Bluefin tuna blamed for salmon escape

The Bergen area based company Eide Fjordbruk AS  said it has identified damage to a seine at the Lyngholmane location in Solund after finding a large b luefin tunain a cage, which in Norway is often referred to as a mackerel sturgeon.

The Directorate says that the company reported yesterday (Tuesday)  that they had discovered major damage to a seine at their location Lyngholmane in Solund Municipality, Vestland.

The hole is around one metre wide and the dead fish was found at the bottom of the net.  The extent of the escape is not yet known but the salmon in the affected net weighs an average of 4.2 kilogrammes.

The Directorate of Fisheries  said it will follow up on the case according to normal procedure.

Large marine creatures such as sturgeon, seals  and dolphins can cause serious damage to coastal farms as they to get after the salmon.

Two weeks earlier the company Varde Fiskeoppdrett AS reported that major damage had been discovered in a cage at the Andal location in Bømlo municipality in Vestland.

The farmed salmon in the cage in question are over 2 kg in size. The company  says it has deployed recapture nets, but has not reported any recaptures.  The full extent  of the escape has so far not been disclosed but the Directorate is following up with inspections.