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Why are Norwegian fjords used for salmon culture?

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Diagram showing four main types of estuaries: salt wedge, partially mixed, vertically homogeneous, and fjord. Each panel illustrates river and seawater mixing patterns, with arrows indicating the direction of saltwater and freshwater flow. — estuary Four main types of estuaries: (A) salt wedge estuary, (B) partially mixed estuary, (C) vertically homogeneous estuary, and (D) fjord (black arrows indicate salt water and white arrows fresh).

Norwegian fjords are utilized for salmon culture primarily because they provide protected, natural environments that are highly suitable for intensive fish farming.1

The practice involves placing large enclosures of netting or other materials directly into these coastal waters, allowing producers to farm areas that were formerly of low economic value. These fjords offer a sheltered shoreline that provides a protective environment for the salmon, which is essential for the success of large-scale seawater cage operations.1

By utilizing these natural coastal features, the aquaculture industry can efficiently manage the salmon's growth cycle, which typically involves a transition from controlled freshwater environments to seawater cages. While this method is productive and cost-efficient, it is important to acknowledge that it carries environmental responsibilities, such as managing concentrated waste and preventing the spread of parasites like fish lice to wild populations, which requires ethical stewardship of these marine ecosystems.1