Football icon David Beckham and the rest of the fishing team had lucked out when they tried their luck fishing in Lærdalselva, which is actually closed to fishing. news is aware that a total of 11 salmon were drawn ashore. In a letter to the state administrator, the Lærdal River Owners’ Association – which sells the “rights” – wrote that the income from the “stock fish sale” is NOK 1.4 million. This gives an “average price” of NOK 127,000 per salmon, and in line with the 200-year-old tradition where representatives of the British nobility leave money in Norwegian western villages. Two of the “Beckham fish” have been delivered to the Villakssenteret where they swim around on display. While the remaining nine are taken care of in the facility of the local river owners association. – It is the hatchery at Ljøsne that takes care of the fish, says Audun Mo, mayor of Lærdal municipality. Photo: Geir Bjarte Hjetland / news Got a shock when the state administrator said no. At the hatchery, the salmon must be “milked” and ironed according to all regulations, thus giving life to new fry which in turn are returned to the river. This practice is known as “stamfishing”, and has been practiced in Lærdalselva since the beginning of the 20th century. What is stock fish? Broodfish are the fish that are used for artificial reproduction. It is often caught before it is ready to spawn and is kept in flowing water or its own pool and/or facilities. When the brood fish is sexually mature and ready to spawn, he must be casted. Spawning means that roe and milk are taken from the fish ready to spawn and are mixed so that the eggs are fertilized. A salmon has about 500 eggs. Source: labora.no For the local river owners’ association, it was therefore “a shock” when the state administrator in Vestland put a stop to the operation in May – with reference to the fact that the utility value was questionable. Norske Lakseelver: – A measure that is on its way Pål Mugaas, communications manager Norske Lakseelver – Research has shown that breeding fish can risk giving certain genetic variants within the population in the river too much, and thus reduce the natural width of the population. – Each river basically has its own population. Therefore, this is a measure that is on its way out as a remedy. In the past, it has often been introduced in connection with hydropower developments as a compensatory measure, and for rivers that have been infected by the salmon parasite. A couple of weeks later, the state administrator turned around and allowed broodstock fishing anyway – just before David Beckham came to visit. The turnaround operation is controversial because state administrator Liv Signe Navarsete is married to one of the river owners. On Thursday afternoon, the case took a new turn when the State Administrator in Rogaland, Bent Høie, said that Navarsete was incompetent. In a letter, the state administrator in Rogaland writes that the decision in Vestland is invalid. The law firm Bahr, which represents the river owners, has been given a week to respond to the decision. – We have also postponed the implementation of the decision, which means that all possible fishing in the river must stop immediately, says Marit Bendixen in the State Administrator in Rogaland to news. The conclusion is in line with what the assistant state administrator in Vestland, Gunnar Ove Hæreid, wrote in a letter to the government on 4 June: “After a joint assessment, we have come to the conclusion that her husband’s connection to Lærdalselvi, the river owners’ association and the foundation, means that it is special circumstances which lead to Navarsete being invalid in the case, cf. section 6 second paragraph of the Administration Act.” news has been in contact with several experts in administrative law who have questions about the procedure (see below). Eskil Wie Furunes Eivind Smith, expert in administrative law – All in all, there is good reason to have the question of competence assessed. But the fact that the river owner association is a foundation reduces the financial link between the spouse (and possibly the state administrator) and the financial value of the licence. Ann Kristin Lindaas Sigrid Stokstad, expert in administrative law – I think it seems reasonable that Navarsete’s competence is assessed in this case given that the spouse is a landowner in the river. Åge Algerøy Jan Fridthjof Bernt, expert in administrative law – I think it looks like the state administrator may be incompetent here, but here there is clearly enough room for doubt. NTB Jan Fougner, expert in administrative law – Officially, I have no opinion on this case. – It’s a shame that the focus is on whether the decision was made in the right way In a letter to Bent Høie, the Lærdal River Owners’ Association wrote that it is “a shame that the focus is now on whether the decision was made in the right way, instead of applause on the shoulders for (Navarsete) finally making the right decision, in time”. Navarsete has explained to Bergens Tidende that the original decision was based on “an unfinished research report” on stock fishing. “Great to be chef for David Beckham during his visit to Norway”, writes Joar Søhoel on Instagram. Photo: Screenshot/Instagram The Nina report is today on the table of the Norwegian Environment Agency and contains conclusions and calls that pull in different directions. On the one hand, she states that the “country fry” cannot compare to those that are conceived in a natural way – in the rivers. – On the other hand, he is proposing to increase the ceiling for the removal of breeding salmon, says lawyer Rune Svoren, who represents the Lærdal River Owners’ Association. Today, the guidelines state that “up to 30” salmon can be taken in Lærdalselva. NINA researcher Sten Karlsson has been the project manager for the report. – The plan is to send out a final version of the report to the client in the next few days, he says to news. – Of course I didn’t know who was going to fish, says Liv Signe Navarsete. Odd Helge Brugrand – A serious reminder of dramatic changes Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen met local actors in Stjørdal on Thursday morning. In the Stjørdal watershed, the Norwegian Environment Agency has decided to close down all hatcheries. The rationale is that stockfishing and hatchery operations reduce the genetic variation in the river. – The figures we now see for wild salmon are a serious reminder of the dramatic changes that have already occurred and continue to occur in our own sea areas. Last week, the Norwegian Environment Agency closed salmon fishing in 33 rivers. The background is reports of very few salmon so far this year. The minister added: – If this trend continues, this could be the weakest salmon season ever recorded in Norway. Millions of income and a possible match for David Beckham are among the ingredients when the state will assess the fitness of Liv Signe Navarsete. Photo: Screenshot/Instagram Published 27.06.2024, at 14.21
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Beckham and co. got 11 salmon on a controversial fishing trip – news Vestland
