Live salmon migration broadcast returns as researchers spot early arrivals in Etneelva.
The annual salmon migration in Norway’s Etneelva river is underway earlier than expected this year, with researchers confirming the first fish was logged on 15 April—a full two weeks ahead of the 2024 season. The early arrival, a female Atlantic salmon measuring 89 cm and weighing 5.7 kg, was recorded by the Institute of Marine Research (IMR), which oversees fish monitoring at the site.
Using a fixed fish trap and live-stream cameras installed in the river, the IMR is again broadcasting salmon movements as part of a scientific monitoring programme. All fish are individually measured, weighed, and DNA sampled. Wild salmon and sea trout are released after inspection, while invasive humpback salmon and escaped farmed salmon are removed.
As of this week, two salmon and one sea trout have passed through the trap and been recorded in the data series. “The water temperatures we’re seeing now are more typical of May,” said Per Tommy Fjeldheim, operations manager at the Etne research station. “That explains the early activity.”
Following the success of slow-TV hits such as moose migration broadcasts in Scandinavia and eagle nest cams in the US, the live salmon stream has attracted a growing audience online.
The Etneelva trap also serves as a valuable enforcement tool. Farmed salmon escapees remain a key concern for wild stocks, and genetic samples help track potential crossbreeding events.