WELCOME TO INDRE KVARØY!

Kvarøy is the name of the magical island and the fish farm where all Sea Tales’ Norwegian salmon now comes from. It’s pronounced “kva-ray.” What makes this small island below the Arctic Circle so special, and what is it like to live on such a tiny island? You’ll find out here!

BETWEEN THE FJORDS

The island’s full name is Indre Kvarøy, which means Inner Kvarøy. It is located right in the middle of the Kvarøy fjords, one of more than a thousand fjords Norway is known for. A fjord is an inlet along the coast with steep walls carved out by glaciers. The waters here are often very cold and deep, around Kvarøy up to 120 meters. Thanks to this deep cold and clear water and the currents in the fjord, conditions are perfect for farming high quality salmon. Salmon farmer Alf Knutsen from Kvarøy explains: “Several farms want to start operations in this area, but they can’t because we are already here and the permits are all taken. And that’s for the best, too many farms in one area wouldn’t be good.”

REMOTE ISLAND LIFE

You need a certain mindset to live on Kvarøy. Mentally, you have to be well prepared for the winter conditions and the solitude. Kvarøy is surrounded by many other small islands and snow-covered mountains. Many of these islands have no residents or just a few vacation homes that are only occupied during the summer season. Visiting Kvarøy is not easy. The ferry arrives only twice a week, bringing supplies for the shop and restaurant as well as a few visitors. Many residents have boats to travel to and from the island, but even then the trip is long. The nearest airport is Bodø. Getting there requires a three-hour boat ride, but with strong winds and high waves it can take four to five hours!

CONNECTION TO KVARØY

Kvarøy’s relative remoteness doesn’t bother the people who live on the island. Alf says, “It’s a beautiful natural place, and I’m here with a fantastic group of people who all know each other well.” About 85 people live on the island in total, with roughly half working for the salmon farm. This creates a strong bond between the islanders and the farm. Kvarøy has almost everything you need: a school, a sports field, a restaurant, a small grocery store, and a bar. The only restaurant on the island is run by Alf’s father-in-law, who was once the farm’s manager. They only open the restaurant when there are reservations, serving meals then. Further down at the only café, young people gather after working at the farm for a beer. A kind of work happy hour, but every day!

Could you live there? Alf Knutsen can! Although he and his family also face challenges. You can read all about it in this blog.