Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries
The initiative follows up on the Master Plan for Marine Research. Priority areas in the initiative are resource and aquaculture research, research infrastructure, research aimed at the seafood industry and technology, as well as research aimed at developing new marine industries.
– The government has strengthened funding for marine research every year since we took over. With this budget proposal, we are further strengthening our efforts and facilitating sustainable growth for the maritime nation of Norway, says Aspaker.
The government proposes to increase the allocation for maintenance and equipment of marine research vessels by NOK 100 million in 2016. The proposal is part of the government's one-year package of measures to increase employment, and is intended to provide orders to the shipbuilding industry and improve the utilization of research vessels.
NOK 47.5 million of the increase is a result of higher rates and increased revenue from the fisheries research fee, and will be used to strengthen resource research.
The tax increase will help the industry to a greater extent contribute to financing the knowledge necessary to increase value creation.
The focus on marine research:
NOK 15 million to the Research Council of Norway to strengthen research within the seafood industry, technology and new marine industries
5 million kroner to the Institute of Marine Research for better knowledge about aquaculture
2 million kroner for the Norwegian Veterinary Institute's efforts in fish health
NOK 100 million from the employment package to the Institute of Marine Research for maintenance and upgrading of research vessels
NOK 47.5 million in increased revenue from the fisheries research fee to strengthen resource research
The 2016 State Budget for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries can be found here: Prop. 1 S Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries
Elisabeth Aspaker
