Cermaq recaptures 50 of 800 escaped salmon in Hammerfest.
Cermaq, the Norwegian salmon farming company, has recaptured 50 out of approximately 800 salmon that escaped from its facility in Rypefjord, Hammerfest, in northern Norway. The incident occurred early Friday morning last week during a routine transfer from a wellboat to a holding cage, when a pipe became dislodged, allowing the fish to escape.
The company has deployed recapture nets and offered a bounty of NOK 500 per recaptured salmon, according to NRK. Cermaq confirmed on Monday that 50 fish had so far been recovered.
Cermaq has announced it will investigate the incident thoroughly to identify the cause of the equipment malfunction and prevent future occurrences.
The escape has raised concerns about potential impacts on local wild salmon populations, as farmed salmon can interbreed with wild stocks, leading to genetic pollution. Authorities and industry groups have increasingly highlighted the importance of effective containment measures in preventing fish escapes.
