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More than 745,000 farmed salmon died in Icelandic aquaculture operations in June, the highest monthly mortality recorded since December 2024. The figure represents about 3% of this fish species being kept at sea at the time.
Karl Steinar Óskarsson, head of the aquaculture division at Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST), said mortality at that level in a single month was unusual. MAST received explanations from the two companies responsible for the largest losses.
Original source: RÚV
More than 745,000 farmed salmon died in June. June mortality was about 3% of salmon held at sea. MAST attributed the highest losses to two incidents during fish transfers and release.
Two Incidents Behind Losses 
Fish farming. Aquaculture in Iceland. Photo: Golli. Iceland Review.
On Iceland’s Eastfjords, some young salmon released into a farming site had not yet fully adapted to life in seawater. On the Westfjords, some fish were injured while being pumped from a hatchery into a well boat and died during the transfer.
The incidents were identified and measures were taken to address them, Óskarsson said.
Mortality fell to about 1% in July, compared with just over 1% in May. MAST receives mortality data regularly and responds to each case by requesting explanations and information on measures companies intend to take to reduce losses.
Óskarsson said the June deaths did not indicate that a criminal offence had taken place.
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