Norway is facing a dilemma: how to deal with the massive influx of pink salmon, an invasive species from the Pacific Ocean, that has colonized its rivers and coastal waters.
The pink salmon, also known as the humpback salmon or the pukkellaks, has been spreading to Norway since the 1960s, after being introduced by Russia in the White Sea as part of a fishery enhancement program.
Since then, the pink salmon has established self-sustaining populations in some northern Norwegian rivers, and has been observed in almost every river along the coast, from the Russian border to the Swedish border.
The pink salmon poses a serious challenge to the native Atlantic salmon, which is already endangered by overfishing, climate change, and parasites.
The Invasion of the Pink Salmon(Photo : TERJE MAROY/NTB SCANPIX/AFP via Getty Images)
The pink salmon competes with the Atlantic salmon for food and spawning habitat, and may also transmit diseases and parasites. Moreover, the pink salmon has a different life cycle and spawning behavior than the Atlantic salmon, which disrupts the ecological balance of the rivers.
The pink salmon spawns every two years, alternating between odd and even years, and dies shortly after spawning. This results in a large amount of decomposing fish carcasses in the rivers, which can affect the water quality and the food web.
However, the pink salmon also offers some potential benefits for Norway. The pink salmon is a valuable resource for the fishing industry, especially in regions where it is native or has been established for a long time, such as Alaska, Canada, and Russia.
The pink salmon is a popular food fish, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and protein, and can also be used for fish meal and fish oil production.
The pink salmon also attracts recreational anglers, who enjoy the challenge and thrill of catching the large and aggressive fish. Some fishermen see the pink salmon as an opportunity to diversify their income and to contribute to the local economy.
How Norway is Responding to the Pink Salmon Invasion
Norway is taking a proactive approach to manage the pink salmon invasion, with the aim of protecting the native Atlantic salmon and the river ecosystems, while also exploring the economic opportunities that the pink salmon may provide.
The Norwegian government has allocated more than 10 million Norwegian kroner (about 1.1 million US dollars) to support various measures to control and monitor the pink salmon, such as installing traps, nets, and weirs in the rivers, conducting scientific research, and raising public awareness.
One of the main strategies is to prevent the pink salmon from reproducing in the rivers, by removing them before they spawn or by destroying their eggs and nests.
This is done by setting up traps and nets in strategic locations, where the pink salmon can be easily captured and separated from the Atlantic salmon.
The traps and nets are operated by local fishermen, who are paid by the government for their service. The captured pink salmon are either killed or used for scientific purposes, such as genetic analysis, age determination, and parasite detection.
Another strategy is to encourage and regulate the harvesting of the pink salmon, both in the sea and in the rivers, by commercial and recreational fishermen.
The government has issued guidelines and regulations for the fishing of the pink salmon, such as requiring the use of selective fishing gear, reporting the catch, and releasing the Atlantic salmon unharmed.
The government has also launched a campaign to promote the consumption and marketing of the pink salmon, by providing recipes, information, and incentives to consumers, retailers, and restaurants.
The goal is to increase the demand and the value of the pink salmon, and to reduce the waste and the environmental impact of the fish.
The pink salmon invasion is a complex and dynamic issue, that requires a holistic and adaptive approach. The pink salmon is unlikely to disappear from Norway, as it has established a strong foothold in some rivers, and has a high dispersal and colonization ability.
Therefore, Norway needs to continue to monitor and evaluate the situation, and to adjust its management strategies accordingly.
The pink salmon invasion also poses some ethical and social questions, such as how to balance the ecological and economic interests, and how to respect the different views and values of the stakeholders involved.
The pink salmon is not only a biological invader, but also a cultural and political intruder, that challenges the identity and the sovereignty of Norway as a nation of Atlantic salmon.
The pink salmon may also affect the rights and the traditions of the indigenous Sami people, who have a strong connection to the Atlantic salmon and the rivers.
The pink salmon invasion is a test for Norway, as a country that prides itself on its environmental stewardship and its sustainable development.
The pink salmon invasion offers Norway an opportunity to demonstrate its leadership and innovation, by finding creative and effective solutions that can benefit both the nature and the society.
The pink salmon invasion also invites Norway to reflect on its relationship with the Atlantic salmon, and to reaffirm its commitment and responsibility to protect and restore this iconic and valuable species.
