Salmon in a cage.
Rudolf Svensen
A total of 62.7 million dead farmed salmon were registered in the sea phase in Norway in 2023. This data is reported by the farmers to the Directorate of Fisheries. Then, the Norwegian Veterinary Institute calculates the percentage of mortality.
Therefore, the mortality rate for salmon in the sea phase was 16.7%, up from 16.1% in 2022. According to the department director for fish health and fish welfare at the Veterinary Institute, Edgar Brun, these are the highest figures recorded so far.
In other words, an increase of 6 million from 2022 means those 62.7 million dead farmed salmon. Also, the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, confirms there are approx. 0.7 million fish that have not yet been categorized which may contribute to a minor correction of these overall figures.
In more detail, the institution noted that production area 3 (Karmøy to Sotra) had the highest mortality in 2023 with 25%, while production area 13 (East Finnmark) and 1 (Swedish border to Jæren) both had below 10%.
"Last year brought a change of pace in terms of attention to the health, welfare and mortality of farmed fish, and initiatives were taken in the industry and administration to improve the situation. We will return to what is behind the mortality in 2023 and other conditions that affect the health and welfare of Norwegian farmed fish in the Fish Health Report," commented Brun.