The researchers from Norce travel around and shoot escaped farmed salmon with a harpoon – news Vestland

– The most important thing is to spot the salmon before it spots you. Then you have to be lightning fast and accurate. Researcher Helge Skoglund, researcher at Norce in Bergen. He sees himself as the most accurate in the research group that has specialized in taking out escaped farmed salmon. When there is a major escape in this country, they are the ones who are called. – Some people call us the “Death Squad”. In any case, it’s interesting to keep going. They collaborate with both local fishing and river teams, and with farming companies. When an escape occurs, they try to prevent farmed salmon from spawning with wild salmon in the rivers. The research group has recently been on assignment in Iceland. Harpoon most effective After years of testing, the conclusion is clear. The researchers have been hunting in the rivers since 2012. The most effective weapon against escaped salmon or aure is a harpoon and a snorkel. Cork yarn or rod can be used when taking out domesticated salmon, but let the wild salmon live. Snorkeling in the rivers means that the researchers can take out 53 percent of the escaped fish that are there. – We don’t solve the problem, but we can reduce the damage, says Skoglund. When farmed fish mix with wild fish, it can destroy the genetic stock of the salmon in the rivers. This also makes wild salmon stocks more vulnerable to disease. In short, it makes the wild populations less viable. The researchers recently hunted salmon in Iceland. Photo: Norce More measures must be taken – Measures must be taken to prevent salmon escaping. If necessary, it must be ensured that farmed salmon cannot spawn with wild salmon, says Skoglund. A report from the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research finds that the industry has succeeded in reducing the number of escapes. But much damage has already been done. There are genetic traces from escaped farmed salmon in two out of three wild salmon in this country. Something most important for the “death squad” is to distinguish between wild salmon and domesticated salmon. It is not easy when you have to react quickly with the harpoon. – It’s important to get an eye on the salmon before it gets an eye on you. Then you only get one chance with the harpoon. Skoglund says the team can take out several dozen escaped farmed salmon on a good hunting day. – It’s like being part researcher and part special soldier. Helge Skoglund is a researcher at the laboratory for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (LFI) in Norce. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news Published 19.06.2024, at 20.57



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