It is lawyer and salmon fisherman Svein Ove Balle who has reported the state and several ministries. Salmon fishermen across the country have been asked to sign that they support the review. So far, 1,300 signatures have been received. – I believe that the State has an overall responsibility for what is happening now. We have never had less wild salmon and sea trout than we have now, says Balle. Svein Ove Balle, lawyer and salmon fisherman. Photo: news He believes the state is contributing to the eradication of the wild salmon and sea trout populations in Norway by having granted licenses to the farming industry. In the appeal he writes: – By awarding too many farming licences, and then not supervising the farming industry itself, we have had escapes, major pollution of our fjords, salmon lice and diseases that spread to the wild fish. The ministries will not comment. This is a violation of Section 112 of the Constitution, the Environmental Convention from 1992, the Biodiversity Act, and Section 240 of the Criminal Code, writes Balle. He hopes the petition and the report will be treated fairly. – I submitted the report because I actually believe that an offense has been and is still ongoing. If no one had spoken or taken action, this would have taken place in silence. Neither the Ministry of Agriculture and Food nor the Ministry of Climate and Environmental Protection will comment on the report itself. – It is up to the police authorities to assess the reported conditions, and we have no comment on the content of the specific report, says communications manager Martine Røiseland at the Ministry of Climate and Environment. Bad catch in Bjerkreimselva Pål Magnussen is one of those who has noticed that everything is not as it usually is. He fishes in the Bjerkreimselva in Rogaland. – The season has started badly. I haven’t caught salmon yet, only trout. Usually I get more fish here in the river. It’s crazy that there are so few fish. Salmon fisherman Pål Magnussen. Photo: Jakub Spadlo / news Another person who has caught less fish than in previous years is Rick Henry Eskeland. He is a supervisor in Bjerkreimselva, and believes that the reason for the decline in the fish population is complex. He finds it difficult to say exactly who should take the blame. – Farming, salmon lice and pollution in the fjords, which has been going on for several years. There is no doubt that all this has had a negative effect on the fish population. Eskeland explains that the fish population in Bjerkreimselva is monitored in salmon traps. On 1 July this year, 612 fish had passed. At the same time in 2022, the number was 2,500. Salmon fisherman Rick Henry Eskeland. Photo: Jakub Spadlo / news Seafood Norway believes the blame must be shared Seafood Norway understands the frustration of the salmon fishermen, but believes it is not right to blame only the farming industry. – There is a significant decline in wild salmon also in areas without salmon farming, but we understand that there is a need for someone to blame when fishing is stopped by the authorities for the sake of wild salmon, says communications manager Henrik Wiedswang Horjen. Communications manager Henrik Wiedswang Horjen at Seafood Norway. Photo: Privat He points out that the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) itself says that climatic conditions in the sea are the most important reason for the decline in salmon stocks. – Over time, the aquaculture industry has worked purposefully to reduce our impact, and that work continues unabated. But everything that affects wild salmon should be seen in context. Hoping for more research In Dirdalselva in Rogaland, like many river owners, they have decided to cut the daily quota for fishermen from two to one salmon, and stopped short sales. Although salmon up to 14.5 kilos have been caught, the catch so far is about half of a normal season. – We cannot only blame the farming industry for the poor recovery of salmon. Warm seas and the fishing of monkfish can also be causes, but researchers should find this out, says chairman Terje Gilje of the Dirdalselva River Owners’ Association. Published 03.07.2024, at 18.07
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Svein Ove Balle reports to the state for eradicating wild salmon and sea trout – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
