Hunting and fishing – the first industries

Hunting has taken place in these areas ever since the first people came here, and landowners and others with hunting rights still gain some of their income from it.

Each year, the populations of red deer, reindeer and elk are still regulated by an autumn open season. The hunting is strictly regulated through acts and regulations, open seasons and inspection schemes. Quotas are set on the basis of annual counts and evaluations of the available grazing.

Good hunting conditions

Detailed hunting statistics are available for the species that may be hunted, but since the hunting districts do not coincide with the boundaries of the proposed World Heritage Area it is difficult to give exact figures for bags in the proposed area. In general, it can be said that the steep slopes along the fjords have good stocks of red deer. Three strains of wild reindeer have parts of their home range within the proposed World Heritage Area, whereas elk only occur in a few of the largest valleys.

Freshwater fishing

Comparatively little fishing is done in fresh water and it is a leisure occupation. The municipal committees which administer the resources of the state-owned common lands look after the fish resources there and carry out regular trial fishing in tarns and lakes, maintain statistics of catches and organise the sale of fishing licences. The landowners are responsible for selling fishing licences on privately owned land.

Fjord fishing

Fjord fishing used to be a valuable resource for households, but nowadays little is fished with the aim of selling to others. Fishing is now principally a leisure activity, but there is also some commercial fishing on the fjord. At times, coalfish is plentiful in the world heritage fjords.

Each year, the populations of red deer, reindeer and elk are still regulated by an autumn open season. In large parts of Geirangerfjord world heritage area the deer hunting is still the most important. (Photo: Vegard Lødøen)