– We know that summer salmon fishing is an important tradition and a great joy for many, but now every salmon simply counts. This is how the Director of the Norwegian Environment Agency, Ellen Hambro, explains the decision to stop this year’s salmon fishing. But for Morten Lorentzen and his family, salmon fishing is much more than tradition and joy. It is the basis of life. – We simply have to find another job. There is no reason to continue working on the farm, explains Lorentzen. Farm view towards the Sandsfjord. Photo: Privat From the kitchen at Jårvik gård at Jelsa in Ryfylke, he looks out towards the Sandsfjorden. When Morten Lorentzen took over his grandparents’ farm, he also took up the traditional wild salmon fishing in the fjord. – It was a small project to be able to take over a small farm without operations, and live off the resources that were on the farm, he explains. Along with salmon fishing, goats are one of several sources of income at Jårvik farm. Photo: Privat Betting everything Since 2019, the former platform worker has gradually mastered salmon fishing. Using a wedge net, he fishes wild salmon from the rock at the bottom of the farm. The family has every man on deck during wedge seine fishing. Photo: Privat When he finally got delivery agreements in place and orders from tourists who wanted to see, he quit his job at the oil service company Schlumberger to focus on wild salmon. A few weeks later, future plans were halted. Then the Norwegian Environment Agency canceled salmon fishing with wedge seines in 2024. – This means that a large part of the farm’s income disappears. About 70 per cent comes from salmon fishing, and now we are losing that, says Lorentzen. The income comes both from the sale of wild salmon and tourists who come to see the traditional fishing method. Photo: Private Lack of information and late notification make the whole thing even worse. – If it was just a hobby, that’s fine, but when it’s a business with planned income, it’s legally late to get such a message just three weeks before the fishing was supposed to start. Critical stock – When you have to pull the emergency brake, you cannot notify the entire train first. This is how Lorentzen’s criticism is answered by the Norwegian Environment Agency’s specialist director, Helge Dyrendal. Subject director in the Ministry of the Environment, Helge Axel Dyrendal. Photo: The Norwegian Environment Agency – We see that this has been given at short notice, but we do not know in early June or May how the season will progress. When we see that there are few fish, it is our responsibility to pull the emergency brake, Dyrendal explains. He understands that people like Morten Lorentzen may end up in difficult situations as a result of the decision, but sticks to the Norwegian Environment Agency’s mandate. – Our primary responsibility is to ensure that we have enough salmon now, but also into the future. The Norwegian Environment Agency uses the word “collapse” to describe the development in the wild salmon population. Photo: Erlend A. Lorentzen Morten Lorenzen agrees with the goal. – The most important thing for us is to take care of the wild salmon population. If we have to close fishing for five years, we will gladly do so if it helps the stock. He is nevertheless skeptical of the remedy. – They must do something that actually makes a change. After all, it is not us who take the brunt of the wild salmon, explains Lorentzen and refers to figures from Statistics Norway. In Rogaland, river fishing takes ten times more salmon than those who fish in the lake, such as Lorentzen. Last year, river fishermen caught 28,000 kilograms of wild salmon, while sea fishermen caught 2,000 kilograms. In the rest of Norway, the difference is smaller. Morten Lorentzen emphasizes that it is necessary to protect the wild salmon. Photo: Privat At the same time, Lorentzen believes that the farming industry should take more of the brunt. – When someone pulls the emergency brake, the whole train usually stops. Not just the small carts. It is the authorities that allow farming in the fjords. They must also set requirements for the industry that leads to infection of the wild salmon. New assessments Over the weekend, the Norwegian Environment Agency will reassess whether there is a need for stricter or milder measures. For him who makes a living from salmon fishing, the new assessments mean little. Jårvik farm also grows berry bushes, but the income cannot cover the wild salmon. Photo: Private – When we were told that fishing was closed until 2024, we informed the tourists who have booked a trip so that they can make other plans. It will be difficult to bring in new orders in such a short time, explains Lorentzen. – Now we have to find good solutions County leader for Sp Rogaland, Birger Wikre Hetland, agrees with the Environment Agency’s decision, but calls for good arrangements for those affected. – I will not put the kroner. But I agree that they should get a compensation scheme, says Hetland. – Salmon fishing is one of the nicest things I do with my kids, says Hetland Photo: Privat The SP politician is himself a salmon fishing enthusiast. – We from Rogaland will work for it. There is no doubt about that. Published 07/07/2024, at 16.44
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Morten Lorentzen quit his job to invest in salmon fishing. A few weeks later it became illegal – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
