By Nam Hyun-woo
Norwegian Fisheries and Seafood Minister Harald Nesvik said Wednesday the ties between the Korean and Norwegian seafood industries will be enhanced, and contribute to the global efforts for future food security by tapping into the "blue acre."
"I believe it is possible for the Norwegian and Korean (seafood) industries to work closer together on how we can change technologies and knowledge," Nesvik said in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the 2019 Korea-Norway Seafood Symposium in Seoul.
"This is because we have tasks in the years to come ― the growing population in the world and food to feed them," he said. "Ocean nations including Norway and Korea should work together so we can produce food in a sustainable way."
He said the world's population will reach 10 billion by 2050 and the world has used nearly all possible agricultural areas. "To feed the growing population, we have to do it on the blue acre," Nesvik said, adding seafood will be one of the most important protein sources in the future.
Nesvik visited Korea to attend the symposium commemorating the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries. The symposium was hosted by the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) and the Norwegian Embassy in Seoul.
Before the symposium, the minister met Korea's Oceans and Fisheries Minister Moon Seong-hyeok, to talk about the two countries cooperation and common tasks on maritime industry.
Norway is a powerhouse in seafood export thanks to its abundant ocean resources. It is the world's No. 2 seafood exporting country, with 95 percent of its total seafood production heading to overseas markets.
For the Scandinavian country, Korea thus stands as an important market, because Koreans were No. 1 seafood consumers in the world, with a person consuming 59 kilograms of seafood a year, according to 2017 OECD data.
The NSC expects Koreans will consume more seafood this year, growing to 61.4 kilograms per person a year, outstripping Norway with 49.3 kilograms and Japan with 46.5 kilograms. The world average is expected to remain at 20.9 kilograms.
"Korea is very important for the Norwegian seafood industry," Nesvik said. "While the global seafood consumption is decreasing, Korea's seafood consumption is increasing. And we want to learn more about the market's growth."
Before the interview, Nesvik visited two seafood retail markets ― Soraepogu Market in Incheon and a Lotte Mart discount store in Seocho-gu, Seoul _ to observe the Korean market by himself to get some ideas for boosting the Norwegian seafood market too.
"I hope many owners of the Norwegian supermarkets can come down here and look at how they create this marketplace," he said. "And I believe we have a lot to learn from this aspect."
The value of Norwegian seafood exports to Korea has been showing a steady growth, growing to $2.91 million last year from $253.5 million in 2017.
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| Norwegian Fisheries and Seafood Minister Harald Nesvik speaks during an interview with reporters at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Norwegian Seafood Council |
"I believe it is possible for the Norwegian and Korean (seafood) industries to work closer together on how we can change technologies and knowledge," Nesvik said in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the 2019 Korea-Norway Seafood Symposium in Seoul.
"This is because we have tasks in the years to come ― the growing population in the world and food to feed them," he said. "Ocean nations including Norway and Korea should work together so we can produce food in a sustainable way."
He said the world's population will reach 10 billion by 2050 and the world has used nearly all possible agricultural areas. "To feed the growing population, we have to do it on the blue acre," Nesvik said, adding seafood will be one of the most important protein sources in the future.
Nesvik visited Korea to attend the symposium commemorating the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries. The symposium was hosted by the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) and the Norwegian Embassy in Seoul.
Before the symposium, the minister met Korea's Oceans and Fisheries Minister Moon Seong-hyeok, to talk about the two countries cooperation and common tasks on maritime industry.
Norway is a powerhouse in seafood export thanks to its abundant ocean resources. It is the world's No. 2 seafood exporting country, with 95 percent of its total seafood production heading to overseas markets.
For the Scandinavian country, Korea thus stands as an important market, because Koreans were No. 1 seafood consumers in the world, with a person consuming 59 kilograms of seafood a year, according to 2017 OECD data.
The NSC expects Koreans will consume more seafood this year, growing to 61.4 kilograms per person a year, outstripping Norway with 49.3 kilograms and Japan with 46.5 kilograms. The world average is expected to remain at 20.9 kilograms.
"Korea is very important for the Norwegian seafood industry," Nesvik said. "While the global seafood consumption is decreasing, Korea's seafood consumption is increasing. And we want to learn more about the market's growth."
Before the interview, Nesvik visited two seafood retail markets ― Soraepogu Market in Incheon and a Lotte Mart discount store in Seocho-gu, Seoul _ to observe the Korean market by himself to get some ideas for boosting the Norwegian seafood market too.
"I hope many owners of the Norwegian supermarkets can come down here and look at how they create this marketplace," he said. "And I believe we have a lot to learn from this aspect."
The value of Norwegian seafood exports to Korea has been showing a steady growth, growing to $2.91 million last year from $253.5 million in 2017.
