Stillehavslaks 2.0 - New knowledge and technology for sustainable capture of pink salmon

Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) poses a significant threat to native salmonids and river ecosystems in Norway. Establishing a regulated sea‑based fishery may be an effective measure to reduce the number of spawning individuals, while at the same time providing new income opportunities for coastal fishers. To achieve this, new knowledge is needed on capture methods, handling routines, and logistics.

The project brings together researchers, management authorities, and industry stakeholders to test relevant gear types such as purse seines and trap nets, drawing on experience from Alaska and Canada. Experimental fishing will generate data on efficiency, capacity, selectivity, fish welfare, and product quality. The work will also contribute to the development of protocols for catch handling and data collection in line with the guidelines of the Norwegian Environment Agency.

The goal is to build a solid knowledge base that can enable the future regulation of a targeted marine fishery for pink salmon — benefiting both the environment and the fishing industry.