Akvakulturregisteret
Akvakulturregisteret is the public register of all aquaculture licences in Norway. Aquaculture is the cultivation and farming of organisms in water, and covers fish farming, shellfish farming and the growing of seaweed and kelp. When the farming takes place at sea, it is called marine aquaculture. No one may run a farming operation without being registered as the holder of a licence in Akvakulturregisteret, and breaches are a criminal offence.
The register has its legal basis in the Aquaculture Act, section 18 and the A register regulations of 2005, and is operated by Fiskeridirektoratet (the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries). Brønnøysundregistrene maintains the associated registration section for mortgages and other legal encumbrances. Each licence is linked to one or more sites with coordinates, species, maximum allowed biomass (MTB) and holder.
The register provides legal protection for mortgages: the mortgage only becomes valid against third parties once it is registered on the licence page in Akvakulturregisteret, see the Aquaculture Act, section 20. Licences are normally permanent, but they are tied to specific environmental and operational conditions from Mattilsynet (the Norwegian Food Safety Authority) and Statsforvalteren (the county governor). Operations at sea overlap with strandsonen (the shoreline zone) and coastal plans, and a site close to a property can trigger consideration zones or restrictions in municipal plans and zoning plans.
In Placepoint, the sites are shown as a separate map layer, so you can assess proximity to and impact from fish farms when you carry out land analyses in the coastal zone.
How the dataset appears on the map
The dataset is part of the map layer Coast and fishing as Aquaculture register:
From Placepoint's dictionary: Akvakulturregisteret
More information: Fiskeridirektoratet: Akvakulturregisteret, Lovdata: Akvakulturloven, Store norske leksikon: akvakultur
English: The Aquaculture Register (Norwegian register of fish-farming sites).
Frequently asked questions
What is Akvakulturregisteret?
Akvakulturregisteret is a public register of all aquaculture licences in Norway. It shows who is allowed to farm fish, shellfish and other organisms in water.
What is aquaculture?
Aquaculture is the cultivation and farming of organisms in water, including fish farming, shellfish farming and the growing of seaweed and kelp. Marine aquaculture is a subcategory that applies specifically to farming in seawater.
Why is Akvakulturregisteret relevant for property developers?
Aquaculture areas can affect the land available in coastal zones. If you work with harbour areas, coastal development or holiday properties, you need to know about the existing aquaculture licences in the area.
Who manages Akvakulturregisteret?
Akvakulturregisteret is managed by Fiskeridirektoratet and contains information about all valid aquaculture licences in Norway, including location, species and permitted biomass.
How can I find fish farms in an area?
You can search Akvakulturregisteret on the Fiskeridirektoratet website, or use a map tool such as Placepoint, which shows public map layers including fish farms along the coast.