The fish processing industry in the Faroe Islands is the traditional source of income for a great part of the Faroese households.

Ministry of Fisheries
The Ministry of Fisheries administers the fish processing industry and is responsible for securing good working conditions for the industry as well as seeing that due consideration is given to nature, the working environment and the safe production of consumables. The fish processing industry encompasses the purchase of fresh fish, shells/molluscs, transport, productionand sales.

Fish factories, products and export
The Faroe Islands' main export is fish and fish products. There are a number of fish factories scattered throughout the country. The catches brought ashore in the Faroe Islands are either exported fresh or processed mainly into fresh or frozen fillets and portions and salt fish. A few factories process scallops, canned fish, fish feed etc.

The Food and Environmental Agency is the controlling authority and is responsible for most of the work concerning the safe production of consumable products and new processing methods and investigations.

The purchase of raw fish
Raw fish can be purchased from the Faroese Fish Auction. To buy directly from vessels, the purchasers must have a weighing-in system approved by the Fisheries Inspection service. Special demands exist in order to import fish.

Environmental certification and the working environment
Especially polluting processing plants must be environmentally certified. No certification is required relating to the working environment, but existing rules and regulations must be adhered to.

Contact address :
Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
Heykavegur 6  

PO Box 347  

FO-110 Tórshavn 

Faroe Islands 

phone +298 353030
fax +298 353035
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.fisk.fo