The Norwegian government has proposed allocating NOK 28 million ($2.63 million) in the 2025 state budget to combat the spread of humpback salmon, a species that has caused significant problems in Norwegian rivers.
Last year, 249,496 humpback salmon were removed from rivers using various methods, according to the State Administrator in Troms and Finnmark.
“The government’s goal is to limit the spread of humpback salmon as much as possible,” said Climate and Environment Minister Tore O. Sandvik in a press release.
The alien species poses a major threat to wild salmon, with 183 tonnes of humpback salmon caught in 2023—exceeding the amount of Atlantic salmon caught in Norwegian fjords.
The government highlighted the success of measures in 2023 and plans to strengthen efforts as another large influx of humpback salmon is expected in 2025.
In addition to the humpback salmon efforts, NOK 22 million ($2.07 million) has been earmarked for gyro treatment of rivers in the Drammen region, where the parasite Gyrodactylus salaris poses a significant threat to wild salmon.
In the press release, the government indicates that salmon fishing was closed in many large salmon rivers this summer after record low numbers of salmon returned to the rivers to spawn.
