The humpback salmon is coming back! How you can save Norwegian salmon rivers

Humpback salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) are native to the northern parts of the Pacific Ocean. The fish species, also known as zombie salmon, has been present in Norwegian rivers since the 1950s, but it was not until the late 1980s that the population increased significantly. The spread to northern Norwegian salmon rivers began in the 1960s, after a stocking on the Kola Peninsula in Russia.

In 2017, humpback salmon were registered in large parts of Europe. Every other year from 2017 to 2023, rivers in Eastern Finnmark were most affected by the humpback salmon problem.

Nevertheless, the Norwegian Environment Agency reports that both the population and the geographical distribution have increased rapidly in recent years.

In Norwegian salmon rivers, 249,496 humpback salmon were harvested in 2023, of which over 170,000 were caught in fish traps.

The Vesterelva in Nesseby (Finnmark) was the river where the most chum salmon were caught in 2023, in a trap manufactured by Nordic Steel.

Flexible way to catch humpback salmon

The trap in Vesterelva is one of nine traps that were produced by Nordic Steel for the 2023 season.

This humpback salmon trap is a slatted trap, and is made of aluminum. The equipment consists of guardrails, catch cages and work platforms.

The parts are manufactured in sections and screwed together to make assembly and disassembly easier. This makes the traps portable and takes up little space during storage.

If the traps are set up at the beginning of the river, near the mouth, the humpback salmon will be sorted out before they reach the watercourse.

Why are humpback salmon a problem?

• Humpback salmon die after spawning and rot in the rivers in the fall.
• The rot affects both water quality and can also have a negative effect on other species.
• The humpback salmon can carry a disease that infects salmon, trout and sea char.
• Large shoals can displace and disrupt the behavior of salmon, sea trout and sea char, and create problems for fishing.

What does a humpback salmon look like?

A simple characteristic is that the species has black spots on its tail fin. A sexually mature male fish also has a shape on its back that resembles a hump, which is the reason for the name humpback salmon.

In addition, the male has a marked hook on his upper jaw, and the jaw lengthens during spawning season.

The species has a recognizable black tongue, and small scales.

Can produce traps in large and small sizes

Are humpback salmon a widespread problem in your local salmon river? Nordic Steel can produce traps in all sizes, and tailor the design to your needs and wishes. If you have any questions about the salmon traps, just send us an inquiry using the form on our website.

Here you can read more about the framework agreement between Nordic Steel and the State Administrator of Troms and Finnmark.

Sources: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Norwegian Environment Agency, State Administrator.