Norges Fiskarlag

Norges Fiskarlag (the Norwegian Fishermen's Association) is a nationwide trade and industry organisation representing professional fishermen in Norway. It was founded on 16 July 1926 in Bodø under the name Fiskernes Faglige Landslag, and adopted its current name in 1930. The organisation's first chairman was Mons A. Kårbø, and its head office was initially in Bergen before moving to Trondheim when Anders Næsset took over as chairman in 1932. The association is built from the ground up on county and district branches, many of which predate the national body. Local branches connect individual fishermen to the district organisations. In its early years the organisation focused on building its structure; it had only a part-time secretary at first, and from 1930 a single full-time secretary. By the late 1930s its finances had improved and it became a stronger organisation. Its first work programme, adopted in 1935, prioritised minimum prices and the regulation of fish sales and exports, work that led to the establishment of Norges Råfisklag in 1938. Norges Fiskarlag negotiates with the state on behalf of the fishing industry. In 1962 it negotiated a support scheme for the fisheries sector, and in 1964 the Main Agreement (Hovudavtalen) between the Ministry of Fisheries and Norges Fiskarlag was approved; the state terminated this agreement in 2004. Since 1967, group organisations have been admitted as members. As of 2013 the organisation had seven district branches (formerly county fishermen's associations) and two group organisations: Fiskarlaget Nord, Nordland Fylkes Fiskarlag, Fiskarlaget Midt-Norge, Møre og Romsdal Fiskarlag, Sogn og Fjordane Fiskarlag, Fiskarlaget Vest, Fiskerlaget Sør, Sør-Norges Notfiskarlag and Fiskebåtredernes Forbund. Today the association describes itself as working for the fisherman, with the ambition to unite all fishermen and jointly promote their professional, economic, social and cultural interests. Its more than 80 local branches are the foundation of the organisation. It publishes news, runs a podcast series, offers member benefits (including a new member deal launched at the Nor-Fishing trade fair covering discounts on clothing, sports equipment, mobile telephony, electricity, fuel, travel and food), and engages in fisheries policy advocacy. In 2026 the organisation marks its centenary with a book publication, events and retrospectives. Its leadership has included Kåre Heggebø as chairman since 2021.

Norges Fiskarlag was founded on 16 July 1926 in Bodø, when fishermen met for a founding meeting at Folkets Hus. The organisation was initially named Fiskernes Faglige Landslag and its first chairman was Mons A. Kårbø. While Kårbø was chairman until 1932, the organisation's office was located in Bergen. When Anders Næsset took over as chairman in 1932, the head office was moved to Trondheim. The name was changed to Norges Fiskarlag in 1930. From the very beginning the organisation was built on county and district branches, several of which had been established before the national organisation itself. Local branches were attached to the district branches, and fishermen were members through these local branches. The first years were spent on organisational building. In the early years the organisation had a part-time secretary; from 1930 the full-time secretary was the only employee. In the latter part of the 1930s the economy improved and the fishermen's association became a stronger organisation. The first work programme was adopted in 1935, in which the question of minimum prices and the regulation of fish sales and exports were important points. This work led to the establishment of Norges Råfisklag in 1938. In 1962 Norges Fiskarlag negotiated with the state over the support scheme for the fishing industry. In 1964 the Main Agreement (Hovudavtalen) between the Ministry of Fisheries and Norges Fiskarlag was approved. This agreement was terminated by the state in 2004. From 1967, group organisations were admitted as members of Norges Fiskarlag. By 2013 the organisation had seven district branches (formerly county fishermen's associations) and two group organisations: Fiskarlaget Nord, Nordland Fylkes Fiskarlag, Fiskarlaget Midt-Norge, Møre og Romsdal Fiskarlag, Sogn og Fjordane Fiskarlag, Fiskarlaget Vest, Fiskerlaget Sør, Sør-Norges Notfiskarlag and Fiskebåtredernes Forbund. The organisation has had a series of chairmen: Mons A. Kårbø (1926–1932), Anders Næsset (1932–1937), Jens Steffensen (1937–1944), Ludvik Andersen (1944–1945), Jens Steffensen again (1945–1951), Johannes Olsen (1951–1955), Magnus Andersen (1955–1963), Einar Andreassen (1963–1967), Johan J. Toft (1967–1984), Einar Hepsø (1984–1994), Oddmund Bye (1994–2001), Reidar Nilsen (2001–2013), Kjell Ingebrigtsen (2013–2021) and Kåre Heggebø from 2021. In 2026 the organisation marks its centenary, with a book publication, events and retrospectives. Its ambition remains to unite all fishermen and jointly promote their professional, economic, social and cultural interests, with more than 80 local branches forming the foundation of the organisation.

• 2026

  Centenary marked with book publication, events and retrospectives.

• 2021

  Kåre Heggebø becomes chairman.

• 2013

  Organisation has seven district branches and two group organisations.

• 2004

  The state terminated the Main Agreement.

• 1967

  Group organisations admitted as members.

• 1964

  Main Agreement (Hovudavtalen) between the Ministry of Fisheries and Norges Fiskarlag approved.

• 1962

  Negotiated with the state over the support scheme for the fishing industry.

• 1938

  Norges Råfisklag established following the association's work on sales regulation.

• 1935

  First work programme adopted, prioritising minimum prices and regulation of fish sales and exports.

• 1930

  Name changed to Norges Fiskarlag; head office moves to Trondheim under chairman Anders Næsset.

• 1926

  Founded on 16 July in Bodø as Fiskernes Faglige Landslag; Mons A. Kårbø becomes first chairman.

Nationwide trade and industry organisation for Norwegian professional fishermen, uniting fishermen to promote their professional, economic, social and cultural interests.

• Membership for professional fishermen

• Fisheries policy advocacy and negotiation

• Member discount programme

• Podcast series

1. 1Norges Fiskarlag – Fag- og næringsorganisasjon for norske yrkesfiskerefiskarlaget.no
2. 2Norges Fiskarlag – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Norges Fiskarlag – Wikipedia (Nynorsk)nn.wikipedia.org