Norwegian salmon-farming industry in transition: dislocation of decision control

There are three milestones in the organization of the Norwegian salmon-farming industry (NSFI). In 1969 the net-pen production technology was established, and formed the basis for all further organization. In 1978, the Fish-Farmers Sales Organization (FSO) was established, and the organizational and institutional apparatus were thus complete. In 1991 the FSO went bankrupt and major amendments in the aquaculture legislation – such as the removal of the ownership regulation – were made. This three-step development is analyzed along two dimensions: the effect of dislocation of decision control from the local level to remote actors, and the changes in the government’s aquaculture policy. During the last 20 years the NSFI has changed from a single farm locally-owned industry to a structure of large corporations, while the governments’ policy has changed from support to neutral tasks such as control and surveillance. In sum the local residents use rights of coastal areas is severely reduced.