VICTORIA BRAATHEN, UK DIRECTOR OF NORWEGIAN SEAFOOD COUNCIL.

Victoria Braathen, UK Director of Norwegian Seafood Council. A marketing communications organisation working together with the Norwegian seafood industry to increase the value of Norwegian seafood in new and established markets all over the world.

Welcome to Fish Focus spotlight on Women in Seafood, Issue 2. Follow us as we celebrate the amazing women at the forefront of the seafood industry.

Could you tell us about your background, how you progressed to where you are now in your career?

My academic background is in law, with a specialisation in commercial law and the law of the sea. During my student years, I was fortunate to study both in Norway and abroad. I completed a postgraduate programme in Prague and earned a master’s degree in law in Dundee, Scotland.

After finishing law school, I was offered a traineeship in Brussels before returning to Tromsø, where I had a stint in politics and regional development. Eventually, I started working for the Norwegian Seafood Council, an organisation that has provided me with truly wonderful opportunities to represent Norwegian seafood in global markets.

‘Sustainability’ is a key word in the seafood industry, have you seen an improvement in practices, since the start of your career?

I believe the seafood industry has made significant progress in its sustainability efforts. Sustainability is a continuous process. The sea has been central to Norway’s identity for centuries and its seafood industry – working closely with researchers and authorities – holds a deep commitment to preserving it for future generations.

Consumers and markets are also increasingly aware of where their food comes from and demand sustainable seafood. NSC’s newly launched Top Seafood Consumer Trends 2025 report highlights evolving values around sustainability, ethical sourcing and health. Brands must demonstrate their commitment to environmental and social responsibility to align with these changing customer values.

While there are challenges that need to be resolved, I am deeply inspired by the industry’s relentless initiatives to boost sustainability. Whether through collaborative efforts, value chain efficiencies, innovations within the fishing fleet, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, or better utilisation of marine raw materials, sustainability is very much at the core of the seafood industry.

Do you see a difference in how the UK and Norway support women in the seafood industry?

I’ve had the privilege of representing the Norwegian seafood industry in several markets. I served as the NSC envoy to China from 2018 to 2021, and in 2022 I started as the NSC UK director responsible for the UK market. While there are cultural and political differences, Norway and the UK share many similarities and are close partners. In my view, this also applies to the role women play in the seafood industry. I’ve been warmly welcomed across the markets I’ve worked in and truly value the close collaboration and friendships I’ve been able to forge during these years.

How well do you think that women are represented in the seafood industry and particularly in key roles?

During my time in the industry and traveling both around Norway and the UK, I have met some incredible women representing the industry. From fish and chip operators, restaurateurs, chefs and producers, to fishing vessel owners, market specialists, buyers, educators and CEOs, these women make significant contributions to the industry and serve as a source of inspiration and learning for us all.

Recently, we organised our annual Norway-UK Seafood Summit in London, which brought together industry professionals to discuss key topics and share insights. In our activities and market programmes, maintaining a balanced representation is important. This means ensuring that both men and women have equal opportunities to participate and lead in various initiatives. Our stakeholders in Norway expect us to uphold this balance, emphasising the importance of gender diversity in driving innovation and growth within the industry.

As part of your work, do you do anything to specifically to encourage girls and women to enter and progress in the seafood industry?

I always encourage young professionals to explore opportunities within the seafood industry. It continues to surprise younger people when I explain how international the seafood industry is and how many opportunities there are within it.

In recent years, it’s been great to see more organisations and businesses offering training and internship programmes, giving graduates and young professionals the opportunity to get to know the industry. Among these is the Norwegian Seafood Council’s annual trainee programme. For successful candidates, it offers exciting opportunities to learn more about the industry. For the organisation, it brings inspiration, new ideas, a variety of skills, and wonderful teamwork.

Seafood is a truly global industry, so whether you’re studying marketing, communication, law, accounting, biology, technology or AI, there is certainly going to be a demand for you within our industry. I think we, as an industry, represent and communicate this well, but we can always offer more insight into all our amazing opportunities and showcase the importance of the sector, both present and future.