Socioeconomic research

The Socioeconomic and Aquaculture Research Unit of RKTL conducts social, economic and aquaculture production research linked with fisheries, game and reindeer husbandry. It also produces the official fisheries and hunting statistics.

Research activities are organized into two research programmes:

1. Research programme on Game-, Reindeer- and AquaFood

This research programme integrates and coordinates studies on production, processing, marketing and sales, as well as use of fish, game and reindeer products for human consumption. The goal of the programme is to produce scientific information and expertise that helps

• the national and EU administration meet the challenges of a rapidly changing food production sector and
• the industry to develop competitive food products meeting consumer needs and expectations.

The demands of the markets and expectations of consumers are monitored throughout the programme. Changes in the industrial operational environment are analysed annually to ensure the relevance of the research targets. The central principle of the programme is that the whole value chain is viewed as an integrated process, from the producers through to the consumer.

2. Research programme on natural resources and society

Exploitation of fish, game and reindeer resources occurs both in primary production and as a component of recreational activities or leisure services. This research programme focuses on the economic, social and community dimensions of sustainability. The goal of the programme is to produce knowledge which helps to recognise, define and solve governance problems connected with fish, game and reindeer resources. Moreover, this knowledge promotes the development of new natural-resource-based livelihoods and the prediction of changes and contradictions in the use and governance of natural resources.

Text version