system of grants recognition is one of the few remaining direct subsidies to the fishing industry, accounting for more than half of the total. In recent years it spent 33 million a year on grants recognition, which constitutes a very small proportion of the total value added in the sector.
The full report can be found here.
