Wild salmon under threat
One of Europes best salmon rivers, the Tana River in Finnmark, northern Norway, is about to be destroyed by overfishing. A report from the Norwegian Directorate of Nature Management shows that salmon in several of the large tributaries is already gone.
Both Norwegian and Finnish scientists have contributed to the report which was published this week. The report states that seven out of ten salmons that go up the Tana River is caught before it reaches its spawning area. In addition there is extensive ocean fishing for salmon along the Norwegian coast.
Tana River is by far the most productive salmon river in Norway, but now it is slowly dying. And the heavy harvesting is absolutely legal. Studies show that the diffusion of salmon in the Tana water system is reduced from 1200 km to 1000 km.
The scientists are especially concerned for the big sized salmons that spawn in the largest tributaries furthest up the stream. The salmon that spawn in the rivers Karasjokha and Lesjohka start their migration early, and is therefore exposed for heavy harvesting on their long journey up the river.
The Norwegian Directorate of Nature Management means that it is not salmon diseases or human constructions in the river that causes the decrease in salmon population. In their opinion the decrease is mainly due to the heavy harvesting. This must be reduced drastically, both in the river and in the ocean, if the river is to be saved.
