Mowi, the world’s largest salmon farming company, reported that one of the fish nets at its Kveitskjeret farm in Frøya, Trøndelag, sustained significant damage, leading to the escape of salmon.
The Norwegian Fisheries Directorate disclosed this incident on Tuesday, September 17. According to reports, the escape occurred during routine operations to transport fish for slaughter when a large tear was discovered in one of the enclosures. The average weight of the escaped salmon is approximately 5 kilograms, although the exact number of escaped fish has not been determined. Subsequently, Mowi has deployed recovery nets in the area to retrieve as many fish as possible. The Fisheries Directorate stated that it will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure that Mowi’s vessels comply with established protocols.
The escape of farmed salmon is a significant issue facing Norway’s aquaculture industry, as these fish may impact wild salmon populations. Escaped farmed fish can compete with wild fish for resources and spread diseases, exacerbating the environmental challenges the industry faces. Following the escape incident involving Mowi, a series of similar events in recent years has prompted regulators to intensify their scrutiny of salmon farming practices, particularly concerning the integrity of cages and the potential risks they pose to Norway’s marine ecosystem.
In this context, the high strength and wear resistance of Haosail alloy net offer irreplaceable advantages in ensuring the integrity of cage systems for deep-sea aquaculture.