Cermaq lost an undetermined number of fish at its Toknebuktneset site after a net was torn. Image: Braentswatch screenshot.

Fish escape after net is damaged during de-lousing

Cermaq Norway has reported the escape of an undetermined number of fish after the net of a pen holding 107,000 salmon was torn during a de-lousing operation.

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The incident at the Toknebuktneset site in Hammerfest municipality in Troms and Finnmark occurred on January 14. The fish that escaped have an average weight of four kilos.

Cermaq communications manager Astrid Aam told Fish Farming Expert’s Norwegian sister site, Kyst.no: “We immediately implemented full emergency preparedness. Quick handling by the crew at the facility meant that the hole secured within 15 minutes after it was discovered, and within 45 minutes recapture nets were set out around the entire facility.”

The company has so far recaptured approximately 190 fish, most caught during the first 10 hours, and in the immediate vicinity of the facility.

“We take this very seriously and will investigate the incident internally in order to implement measures that can prevent such incidents in the future,” said Aam.