There will be no aquaculture in the World Heritage Site and the buffer zone
Says no to fish farming at Rørskjæran and Hysvær
The government is rejecting applications for fish farming at Rørskjæran and Hysvær in the Vegaøyan World Heritage Site. Instead, the government will provide NOK 10 million over two years to contribute to sustainable business development in Vega.
The contribution comes as an alternative to more fish farming in the world heritage area. The grant came through the revised national budget that was presented on May 14.
10 million euros
In a statement from the government, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, Minister of Climate and Environment, says: "Norwegian World Heritage Sites are among the world's most valuable cultural and natural areas. Managing a World Heritage Site brings many benefits - and sometimes also challenges - for a local community. We will provide NOK 10 million over two years to Vega to contribute to sustainable business development while preserving the World Heritage Site.
Want to help Vega
The Minister of Climate and Environment is joined by the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Erling Sande, who emphasizes that society as a whole has an important role to play in finding opportunities for business and industry when the government does not approve the two sites. "We must find good ways to develop the local communities that are adjacent to world heritage areas. It is important to say that both aquaculture and other activities will still be able to be part of the future land development in Vega," says Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Erling Sande.
Strengthen local work
The contribution to Vega municipality consists of two elements. As proposed in the revised national budget, the government will provide NOK 10 million over two years as a grant to the municipality. NOK 5 million will come as early as 2024. This will strengthen Vega municipality's work on sustainable local community and business development and build on the world heritage values. The world heritage area covers large parts of the municipality's area, and the grant will contribute to the municipality's need for development on an equal footing with neighboring municipalities.
The government will also provide assistance in finding new potential areas for conventional fish farming and other forms of aquaculture, outside the Vegaøyan World Heritage Site.
The international fish farming company Mowi has been refused permission by the Norwegian government for the Rørskjæran fish farming site south of Søla in the Vegaøyan World Heritage Area. See yellow marking of the site (Photo: Ina Andreassen)