Winner of YoungFisher 2026

During the opening ceremony of Nor-Fishing 2026, Markus Nygård was named this year’s YoungFisher. The 34-year-old skipper from Midsund used his time on stage to praise his crew.

— Winning this award means a great deal to me. At the same time, I want to emphasise the contribution of my crew – a group of skilled, young people. They deserve a large share of the credit and this award, says winner Markus Nygård.

Markus’ crew numbers eleven, four of them women.

— A true pioneer

Four candidates were nominated for the award, which was presented for the third time this year. From the stage, they were all described as worthy winners: young people who have entered the industry with energy and courage, and who are challenging established structures within it.

— Markus bought his first vessel at 19; he now holds ten industry roles in Norway. He has taken an active role in developing the fishing industry, travelling to Tokyo and Boston to study emerging trends in fish consumption and consumer markets. As well as being an important voice, he’s a skilled fisherman with the courage to explore new fisheries. He is a true pioneer, the jury’s citation read from the stage.

Decided at the age of five

Markus was just five years old, out at sea with his father, when he decided to become a fisherman.

— It’s always been my dream to become a fisherman. At 16, that dream finally came true. When I was 19, I bought my first fishing boat, alongside my brother, he says.

Today, the brothers are part of the family group Nybonia, a fleet of vessels catching everything from Atlantic bluefin tuna and mackerel to herring and cod. Nygård also spends part of his time onshore, working on projects relating to bluefin tuna and whaling.

— The best thing about my job is that fishing is never predictable or boring. You can make as many plans as you like, but they’ll always change. You must adapt, and you never know what next year will bring, he says.

Recommends his career path to young people

Markus’ advice to young people considering becoming fishermen is clear:

— It’s an exciting job, but you must be able to handle the varying seasons. You’ll have both good and bad days, but you remember the good ones the best. I’ll always recommend becoming a fisherman to young people, says Markus.

Honouring young people in the seafood industry

The YoungFisher award is an annual, honorary award established by YoungFish, a voluntary networking organisation for young people in the seafood industry. The award was first presented in 2024, to mark the organisation’s tenth anniversary. It’s intended to showcase young talent and inspire more people to get involved in the industry.

The award is presented during the opening ceremony of Nor-Fishing and Aqua Nor, which are held every other year in Trondheim.

The award aims to:

• highlight young people who have made a special contribution to the seafood industry.
• honour young people who challenge established structures in the industry, through work on important issues such as sustainability, equality, innovation and professional development.
• promote young people who work in the industry and make an effort for other young people.
• inspire young people and established industry players to engage with the industry.

Candidates are assessed on, among other things, whether they:

• have excelled in their own work.
• have raised important issues and challenged the industry’s established structures – such as gender balance, sustainability, knowledge-sharing and circular economy.
• have promoted the industry and contributed to positive visibility.

The jury consists of representatives from YoungFish, the fisheries industry and the media. The winner receives a specially designed statuette and two tickets to the next YoungFish conference.