Subscribe now

SALMON stocks in Norway are under threat from a deadly parasite being spread by record numbers of a trout-salmon hybrid. The fear is that the hybrid fish, which carry the parasite but remain healthy, could spread the worm to hundreds of unaffected rivers or streams.

The discovery has prompted Janne Sollie, the director of the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management, to call for increased efforts to sterilise the nation’s 23 parasite-infested rivers with rotenone – a poison that kills the parasite, Gyrodactylus salaris, along with most other living creatures. The idea is to restock with hatchery-reared wild fish.

Norway is home…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Popular articles

Trending New Scientist articles

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop