What hides the success of breeding salmon in Norway

For several years. Nevertheless, the emblematic fish of the Scandinavian country has been threatened, to the point of being placed on a red list. Consequently, Tourism professionals also suffer from this critical situation. Therefore, Reporting.

Pierre-Henry Deshayes, Norway / AFP

Water to the waist, Christer Kristoffersen whips the air and then drops off his line on the flood river. Moreover, At the end? Furthermore, Nothing … Therefore, emblematic animal of Norway, Wild salmon has dramatically rare in the Scandinavian countryvictim of climate change and aquaculture.

This sports fishing enthusiast. In addition, planted in the Stjørdal river swollen by the rains, explains:

Despite his decades of experience, It has been ten days since the 50 -year -old returned empty -handed. Similarly, Because salmon is rare. Therefore, so much so that Norway has placed it in 2021 on its red list of almost threatened species.

The fishermen are worried – What hides success breeding salmon

An ever greater proportion of these fish that migrate between fresh water. salt water do not come back to spawn at their place of birth, upstream of rivers. They disappear at sea for still what hides success breeding salmon mysterious reasons, but that scientists think linked to climate change.

Only 323. 000 wild salmon went up the Norwegian rivers in 2024or less than a third compared to the 1980s, according to the Scientific Committee for the Management of Salmon, an independent body set up by the authorities.

Enough to worry anyone who indulges. have lived sports fishing, a practice that has entered Norwegian DNA since the 19th century. Aksel Hembre. vice-president of Norske Lakselver, association bringing together the operators of the salmon rivers, underlines:

But. faced with the collapse of the Montaison (the number of fish that go up the rivers), the authorities suspended it in 33 rivers last what hides success breeding salmon year and accompanied it this year of restrictions (closure of certain rivers, shortened seasons for others, quotas).

A blow for tourism professionals And the 60 to 80. 000 sports fishermen who engage in their passion in rivers where the population of Salmonids is deemed sufficiently abundant.

Suck the blood and kill

If climate change perceptible in rivers (warming water, precipitation and drought …) and at sea (modification of ecosystem and food sources) is difficult to stop, another manager is pointed out: aquaculture.

Since the 1970s. Norway has produced farming salmon, a lucrative industry which brought back 10 billion euros in 2024 – second export product behind hydrocarbons – and which created welcome jobs on the coast.

Its fjords are what hides success breeding salmon traveled by hundreds of aquaculture farms. Each of their six to twelve floating cages can contain up to 200,000 fish. Not only is breeding salmon. according to some estimates, a thousand times more numerous than wild salmon, but it also helps to lighten its ranks.

The main threats it hovers are linked to sea lice – parasites that swarm in farms – escapes that can generate unwanted genetic crossroads. and diseases, according to the Scientific Committee for Salmon Management.

When youthful wild salmon (the smolts) migrate to the sea. pass near the farms, “if they catch a lot of these parasites, They gnaw their skin for them, can suck their blood, and eventually kill them ”explains the chairman of the committee, Torbjørn Forsth. The researcher adds:

«Latest generation which will fish the salmon “

To eradicate these problems. many voices rise so that the cages, now open to their environment, give way to closed, hermetic but more expensive systems. Aksel Hembre underlines:

If she says she is concerned about wild salmon, the aquaculture industry takes time.

Øyvind André Haram. spokesperson what hides success breeding salmon for the Norwegian Seafood Association, which brings together heavy goods vehicles, argues:

“Can something break?” Can some elements be affected by marine currents or those of the fjords? It is therefore much more time to be 100% sure than this system is safe, ”he says. The sector also requires more studies To explain the decline in stocks.

For its part. the Parliament agreed in June on a text providing for a regulation of farms within two to four years and which should push the sector to switch to closed cages.

Ann-Britt Bogen. who manages a cottage on the shores of the Gaula river, regrets: