Current geopolitical tensions have emphasized the importance of maintaining and strengthening existing ties between friendly nations, according to Norway Ambassador to the United Kingdom Tore Hattrem.
Speaking at the recent Norway-U.K. Seafood Summit in London, Hattrem said bilateral relations between the two countries, including seafood trade, have probably never been as strong as they are now, calling the nations “close allies, good partners, and good friends.”
Hattrem outlined how both nations enjoy a free trade deal that has been in place since 2021, a relationship that was strengthened by a joint declaration of strategic cooperation made in December 2024.
“That's very important, given the uncertainties many of us feel in the discussions of the relationship between the U.S. and Europe and what's happening in trade,” he said.
The ambassador informed the summit that Norway is especially proud of the seafood trade that exists between the two countries.
“Last year, Norway exported 142,000 [metric] tons of seafood to the U.K. I think this shows that the U.K. market continues to be of great importance to the Norwegian seafood industry,” he said.
Besides global trade tensions, consumer demand for healthy, safe, and sustainable food is increasing, making the relationship even more essential in the current global environment, according to Hattrem.
“The seafood industry is a truly bold industry that’s directly affected by changes to market access and when free trade comes under pressure,” he said. “In these challenging and unpredictable times, it is more important than ever for us to come together to share and exchange ideas. As neighbors and close trading partners, we have much to learn from each other and significant opportunities to grow together. By fostering collaboration and open dialogue, we can navigate these complexities, we can drive innovation, we can share valuable insights, and we can explore new avenues for growth.”
On behalf of the U.K. government and acknowledging that the “profound seafood trade” is the cornerstone of the two countries’ shared history and “enduring relationship,” Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) Director for Marine and Fisheries Mike Rowe said that amid these uncertain times, deeper cooperation and strengthened ties “seem more relevant than ever.”
“This includes boosting our trade deals and ensuring the long-term viability and success of our respective seafood sectors – to say nothing of the wider cooperation between our two nations on political fronts,” he said.
He confirmed that Norway remains the largest seafood exporter to the U.K., while Scotland’s salmon-farming sector has greatly benefited from substantial Norwegian investments. In the other direction, U.K. fishing vessels are set to land fish worth around GBP 140 million (USD 180.1 million, EUR 167.2 million) directly into Norway this year, he said.
Through the 2024 joint declaration, the U.K. and Norway can further cooperate in ways that advance their seafood industries’ sustainability and innovation, Rowe said.
“It's vital that we continue to work together to make sure that both the U.K. and Norway are equipped and ready to meet challenges we face today, and those still to come,” he said. “Working together as global partners and global friends, we can continue to provide high-quality and sustainably-sourced seafood – both to each other and to the world.”
