ICELAND’S NATURE VS SALMON CULTURE
Fáskrúðsfjörður salmon farm Today aquaculture in Iceland represents one of the most flourishing sectors in Iceland essentially concentrated in the fjords of the east and the west. In these giant Icelandic fish farms, the specie that is farmed the most is salmon. The positive economic impact of these industries has been one of the main reasons for the development of these farms. But aquaculture is not an easy activity and must be controlled and regulated to ensure proper operation and avoid any risk of disease. These infrastructures have been particularly criticized for their environmental impact.
The salmon industry in figures The salmon in Iceland is relatively present due to good climatic conditions. On the island, there are 250 rivers, where almost 1/3 are considered salmon rivers. According to the website «Statistics Iceland», salmon production increased from 2015 until 2018, with a total of 13,448 tons of salmon in 2018. The production of salmon in aquatic cultures represents export revenues totaling ISK 30 billion in 2021. Among the different infrastructures, open-net farms
represent 3⁄4 of the fish farms in Iceland. These are favored over landbased farms due to their lower cost. These farms are thus well-trained industries, with a single goal, to make a profit.
PAGE 21
