Up to 14,500 salmon escaped from a Mowi site in Nordland

After damage was detected in a net pen, up to 14,500 salmon may have escaped from a Mowi site in Nordland, according to a statement from the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries (Fiskeridirektoratet, Fdir, in its Norwegian name and acronym).

The report, issued on May 7, specifically referred to the facility that Mowi Seawater Norway AS has in Brattholmen, Herøy municipality, in Nordland county.

Following the incident, the company deployed recapture nets at the facility, successfully capturing three escaped farmed salmon. According to Fdir's statement, the fish in the cage affected by the net pen damage had an average weight of just over 4 kg at that time.

Following its standard methodology to determine the extent of the escape, the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries ordered Mowi to conduct a fish count. After carrying it out, the fish farmer reported a shortage of approximately 14,500 farmed salmon, although it also noted that there was some uncertainty regarding this figure.

While continuing to monitor the incident through inspections, again in accordance with its usual procedures, Fdir has also ordered Mowi Seawater Norway to conduct environmental monitoring and remove the escaped farmed salmon in the rivers following the incident.

Specifically, the order covers 10 rivers in the area between Halsfjorden, on the outer side of Vefsnfjorden, and Ranfjorden, two of which are listed as National Salmon Rivers.

As is also customary, the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries requested citizen collaboration, encouraging the public to report any catches and sightings of farmed salmon in the area, as these reports can help assess the extent of the escape and the dispersal of the escaped farmed salmon.

Preventing escapes, both from marine farming sites and land-based sites, is a priority for Fiskeridirektoratet. Thus, in December of last year, an investigation carried out on its behalf during 2024 and 2025 showed fewer findings of escaped fish from hatcheries on the West Coast of Norway.

"This indicates that the regulation on technical standards for land-based aquaculture facilities for fish has been effective, and that increased focus on technical standards and escape prevention is producing results," the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries said then.

In this case, neither Fdir nor Mowi have yet discussed future measures. However, on other occasions, the salmon company has gone further in its commitment to preventing the consequences of escapes from its facilities.

Last December, for example, its subsidiary in Scotland announced a long-term, wide-ranging scientific study to examine the potential impacts caused by the salmon escape from Mowi Scotland's Gorsten farm in Upper Loch Linnhe on October 5, 2025. The aim was first to monitor and then, where necessary, mitigate any adverse impacts on salmonid biology within the catchment area.