800 farmed salmon escape from Cermaq site in Hammerfest.
A salmon escape involving approximately 800 fish has been reported at a Cermaq site in Rypefjord near Hammerfest, northern Norway. The incident occurred early Friday morning during the transfer of fish from a waiting cage to shore, when a pipe used in the operation detached, allowing fish to enter the sea, according to NRK.
Cermaq’s regional director, Gunnar Bragi Gudmunsson, said the event should not have happened and described it as “shocking.” According to Gudmunsson, it took workers around 90 seconds to detect the breach and stop the release.
The incident has been reported to both the County Governor and Hammerfest municipality. The Directorate of Fisheries is expected to assess potential enforcement action.
The fish are understood to be fully grown, weighing around 6.5 kg, but not yet sexually mature. Gudmunsson expressed hope that this would reduce potential harm to wild stocks should the escaped fish enter nearby rivers. However, environmental groups remain concerned.
Torfinn Evensen, secretary general of advocacy organisation Norske Lakseelver, said the escaped salmon could threaten wild stocks in both the Repparfjord and Alta rivers. “Two out of three salmon rivers in Norway already show genetic mixing with escaped farmed salmon,” he said. “In some rivers, it’s so extensive that we’re seeing what amounts to genetic pollution.”
Evensen warned that the fact the escaped salmon are not yet mature offers little reassurance. “All salmon become sexually mature eventually,” he said, noting that the timing of the escape coincides with low wild salmon densities in many rivers, heightening potential impact.
The escape follows several similar incidents in recent years. According to the Institute of Marine Research, over 90,000 farmed salmon escaped from Norwegian facilities in 2024. Industry figures estimate that only around 10% of escaped fish are recovered.
Evensen warned that without stronger action, the damage could become irreversible in some rivers. “Altaelva is iconic and should be on UNESCO’s World Heritage list,” he said. “We can’t afford to repeat the mistakes made further south.”
