Germany is increasingly embracing Norwegian shellfish, with exports of crayfish and scallops skyrocketing in recent years, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).

Most of these delicacies find their way to high-end restaurants, aligning with the country's growing gourmet dining scene, the council said.

The 2024 Michelin Guide awarded 410 stars to 340 restaurants in Germany, marking a record high. Recognizing this trend, the Norwegian shellfish industry and the NSC launched a project in 2021 to boost the presence of Norwegian shellfish in Germany's upscale market.

Since the initiative's inception, exports have surged. Last year, crayfish exports exceeded 10.5 metric tons -- of which close to 10t were live -- valued at NOK 7.6 million ($639,838), while scallop exports topped 50t, worth over NOK 73m.

Growth has continued into 2024, driven by a series of strategic efforts including chef tours, events with star chefs, and media coverage.

"The chefs set the trends, and word spreads quickly," noted Kristin Pettersen, the NSC's representative in Germany. The project also fostered collaboration among producers, exporters, and logistics providers, although challenges remain, particularly for king crab, which restaurants prefer live but lack storage facilities for.

The initiative has expanded to include other shellfish like sea urchins and seaweed, with a recent event at the restaurant Zwanzig23 in Dusseldorf, in western Germany, to showcase the new species on the menu.

Ove Johansen from Ecofang, a sea urchin producer, confirmed to the NSC that the company is in discussions for larger deliveries of live sea urchins after these events.