The Tromsø region is strategically located in the Arctic Region with anexcellent infrastructure for petroleum related activities. The largest city in Northern Norway is a natural gateway to the Barents Sea. As the strategic centre in the coming development of the Arctic the region is an ideal location for petroleum related companies with activities in this area.

The Tromsø region houses a number of companies and organizations offering the best available consultancy services, research, training and education related to oil activities in arctic regions. Top expertise, combined with long traditions of circumpolar cooperation and close relationships to North-West Russia, make these organizations ideal partners for petroleum
companies operating in Northern Seas.

Tromsø has world-class expertise on offshore environmental monitoring, climate monitoring, maritime safety, energy end exploration technology and co-existence of petroleum and fishing activities. The University of Tromsø, Tromsø University College, NORUT, Akvaplan-niva and other institutes at the Polar Environmental Centre are very important for development of highly qualified personnel resources in the region.

Fishery

Fishing has been a vital basis for settlement and sustaining populations throughout the history of Norway. Our coastal and sea domains are amongst the richest anywhere, and not least those in the Northern Region. Fishing, processing and export have been the mainstay industries of Northern Norway for as long as recorded history, and the fisheries are still an important part of Tromsø’s culture and industrial/commercial base. One example of this is that The Norwegian Seafood Export Council has its head office in Tromsø.

During the course of the last few decades we have seen the Norwegian fishing industry change from non-restricted fishing to a highly regulated industry with quotas and licenses. In this situation it is vital to have excellent knowledge of the resources, the ocean environment, and how the relationship between the various species functions. Norway thus places great emphasis on research. Several of our most important institutions that are engaged in marine and aquaculture research are located in Tromsø.