Ungraying of the Norwegian fishing fleet: turning the tide?
The “graying of the fleet” has been a persistent challenge in many fisheries worldwide, with an aging workforce and declining youth participation raising concerns about recruitment and knowledge transfer. However, since 2014–2015, Norway has experienced a reversal of this trend. This paper explores...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainability |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1401587/full |
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| author | Signe Annie Sønvisen Jahn Petter Johnsen Jostein Vik |
| author_facet | Signe Annie Sønvisen Jahn Petter Johnsen Jostein Vik |
| author_sort | Signe Annie Sønvisen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The “graying of the fleet” has been a persistent challenge in many fisheries worldwide, with an aging workforce and declining youth participation raising concerns about recruitment and knowledge transfer. However, since 2014–2015, Norway has experienced a reversal of this trend. This paper explores the phenomenon of “ungraying” in the Norwegian fishing fleet. Drawing on survey data and the Fisheries Employment System (FES) theoretical framework, the study finds that recruitment challenges are not widespread and current recruitment patterns reveal a strong reliance on social networks, though formal education is becoming more important. The Norwegian case illustrates how targeted policies, combined with evolving social and economic conditions, can address demographic challenges in fisheries. However, sustaining this trend requires adaptive strategies that balance the need for formal qualifications with mechanisms that maintain community-based engagement, ensuring the long-term vitality of coastal communities and the fisheries. This study contributes to the literature on fisheries recruitment and employment and introduces the Fisher Pathway Model (FPM), which is an analytical framework to capture the evolving FES and the interplay between primary and secondary socialization. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2bd58a094e74459ebbc2597ef89f03fa |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-4524 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-2bd58a094e74459ebbc2597ef89f03fa2025-08-25T05:25:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainability2673-45242025-08-01610.3389/frsus.2025.14015871401587Ungraying of the Norwegian fishing fleet: turning the tide?Signe Annie Sønvisen0Jahn Petter Johnsen1Jostein Vik2Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayNorwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayDepartment of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, NorwayThe “graying of the fleet” has been a persistent challenge in many fisheries worldwide, with an aging workforce and declining youth participation raising concerns about recruitment and knowledge transfer. However, since 2014–2015, Norway has experienced a reversal of this trend. This paper explores the phenomenon of “ungraying” in the Norwegian fishing fleet. Drawing on survey data and the Fisheries Employment System (FES) theoretical framework, the study finds that recruitment challenges are not widespread and current recruitment patterns reveal a strong reliance on social networks, though formal education is becoming more important. The Norwegian case illustrates how targeted policies, combined with evolving social and economic conditions, can address demographic challenges in fisheries. However, sustaining this trend requires adaptive strategies that balance the need for formal qualifications with mechanisms that maintain community-based engagement, ensuring the long-term vitality of coastal communities and the fisheries. This study contributes to the literature on fisheries recruitment and employment and introduces the Fisher Pathway Model (FPM), which is an analytical framework to capture the evolving FES and the interplay between primary and secondary socialization.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1401587/fullfisheries recruitmentcoastal employment systemfisheries employment systemgraying of the fleetfisheries employmentFisher Pathway Model (FPM) |
| spellingShingle | Signe Annie Sønvisen Jahn Petter Johnsen Jostein Vik Ungraying of the Norwegian fishing fleet: turning the tide? Frontiers in Sustainability fisheries recruitment coastal employment system fisheries employment system graying of the fleet fisheries employment Fisher Pathway Model (FPM) |
| title | Ungraying of the Norwegian fishing fleet: turning the tide? |
| title_full | Ungraying of the Norwegian fishing fleet: turning the tide? |
| title_fullStr | Ungraying of the Norwegian fishing fleet: turning the tide? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ungraying of the Norwegian fishing fleet: turning the tide? |
| title_short | Ungraying of the Norwegian fishing fleet: turning the tide? |
| title_sort | ungraying of the norwegian fishing fleet turning the tide |
| topic | fisheries recruitment coastal employment system fisheries employment system graying of the fleet fisheries employment Fisher Pathway Model (FPM) |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsus.2025.1401587/full |
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