Norwegian aquaculture needs partners to solve mortality challenges

The Norwegian Fish Health Report is published yearly by the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. This institution plays a crucial role in monitoring and assessing the health of fish in Norway’s aquaculture industry, setting standards for the sustainable management of aquatic resources and the well-being of both farmed and wild fish populations. This year’s report concludes industry challenges persist, impacting both the farmed fish and wild salmonids.

You can download the Fish Health Report 2024 in Norwegian here.

Alarming mortality rates

During the 2023 production cycle more than 100 million dead salmon and trout died during the on-growing seawater phase and in the land-based juvenile production phase.

The cause of the high mortality is described as an interplay between different factors that makes addressing health issues multifaceted.

According to numbers from the producers, infectious diseases continue to pose a significant threat to fish populations, causing around 30 % of the mortality. Serious diseases are constantly drawing closer to Norwegian waters, making it necessary to take proactive measures, states the Veterinary Institute.  

The industry has succeeded in reducing the sea lice challenge, but the parasite is still an important factor in explaining the mortality.

Also, poor water quality and other environmental stressors play a role making it harder for the fish to adapt to their surroundings can impact fish health.

Incentives to innovate

Norway is the cradle of farmed salmon and trout and is the number one global producer.  The future could be bright: Farmed seafood today accounts for more than half of the world’s seafood consumption and is predicted to continue to grow to supply a growing population with food.

However, to continue to grow the industry needs to invest in innovative solutions and prioritize the well-being of the basis for what is an important food source for a growing population and maintain Norway’s position as a global leader in aquaculture.

In response to the challenges in the industry, the Norwegian government is considering regulatory changes. A proposed Official Norwegian Report (NOU) released last year is proposing changes in the regulation of fish farming in Norwegian sites. The committee suggests several incentives for farmers willing to develop new and more sustainable sea farming solutions. The industry says cooperation in the value chain is key to reach new goals.

The industry has a huge potential to improve.

- We have good knowledge on how to prevent diseases from spreading. But the farmers must utilize this knowledge in their productions, said Deputy Director General Edgar Brun at the Veterinary Institute when releasing the report.

Joint industry initiative

For the first time, the producers report causes through the industry initiative AquaCloud, a data platform that collects data from participating. The data is masked and supplemented with external data for holistic datasets and could be shared with innovators and service providers who can supply the fish farmers with better production solutions.

Does your business have the knowledge and skills to use this data and provide the aquaculture industry with future-based solutions?

The Greater Bergen region is a unique, thriving seafood hub. Its dynamic ecosystem of salmon producers, researchers, universities, start-ups, and key authorities should make it a great location for your business to develop new services for the aquaculture industry to comply with sustainability demands. 

 If you would like to settle in our region, don’t hesitate to contact any of our advisors.