The Sea Trout Project - annual report 2023

Following a request from the Faroese Aquaculture Association in 2019, Firum has carried out surveys of sea trout to examine when the trout go to sea for the first time and how well they thrive there.

In 2023, the project was modified, and the majority of resources were used to tag trout and establish an antenna system for tracking. The system records tagged trout as they swim past. The setup is located near the mouth of the Eiðisá river in Norðragøta. The results from this system will indicate when sea trout travel to sea and whether they travel downstream more frequently when the sea lice level in the fjord is high.

In 2023, the work continued, where anglers sent scale samples, measurements, and other information about caught trout to Firum. The results showed that the sea trout in 2023 were doing well and had fewer lice compared to previous years. However, it was not consistent regarding how many trout had lice. Most sea trout had lice from June to August, but it was found for the first time that some trout had lice during the winter. Nonetheless, there are strong indications that the trout shed their lice in freshwater.

You can read the project report here.