[xyproto]

Also, EU has a ruleset adapted to the climate of central Europe and not to cold places where almost no food grows and eating seals and fighting polar bears is how you stay alive. This is an extreme example, but Norway is more dependent on fish for sustenance than many other countries.

[vidarh]

Norway is dependent on fish mostly because of the export value. A lot of fish is eaten in Norway, sure but the Norwegian economy is such that local production has very little to do with what people choose to eat.

The only place in Norway Polar bears live is Svalbard, far North of the mainland. Most Norwegians have never visited because it's far away (a 1h 40m flight North from Tromsø in Northern Norway - similar to how long it takes to fly South to Central Europe from Oslo) and way too cold and miserable.

Seal is something few people eat very often. A huge proportion of the population will never ever have tasted it. Like whale, it's uncommon these days.

[ginko]

> eating seals and fighting polar bears is how you stay alive

Your image of Norway may be a bit off..

It's true though that Norway is overly protective of its food industry. And arguably for good reason since it wouldn't be competitive at all if integrated with the rest of Europe.

[vidarh]

As a Norwegian, I do like the idea that foreigners see me as capable of fighting a polar bear.

As for seals, I've eaten seal, I think, but it's hardly been a dietary mainstay... We used to have whale regularly when I was a kid, mostly because back then it was much cheaper than beef (and much tougher, and oily... it was not great meat - it's expensive now due to low supply and nostalgia).

[xyproto]

I am Norwegian, apparently I just didn't express myself clearly enough.