The same division of responsibilities will apply under the Wildlife Resources Act, which enters into force on 1 July 2026. The Ministry is also responsible for budget allocations in the wildlife sector, including hunting and culling fees and charges.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food exercises its management responsibilities primarily through the development of legislation and regulations in the field, annual budget proposals, and through the governance of the Norwegian Agriculture Agency.

The Ministry also manages the state’s ownership interests in the state enterprise Statskog SF. Statskog SF is Norway’s largest landowner and facilitates public access to hunting, fishing, and trapping. Statskog SF offers hunting and fishing opportunities across large parts of the country.

The Mountain Boards (Fjellstyrene), through their management of state commons, also play a key role in ensuring public access to hunting, fishing, and trapping.

The Finnmark Estate (FeFo) manages 95 per cent of the land area in Finnmark and is Norway’s second-largest landowner.

The Norwegian Agriculture Agency as Wildlife Authority

As of 1 January 2025, the Norwegian Agriculture Agency is the wildlife authority for harvestable wildlife resources. The Agency shall exercise authority under the Wildlife Act and its regulations as determined by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and as outlined in annual budget proposals and allocation letters.