The objective of the Iceland Ocean Cluster project is to map the ocean cluster in Iceland

Iceland Ocean Cluster Maps Country's Network of Ocean-Related Businesses

Iceland's heavy reliance on the ocean and its resources makes it critical to identify and quantify the value of these resources for all future planning and policy making.

The Iceland Ocean Cluster, a group consisting of leaders of ocean-related businesses in Iceland, announced on November 29 that it has begun to map a network of Icelandic firms to foster cooperation among seafood and other ocean-related industries in the country. The Iceland Ocean Cluster was presented at a conference held at Marel headquarters in Iceland on November 17, 2011.

The seafood industry is one of the core industries in Iceland and annual catches have amounted to around 1.5 million metric tonnes wich is the highest per capita sea catch in the world

At the initial startup of the Iceland Ocean Cluster project in 2010 a gap was identified regarding the turnover in all ocean-related industries and how they interconnected. Detailed public information regarding the traditional fisheries sector was available, but there was a lack of thorough information about various other sectors such as seafood, technology, and biotechnology.

Thor Sigfusson, Managing Director of the Iceland Ocean Cluster

The mapping of the Iceland Ocean Cluster represents the first comprehensive and broad picture of ocean-related industries and services, their magnitude, threats and opportunities, according to Thor Sigfusson, Managing Director of the Iceland Ocean Cluster.

"Published in Icelandic under the title Sjávarklasinn, the mapping campaign will provide a profile of Iceland's ocean economy and lay the groundwork for strategic planning in 2012 upon which future changes could be measured and analyzed," he said.

Iceland's ocean territories and jurisdiction extend to 0.76 million square kilometers and encompass a wealth of natural resources. The Icelandic economy is one of the most seafood dependent economies in the world, and the country has the highest per capita sea catch in the world. In recent years annual catches have amounted to about 1.3 million metric tons, some 1.5-2 percent of the global marine harvest. About 40 percent of the country's export earnings have been generated by seafood products.

"Iceland has a unique proposition when it comes to its ocean industries. Iceland is a leader in fishery management and has been very active locally and globally within the United Nations and FAO helping," said Hlynur Gudjonsson, Consul and Trade Commissioner for North America at the Consulate General of Iceland in New York.

Iceland is one of the most seafood dependent economies in the world and because of the fundamental importance of the ocean environment for the whole of the economy (Photo: Samherji)

"The Iceland Ocean Cluster conference was very intriguing and gave the viewer an unexpectedly different understanding on how deep and wide we have taken this level of fishermen expertise from fishing to fisheries management, high end processing technology, to industry financing through consumer product development and bio technology."

About The Iceland Ocean Cluster

Iceland is one of the largest seafood trading nation in Europe

The project is led by Thor Sigfusson, former chairman of the Iceland Employers Association.

Twelve key firms in ocean-related business are the core sponsors of the project including the largest fisheries firms, high tech firms, shipping, and trading.

The major sponsors are Íslandsbanki, Eyrir Invest, 3X, Brim Seafood, Eimskip, Samskip, TM, Marel, Síldarvinnslan and Icelandair Cargo.

Source: The Iceland Ocean Cluster

Margaret E.L. Stacey
Editor Companies and Products
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

Address:	Ocean Cluster House - Grandagardur 16
City:	Reykjavik
State/ZIP:	(101)
Country:	Iceland
Phone:	+354 577 6200
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