"I'll stop the day our salmon farming damages the nature of my ancestral land"

Skarvfjell is one of eight salmon farming sites in the Varanger Fjord, owned and operated by Lerøy Aurora. It is located at a latitude of 70 degrees, in Norway's closest fjord to Russia. The Arctic waters are known for having good conditions, preventing high values of lice, for instance.

The density of sites in this area however, is modest compared to other parts along the Norwegian coast line. Out of the 110 sites in Finnmark county, only 14 of them are located in eastern Finnmark and eight of them in the Varanger Fjord.

Johansen believes that the few sites are related to the earlier lack of knowledge in the Arctic:

"Earlier, we believed it was too cold and extreme. The first constructions in the industry were not beneficial for the Arctic climate. The cages were made out of wood and we didn't have the right equipment," he says.

After 20 years in the Varanger Fjord, Johansen believes that Lerøy Aurora has learned from their flaws and can now manage to take better advantage of the conditions. In addition to the two decades of learning, salmon farming has even deeper roots in the high north. The regional manager reveals what he believes is a miscommunicated local fact: 

"Salmon farming in the Varanger Fjord began in the 1980s and is a tradition that has lasted for over forty years."

Both tradition and knowledge are key points in Lerøy Aurora's application, he argues. They are now in a bureaucratic process of getting a permit to operate four new sites in the Varanger Fjord. A permit will increase the density by fifty percent. Along comes employment in private sector and further investments in local business.

Johansen believes that this investment is sustainable. The resistance however, comes from local fishermen. Their trawling-nets lacks cod more than ever before, according to the Institute of Marine Research, which are studies supported by local observation.

Expanding while taking care of the environment

The past is important for the well experienced regional manager. He has Sámi background and speaks passionately about his roots, which he believes strengthens his argument for the industry's sustainability.

"I'll stop the day our salmon farming damages the nature of my ancestral land," he says when explaining how much impact he believes salmon farming has on the Varanger Fjord.

He follows up with an example:

The eight sites don't operate simultaneously as Lerøy Aurora fallow their sites regularly. According to him, this move especially relieves the nature from persistent damage. The seabed gets time to recover.

"Every industrial activity leaves a footprint. It doesn't necessarily mean that the impact will last. After fallowing, we examine the seabed and after a while the footprints should be gone," he explains.

"Do you believe your application will be approved?"

"Yes," he says confidently.

The leader of Eastern Finnmark Fishermen's Association answers differently, but with the same confidence. Arne Pedersen believes he will stop the expansion of salmon farming in the Varanger Fjord.

Permits without knowledge

When visiting the local, but well-known fisherman in Vadsø, the Barents Observer is met with a different opinion. Not only does Arne Pedersen note that there is less fish in the fjord he lives next to. He believes pollution from the salmon farming is responsible for the lack of cod in the fishermen's nets.

"It is true that every industrial activity leaves a footprint. However, in this case I wonder if it is an attempt to justify the poison these farms are polluting the fjords with," he says.

Although Pedersen criticizes the salmon farmers, he emphasizes that the main responsibility lays with the authorities who allow new sites in the fjord. According to him, the assessments have not been thorough enough, and he believes that the state has not requested the right information to make a valid decision.

“For decades the state has been giving out permits to salmon farming in the Varanger Fjord without knowing which toxins are being released,” he says.

When mentioning toxins, he mostly points to the chemical substance used to impregnate the cage nets on the farms. Tralopyril has replaced a large amount of the copper, which he argues damages plankton activity, and affects spawning grounds in the fjord.

The salmon farmers impregnate the cages to prevent their nets from fouling, and to keep constant water flow, giving natural oxygen supplementation. The net masks are tight, and the impregnation is made to break down the algae blocking the water flow.

"You can say it is made exactly for killing the planktons, the foundation in which makes the fjord livable. These chemical substances leak out in the fjord and chokes the fish," he states.

When asking the regional state administrator in Finnmark county about their assessment regarding allowance for the present farming sites to drift, the state administrator confirmed to Pedersen that information regarding Tralopyril was not requested.

Pedersen further argues how long it takes for these substances to decompose:

"You can be certain that a large amount of the substances from forty years ago are still here in the fjord. The sea current is not the same as the fjord current. These substances don't flow out to the sea, they are driven into the fjord."

"Do you believe Lerøy Aurora's application will be approved?"

"No," he answers.

Impact on local fish stock

Despite having a major part of the local politicians on his side, Jan-Børre Johansen is well known with the resistance in the local community.

"I welcome different opinions in a democracy, especially about activity and development in society," he emphasizes before continuing:

"Salmon farming is the world's most sustainable production of protein. We believe that these local arguments against lacks knowledge and insight in what we do. Parts of the resistance is based on thin facts. We welcome thorough science-based decisions, which we believe support our activity." 

"Don't you believe your salmon farming affect the local fish stock, as local fishermen experience?"

"It is true that there is less fish in certain places, but we don't believe our salmon farming is the reason for this. We have the opposite experience. For instance, in my home municipality, Skjervøy, has one of the highest densities of salmon farms in our production area. Despite the many farms, my family fill their fish quota right outside their front door. Coming from a fishing family, my grandfather tells me that there hasn't been a better time to catch wild fish," the regional manager answers.

"What about the emissions from your impregnated nets?"

"We do not use net impregnation containing the active ingredient Tralopyril. This substance is now known to pose environmental challenges, so we fully understand why Arne Pedersen raises this issue," he answers.

The biocid Tralopyril got approved by the EU in 2015, an allowance that expires in 2027. New assesments are currently underway by Norwegian Environment Agency, according to an official statement from Norway's Minister of Climate and Environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen.

"We currently use an impregnation product called Netwax E5 Greenline," Johansen then emphasizes.

"What is important, in any case, is that we do not cause an accumulation of copper in the environment beyond its natural carrying capacity. This could result in damage to the natural environment and marine fauna. Therefore, it is essential to maintain control over its use, and not least to monitor whether unacceptable local accumulations of copper occur. The impregnation product we use is approved by Norwegian authorities, and there are reporting requirements to the authorities regarding its use."

Future fishing industry

After discussing environmental questions at Skarvfjell, Johansen further express the importance of looking at a wider picture. While including the care for environment when measuring the industry's sustainability, he also emphasizes the need for three pillars; care for environment, employment and investments in local business.

"While many think that only care for the environment decides whether an industrial activity is sustainable or not, society and economy are equally important factors. When establishing new sites, we increase employment and buy goods and services locally," he states.

The Barents Observer challenge Arne Pedersen, leader of Eastern Finnmark Fishermen's Association, on how he visualizes economic growth in local society going forward.

"What is the future of local fishing industries if these locations would be denied?"

"There is, after all, a limit to how much growth you can generate from a fjord. Every fjord has a carrying capacity, and that limit has been reached. It is not compatible with the ecosystem," he says.

A recent report about risks in Norwegian salmon farming, shows that Eastern Finnmark has one of the best scores regarding both emissions and fish welfare compared to the twelve other production areas along the Norwegian coast line. 

However, the report points out that Eastern Finnmark has the lowest production and few salmon farming sites. The report states:

"Since there are few facilities here and considerable variation between year classes, the strength of the evidence underlying this assessment is considered weak."

The question lands on Lerøy's Regional manager:

"Could we expect the same green numbers from future reports, if the density increases?"

"If we were to increase production, we believe it would work perfectly well. In addition, there would not be less monitoring with more sites. If it turns out that we are challenging sustainability, then we should not continue. But let me be clear — we would not have applied for a permit if we did not believe this is sustainable."