Stockfish of skrei
Skrei fishing boat by Fiskarkona statue in Lofoten
Girl standing under stockfish in Lofoten.
White tailed eagle in Nordland, Northern-Norway
A young chef in front of stockfish racks
Asian looking woman smelling stockfish
The view from one of the towers in the Nidarosdomen in Trondheim
A large pile of stockfish on a small trailer in Lofoten in Northern Norway
Woman outside the Nusfjord Landhandel shop
Stockfish with ham and vegetables on a plate in Lofoten, Northern Norway
A guest being served dried cod
Stockfish made as a lamp in a restaurant.
Haill stockfish chips.
A man and a woman being served lutefisk by chef at Gamle Raadhus Restaurant in Oslo
People in old fashioned costumes at Røst.
Exterior illustration of Otolitten, a museum and experience center that is part of SKREI
Stockfish heart and woman chef in front of a red cabin

13 fun facts about
STOCKFISH

1. Where does it come from?

Each winter, hundreds of fishing boats gather in Northern Norway to fish skrei, the migrating Northeast Arctic cod that comes from the Barents Sea to the coast to spawn every year.

Learn more about skrei

2. How is it dried?

The skrei is hung on racks to dry naturally. The salty sea breeze does the job perfectly, just as it has for the last 1,000 years!

Stokk (wooden pole) + fish = stockfish!

...although the name also might come from the fact that the dried fish becomes as hard as a stick (stokk).

You can see the racks in many places in Northern Norway, but they are most common in Lofoten and Vesterålen.

"Lofoten stockfish" is a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in Europe, like Champagne.

3. Why don't the sea eagles and gulls eat it?

...because they prefer really fresh fish!

Go on a sea eagle safari

4. It's not only skrei...

Stockfish is sometimes also made of other kinds of white fish, like pollock (pictured) or haddock.

It's also the favourite ingredient of...

...young, up-and-coming star chef Siriyaporn "Mymint" Rithisirikrerg from Lofoten. Learn how to make her delicious stockfish cream!

Mymint's guide to the flavours of Lofoten

5. What's that SMELL?

It might not be for everyone's nose, but in Northern Norway they say that this is the scent of MONEY!

6. Viking food

Stockfish is the reason people were able to survive so far north and go all the way across the seas to discover Iceland, Greenland, and America, long before Christoffer Colombus.

DNA testing has shown that the Vikings carried stockfish on their expeditions.

The Norwegian word for cod, torsk, comes from the Old Norse "turskr" which is a contraction of "turrfiskr", which means dried fish. Skrei comes from the word skrida, to wander.

Discover the Vikings

7. The stockfish trade built Norway

...and was our no. 1 export item for almost 1,000 years!

The trade with dried fish funded the construction of many coastal cities, like Bergen and Trondheim, including its beautiful Nidaros Cathedral.

8. Hungry for heads

Crushed, dried cod heads are a key ingredient in several of Nigeria's most popular dishes. Very nutritious!

9. Stockfish villages

There are many small, picturesque fishing villages like Nusfjord (pictured), where you can learn more about stockfish. Stockfish even has its very own museum, The Lofoten Stockfish Museum, in Å in Lofoten.

Visit Norway's unique fishing villages

10. How do I prepare it?

First, you need to soak the stockfish for hours in water. Or buy it readymade at a local shop!

Afterwards, you can cook it, grill it, bake it or even use it as topping on your pizza!

Or maybe you prefer it bacalao style?

Stockfish is served in many different ways in delicious seafood restaurants in Northern Norway (scroll down for recommendations!).

Stockfish can also make a really nice decoration!

Experience stockfish nirvana at Anita's Seafood, a very popular informal restaurant in Reine, which is also home to one of the best local food shops in Lofoten.

11. A protein-rich snack

Munch on nutritious flakes of stockfish, just like crisps, available at local shops. The perfect snack for hiking!

PS: you can also buy stockfish snacks for your dog!

12. Stockfish for Christmas

In November and December, you'll see stockfish all over the country. It's the main ingredient in lutefisk, a traditional Norwegian Christmas dish.

And this time the stockfish has been soaked in... lye! (How someone first came up with this weird idea remains a mystery!)

In Mexico, many people also have stockfish (or clipfish) for Christmas, but in a more bacalao-like style!

13. The Stockfish opera

In 1432 the Italian merchant Pietro Querini became stranded on the tiny island of Røst in Lofoten. He brought 60 pieces of stockfish back home to Venice and the locals loved it! Today, there's even an opera about it!

(By the way, Italy remains the biggest importer of Norwegian stockfish to this day.)

And psst … from 2026, swing by the magnificent new landmark Otolitten in Storvågan. Part of the SKREI centre, it's a place where you can dive into the sights, sounds, and stories of the Lofoten fishery!

Are you ready for a real foodie and fishing adventure?

Top skrei restaurants

You’ll find skrei, stockfish, clipfish and many other varieties of tasty fish year-round at Northern Norway’s best restaurants.

  • Ringstad Resort restaurant
    Straumsjøen

    Restaurant at Ringstad Resort – local flavors at a world-class level

    Welcome to our restaurant, where the distance between the sea and your plate is so short, you can almost feel the ocean breeze.
  • Hamn i Senja
    Skaland

    Hamn i Senja

    Hamn in Senja - a fjord idyll along the National Scenic Route on the Senja island
  • Til Elise fra Marius
    Utskarpen

    “To Elise from Marius” – from farm to table

    In the village of Utskarpen, between Mo i Rana and Nesna, Elise and Marius established a culinary attraction that is drawing a steady stream of foodies. They offer a dining experience where every dish is made from ingredients fresh from the farm and pasture. They also offer accommodation – charming rooms in a countryside setting.
    Book now
  • Bryggerikaia
    Bodø

    Bryggerikaia

    Here you can sit right on the harbor and enjoy fine dining outdoors or indoors. Overlooking Bodøs piers.
  • Fiskekroken
    Narvik

    Fiskekroken

    Welcome to Fiskekroken, a cosy fish restaurant located at the Fish Marked in the middle of Narvik City.
  • Bios Café AS
    Storslett

    Bios Café AS

    Bios Café, situated in the heart of Storslett, serves authentic, pure food made from locally sourced quality produce. It’s not without reason that Bios Café has won awards!
  • Anita’s Seafood
    Reine

    Anita’s Seafood

    Anita's Seafood is a delightful seafood bar and delicacy shop on Sakrisøy, Lofoten. Known for its grab-and-eat concept, the restaurant offers a variety of local seafood dishes, including their famous fish burgers. With a focus on local flavors and ingredients, Anita's Seafood provides a unique culinary experience in the beautiful setting of Lofoten.
    Book now
  • Hotel Nordkyn
    Kjøllefjord

    Hotel Nordkyn

    Accommodation in Kjøllefjord: Hotel Nordkyn has 10 double rooms with shower an toilet.
  • Støtt

    Winter dream at Støtt

    Do you dream of going from the hustle of the big city to “winter world” where the polar lights and the northern lights create magic? Visit the island Støtt and be close to nature, culture and history.
  • Holmen Lofoten Restaurant
    Sørvågen

    Holmen Lofoten Restaurant

    Things at Holmen Lofoten are done a little differently.
    Book now
  • Børsen Spiseri en sommer dag
    Svolvær

    Børsen Spiseri

    Børsen Spiseri - a fish restaurant with Stockfish as a specialty.
    Book now
  • Bark Spiseri and Bar lunch and dinner in Harstad
    Harstad

    Bark-spiseri and bar

    Pay a visit to Bark Spiseri & Bar for warm smiles, a continental atmosphere and, not least, delicious meals.
    Book now
  • Arresten Restaurant
    Andenes

    Arresten Restaurant

    "Imprison" yourselves at Arresten. Arresten – a very special restaurant in the middle of the old part of Andenes. In this old building you can still find traces from its history.

Stockfish experiences

Learn more about this legendary fish.

  • Norwegian Jekt Trade Museum
    Bodø

    Norwegian Jekt Trade Museum

    The Norwegian Jekt Trade Museum in Bodø takes you on board a voyage into the exciting history of maritime navigation and trade along the Norwegian coast. Our unique preserved Jekt Anna Karoline is the hub of our exhibition.
  • Catch & Dine - Fishing Trip with 3-Course Dinner
    Svolvær

    Catch & Dine - Fishing Trip with 3-Course Dinner

    Imagine starting your day aboard an authentic fishing boat with XXLofoten, chasing cod in the Lofoten waters, helping to bring the fish ashore, and then processing it at Thon Hotel Svolvær in their "bruk" before ending the day with the "taste of Lofoten" in the hotel's restaurant.
    Book now
  • Every fish is checked
    Røst

    A walk in the realm of Stockfish - Røst Bryggehotell

    Experience the inside of the fish farm, where all the stockfish are sorted!
  • Anita’s Seafood
    Reine

    Anita’s Seafood

    Anita's Seafood is a delightful seafood bar and delicacy shop on Sakrisøy, Lofoten. Known for its grab-and-eat concept, the restaurant offers a variety of local seafood dishes, including their famous fish burgers. With a focus on local flavors and ingredients, Anita's Seafood provides a unique culinary experience in the beautiful setting of Lofoten.
    Book now
  • Havnnes Handelssg
    Havnnes

    Visit Norways northernmost trading post and learn about it's exciting history and stockfish production!

    Havnnes is a well-preserved, listed 19th century trading post, situated in the midst of the most stunning scenery in all of Northern-Norway. In the forest above Havnnes a large collection of spear- and arrowheads has been found.
  • SKREI – Fish, Folk And Our Future Ocean
    Kabelvåg

    SKREI – Fish, Folk And Our Future Ocean

    SKREI tells the story of the migrating codfish that has shaped the Lofoten fisheries, coastal culture and Norway as a nation for a thousand years. New museum opens June 30, 2026!
    Book now

Stockfish recipes

Try it at home! Clipfish (salted and dried indoors) can also be used for the same recipes.

  • Taco with stockfish

    Recipe: Lefse with stockfish cream

    Taste Lofoten tacos. These delicious potato lefse with stockfish cream made of skrei were served at Bocuse d'Or in 2024! Sample Lofoten star chef Mymint's own recipe.
  • Bacalao

    Recipe: Bacalao

    Try this traditional recipe from the West coast of Norway for a rich and tasty bacalao!
  • Mini tarts with stockfish and creamy pureed potatoes made by Tom Victor Gausdal

    Recipe: Mini tarts with stockfish

    Stockfish, called tørrfisk, has a long history in Norwegian cuisine. Try former Bocuse d'Or silver medallist Tom Victor Gausdal's modern take on a stockfish dish.
  • Classic stockfish meal made by chef and restaurant owner Lars Erik Underthun

    Recipe: Lars Erik Underthun's classic stockfish

    Have you ever tasted stockfish? Try former Bocuse d'Or silver medallist Lars Erik Underthun's traditional tørrfisk recipe.
Man kissing an Arctic cod on a fishing trip

The sexy secret...

Fish some skrei for yourself! We can share a method that will help secure your catch ...

Haill: A sexy trick for fishing luck!

Ready for a skrei adventure?

Visit magical places in Northern Norway!

A woman catching a fish
Go on a skrei adventure
A man fishing skrei in Lofoten
Skrei – In cod we trust
Woman looking at the midnightsun in Lofoten, Northern Norway
Northern Norway
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    Vesterålen
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  • A fishing boat participating in The world cod fishing championship in Lofoten i Northern Norway
    World cod fishing championship in Svolvær
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