Markets

Bringing herring to the world

Whether you choose Norwegian spring spawning herring or North Sea herring, you’ll be selecting a deliciously fatty fish. With succulent flavour in every bite, it’s no wonder that herring from Norway has become popular all over the world.

Map with arrows pointing at export markets for Norwegian herring

Pie showing percentage of total herring export (2,406 million NOK). 35% frozen whole, 25% frozen flaps, 19%frozen fillets, 21% other.

Frozen fresh

We export our fresh herring in a variety of frozen cuts, including frozen whole, filleted and as butterfly fillets (flaps).

Global appeal

Different cultures enjoy herring in many different ways. Here are just a few examples.

Celebrating the catch

The arrival of the new season’s herring is celebrated all over the world, from the annual smoked herring festival in Clovelly in the UK, to the North Sea herring festival in Emden, Germany. But perhaps the biggest celebration of herring occurs in Holland, where the fish is eaten raw and lightly salted. At the beginning of the fishing season, a ceremonial tub of ‘matjes’ (soused herring) is delivered to the Queen.

Herring at home

Herring is enjoyed on Norwegian dinner plates too! Visit Haugesund in August and you will find the world’s largest herring buffet. The platter is created by professional chefs and served free of charge.

Eat as matjes as you can!

Before a female herring has spawned it is known as “matjes” or maiden herring. This young, silvery fish can only be caught in the North Sea between the end of May to the end of June, making it a rare treat often referred to as ‘the jewel’ of the herring catch. As the female hasn’t spawned yet, it is full of delicious winter fat. Once caught, some of the intestine and the pancreas are left intact and the fish is placed in salted brine for 24 hours. We then freeze the matjes for transportation to Holland and Germany, where it is served lightly salted – highly recommended!

Part of a thriving economy

With around 500 seafood exporters and more than 2000 products distributed in over 130 countries, Norway plays a key role in the international seafood market. In 2015, seafood exports from Norway totalled NOK 74.5 billion, making Norway the largest seafood exporter in the world. That same year, the export value of Norwegian herring was NOK 2.4 billion.

We’re also Europe’s largest marketplace for the first-hand sales of pelagic species. The market is owned and operated by Norwegian fishermen, which ensures they secure a fair price at e-auction.

Exporting our fish isn’t just about the economy. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do and we want to ensure that our children (and their children!) can enjoy the same delicious seafood that we do. By exporting our fish around the world, we are demonstrating the benefits of regulation and quotas, and proving that businesses can be successful with sustainability at their core. As customers in emerging markets learn more about the importance of fishing in a sustainable manner, demand for conscientious producers only increases.