Newsletter: Have industry, need people
Nevertheless, even though Prime Minister Erna Solberg (Conservatives) is traveling the north on her election campaign, the problem remains the same: Not enough people. (Photo: Trine Jonassen)
Dear High North News reader! In Northern Norway, the election campaign is well underway. The Fisheries Minister hands out licenses, the PM relocates parts of the fisheries and seafood industry to Tromsø, and results are generally good all over. However, that does not help much when people don’t want to live in the High North.
The Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries proposes a new license scheme for fish farming in which environmental-technological requirements form the basis for the awarding of licenses. The Fisheries Minister announced the news at the Aqua nor conference in Trondheim Tuesday.
Opinions are split.
Nevertheless, even though Prime Minister Erna Solberg (Conservatives) is traveling the north on her election campaign, the problem remains the same: Not enough people.
“Economic theory indicates that the price of goods increases when there is a shortage. Not so in Northern Norway. There, the earth is still flat in some industries”, Editor-in-Chief Arne O. Holm writes in his Friday commentary this week.
Wind power in green shipping
Using wind power to move ships forward and referring to this as ‘innovation’ would probably be equaled to claiming one had re-invented the wheel.
However, fact is that for the first time ever, research is conducted on wind-assisted propulsion of vessels at sea. The goal is to facilitate low shipping emissions. Five vessels have already installed new technology and are sending voyage data to scientists.
And while at sea; this week, we could tell you about the Russian drilling vessel MS Bavenit, which is currently voyaging towards the Laptev Sea to explore the potential for oil and gas exploration in the area.
In the Faroe Islands, the salmon farming company Bakkafrost doubled its operating result during the 2nd quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year.
Corona and climate
Sadly, we cannot escape the pandemic this week either. The world is entering a new wave of infections and emergency room doctors in Anchorage warn about a potential hospital capacity collapse due to more people being hospitalized.
Another theme we must mention is the climate crisis, which is all but too noticeable in the High North.
In the middle of August, rain was observed for hours at the highest point on the Greenland ice sheet.
In Alaska, a judge has overturned the approval of ConocoPhillips’ Willow project in the National Petroleum Reserve.
Enjoy the final August weekend and thank you for following us. Feel free to share the newsletter with others who are interested in news from the top of the world.
Warm regards,
Trine Jonassen,
News Editor, High North News