“Arctic waters are perfect for salmon farming”

The fishing industry is particularly important in northern Norway. Here in Finnmark county, it accounts for almost 7 per cent of private sector employment. Atlantic salmon farms are a significant part of it.

“Farmed salmon eat dry feed in the form of pellets. Around 30 per cent comes from marine raw materials such as fishmeal and fish oil, while 70 per cent of the feed consists of vegetable ingredients,” Sten Vonka Danielsen told the Barents Observer. With the introduction of vaccination in recent years, Norwegian farmers have eliminated the use of antibiotics in food, Norwegian seafood council reported. Fish farms are often blamed for contributing to the spread of sea lice – parasite that live on Pacific and Atlantic salmon. While the presence of this parasite is normal, the overcrowded cages of fish farms make it easier for the sea lice to spread.

But global warming could create a challenge in the future. Photos: Elizaveta Vereykina