Salmon and humans

Salmon and humans have a long history together. There are thousands of years-old rock carvings of salmon that tell us how important salmon were to humans. Today, Norway is the country in the world with the most Atlantic salmon. This gives us a great responsibility. You can read about what we are doing to take care of wild salmon today.

Nevertheless, there is one question we must ask ourselves: Will wild salmon be allowed to join us into the future?

Sjørøya2x.png — Back in time

Did you know that the predecessor of the salmon fish we know today was created by a mutation? So it was a coincidence. Here you can read about how salmonids have evolved.
Read more about salmon and humans back in time.

Villaks copy2x.png — Today

Norway currently has 1/3 of all wild Atlantic salmon in the world. This means that Norway has a great responsibility to take care of the species. How are wild salmon doing today, and what are we doing to protect them?
Read more about salmon and people today.

Forward in time

If you're reading this page, you probably know a lot about wild salmon. Then you have both important knowledge and a golden opportunity. You can use this knowledge.
Read more about salmon and humans in the future.

Articles about salmon and humans

Featured

Humpback salmon invading Norwegian rivers

Humpback salmon are native to rivers around the Pacific Ocean and are on the list of alien species in Norway. The situation is confusing, and there are many questions. We have some answers, but by no means all.

Back in time

Humans and salmon have followed each other for a long time. In Norway, we find rock art from the Stone Age depicting salmon. Salmon has always been important to people.

Deanufanas - The river boat

Fanas is a Sami word for boat. It may be 3000-4000 years old.

The Sami salmon fishing language

Imagine that Sami words can be as old as 5,000 years!

Forward in time

What does the future of salmon look like in the light of climate change and human consumption of nature?

The salmon order that left its mark

When salmon lord Thomas Merthyr Guest caught his record-breaking salmon in 1894, he made sure he was remembered!

Salmon and man today

A river with lots of wild salmon is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Wild salmon have therefore become a symbol of wild and healthy Norwegian waterways. We have many rivers where wild salmon thrive. But there are fewer wild salmon now than before.

The film explains what kilenot and kilenot fishing are.

Wedge nut

A wedge net is a fixed fishing gear that floats in the sea. It has a guide net from the shore to the net.
The net guides the salmon outwards to the fornota, and from there the salmon enter the wedge-shaped "calves".
The salmon is live-caught until the fisherman smokes the net, usually morning and evening

How did Norway become the world champion in salmon production?

Source: Seafood Norway

Did you know that ...

Wild salmon and wild salmon genetic material are the basis for what is currently Norway's second largest export product, namely farmed salmon.