Faroese research to expand knowledge of sea trout

The Faroese Marine Research Institute and the aquaculture company Firum have signed a new agreement to study sea trout, aiming to better understand the species and the potential impact of aquaculture on their populations.

The project, running through 2026, builds on previous research and will compare sea trout living near fish farms with those in more distant areas. A key focus is assessing lice levels and the condition of the fish in both groups.

According to the Marine Research Institute, knowledge of Faroese sea trout was limited before the project began in 2019, but new data is now collected annually.

To track sea trout at sea, a select number will be tagged near the river Gørnum. Anglers are also encouraged to report catches, with Firum providing special envelopes for submitting scale samples. A prize draw of 10,000 kroner will be held among participants.

Additional work continues in Eiðisá, Norðragøta, where trout are PIT-tagged and their movements from the river to the sea and back are monitored via an antenna system. The research aims to clarify how long sea trout stay at sea and how sea lice levels in fjords affect their migration.

Reporting by KVF.