Aquaculture set to meet popular culture in Netflix series

Netflix is to feature a new drama about the trials of life on a Norwegian fish farm, the TV media giant has confirmed.

Called Salmon Island, it will feature the rivalry  between two families engaged in salmon farming.

The company said that following their global success with Lilyhammer (a Norwegian/American gangster comedy-drama starring Steven van Zandt), creators and writers Anne Bjørnstad and Eilif Skodvin and the production company Rubicon will return to Netflix with the Norwegian drama series Salmon Island.

Bjørnstad and Skodvin said: “In Salmon Island we meet two families in a small coastal community in Norway, who are sworn enemies in the global salmon industry.

The series, which taps into the contemporary zeitgeist, delivers a funny as well as dramatic portrait of the fish farming business.”

“Over the last few decades, fish farming has changed both the Norwegian coast and international food culture.

“The time feels right for a television drama about the operators in the industry, and it’s amazing that a global streaming service like Netflix has the guts to tell such a locally grounded story. We’re pleased to be back with Netflix again after 10 years and we can’t wait to start filming.”

They added that they were delighted that Norway’s Marit Moum Aune was on board as director: “We have collaborated with her on several stage shows, and we’re thrilled that she wants to make this series with us.”

Norwegian salmon farming is not without its real life dramas, of course, as witnessed by the intense battle last year between SalMar founder Gustav Witzøe and Helge Gåsø who created the rival NTS group. Both hail from the same remote  island of Frøya.

Witzøe finally won, taking control of NTS, although his rival is now bouncing back with a new fish farming and seafood business.