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In Norway, municipalities and county municipalities with aquaculture activities are set to receive more than NOK 1.4 billion paid out through the Aquaculture Fund (Havbruksfondet) to support local investment and welfare services.
“This means a lot for the coast. Through the Havbruksfondet we ensure that local communities that make sea-area available for aquaculture can take part in value creation. The money gives the municipalities greater freedom to invest in welfare services and local development for their residents,” said minister of fisheries and ocean policy, Marianne Sivertsen Næss, in a press release.
A total of 143 municipalities and eight county authorities will receive their portion of the payment shortly. Details of the distribution can be found via a dropdown menu on the official page.
The Aquaculture Fund distributes municipalities’ and counties’ share of the revenues from the aquaculture industry. The fund receives income from the sale of new farming capacity licenses, as well as from the production tax on salmon farming.
There has been no auction of new aquaculture licenses in 2025, so this year’s payout is lower than the year before. Auctions are held every other year, and therefore it is natural to view the payments from the Aquaculture Fund in the context of a two-year period. In total, over NOK 6.1 billion (€525 million) will be paid out in 2024 and 2025.
“This is the largest combined payout in a two-year allocation period. The payment comes without restrictions, and municipalities are free to decide themselves how the money can best be used to create welfare for their residents,” added Sivertsen Næss.
The Directorate of Fisheries will carry out the payments as soon as possible.
About the Aquaculture Fund’s allocations
- The Havbruksfondet is not a “fund” in the traditional sense, but a set of distribution keys that allocates revenues from the aquaculture industry to municipalities and county municipalities that have aquaculture activity.
- The fund is allocated 55 percent of the income from the sale of new aquaculture licenses, and the production tax on fish in full.
- Payouts from the fund are distributed 80 percent to municipalities and 20 percent to county municipalities with aquaculture activity.
- Internally, between municipalities and county municipalities, payouts are distributed proportionally based on how much area each has allocated to aquaculture.
- A part of the municipalities’ share – corresponding to 1/8 of the total fund payouts – goes to municipalities that have prepared new aquaculture area from 2023 to 2025. These municipalities receive an extra payment this year, capped at up to NOK 5 million per municipality. Any amounts beyond this are included in the regular distribution.
- Since the establishment of the Havbruksfondet in 2017, NOK 17.1 billion (€1.47 billion) has been paid out to coastal municipalities and county municipalities. This amount includes this year’s payout.
