More than 27,000 farmed salmon have escaped from their cages operated by Mowi, the world's largest salmon producer, sparking environmental concerns about the repercussions for Norway's wild salmon population. The escape occurred after stormy weather caused significant damage to the outer netting of the farming cage located off the coast of Troms, northwestern Norway.
This incident, which sees one quarter of Mowi's total fish population of 105,000 escaping, has alarmed local authorities and environmental groups alike. They fear the escaped salmon could interbreed with wild salmon, posing risks to the genetic diversity of the species. Mowi has described the situation as "very regrettable and something which should not happen," according to spokesperson comments reported by VG.
To mitigate the ecological crisis, Mowi has announced rewards for local fishermen who are able to recapture the escaped fish, offering 500 Norwegian kroner (approximately €43) per fish. If all the escaped salmon are captured, Mowi will incur costs nearing €1.2 million. Local fishermen have now been allowed to search for the salmon beyond the usual radius of 500 meters, as necessitated by the scale of this incident.
Environmental activists have sounded alarms over the escaped salmon's potential threat to wild salmon populations. Pål Mugaas, spokesperson for Norske Lakseelver, has stated emphatically, "27,000 farmed salmon on the loose is a disaster for wild salmon." He warns of the genetic pollution such hybrids could bring about and highlights scientific studies confirming the low survival rates of offspring from crossing wild and farmed salmon.
Experts are concerned about the cascading effects this situation may trigger. Ecologist Jacco van Rijssel of Wageningen Marine Research elaborates, "If the farmed salmon spread out to sea, they will attempt to breed with the wild salmon. It seems these hybrids have lower survival rates, which pollutes the genetic line of the wild salmon. They are also competing for breeding grounds and food, and may carry sea lice, which are harmful parasites posing additional risks to wild salmon."
This escape feeds concerns over the already declining wild salmon populations, with last year's numbers falling to historic lows. Fishing bans have already been implemented across 33 rivers, with 42 rivers and three fjords expected to follow this year. Alarmingly, it is estimated two-thirds of wild salmon genes may already be compromised due to earlier farmed salmon escapes.
Recognizing the complexity of the issue, Norwegian Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen acknowledged the existential threat posed by such escapes to the North Atlantic salmon. Yet, he has also rejected calls for banning open-net salmon farming, instead advocating for what he refers to as "an acceptable level" of genetic pollution of wild salmon populations.
The current predicament highlights the tension between economic interests and ecological safety. While Mowi and its operations are pivotal to Norway's economy, the long-term health and survival of wild salmon populations call for urgent attention and potentially stricter oversight on farmed fisheries practices.
Though measures are being enacted to capture the escaped salmon and limit potential ecological damage, the outcome of such events emphasizes the fragility of marine ecosystems. The long-standing dilemma continues; how to balance the prosperity of aquaculture against the preservation of natural species.