In Norwegian rivers the Pink salmon is regarded as a introduced species (foreign species), and has a status of being a high risk to the biodiversity (1). Pink salmon is a species of the Pacific salmon family and is known to be the most numerous of them. The first individuals in Norwegian rivers is dated back to 1958, after planned release of fry in rivers on Kola Peninsula. However, it is isn't until recent years the invasions of pink salmon to Norwegian rivers has become a problem. The first big invasion was in 2017, and the invasions in 2019 and 2021 was even bigger. The invasion in 2021 was actually eight times bigger than the invasion in 2017, with over 208 000 pink salmon caught or counted in Norwegians rivers and coastal areas i 2021 (1). 

Unfortunately 2023 is a new pink salmon year in Norway and we should be prepared for a new large invasion of pink salmon. 
So - whats the latest news? 

This week two important reports was published: 

1. Proposal for measures against Pink salmon in large rivers
2. Assessment of different tools at sea as measures againts Pink salmon

Is it possible to stop the Pink salmon from entering large rivers? 

A group of experts looked into the possibility of installing river trap systems in the lower parts of three large rivers (Neiden, Tana, Alta) in the fall of 2022 (3). Luckily the group found it to be technical possible to install traps in all three rivers. The system described to fit all three is a trap made out of float traps, grates and different types of catch devices. But to know if this really is possible to do in real life, it needs more testing and knowledge. In all the previous Pink salmon years in Neiden the locals made a huge effort to sort the Pink salmon out and remove them from the river, in a salmon trap, and they think they can manage to do the same i 2023 if they get enough funding from the Norwegian Environment Agency. Locals at River Tana has already started to develop and test a fish trap, and in River Alta they want to try a small-scale experiment of the solution presented by the expert group (3). 

But, what if we can stop the Pink salmon before they even reach our rivers? 

This was investigated by the Norwegian Scientific Advisory Committee for Atlantic Salmon (4). The aim was to evaluate the different methods used in Norwegian fishery for catching Atlantic salmon, to see if some of these methods could be used to catch pink salmon at sea, without causing a too high mortality rate in the by-catch of salmon, seatrout and char. The method Norwegian fishery used to catch salmon at sea in 2021, was found to not be a efficient measure against the invasion of pink salmon because of low catch rate. None of the types of fishing nets investigated was found to be relevant, because of very high mortality of the by-catch (up to 100% moratlity rate). However, a modified fishery with a kind of fishing net (kilenot) could work, but the amount of by-catch of Atlantic salmon shouldnt pass the amount of Atlantic salmon caught at sea in 2021 and 2022. With the analytics from this report, the council concludes that a targeted fishing after Pink salmon at sea in addition to normal fishing at sea for atlantic salmon, would lead to a too high catch of atlantic salmon and increase the catch of seatrout and char. If it is still concidered as relevant, the council recommends strongly to carry out a test fishery first with good documentation of the by-catch (4).

 To sum up: it looks like we in the rivers have to prepare ourselves to roll up our sleeves and keep on working to save the Atlantic salmon in 2023 aswell. 

Elveguidens contribution 

Catchreports. The system to deliver catch report in Elveguiden is the most used system in Norway! 44 300 catches was reported in our system in 2022. But only 34 of these were pink salmon. In 2023 we expect this number to be much higher, and we are working on a solution that makes it easier for anglers and managers to report the huge amount of pink salmon we expect in 2023. Do you want to know more? Reach out to us on mail: support@elveguiden.no

Do you want to help? 

Anglers: our biggest request to you is to go and do what you love - fish! Buy license and keep the joy of fishing. By buying license you support the rivers and landowners economic and motivational. If you want to do even more ask locals at your favorite river - we are sure they would be happy to get some extra help. 

Fin available fishing today! Click here!

Management and landowners: Read and look at different ways to catch pink salmon. Either by traps or other methods to catch them. The method used to catch pink salmon also apply to catch escaped farmed salmon, so this is important for several reasons. 

Relevant reports: 

• How to build traps in rivers 
• how to catch pink salmon - report from Finnmark 2021

Remember to talk and apply at Statemanagement before doing anything in the river! 

Sources: 

1. Forsgren E, Hesthagen T, Finstad AG, Wienerroither R, Nedreaas K og Bjelland O (2018, 5. juni). Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, vurdering av økologisk risiko. Fremmedartslista 2018. Artsdatabanken. Hentet (2023, 17. januar) fra artsdatabanken.no
2. Berntsen, H.H., Sandlund, O.T. & Thorstad, E.B. 2022. Pukkellaks i Norge, 2021. NINA Rapport 2160. Norsk institutt for naturforskning. Hentet (2023, 17.januar) fra NINA
3. Adolfsen, P., ,Alfredsen, K., Bremset, G., Dalsnes, B., Kraabøl, M., & Lia, L. (2023). Forslag til tiltak mot pukkellaks i store vassdrag. Miljødirektoratet. Hentet (2023, 18.januar) fra Miljødirektoratet 
4. Vitenskapelig råd for lakseforvaltning 2023. Vurdering av bruk av fiskeredskap i sjøen til bekjempelse av pukkellaks. Temarapport fra Vitenskapelig råd for lakseforvaltning nr 11, 107 s. Hentet (2023, 18.januar) fra NINA 

Fly fishing in Sweden, Scotland and Norway has never been easier to find! Find fishing license / rod license for salmon and seatrout fishing at Salmonrivers.com