Reddvillaksen´s basic facts about wild salmon

Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

Dear friends of the wild Atlantic Salmon Reddvillaksen is a nonprofit voluntary foundation established with funding from Mr. Orri Vigfusson/ NASF, formally established in 2008. The foundation is committed to bring Atlantic salmon and sea trout back to abundance. Our main tasks are: • • •

• •

Open pen nets must be converted to closed containment technology - now!

Double marking for identification and traceability of all farmed salmon Salmon nets in the sea are illegal, fishing on mixed- endangered - and other countries’ stocks Promoting catch & release policy and stricter bag limits Improvement of spawning areas and living habitats

Reddvillaksen (NASF Norway) has extensive cooperation with the river-owner organization Norwegian Salmon Rivers (Norske Lakseelver).

A small volunteer organization like us needs a partner with professional access to decision-makers in business and politics. Reddvillaksen is a participant in the Norwegian Alliance for the Wild Salmon together with Norwegian Salmon Rivers and 9 other organisations/NGO’s. The main purpose of the alliance is to provide the Norwegian Parliament and the public with scientific facts about the situation and how it can be solved.

Just like Norwegian Salmon Rivers, we do not oppose farming of salmon on a general basis. But we hold that such an important industry, which hopefully will generate food and income for future generations, must be managed in a sustainable way. An international multi billion industry should

not have a wild card that generates a massive conflict with traditional fishermen and most others in the areas they operate. Our politicians must set a strict framework that avoids such conflicts.

Facebook has become Reddvillaksen’s forum for information, dissemination and discussion. We strongly believe that our input, along with many other voices that speaks on behalf of the wild salmon and sea trout, has a mission. Without this, the fish farming industry would have been much larger and the problems would have escalated even more. We all know what happened when the farming industry collapsed in Chile. In our opinion the Norwegian industry should endorse the resistance we provide. Scarcity in the market has led to very good margins on farmed salmon and it is literally Christmas eve every day for the shareholders. We keep our fingers crossed that some of this money will be reinvested into improvements of production methods.

This compendium, which is made by Norwegian Salmon Rivers, is an example of how important scientifically based arguments are in the debate about the wild salmon. The challenges for the wild salmon may differ from country to country.

Nevertheless, there are many common denominators we can collaborate on. We all stand up against an international industry and mostly the same companies and threats. We must cooperate better. This is the reason why we have made this information available in English.

Jens Olav Flekke Chairman, www.Reddvillaksen.no

Reddvillaksen .no

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Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

» 400 Salmon

rivers

» 100 000 sport

Fishermen

» approx 1,3

billion NOK annual turnover Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

3

Threats facing the wild salmon The figure on the right is from the Scientific Advisory Board for Wild Salmon Management (VRL). This is an independent group of scientists appointed by the Norwegian Environment Agency (MD). All of the council’s 12 members have special competence within different fields that are connected to salmon, ecology and fish health. The members are personally appointed based on their professional qualifications and do not represent the institutions they are employed by.

Every time There is scientific an escaped and political consenfarm salmon sus that the issues of salmon lice (Lepspawns eophtheirus salmonis) with a wild and farmed-salmon escapements are critical salmon for the future of the wild the wild salmon. salmon loses Before the summer some of its of 2015, the Norwegian Parliament gave genetically the Ministry of Trade, unique Industry and Fisheries features.

(MTIF) the go ahead to establish a completely new management regime for the salmon industry. During 2017, the coastline will be divided into 13 production areas for salmon farming. Every other year, in each area, the licensed production capacity of each fish farmer will be adjusted, based on an evaluation of the effect of lice on the populations of wild salmon in the area. For the first time we may see a regional reduction in farming production for the benefit of the environment. NL has always been very posi-

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Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

tive to the new controlling regime and hopes its implementation will lead to a sustainable farming industry in the long run.

The escapement of farmed salmon is unfortunately an even bigger problem than sea lice according to scientists. Every salmon river has its own unique salmon population that has adapted to the local conditions through the process of natural selection over thousands of years. The farm salmon however, is bred for a life in the unnatural conditions presented in the sea cages. Every time an escaped farm salmon spawns with a wild salmon the offspring loses some of its genetically unique features. This is particularly worrying when it happens in areas in which the farm salmon is most dissimilar to the wild populations, as is the case in Finnmark, Northern Norway. Genetic studies published by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) show that the salmon populations furthest north belong to a distinct genetic group. Norwegian farm salmon are mainly bred from Mid-Norwegian and South-Norwegian salmon populations. An intrusion of such salmon on the spawning redds in our salmon rivers of the far North can lead to greater genetic changes than would occur in rivers further South. In the first Norwegian study published on the subject it was shown that the salmon population in the Vestre Jakobselv river was among those showing significant genetic changes as a consequence of spawning activity by escaped farm salmon.

The latest status report on genetic interference unfortunately showed that 81% of 104 researched Norwegian populations did not meet the authoritie’s minimum requirements of good quality as a result of the impact from escaped farm salmon.

Effects Development

Source: Vitenskapelig råd for lakseforvaltning (VRL) ­– Statusrapport 2015.

Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

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Why friends of the wild salmon are most concerned about salmon lice and salmon escapements As shown in the illustrations on the two previous pages, the threats facing the wild salmon are many. All the threats are evaluated yearly and the figure is updated accordingly. The threats from the salmon farming industry, that is to say escaped farm salmon and sea lice, are not under control and could threaten any single population’s existence. Scientists call these threats existential.

The documentation from the scientific community is overwhelming and an increasing number of published research reports further underline the seriousness of the situation.

This does not mean that other threats are underestimated. The salmon parasite Gyrodactylus salaris, an alien species in Norwegian nature, has been a huge problem. Fortunately, the authorities adopted a plan early on for the extermination of this parasite. Several expensive but successful treatments have been completed and out of 49 initially contaminated watercourses only seven rivers remain to be treated.

A large scale, long-term plan has also been completed in order to lime acidified rivers in order to re-establish salmon in the southernmost rivers.

As a result we now have viable salmon populations in the rivers Mandal, Audna, Lygna and several others. And where there are salmon, there are also anglers.

When Norwegian watercourses were regulated for hydro-power purposes the wild salmon were ignored in many places. According to agreed contracts, the conditions for power production will now be revised in more than 30 salmon rivers.

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Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

Our demands when it comes to these revisions are: a statutory minimum water flow; safe migration routes for fish; a ban on so-called effect runs (rapid changes in water flow); the installation of bypass valves which will ensure a constant flow of water; and drawing off surface water in order to reintroduce normal seasonal variations in water temperature.

All the other human-made impacts shown in the figure on page five are also important. For us who care about the wild salmon, we are therefore working with a broad spectrum of problems and challenges. In many of our rivers a tremendous effort is being made by river owners to facilitate the fish’s migration, spawning and early life. The most important work being done in the rivers is to ensure that there are enough fish left on the spawning redds after the fishing season so that the rivers can produce their maximum number of salmon smolts. This goal is continuously being achieved to a greater extent, but as the number of salmon returning to our rivers is decreasing the rewards are severely reduced compared to earlier times. It is because we have taken responsibility for our own taxation of the salmon why we feel entitled to make such demands to limit the threats caused by the salmon farming industry, which, scientists now say, poses the two most serious threats to Norway’s wild salmon.

» resistant sea lice

can now be found all along the coast

» 244 000

the official number of escaped salmon and rainbow trout in 2015 Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

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The salmon louse – a deadly parasite A sea or salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) is a parasite found on salmon, sea trout and char in salt water. It feeds off the mucus and skin of the fish.

Mortality caused by salmon lice is one of many reasons that only 5-15% of migrating smolts return to spawn as adult salmon in the wild. For a small smolt on its way to the sea, five lice could be enough to weaken it sufficiently and cause mortality.Because of salmon farms the number of salmon lice colonies has risen drastically and as a result there are now more salmon lice in the fjords and coastal waters than ever before. In intensive salmon farming areas migrating smolts of salmon, sea trout and char will experience a higher level of infestation than in areas with fewer fish farms. In several countries experiments have been carried out which substantiate that smolt mortality caused by salmon lice from farm sites leads to a 15-20% reduction in the number of adult salmon returning to the rivers to spawn. This reduction is in addition to natural mortality and other man-made mortality.

In strong salmon populations this will have a limited effect. In weak salmon populations it may pose a direct threat to a population’s existence. For sea trout and char, which stay in coastal waters during their time in salt water, the salmon lice may pose an even bigger threat than it does to salmon.

The correlation between salmon lice in fish farms and salmon lice on wild fish is very complicated. Water temperature is a decisive factor that controls both the smolts’ migration time and the development and potential dissemination of the lice. The infective way salmon lice are dispersed by fjord and coastal currents relative to migrating smolts is essential to the infestation pressure.

Naturally, the amount of salmon farming in an area is a significant factor.

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Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

There are large problems connected to the medicinal treatment of salmon lice. Repeated usage of such treatments will inevitably make the lice less sensitive or totally resistant to the medicines. None of the medicines used are completely effective anymore. Multi resistance is seen in several regions.

The most drastic measure for the salmon farming industry is wiping out the next generation in lice-affected locations, combined with reduced stocking levels in the cages. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority enforces the law for salmon lice regulations and has since the autumn of 2014 followed a far stricter line than earlier. The veterinary communities warn that we are on overtime when it comes to development of alternative treatments.

The salmon farming industry has lately made use of non-medical treatment methods on a large scale. These comprise using fresh water and warm water, as well as the mechanical removal of lice. These methods often lead to high mortality of the farm salmon and neither reduced total infection pressure on the wild salmon.

When fighting parasites and diseases on domestic animals, prevention will always be preferable to treatment. Preventative measures include vaccine development, breeding with a goal of increased natural resistance against lice and, perhaps the easiest, physical barriers that will deny the lice access to the farm salmon.

Regarding the last measure, several solutions are currently being worked on and snorkel cages, lice skirts, semi-closed and fully closed pens have all proved effective. Typically, lice infestations and lice problems are reduced in line with closed containment. We believe that the only way forward is leading towards fully closed containment farms.

Foto: NJFF-Hordaland/Gisle Sverdrup

> 5 Salmon lice can kill a small sea Trout or Salmon

In all fight against parasites and diseases, prevention will be preferable to treatment

Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

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Escapements cause genetic change All the populations of Norwegian farm salmon originated from a small number of wild salmon populations. Through breeding the farmed stocks become more and more distinct from the wild salmon populations.

The farm salmon are bred for a life in captivity and for traits such as fast growth, late maturation, disease resistance, meat coloration and fat content. One of the effects of farming is a smaller genetic variation among farm salmon than among wild salmon. A genetic variation as large as possible is important 31 waterwhen the salmon populations in the courses are wild are adapting considered to changes in the as threatened environment such as climate changbecause es. Having a large of having genetic variation is too large a the wild salmon’s concentration life insurance.

Farmed of escaped farm salmon, including salmon. escapees, develop faster than wild salmon in the first phase of life. Escapee offspring will therefore displace its wild relatives in the river.

When it gets older however it is more susceptible to predation, which makes it less likely to survive.

This could easily create a vicious circle where the native wild salmon is displaced as fry, while the fast growing salmon with farm genes die in a later phase. In other words there are losses at both ends of the salmon life cycle.

In Norway there are 465 watercourses that hold or have held their own population of salmon. The goal is to classify every population within a quality

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Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

norm for wild salmon, defined by the authorities.

The parameters are: a population’s harvestable surplus (in percent of the normal situation), and a population’s genetic integrity (how affected they are by farm salmon). There are 5 levels of quality: very good; good; moderate; bad; and very bad.

The authority’s minimum requirement is the second best category of “good condition”. To achieve this the harvestable surplus cannot be reduced by more than 20% (all causes included) and the population cannot be genetically influenced by farm salmon. The Scientific Advisory Board for Wild Salmon Management performs an annual condition assessment of all the salmon populations.

In 2016, 104 salmon populations were classified for the first time under the new system. Only 23 of the rivers achieved the minimum requirement of good quality. In the rivers that failed to meet the minimum requirement, genetic impairment due to escaped farm salmon was the cause in 70% of the cases.

It is a statutory duty to report every escape incident in Norway, and the Fisheries Directorate (FD) is responsible both for registering escape episodes and for surveillance in the rivers and in the ocean. The FD also has the responsibility of initiating emergency measures in case of escape episodes, while long-term planning for reducing the general level of escapees in Norwegian rivers is taken care of by an individual council (OURO).

OURO was created in 2015 and consists of representatives from the breeding industry, the FD and the MD. In the fight against negative effects of escapedfarm salmon, a huge problem is the difficulty of identifying escapees in the wild. This is especially so when the fish escaped in an early life stage and so consequently are not charac-

Foto: Norske Lakselver

Farmed salmon caught in the fish trap in the Etne River in Hordaland. Hordaland has one of the highest concentrations of salmon farms and the state of the region’s wild salmon population is generally bad.

terized by their life in captivity. Another problem is that many salmon farmers fail to report escape incidents, even though this is mandatory. The solution in both cases is to tag the fish so that they can be recognized and traced back to their lawful owner. A combination of adipose fin clipping and marking with CWT marks (Coded Wire Tags) fulfils the tagging need. This combination method is used on millions of salmon in the USA and Canada every year and can easily be implemented by the

salmon farming industry. The costs of marking the fish would be less than 0.1 NOK/kg, compared to the current production cost of 30-35 NOK/kg.

We want to make the tagging of farm salmon mandatory, as it is with other domestic animals.

That way, escapees can immediately be traced back to the source. The principle that the polluter pays needs to be upheld.

Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

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Other diseases AGD as an example The salmon’s world is filled with diseases. The fish farming industry periodically struggles with substantial losses caused by bacteria, virus and parasite related diseases.

With today’s open-pen cage technology there is a free flow of pathogens between the enclosed salmon and the environment around the cages.

All diseases in farmed salmon come from wild fish.

In the cages infectious agents are easily spread among the fish and disease may quickly occur.

In such events a pen Infected wild full of farmed fish fish are never will easily turn into a massive infection resfound, and ervoir, which reverses will become the general infection part of the big process to now going black sack – from farmed to wild fish. Diseases, includ“reduced ing their prevention survival at and treatment, cost sea” the salmon farming industry large sums every year, but with the exception of sea lice there is very little knowledge on how diseases disperse from the salmon cages and to what extent they are threatening wild salmon.

Currently amongst the most serious farmed fish diseases are the viral diseases including, pancreas disease, infectious salmon anaemia, heart and skeletal muscle inflammation and cardio myopathy syndrome. Of the bacterial diseases there are especially different ulcerative bacteria that are problematic, and among the parasites is the amoeba Paramoeba Perurans, causing amoebic gill disease (AGD), that stands out. During the last two years the number of incidents with this disease has increased dramatically. The disease

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Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

can cause high mortality if it is not treated.

AGD has been a huge problem in salmon farms in Tasmania, where the disease has occurred for at least 25 years. In 2006 the disease was seen in Ireland and Scotland, causing much trouble from 2011. Then it was found in Norway too and since 2013 it has been prevalent in the counties of Rogaland and Hordaland. The disease was virtually absent in the winter and spring of 2014, but in August 2014 the disease returned in full strength, spread to a far larger geographical area (northwards to Nord-Trøndelag) and lasted longer into the winter. AGD has also been registered in other species including the fish, like wrasse, that are used to control sea lice numbers in the cages.

The amoeba must therefore be denoted as a generalist that is able to make use of many different fish species as a host. Scientists at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences thinks the disease is here to stay and there are many indications suggesting that it will spread to new areas and maybe become an issue throughout the entire year.

The sea trout, living its entire marine phase in coastal waters, has been severely affected by salmon lice from the salmon farming industry. High numbers of lice on the trout causes increased stress, mortality and premature return to fresh water. Many factors suggest that AGD, unfortunately, could affect the sea trout in the same way as salmon lice.

The main issue with various diseases able to affect wild fish is that they are extremely challenging to document. Moribund fish swim off, die and contribute to the increasing number of fish constituting weakened ocean survival. Closed containment farms would have solved a lot of the problems, both for the salmon farming industry itself and for the wild fish.

Foto: Jannicke Wiik-Nilsen

The picture shows a farmed salmon with ADG. The disease leads to high mortality if left untreated, but wild fish cannot be medicated.

Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

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A new management regime fo what does that mean for the w What

How

A new management regime for the aquaculture industry will be established in the autumn of 2017. The Norwegian Parliament and the government have decided that the production of salmon at all times should stay within the environment’s tolerance limits. To begin with it is the effect of salmon lice on wild salmon that is to be the decisive environmental indicator for production adjustment. There is room for other indicators to be added in time, including indicators for eutrophication, indicators for the use of medicines and indicators for production losses. A large amount of professional bodies think production losses are a good indicator for sustainable production.

Norway’s coastline will be divided into 13 production zones. In every single zone the effect of salmon lice on wild populations of salmonids is to be evaluated every other year. The areas will then receive a red, yellow or a green light. A green light grants a production growth of 6%; a red light dictates a 6% decrease in production; a yellow light means an unaltered production.

The limits suggested by the government are: Low risk/impact: It is likely that < 10 per cent of the population of migrating wild smolts die as a result of lice infection.

Moderate risk/impact: It is likely that 10-30 per cent of the population of migrating wild smolts die as a result of lice infection.

High risk/impact: It is likely that > 30 per cent of the population of migrating wild smolts die as a result of lice infection.

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Reddvillaksenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basic facts about wild salmon

or the breeding industry – wild salmon?

Terms for industrial growth • Parliament has decided that the sustainability targets that were defined by the government in 2009 are to form the basis for when increased production is to be considered.

Regarding diseases and salmon lice it states specifically: “Fish diseases in aquaculture, incl. parasites are not to have a regulating effect on the populations of wild fish.” In plain language this means that wild fish should never be endangered by fish farming.

• Parliament and the government further agree that the quality standard for wild salmon should form the basis when increased aquaculture production is to be considered.

The quality norm builds on the nature diversity law, which in turn emphasizes ecosystem-related thinking when anthropogenic environmental impacts are to be planned or evaluated.

• All of this would indicate that the concern for wild salmon is well taken care of in the new management regime for the fish farming industry. Unfortunately however, it seems that the government will fail in the last phase. At the same times as stating that the salmon production should be reduced if the effect of salmon lice on wild fish is unacceptable, they have placed the bar high on what should be called unacceptable.

Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

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 Driva  Toåa  Søya  Surna  Orkla  Børsa  Gaula  Nidelva  Homla at Stjørdalselva  Levangerelva  Verdalselva  Steindalselva  Stordalselva  Nordelva  Skauga  Vågsbøelva



  



   

Production sites in Trøndelag (one of the 13 proposed areas) How to determine growth?

In all production areas there are big differences when it comes to the populations of wild salmon and sea trout concerning their quality status in accordance to the authorities’ quality norm.

Some populations are in a very bad state, while others are of good or very good quality. It is yet to be decided which salmon populations in each production area are to be included in the assessment basis when fish farming production is to be adjusted. Should the weakest salmon populations be taken into account, a selection of rivers for reference, or all the rivers after a stroke system where

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one weighs the rivers based on population size?

This is yet to be decided.

So it is only when more than 30% of all the salmonid smolts die from salmon lice that the government will regard the effect as unacceptable and will reduce salmon farm production.

We believe this an unacceptably high tolerance for the industrial impact on our wild salmon resources and asks the following question: 1. When the government specifies that the salmon farming industry is to be controlled by the environment. How then, can one delay

The quality norm for wild salmon



 



VRL, appointed by the MD, is monitoring selected watercourses in Trøndelag. Each population’s condition is evaluated yearly after criteria given in the quality norm for wild salmon. There are five quality classes.

 at 



Excellent Good

The map shows all watercourses with anadromous salmonids, national salmon fjords (green shaded fjords), as well as approved marine locations for fish farms (red dots) in one of the production areas in central Norway. The rivers have been given colours for the quality status VRL have considered them worthy of. The quality norm forms the basis of the evaluation. Blue rivers are not evaluated by VRL. The rivers marked with a triangle are only considered on the basis of a partial norm: harvestable surplus.

reducing production until it is likely that 30% of the wild salmon population dies as a result of salmon lice?

2. Why is there no compliance between the authorities’ own minimum requirements in accordance with the quality norm, and what is to count as acceptable impact (yellow light) in the new traffic light system?

3. How can the government give the effect of salmon lice on wild salmon a quota (up to 30% of the population), when Parliament has

Moderate Bad Very bad

Good condition is the quality norm’s minimum requirement. To achieve this the harvestable surplus cannot be less than 80% of normal harvestable surplus. In yellow, orange and red rivers, the salmon populations are of an unacceptably low quality.

defined a sustainability target proposing zero negative effect of salmon lice?

The way forward There are a wide range of conditions that need to be clarified in order to ensure that it is indeed the environment that decides if or by how much the salmon industry can grow, in the way Parliament and the government have stated. Environmental sustainability must be based on ecological grounds and not politically chosen limits.

Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

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Closing of cages turns waste into a resource The world is to be greener – and fees need to be implemented so that pollution and wasteful consumption becomes unprofitable. There is broad political agreement on this in Norway. We are to recycle instead of creating waste. The world is to rid itself of fossil fuel energy at a speed hardly imaginable only a short while ago. We argue that waste sludge from the fish farming industry should be included in these plans. The sludge constitutes an enormous resource that today is simply wasted, with pollution and loss of potential energy as a result.

According to Bioforsk (report Vol. 9 (27) 2014), sludge from one ton of salmon has a biogas potential up to 1.9 MWh. This means that Norway’s total salmon production could produce up to 2.4 Twh annually. If Norwegian fish farming is to be increased fivefold, as the government wants, the biogas potential equals enough electricity to power 480,000 households. This is the same as 15 Alta River power plants!

To begin with, by using closed cages and collecting the sludge, the internal energy needs of the farming industry could be covered to a large degree. Lorries, which today account for all salmon transport to Oslo, and most of the transport to Europe, should furthermore be able to run on bio fuel derived from the salmon waste. Surplus energy may also be used for electricity production and sending green energy in to the main grid.

After the biogas element has been extracted from the sludge, the nutrients in the waste remain intact and available for exploitation. Phosphor is especially important. Fish farming accounts for 75% of Norway’s phosphor emissions, while at the same time phosphor is becoming a scarce resource globally. The world’s known phosphor resources are believed to be exhausted in the

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next 30 to 50 years. Given this situation we cannot allow ourselves to throw it into the ocean.

If collected, it can be recycled and concurrently the risk of eutrophication of fjords and coastal areas is reduced. This is, in other words, a win-win situation.

There are other benefits by using closed cages. The free-swimming phase of the sea louse takes place in the upper few metres of the water column. Closed cages, drawing off water from below the preferred depth of the lice will prevent infestations and in turn reduce the prospect of infestating wild salmon. The reduced need for delousing would also save the industry enormous expense. Savings would come from not only the delousing operations, but also due to reduced mortality (which is substantial) and the reduced number of periods of no feeding. In closed systems the water can be filtered and disinfected, reducing the infection pressure from pathogens other than the salmon lice. The closed containment technology has taken huge leaps lately, but its development is in need of an extra push through clearer political guidance.

Bonuses connected to giving clear guidance on closed containment farms are cleaner fjords, lower social costs and less conflict with the wild fish industry and environmentally conscious consumers. The winners are the fish farming industry itself as well as the next generation, who will be able to benefit from a food production that is sustainable at every level.

Âť If we collect

the waste sludge from sea-cage sites, it could in the future pose an energy resource equivalent to the electricity needs of 480.000 households.

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National salmon fjords and salmon rivers In 2003 Parliament protected 37 important Norwegian salmon rivers and 21 fjords in connection to them. An additional 15 rivers and 8 fjords were protected in 2007.

The salmon populations in these rivers and fjords are to have special protection against the negative effects from other community interests.

Protection covers all the way from the spawning grounds through the fjords towards the open ocean. The populations involved are also to be prioritized in the The populations general work in national being done to strengthen the salmon rivers wild salmon. are to be This involves prioritized in the action against the â&#x20AC;&#x153;salmon killerâ&#x20AC;? general work Gyrodactylus salbeing done to aris, restoration of strengthen the habitat areas and revisions of the wild salmon. terms for existing hydro-power plants. Compensatory measures include wild fish stocking programs in regulated watercourses, the liming of watercourses, population surveys, measures against salmon of farm origin, measures against salmon lice and strict regulations in salmon fishing.

Parliament decided that in the national salmon rivers activities that could harm the wild salmon are not to be allowed. In the salmon fjords no further establishment of fish farms is allowed and existing businesses are to be subjected to stricter demands regarding security against escapes and stricter demands for control of salmon lice and other diseases.

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Reddvillaksenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basic facts about wild salmon

The success of the establishment of national salmon fjords and rivers will be evaluated in 2017.

At the last evaluation in 2013, performed by the Institute of Marine Research, HI and NINA, it was shown that the larger the protected areas less salmon lice were found on wild sea trout. Not surprisingly the reason was, among others, the distance from the rivers to the closest fish farm.

Scientists found a correlation between lice on wild sea trout and daily production of salmon lice larvae in fish farms located up to 30 km from where the sea trout were caught.

Scientists found that the protection effect in small national salmon fjords seemed to be strongly dependant on production management in the salmon industry in the immediate region. The infection pressure on wild fish in small protection areas coincided with the production intensity in the area. Small protection areas thus provide less protection against salmon lice.

The national salmon river Alta has experienced periods with high numbers of escaped farm salmon, creating concerns for the unique population of large salmon in the river.

Foto: Torfinn Evensen

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Hydro-power and salmon Towards 2020, the authorities will revise the terms for the hydro-power plants in more than 30 salmon rivers. We believe that this will be an opportunity to secure environmental improvements in these watercourses.

Today, many salmon die in turbines or are left stranded when there are sudden drops in water level. When the old production provisions come to be revised, stricter environmental requirements should be made. We also believe that more rain in Norway, due to climate changes, should benefit both the salmon and hydro-power producers.

Minimum water flow In many regulated rivers there is no minimum required water flow, or the requirement is very low.

It is especially critical if the water suddenly drops after the spawning season. Deposited eggs are then exposed to air and/or critically low temperatures during the winter. Increased minimum water flow, adapted to each river’s needs, must be implemented. There is also a need for regular flushes on stretches of river with minimum water flow to ensure a natural distribution of spawning salmonids along the entire river. This must be done together with proper installation of fish ladders so fish can access the upper parts of watercourses.

Barrier-free migration routes When one has facilitated for the spawners to make their way upstream in the autumn, and for the survival of eggs and fry, one must also ensure that the smolts can migrate down the river safely past power plant turbines and dams. The water intakes to the turbines must be screened to prevent smolts from passing through the deadly turbines.

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Effect on runs Today’s power production is adapted to the market’s demand, resulting in huge variations in water flow downstream of power plants. If the water level drops rapidly newly deposited eggs or small fish may get stranded and die. The Biology Diversity Act must be used to prevent rapid changes of water level and flow in our rivers to protect wild salmonids.

Bypass valves Bypass valves at dams prevent sudden stoppages of water flow in cases of technical failure in the power plants. Such valves, properly dimensioned, must be installed in all types of dams.

Drawing off surface water Water is normally drawn from the bottom of the dams, resulting in water temperatures that are too high in winter time and too cold in the summer.

This leads to slower fish growth and greater mortality. All regulated rivers should be provided with surface water to ensure natural annual temperature variations.

Foto: Statkraft

The development of the Alta River was one the big controversies in Norwegian environmental struggles.

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Mining and the dumping of waste in national salmon fjords The Ministry of Climate and Environment has recently given Nussir ASA permission to dump 1-2 million tonnes of mining waste in Repparfjorden each year. The reward is short lived. The access to resources here will not support more than 15-20 years of operations. Previously, the government permitted Nordic Mining AS to dump 250 million tonnes of mining tailings just outside the national salmon fjord Førdefjorden, which holds the famous salmon rivers Nausta and Jølstra.

These two deciThe first hours sions undermine the protection of wild and days in salmonids ordered by seawater is Parliament through very essential the establishment for the of national salmon fjords and salmon rivSalmon. ers. In the guidelines for national salmon fjords it states: “industry that involves risk of serious pollution that could harm the wild salmon are not tolerated.” The permission given to the mining companies thus violates the intention in the law, which specifically demands special protection (of salmonids) against negative effects caused by other community interests.

The problem with dumping of mine tailings is that the bed of a fjord is turned into a desert. Benthic ecosystems disappear and pelagic species higher in the water column may also be affected.

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Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

The salmon swims in the uppermost water layers on its way through the fjord, but the conditions on the bottom will still impact on the salmon’s survival. The fjord is a vital feeding ground for the wild salmon smolts, who begin their search for food the moment they leave the river mouth. The first hours and days in sea water are very decisive.

This is confirmed by a study published in The Journal of Fish Biology in 2009. It was documented that a direct connection between the amount of fish larvae in the stomach of wild salmon smolts captured in Trondheimsfjorden and the number of returning grilse the following season. Intact ecosystems with natural biological production in the fjords are therefore decisive for the survival of the wild salmon in the early ocean phase.

Both the IMR and VRL have pointed on our lack of knowledge on how mining waste in the ocean affects wild salmon.

Several organizations complained about the decision before EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) for violation of the water framework directive. The complaint was not supported by ESA.

Foto: Natur og ungdom

The decision to give Nussir ASA permission to dump 1-2 million tonnes of mining tailings in Repparfjorden each year have resulted in protests from the environmental organizations, the fish farming industry, the coastal fishing industry and the river owners, but our protest were not taken into account.

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Angling tourism The wild salmon is a large cultural and natural resource in Norway. Being present in 465 rivers from the South to the North, the wild salmon has founded settlements and played a central part in the economic development of many local communities.

From the mid-19th Century mountaineering and salmon angling laid the foundations for today’s nature-based tourism in Norway. Following the second World War sport-fishing equipment became available to a larger number of Norwegians and salmon angling grew as a hobby for everyone. This is unique to Norway. In most other countries salmon fishing is a part of the rich man’s world.

When names such as Alta, Namsen, Tana, Vosso and Årøyelva, amongst others, are well known outside Norway, it is because of their burly salmon. The size of the Norwegian wild salmon is unique, and it gives us an advantage when developing salmon fishing tourism. If the anglers stop coming we will lose the community commitment to the wild salmon and in many places also the economic driving force for sustaining local communities. When we give future generations the possibility to partake in this incredible experience in nature, we are securing both the environmental concern and commitment related to our wild salmon resources and thriving local communities.

Today, the revenue from the wild salmon business is approximately 1.3 billion NOK ($119,000,000). It has the potential to generate close to three billion NOK ($357,000,000) if the resource is maintained and angling tourism is organized. The home market counts for approximately 100,000 anglers. In addition to this there are visitors coming primarily from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, United Kingdom and Germany.

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Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

New digital media makes it easier both to sell and buy access to salmon fishing via the web and mobile phones.

This is what the authorities should do to secure the foundation for wild salmon tourism: n Make it easier for those who are investing in and committed to salmon fishing tourism to buy additional land with fishing rights. n Give incentives through subsidies which will stimulate increased voluntary cooperation between land owners and salmon anglers. n Make it possible for competent local salmon fishing providers to coordinate and/or take over fishing rights which otherwise do not constitute an attractive salmon fishing tourism offer. This may provide a better choice of salmon angling in the rivers and so increase the quality of the fishing.

This is an important precondition for a production development in line with the quality demands of modern salmon fishers. n Contribute economically to increasing the profile of salmon angling tourism and providing access to the market by establishing a national salmon angling portal online. n Stimulate co-ordination between the many landowners and entrepreneurs with fishing rights in order to solve the common problems faced when it comes to developing angling tourism.

This is a natural follow up of the law demanded from Stortinget about mandatory organization in salmon rivers.

Foto: Hans Kristian Krogh-Hansen

» Norway’s

big salmon represent a great advantage for fishingtourism Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon 27

The future is closed Norway has a long coastline and tough weather conditions. To move today’s fish farms out into the open ocean, exposing them to powerful wind and waves, is hardly the way to go in order to deal with the problems. Such solutions are just old technology in new wrapping. With too many eggs (salmon) in one basket much can go wrong, such as lice and other pathogens, escapees and the release of nutrients. If there is one thing 40 years of oil production in the ocean has taught us, it is that there are no guarantees against accidents.

Closed containment technology is the way to go in order to create a future where farm salmon and wild salmon can live side by side. Solutions such as these do not need to be positioned at exposed sites, but can be located inshore since there is no risk of polluting the local environment.

Here is a small overview of the main players in the market:* n Akvadesign, in Nordland, have been trying out closed cages for nearly five years. Today they have 14 operational cages, six of them measure 3000 m3, the rest are a little smaller. They have had neither lice, disease nor AGD. These results are published in a three-year study in collaboration with VI. n Sulefisk in Sogn and Fjordane launched their Eco cage in 2015. The closed cage measures 6000 m3 and includes four intake pipes of 25-27 metres, which are placed beneath the water column containing sea lice.

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Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

n Nekton Havbruk in Møre and Romsdal are testing several types of closed breeding technology. Akvatech have provided a solution with a semi-flexible wall, which has been operative for a year. In co-operation with Botngaard, they developed another site with a flexible wall and it has contained fish for two summers. n The Haugesund located company AquaFarmEquipment has come far with closed breeding technology. n In Florø FLO Marine’s closed breeding location is to become a rigid raft with built in tanks. It is in development. n Preline Fishfarming Systems’s closed cage consists of pipes that simulate conditions of swimming in a river for the fish. The solution has been operative in Lerøy Vest in Samnanger since the summer of 2015. n Engesund Fiskeoppdrett wants to build a closed, floating concrete plant for the smallest fish. n Hauge Aqua, in collaboration with Marine Harvest, is planning the testing of the new “eggs”.

These are egg-shaped, closed constructions measuring from 5000-22000 m3. * This is not a complete overview.

Foto: Aquafarm Equipment

Technology for closed cage farming can create a future where farmed and wild salmon can live side by side

The Haugesund based company Aqua Farm Equipment is one of the leaders in closed farmed Technology.

Reddvillaksen’s basic facts about wild salmon

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Facts about salmon Human activity has led to the extinction of several populations of wild salmon.

From river to ocean, and from ocean to river Salmon spawn from October to December and their eggs lay buried in the river gravel until they hatch in April/May. In the course of two to six years, 0.5% to 2% of the fry develop into smolts and migrate to the ocean. These small salmon are approximately 12 to 18 cm long. The salmon grow fast in the ocean and after one to three years they mature and migrate back to their natal rivers to spawn.

Foto: Hans Kristian Krogh-Hansen

The Atlantic salmon. Norway is today one of the salmonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strongholds and holds a significant share of (approximately one-third) of the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total population.

The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) lives in rivers draining into the northern Atlantic Ocean.

In Europe their range stretches from northern Portugal in the South, to Petchora, Russia, in the North, as well as in the British Isles, Ireland and in Iceland. In Greenland there is one population in the River Kapsigdlit. The Atlantic salmon is also present on the East coast of Canada and the USA. Historically, salmon were present in the Hudson River in New York.

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Reddvillaksenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basic facts about wild salmon

Norwegian salmon enter rivers from May to August The largest salmon are first to arrive, while the smaller salmon dominates later in the summer.

The salmon run also starts earlier in southern Norway than in our northernmost rivers. Norwegian salmon have a reputation for being huge, but not every river contains large salmon. This is especially true for the smaller spate rivers with a large variation in water flow.

The salmon prefers to migrate upstream in periods of high water. Once upriver it tends to seek out deeper pools where it stays waiting for the spawning time in October and November. The spawning tends to take place in shallow areas of the river.

The males develop a lavish spawning costume When spawning time approaches the salmon changes its silvery colour is replaced by grey, copper and red. The males develop the most impressive colours and their lower jaw also develops a prominent hook, or kype. The females do not develop so showy colours and develop no kype. The fish returning after only one winter in the ocean usually weighs between one and three kilos, and are often male. The salmon that have spent two winters in the ocean weigh between three and ten kilos and are often female. After three winters in the ocean the size may vary from six to twenty kilos and are mostly males.

High natural mortality A medium-to-large sized salmon develops on average 1,450 eggs per kilo of body weight. This means that a female weighing 7 kg will lay approximately 10,000 eggs. Of these, 9,000 will hatch but after the first summer there will only be 1,800 individuals left (5%). For each year the young salmon spend in the river the number is halved.

Two years after the hen laid her 10,000 eggs only 450 of the offspring will be left alive.

The salmon becomes a smolt and is ready for its marine phase after two to six years in the river. Of the 10,000 eggs there are maybe only 25 individuals left by the time they are smolts. And the mortality goes on. Under natural conditions only 5 to 10% of the smolts return as spawners one to three years later. In later years the survival from smolts to adult spawning fish has been very low, fewer than 5% in some rivers.

Source: MD

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Facts about sea trout The sea trout is the same species as the brown trout (Salmo trutta). The trout populations often consist of a mixture of both resident and anadromous individuals, with the anadromous proportion varying from river to river. There is usually a predomination of females among those with anadromous life cycle.

Sea trout are found in several thousand streams and rivers along Norwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coastline. In large rivers they frequently live alongside salmon and also alongside anadromous char in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark.

Takes advantage of small streams Juvenile sea trout prefer slower moving water compared to juvenile salmon, and are far better at utilising small tributaries than salmon. Sea trout can overwinter in rivers other than its natal river, but it will return to spawn in its natal river.

The sea trout spawns in running water in the autumn and almost half the populations will spawn more than once in a lifetime. The eggs hatch in the spring and the juvenile fish spends its first seven years in rivers and streams or lakes.

Like the salmon they become smolts after one to seven years (normally 2-4) and migrate to the ocean in the spring.

Life in the ocean Out in the ocean the trout disperse, but unlike the salmon it stays in the fjords and coastal waters.

Few swim further than 30 to 40 km from their natal river. A few fish may migrate up to 100 km.

The length of the marine phase varies between populations and can last from less than 45 days, to 362 days. Only approximately 25 % survive the first year. In southern Norway the sea trout may

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Reddvillaksenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basic facts about wild salmon

mature after its first summer in salt water. This rarely happens in northern Norway, where the sea trout also lives longer for up to eight to nine years.

Migrates every year Once a smolt the sea trout migrates between salt and fresh water every year through its entire life, but in some areas it may overwinter in the ocean.

This is an adaptation for increasing its growth.

Small fish like gobies, sprat and herring are important prey in the ocean. The sea trout usually migrates out earlier and returns later in southern rivers compared to northern populations.

In large rivers, the upstream migration starts in July and August and may extend throughout the autumn. The sea trout from big rivers mostly overwinter in fresh water.

In smaller rivers and streams the sea trout usually migrates upstream just before spawning time and then immediately returns to the ocean.

This is safer than overwintering in a stream where there may be dangerously little water during the winter. In the coldest part of the winter many sea trout prefer areas with brackish water.

Source: MD

Foto: Vilhelm Thilesen

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Facts about char Anadromous char The anadromous char(Salvelinus alpinus) is an important game fish in Nordland, Troms and Finmark. There are approximately 100 watercourses containing anadromous char in Norway. The char lives alongside salmon and sea trout in most of these watercourses.

The southern border for char is at Bindalen in Nordland, and its southern distribution is believed to be restricted by temperatures in the ocean.

Returning to its natal river The char has a life cycle similar to that of the sea trout. They migrate out into the fjords in the spring and early summer for a few weeks of grazing on marine prey, before returning to fresh water for overwintering and/or spawning. Spawning in other watercourses other than its native watercourse is known to happen.

After two to three years of migration between the sea and freshwater the char matures. The males are then approximately 25 cm and the females are about 30 to 35 cm. In some rivers the char can grow to 4 kg and 5 kg, but in most rivers few reach 2 kg.

Like salmon and sea trout, the char spawns in the autumn and the eggs hatch in the spring.

Char are different from salmon and sea trout as spawning mainly takes place in lakes. The spawning season may last up to two months within the same area.

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Reddvillaksenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basic facts about wild salmon

Connected to the coast The char stays in the ocean from 30 to 50 days.

The species never migrates far into the ocean and seldom range more than 20 to 30 km from the home river.

During its first stay in salt water its weight increases by 75% on average and increases in length by 2 cm to 4 cm. This can vary a lot though between different populations. Only 15 to 30% survive the first summer in the ocean. Of the individuals who are larger and older, 75-85% survive.

Source: MD

In the '70s the salmon in Tovdalselva was extinct. Now it is back in full measure thanks to liming.

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• More Salmon in the rivers • Better Salmon fishing for all • Responsible local administration • Removal of Gyrodactylus salaris • Les sea lice on wild fish • Les farmed salmon escapees • More water in regulated rivers • Liming of acidic waterways • New environmental standards on mining

– Rivers full of life!

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