Finland and Norway extend salmon fishing ban on Teno River for another summer

Finland and Norway have agreed to continue the ban on salmon fishing in the Teno River this summer, as the fish population remains critically low, public broadcaster Yle reports.

Researcher Panu Orell of the Finnish Natural Resources Institute (Luke) described the state of the Teno salmon stock as “extremely poor,” despite a slight recovery last year. While around 15,000 salmon returned to the river in 2023—double the previous year’s count—a healthy recovery would require at least 30,000 to 40,000 fish, according to Luke’s data.

The joint decision by Finland and Norway means fishing will remain prohibited under regulations introduced in 2024. Orell attributed the decline primarily to high mortality rates among young salmon shortly after they migrate to the sea, where they face diseases, parasites, and food shortages.

Local communities face economic and cultural loss

For generations, the Teno River has been vital to the livelihood and traditions of local communities. Residents like Hans Niittyvuopio and Jarmo Rasmus recalled how salmon fishing once provided essential food and income, with families relying on the river during spring and summer.

“Back then, when spring came and the ice broke, everyone went to the river to fish,” Niittyvuopio said. Rasmus added that salmon and other fish were staples when store-bought alternatives were scarce.

Hans Kitti, another local, expressed resignation about the salmon’s future: “We’ll have to see how things go. I don’t think it will improve in my lifetime.”

Broader challenges for migrating salmon

Orell noted that declining survival rates among young salmon are not unique to the Teno River. Data from other rivers in Finnmark and beyond suggest worsening conditions in marine environments, where salmon face increasing threats after leaving freshwater.

“Most young salmon die soon after entering the sea,” Orell explained. “They need the right kind of food immediately, and there must be enough of it. The challenges they face there are enormous.”

As a migratory species, salmon depend on stable ocean conditions. Deteriorating marine ecosystems mean fewer young fish return as adults, further depleting populations in rivers like the Teno.