Austevoll er ein typisk kystkommune med 667 store og små øyar, ei
strandlinje på 337 km og eit areal på 114,3 km². Kommunen har i overkant av
4400 innbyggjarar.
Frå urgamle tider har fangst og fiske kombinert med jordbruk vore
viktigaste næringsvegane i Austevoll. Også i dag set skipsfart, fiske,
fiskeoppdrett og verksemder knytta til det maritime miljøet preg på
næringslivet.
Austevoll er attraktivt for ferie-og friluftsaktivitetar som båtturar,
fiske, segling og bading. Mellom holmar og skjær er det mange lune
ankringsplassar for småbåtar. Dei mange lyngheiane og frodige skogsområda gjev
høve til fotturar og bærplukking.
Situated between Bergen to the north and Stord
to the south it forms a semicircle from the air with the North Sea to the
west. It has a population of about 4400 (in 2001).
Austevoll is among the foremost fishing
townships in Norway with fishing activities as the main trade there for
hundreds of years. The two fishing factories in the township export fish
to large parts of the world.
However this is not the only industry in
Austevoll, offshore industries have also expanded recently. This
involves a variety of services as well as in the search for oil.
Austevoll Havbrukstasjon is involved in various
research projects and is one of the foremost of its kind. The
Fiskarfagskulen has about 200 students and as well as general schooling it
also offers courses in hotel industry, sea captainship and ships
engineering!
The varied coastal landscape invites activities
such as sailing, swimming and coastal boat trips. Or stay on land and
walk the marked trails enjoying the beautiful scenery and fauna such as the
wild sheep, sea eagles or herons. To the dedicated fisherman Austevoll
is a dream come true with its inlets, open sea, and freshwater fishing.
The islands have several museums, and a rich
history of times past is found in almost every harbor.
