Mowi, the world’s largest salmon farming company, has reported an escape at its Kveitskjeret site in Frøya, Trøndelag, following the discovery of significant damage to one of its nets.
The incident was disclosed by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries on Tuesday, September 17.
According to the report, the escape occurred during routine operations related to the delivery of fish for slaughter, when a large tear was discovered in one of the pens. The average weight of the escaped salmon is around five kilograms, though the exact number of fish that may have escaped has not been confirmed. Mowi has since deployed recapture nets in the area in an effort to retrieve as many of the fish as possible.
The Directorate of Fisheries has stated that it will continue to monitor the situation closely and ensure Mowi’s compliance with established protocols.
Escapes of farmed salmon are a significant concern for Norway’s aquaculture industry, given their potential impact on wild salmon populations. Farmed fish can compete with wild species for resources and spread diseases, adding to the environmental challenges facing the sector.
Mowi’s escape follows a series of incidents in recent years that have prompted increased regulatory scrutiny of salmon farming practices, particularly concerning the integrity of net pens and the potential risks they pose to Norway’s marine ecosystems.
