When Norway started to be populated more than eleven thousand years ago, Rogaland was the very first place inhabited. People arrived here from a place known as Doggerland,
which now lies at the bottom of the North Sea. Fish was an all-important source of trade for these early settlers, and from which the history of fishing has grown substantially: today, half of the Norwegian trawler fleet is based in Rogaland.
Rogaland is home to a sea of knowledge within the field of fishing covering everything from catching to research and development to end product. On an annual basis, Rogaland produces over 50 000 tons of salmon and trout. These two species are but two of the cornerstones in this multi-million kroner industry, which also includes crab, prawn, kelp, halibut, lobster, scallop and sea urchins.
Norway’s indented coastline measures some 57 000 kilometres, longer even than the equator, and is seen as a major contributor to the country being one of the world’s leading fishing nations.
In many respects, Rogaland is the nerve system of the Norwegian fishing industry due to its geographical position and not least its historical connections to the North Sea.