They believe that tourism, food and research can all be housed under the same roof if a "Kystens hus" is built.

Nofima has been a major contributor to the project presented today to Tromsø City Council.

Scientists have been looking at issues such as how the advantages of the coast can be profiled and how Tromsø can get a modern food market, where local and exotic ingredients are available.

"What's unique about Kystens hus is that we are combining all these areas of strategic focus closely together," says the chairperson of the interim board, Ivan C Burkow.

He is managing director of Research Institute Norut and was formerly managing director of Fiskeriforskning. Scientists from Nofima have also been active participants in the "Kystens hus" project.

"When you gather so many people with coastal interests together in the same place, it's the ideal environment for the synergies that everyone talks about," says Burkow.

One example can be that the complex has three or four restaurants with a common kitchen.

"This kitchen can prepare everything from traditional North Norwegian dishes like fried cod tongues to sushi," says Burkow.

"Food will play an important part in the Kystens hus concept. In addition to these restaurants, we can imagine specialist food shops where the customers can buy local seafood, meat and vegetables as well as exotic ingredients," he says.

"Another central aspect will be the development of new dishes and products based on the coast's fresh ingredients. A test kitchen will enable those wanting to test out new dishes and raw materials from the coast to advance the process from an idea through to the finished product."

The proposed site for "Kystens hus" is on the quayside in downtown Tromsø. However, transport would be a challenge if the complex were located here.

"It must be possible to think new and big," says Burkow. "What if Tromsø started a small, free ferry operating a continual service between Tromsdalen and downtown Tromsø, arriving at Torghuken right beside Kystens hus?"

"It is envisaged that "Kystens hus" be situated in Tromsø, but we believe this concept could also be used in other towns and cities," says Burkow.

Kystens hus is a collaboration project between Tromsø City Council, the Norwegian Fishermen's Sales Organisation, Nofima, Coop-Nord and Sparebank1 Nord-Norge.

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

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