Authorities in Norway have confirmed that around 80 farmed salmon have been caught by recreational fishers in a northern fjord system, weeks after a major escape incident at one of Mowi’s sites.
The country’s Directorate of Fisheries says the salmon were recovered in the Mjøsundet area, a coastal strait in northern Norway. The fish are believed to be linked to an escape in February involving an estimated 27,000 salmon from Mowi’s operations in the region.
The fish were reportedly harvest-ready, weighing around 5.5 kilograms at the time of the incident, which occurred after storm damage compromised a pen’s mooring.
The Directorate says it is continuing to investigate whether all the captured fish originated from the Mowi escape or if other sources may be involved.
Farmed salmon escapes remain a sensitive issue in Norway, the world’s largest producer of Atlantic salmon. While rare, large-scale escape events draw scrutiny due to concerns about genetic mixing with wild populations and regulatory oversight.
Authorities are asking the public to report further sightings or catches of farmed fish in the area to help determine the scope of the escape. Images and location data are particularly useful for assessing the spread.
