Norwegian Seafood Giant Offers Bounty for Escaped Salmon
27,000 Atlantic Salmon Break Free from Farm
Mowi, the world’s largest producer of Atlantic salmon, has encountered a significant setback after approximately 27,000 of its prized fish escaped from a farm located off the coast of Troms, Norway. The incident occurred when a fence at the farm was damaged during a storm, allowing the salmon to swim to freedom.
Reward Offered for Retrieval
In an attempt to recover the escaped fish, Mowi has announced a generous bounty of 500 kroner (approximately $44 USD) per fish. However, the reward is only applicable to registered fishermen who capture the salmon and bring them to a designated center.
The weight of each escaped salmon is estimated to be around 12 pounds, indicating that they were close to the harvest stage. The average weight of an Atlantic salmon typically ranges between eight and 12 pounds, according to the website of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Risks to Wild Salmon Population
Salmon researchers have expressed concern about the potential impact of the escaped fish on the wild salmon population. Monica Solberg, a researcher at Norway’s Institute of Marine Research, believes that if the farmed salmon interbreed with wild salmon, the characteristics of the farmed variety, such as increased size and growth rates, could alter the genetic makeup of the wild population.
Additionally, Solberg highlights the critical importance of keeping farmed and wild salmon populations separate, especially given the declining numbers of wild salmon. She emphasizes that the escaped salmon could further exacerbate the population decline if they interbreed with wild salmon.
Mowi’s Response
Mowi has acknowledged the incident and is actively working to retrieve the escaped fish. Representatives of the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Environmental Concerns
The escape of a large number of farmed salmon raises environmental concerns as well. Farmed salmon are often treated with antibiotics and other chemicals to prevent diseases, and these substances can potentially harm the marine environment if they are released into the ecosystem.
Conclusion
The escape of 27,000 Atlantic salmon from a Norwegian farm has highlighted the challenges associated with fish farming and its potential impact on both the environment and wild fish populations. Mowi’s decision to offer a bounty for the retrieval of the escaped fish underscores the importance of mitigating the risks associated with fish farming and ensuring the preservation of wild salmon populations.
