Salmon fishing is underway, but in many rivers salmon are in crisis. This week, news reported that salmon have been threatened or extinct in at least 50 rivers with power production. The water is used to make electricity. news has shown strong images of salmon fighting for their lives when the water is stopped by power plants. Afterwards, the water is released when electricity is to be produced. These pictures are from Daleelva, where the wild ax stayed too long at the spawning pit, when the water disappeared. Control of the power plants It now turns out that the Authority ESA is investigating whether Norway is doing enough for the red-listed wild salmon in the rivers, and asks a number of detailed questions in a letter: Does Norway agree that it matters how much water flows in the rivers to protect wild ax? What is Norway doing to check that the power plants follow common rules? news has asked for comment from ESA’s Deputy Director General, Marco Uccelli. He does not want to say anything now, because this is a case that has not been closed. The wild ax has been exterminated for eight kilometers in the river Aura. Photo: Christine Fagerbakke / news Investigating no to water in Aura The government said no to minimum water flow in the river Aura in Møre og Romsdal last summer. On its own initiative, ESA is now investigating whether the EU’s water directive is being violated in this specific case. The wild salmon is gone in the river, and so are the sea trout, eel and mussel. ESA is now asking to know what orders Statkraft receives, which owns the hydropower plant. What is being done to ensure that salmon return to this river? Norway must respond to the letter by 6 September. State Secretary Aleksander Øren Heen is positive that ESA cares about the wild ax, but Aura does not get more water. Photo: CECILIE BERGAN STUEDAL Power more important than salmon The government will not turn around in the Aura case. It is not relevant with more water. – We will not reopen a case that was closed last year by the previous government, says State Secretary Aleksander Øren Heen (Sp) in the Ministry of Climate and Environment. He says that the previous government decided that power production was more important. Now the rules can only be changed again in 30 years. The young fish need enough water in the rivers. ESA wants to know what Norway is doing to take care of the red-listed wild ax in rivers with hydropower. Photo: Christine Fagerbakke / news Free movement in many rivers Development of hydropower plants over fifty years ago has led to major environmental damage. At that time, a number of power companies received few or no requirements for how much water must flow into the rivers. The government is now re-evaluating the rules in 87 salmon rivers. Heen admits that Norway does not reach the environmental goals in all the salmon rivers. – We are glad that the EU and ESA care about Norwegian wild salmon. Then we have a number of rivers where we have had hydropower developments, and where we are unable to reach the goals we might have reached. It is part of the cost of having a renewable power production, which both Norway and Europe benefit from, he says. Lawyer Chirsti Erichsen Hurlen from Lund & Co, which is the secretariat for the National Association of Hydropower Municipalities (LVK). Photo: Christine Fagerbakke / news The municipalities demand water in the rivers The Aura case is closely monitored by the National Association of Hydropower Municipalities (LVK). What is happening in this case could lead to other salmon rivers. – Measures are needed that can reduce the negative consequences that any hydropower development can have. In Aura, the wild ax has virtually died out and the sea trout is threatened, says lawyer Chirsti Erichsen Hurlen. Now she is excited about how ESA will follow up the investigation they have started of Norwegian hydropower. – It is time to shed light on how the Norwegian authorities handle the EU’s water directive, because it has been part of Norwegian law for 15 years. Therefore, Norway must follow EU rules Norway has agreed to follow EU rules that apply to hydropower in rivers. This is part of the EEA agreement and was introduced in Norway in 2007. This means that the Norwegian authorities must report to ESA that the environmental goals have been reached for each river. The EU Water Framework Directive aims to ensure the protection and sustainable use of rivers, lakes, fjords and the sea. The goal is for it to be in good condition. In rivers that have changed greatly due to hydropower, the goal can be set to good potential. It must be the basis of life. Exceptionally, the least stringent environmental targets can be adopted. More about the EU Water Directive here. In such rivers, at least what is called good ecological potential must be achieved, there must be a basis for life in the rivers. If it is impossible or will cost too much, exceptions can be made with less strict environmental goals § 10. They have not given up hope of more water in Aura, Per Even Opsal and Kirsti Fagerslett who live by the watercourse. Photo: Christine Fagerbakke / news Those who live along the watercourse are excited For years, the minimum water flow in Aura has been a requirement from the municipalities, the county, river owners’ associations and community associations. Per Even Opsal has fought for water in the river for 17 years, ever since the matter was raised in the municipal council. Both he and Kirsti Fagerslett from Eira river owners’ association agree that hydropower is needed. Yet they have not given up hope of water. – It will be exciting to see what ESA brings in these times of high energy prices and war, Opsal says. – Now we are excited about what ESA concludes with. It will be of great importance both for Aura and other watercourses in the country, says Fagerslett. In many other watercourses they are waiting for answers. In hearings, more water is called for: Bjerka, Nordland «The river was rich in salmon and sea trout. The fish stock is in a critical phase. We do not have enough water to ensure a viable population. ” (Bjerka bygdefeskarlag) Heddøla, Vestfold and Telemark «The water flow is unpredictable and unsuitable for insight into spawning salmon. We have documented fish deaths. Minimum water flow and measures are needed to ensure a viable stock of salmon and trout »(Fiskeutvalget, Notodden JFF) Lundesokna, Trøndelag« The harvestable surplus of salmon has been sharply reduced. Lundesokna is strongly affected by power driving. Both minimum water flow and requirements for soft transitions are absent. “(Gaula fisheries management) Eidfjord watercourse, West Norway The situation for salmon has been critical for many years, hydropower is considered crucial. ” (FNF Hordaland) Daleelva, Vestland «Daleelva is strongly regulated and power driving is carried out. This leads to abrupt changes in the water flow, drying and stranding of salmon fry, spawning pits and spawning fish in the autumn. ” (Fagrådet Daleelva) Here the salmon is gone or reduced In river after river, the rules for Norwegian hydropower change. This applies to 187 watercourses, and 87 of the rivers have salmon. Fifty years ago, the power plants received few or no requirements for water flow. It was decided that the rules could be changed again after fifty years. news has taken a closer look at the 87 rivers that are or have been salmon-carrying. On their migration from the sea to the rivers, wild salmon are threatened by both salmon lice and escaped farmed salmon. When it comes to students, there may be a new threat: Little water. It has had consequences for salmon in these rivers: Møre og Romsdal: Salmon is gone: Salmon is reduced, hydropower has played a central role: Tafjord watercourse: Tafjordelva Litledalselva Eira Surna Todalsvassdraget: Toåa Svorka / Bævra: Bævra Vestland: Salmon is gone: Maurangervdraget : Austrepollelva Salmon has been reduced, hydropower has played a central role: Arnafjord and Viksvassdraget: Vikja Aurlandsvassdraget: Aurlandselva Jostedøla: Jostedalselva Jølstra Bøfjordvassdraget: Bøelva Eidsfjordvassdraget: Eio Bergdalsvassdraget: Daleelva Eksingedvavvvvisdra: Tealeedva : Sørdalselva / Arnevikselva: Arnevikselva Salmon has been reduced, hydropower has had a central significance: Teksdalsvassdraget: Teksdalselva Mossa Gaulavassdraget: Lundesokna Søavassdraget: Søa Nordland: Laks er borte: Sagelv- og Muskenvassdraget: Muskenelva Sulitjelmgaassdraget med Lul. Sørfjordvassdraget: Austerdalselva Blokkenvassdraget: Blokkelva, Eidelva, Innerdalselva. Salmon has been reduced, hydropower has had a central significance: Røssåga: Røssåga, Leirelva, Bjerka Ranavassdraget: Ranaelva, Plura, Tverråga Kobbelvassdraget: Kobbelva, Gjerdalselva Storelva on Hinnøy: Storelva Åbjøra opposite Åbjørvatnet. The power company does not agree that the salmon stock has been reduced. The state administrator in Nordland believes that low water flow has a negative effect on fish production. Skjoma. Rogaland: Salmon is gone: Salmon has been reduced, hydropower has had a central significance: Årdalselva Ulla-Førre: Ulla and Førreåna Hellelandsvassdraget: Hellelandselva Agder: Salmon has been reduced, hydropower has had a central significance: Sira-Kvinavassdraget: Kvina Sira-Kvinavassdraget: Åna-Sira Vestfold and Telemark: Salmon has been reduced, hydropower has had a central significance: Seljordsvassdraget: Bøelva Hjartdøla: Heddøla Skiensvassdraget: Skienselva from Klosterfoss Finnmark: Salmon has been reduced, hydropower has had a central significance. news has made the overview based on information from the water regions, fish managers, from the Salmon Register at the Norwegian Environment Agency, from fact sheets from the National Review for watercourses and researchers. We have also looked at statistics for the catches for each river at Statistics Norway. And we have seen the latest report from the Scientific Council for Salmon Management for 2021. Here you can check your river. For several decades, there has been a negative development in the salmon stock in the 449 Norwegian salmon rivers. The wild salmon was red-listed in the Species Data Bank last year. The wild salmon population has halved since the 1980s. The biggest threats to salmon are considered to be escaped farmed salmon and salmon lice and infections related to fish farming. Hydropower and other physical interventions are also major threats that reduce salmon stocks. Humpback salmon is a new threat. Acid rain has also reduced the population in some rivers. Of the 449 salmon rivers in Norway, 159 are affected by hydropower. 27 per cent of the watercourses are considered to have the highest degree of impact on salmon. It shows figures news has received from the Norwegian Environment Agency based on the latest report from the Scientific Council for Salmon Management. In other rivers, the impact from hydropower can be far less. On a scale from 0-3, 82 per cent of the salmon rivers with hydropower are considered to have an impact rate of 1 or higher.
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Norway must explain itself about hydropower and salmon – news – Climate
