Seagull

The kittiwake is a small species of gull that can be found along the entire Norwegian coastline. The reason the kittiwakes play a central role in this motif is that their population is declining rapidly. The most recent population estimate from 2015 shows a dramatic decrease to 87,000 breeding pairs. Suspected causes include climate change, reduced food availability, pollution, and predation.

Even as coastal Norway develops and expands, it is crucial to ensure that this is done in a sustainable way that does not threaten the species that have lived alongside us for thousands of years.

The motif:
The fisherman in the foreground represents an aging population that turns a blind eye to the changes happening around them and may not realize that the world, and Andøy, are changing. Behind him stand younger gulls who have been away studying and have now returned home. They bring with them ideas they believe will make Andenes a better place to live.

I asked the 8th-grade students at Andenes School what they would bring back with them. Their answers included a youth clothing store, a perfume shop, a bowling alley, a train for passengers inspired by the old railway tracks near the lighthouse, a youth club, and slush machines. Can you spot these wishes in the motif?

We want our young people to return home. Like many other rural municipalities, Andøy faces challenges related to population decline and youth migration. Initiatives and strategies to create attractive job opportunities and a strong social environment are essential to reversing this trend. It is also crucial that young people themselves are involved in shaping this change. A place that is good to grow up in is a place you will want to return to.