Norway advances wildlife protection and sustainable fish farming

Norwegian animal‑rights organisation NOAH has introduced the award «Årets Måkevenn» to recognise individuals and communities that help gulls coexist with humans. The prize, launched in early summer, has already received more than 50 nominations, including a hospital caretaker who hangs information panels for gull families, a kindergarten that provides nesting space, and municipalities that have built gull‑hotels to replace lethal control.

Falk Øveraas, head of societal and governmental relations at aquaculture firm Ode, criticised recent commentary that questions the industry’s environmental impact. He clarified that the regional governor retains veto power over aquaculture licences, emphasised that a clean fjord can also be a source of sustainable protein, and highlighted technical measures such as light‑regulated gender maturation and segregation of male and female fish to prevent uncontrolled spawning. Øveraas cited risk assessments supporting further growth of salmon farming as part of Norway’s climate‑change strategy.