Escapes unlikely after Norway farm incidents

Salmon are unlikely to have escaped in either of two incidents where cage nets were damaged at fish farms in Norway, the site operators have said.

On June 21, Cermaq Norway Salmon AS reported an incident at its Kråkevik site at the far end of the Altafjord. Major damage was discovered in the net of one of the cages. The farmed salmon in this cage have an average weight of 1.2 kg. The company has had recapture nets out on the site, but no salmon have been caught in these. The recapture effort has now ended.

Quickly repaired

Cermaq stated on the phone to Fish Farming Expert’s Norwegian sister site, Kyst.no, that it has no reason to believe that there has been an escape from the locality in question, as the damage to the net was quickly repaired.

On June 23, Mowi Seawater Norway AS reported an incident at its Munkskjæra site west of Frøya, where damage was discovered to a net. The farmed salmon in this cage have an average weight of 3.4 kg.

Although damage occurred, it is not believed there was an escape of fish.

The Directorate of Fisheries has initiated supervision of the incidents.