Pink Salmon Stopped With Fish Barriers

"There has been some uncertainty as to whether it is possible to stop the unwanted pink salmon from making its way into the largest salmon rivers in Norway, such as the Tana river, the Alta river, and Neiden in Finnmark. We are happy this seems to be technically possible, although a number of criteria, such as costs, must be further investigated, says Ellen Hambro, Director of the Norwegian Environment Agency, in a press release. 

An expert group appointed by the Norwegian Environment Agency believes it to be technically possible to establish effective fish barriers in the lower parts of all three rivers so that the pink salmon can be sorted out.

This is the main conclusion in a new report from the expert group, which was given the task of investigating measures to prevent the migration of the pink salmon into salmon rivers in Finnmark, Northern Norway. 

By all accounts, 2023 will be another big year for the pink salmon.

This is due to the fact that the introduced salmon species has a two-year life cycle and it is the stock that spawns in odd-numbered years that has settled itself in Norway. Many are now working hard to be as prepared as possible.

In the Tana river, the Tana Watercourse Fishery Management (TF) carried out a pilot project last year, just below the Tana bridge, as part of developing a barrier.

The river was partly barricaded with the help of plastic stakes anchored by chains and the area was under video surveillance.