The Icelandic Veterinary Agency (MAST) has confirmed that over 5,100 salmon fry escaped from a Samherji land-based hatchery at Öxarfjörður.
The incident occurred in May, but its full extent was only revealed recently, showing a much higher number of escaped fish than initially reported.
MAST reported that the escape happened due to a rise in the water level in the fry tank, causing fish to be sucked out through an overflow opening into a drainage box. The fry, weighing approximately 70-80 grams and unsmolted, may have smolted in a pond and reached the sea. Initially, 868 fry were found outside the tank, but the total number of escaped fry remained unclear.
MAST is investigating the incident and has requested detailed information from Samherji, including recovery actions and the exact number of escaped fry.
“During the investigation, it was found that the operator was unable to account for 5,196 fish, and the Food Agency concludes that this is the number of fry that may have [developed into] smolt in a pond and washed out into the sea,” MAST stated.
MAST also noted that the fish farm lacked sufficient fine-woven nets to catch the escaping fry at the time of the incident.
