Beside cod and mussels, other species at the “starting block” are halibut, catfish, arctic char and scallops.
The challenges for the new species are connected to research, research capacity, infrastructure, capital, production and environmental issues, and finally market issues.
Sea ranching
Since January 1 2006, sea ranching has been regulated by the Aquaculture Act, with its own set of regulations (the same as those drawn up under the Sea Ranching Act). A total of 15 new sea-ranching systems came into operation in 2005; of these, eleven are for scallop production and four for lobsters.
Current sea-ranching species include the scallop (Pecten maximus) and the European lobster (Homarus gammarus), and the authorities have issued permits for both of these species.