Day Three of the Fish & Chip Study Program in Ålesund
Posted by Stelios on 25th Jul 2024
I'm used to early starts, but fitness and exercise are not my forte. To me, Mount Aksla might as well be Mount Everest, but to everyone else, it's just 418 steps. Walking up Mount Aksla was Tiril, Victoria, Bojana, Zohaib, John, George, Jamie Russo, Ryan and on the other hand Josette, Tommy, and Marcus sensibly took a taxi to the top, the rest of the crew, rumoured to be dirty stop-outs, slept in. I genuinely wondered if Mount Aksla might be my final resting place or at least the bottom few steps.
Mount Aksla in Ålesund is renowned for its panoramic views of the city and surrounding fjords. At the summit, we enjoyed spectacular views of Ålesund's Art Nouveau architecture, the bustling harbour, the majestic Sunnmøre Alps, winding fjords, and the expansive Atlantic Ocean. It was the perfect spot to blow off the morning cobwebs before our factory tour. Descending the uneven steps was no easy feat either; those running down them seemed to either have a death wish or an urgent need for the loo.
After a lovely breakfast back at the hotel, we quickly checked out and boarded the coach to visit Brødrene Sperre in Ellingsøy. The drive to the facility was impressive, and its significant location immediately caught our eye.
Brødrene Sperre, established by the Sperre brothers in the 1930s, has grown to become one of Norway's largest producers of wild-caught fish. Kjetil Sperre gave us a tour of their state-of-the-art production facility, which processes dried salted codfish and pelagic fish. The facility at Hoff, Ellingsøy, is a modern factory with advanced production equipment, continuing the legacy of the Sperre brothers.
We learned about their extensive operations, including their fully integrated pelagic factory at Vikomar AS, which produces round-frozen pelagic fish such as mackerel, herring, and capelin. They also make various seafood products at their Hopen Fisk AS facility in Kabelvåg, Svolvær, and sell them through Unique Seafood Ltd in the UK and Unique Atlantic Seafood Ltd in Denmark. With a turnover in white fish of £300 million and a capacity of processing 1,000 tonnes per hour, Brødrene Sperre's scale is impressive.
Kjetil Sperre explained the challenges posed by the low quotas for cod and haddock in Norway, emphasising the need for careful management to avoid drastic reductions. Despite these challenges, the company thrives, producing 20,000 tonnes of head-and-gutted bacalao annually. We also discussed the geopolitical situation with Russia, noting the delicate balance of shared responsibilities for cod and haddock resources in the Barents Sea.
The tour highlighted Brødrene Sperre's commitment to utilising every part of their catch, producing cod oil and fish meal to minimise waste. They even recently sold a container of redfish to Cyprus. Kjetil expressed his appreciation for the business relationship with the UK over the past 30 years.
Reflecting on the day, it was clear that Brødrene Sperre is a cornerstone of sustainable and efficient fish processing. They maintain solid international partnerships while navigating the complexities of modern fisheries management. Their dedication to quality and sustainability ensures they will continue playing a vital role in the global seafood industry.
After this, we returned to the airport and flew back to Heathrow. We had a very comfortable flight and an incredible journey. We want to thank all our hosts, Norway Seafood, Victoria Braathen, and Bojana Dos Santos, for an incredible and enlightening experience.