Travelogue from a summer at Utror's in Lofoten
One of Utror's summer interns in 2023, Lasse Nissen, shares here a summary of his experience of the summer as he returns to school at the Norwegian School of Economics in Bergen.
As a summer intern at Utror, I have had the opportunity to work with the next generation of the aquaculture industry, and throughout the summer I have been challenged with exciting tasks at the intersection of economics, biology and aquaculture technology. Over the course of 12 weeks, I have come close to the aquaculture industry, while in my free time I have had the opportunity to pursue my own interests such as outdoor activities and fishing in the natural gem of Lofoten.
Utror has offices at the Lofoten Bio Centre in Leknes. These are modern premises that Utror shares with several companies within different parts of the aquaculture industry. By working at the Lofoten Bio Centre, I have gotten to know several interesting people and companies in the industry. In addition, the place has been an arena for seafood conferences, seminars and political debates during the summer. After participating in several such events, I have gained a deeper insight into the opportunities and challenges in both aquaculture and fisheries.
Lofoten Bio Centre in Leknes. Photo: Lasse Nissen.
« Salmon is a super product, with a significantly lower climate footprint than other animal protein and positive health effects. However, it is not possible to meet the demand for salmon on the world market with today's production technology, which has driven new production methods such as land-based farming and offshore aquaculture. »
Working with offshore aquaculture has been exciting in many ways. Utror offers a good working environment, where you have the opportunity to work on projects across several different disciplines. As an economics student, I have had the opportunity to use my professional expertise to analyze how investment needs and operating costs in offshore aquaculture will differ from traditional coastal farming. Furthermore, I have learned a lot about the central role biology plays in aquaculture, which has given me insight into the connection between good biology and good financial results. These are just two of several industry-leading issues I have had the opportunity to analyze together with skilled and committed colleagues during the summer.
From Skottinden. Photo: Lasse Nissen.
Based in Leknes, you have the best conditions to see and experience everything Lofoten has to offer. Westward from Leknes, you will experience unique nature, with rugged mountains and sea. In these areas, there are fantastic hiking and fishing opportunities. Eastward from Leknes are places like Svolvær and Henningsvær, where several wonderful festivals are held during the summer. Lofoten offers Europe's best opportunities for hiking, fishing, golf, climbing and surfing, and in the office they happily share tips on what you can look forward to doing when the working day is over or the weekend comes.
Utror, Lofoten and the biocenter offer something completely unique, and I give my best recommendations.
Best regards from Lasse.
We thank both Lasse and Ronja for their excellent efforts throughout the summer, congratulate Ronja on her permanent job at Utror and wish Lasse good luck with his further studies.