What is skrei?
Skrei is the mature Northeast Arctic cod that migrates from the Barents Sea to spawn along the Norwegian coast, especially around Lofoten, between January and April. It is the same species as Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) — "skrei" is a market and quality label for the spawning, migratory stock, not a separate species in catch data.
The skrei migration is the basis of the historic Lofoten winter fishery (Lofotfisket), Norway's oldest and most famous cod fishery. Each winter, spawning cod leave the Barents Sea and gather along the coast from Finnmark down to Lofoten and beyond, where the coastal fleet meets them with gillnets, longlines, handlines and Danish seine.
Skrei is highly seasonal. In Norwegian landings data, cod peaks sharply in February and March, and roughly two-thirds of the annual cod catch is landed between January and April — the signature of the spawning fishery. Lean, firm and freshly caught, the best fish can carry the protected "Skrei" quality mark, which sets standards for catch handling, freshness and the January–April season.
Because skrei is recorded under the ordinary Atlantic cod species code, it is not separated from other cod in raw catch statistics. You identify the skrei fishery indirectly — through the winter timing, the coastal gear types and the northern landing locations — rather than by a dedicated species code.
Frequently asked questions
- Is skrei a different species from cod?
- No. Skrei is mature, spawning Northeast Arctic cod — the same species as Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). The name marks the migratory spawning stock and a quality label, and in catch data it shares the cod species code.
- When is the skrei season?
- Skrei is fished mainly from January to April, peaking in February and March when the cod gather to spawn along the coast, most famously around Lofoten.
- Where is skrei caught?
- Along the northern Norwegian coast, especially Lofoten in Nordland and the waters off Troms og Finnmark, as the cod migrate in from the Barents Sea.
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