Distribution

The Namsblanken is a relict salmon found in the upper parts of the Namsen, from Nedre Fiskumfoss in Grong in the south, to Namskroken in Namsskogan in the north. The most important habitats of the Namsblanken are located in connection with the tributaries of the Namsen. Rivers such as the Mellingselva, Frøyningselva, Flåttådalselva and Tunnsjøelva in Namsskogan constitute the most important spawning and nursery areas for the species.

Unlike its big brother the salmon, the Namsblanken lives in freshwater its entire life. A relict salmon is a salmon that, after the ice age and subsequent land uplift, was prevented from migrating into the sea, and therefore spends its entire life in freshwater.

The Namsen salmon is very special in a European context because it lives on river stretches without larger lakes. In addition, the Namsen salmon represents Norway's only relict salmon population that can still be described as diverse and intact. Previously, the term "small salmon" was used for the relict salmon. This naming was based on local naming. When we use "namsen salmon" it is to emphasize that this salmon strain is unique to the Namsen river.