NORWAY
Problems persist The latest report on mortalities in the Norwegian salmon industry show that the numbers are still too high BY VINCE MCDONAGH
our “effWhen orts are
A
highly cri�cal report on the state of fish health in Norway’s salmon sector has been published by the country’s Veterinary Ins�tute. Parts of it do not make for comfortable reading with calls for new thinking to tackle the various problems. The latest data from the Norwegian Veterinary Ins�tute Fish Health Report 2020 shows that more than 52 million farmed fish died before their scheduled harvest date last year. The figure is close to the record total in 2019 when 53 million fish died prematurely, but that was the year when algae unexpectedly struck a sec�on of the Norwegian coastline, resul�ng in eight million extra deaths. Taking that incident out of the picture, 2020 has to be the worst year yet. The report says that such a high figure suggests too many fish are prone to diseases of one sort or another. The Ins�tute’s department director Edgar Brun said: “The challenges within welfare and disease in salmon have not improved in Norwegian farming. When our efforts are not having an effect, it is �me for new thinking on the problem.” Norway’s Fisheries Minister Odd Emil Ingebrigsten said the mortality rate was far too high and mainly due to the way salmon lice were being treated. He also expressed concern about the number of Infec�ous Salm-
34
Norway mortalities - Vince.indd 34
not having an effect, it is �me for new thinking
on Anaemia (ISA) cases although the country did have an efficient monitoring system which was able to contain outbreaks. The report provides an annual picture on fish health using data gathered from fish farms, fish
”
www.fishfarmermagazine.com
12/04/2021 15:58:19
