The total catch consisted of 394 tonnes of salmon and 11 tonnes of sea trout. Thirty-three per cent of the salmon were under three kilos, 43 per cent between three and seven kilos and 24 per cent over seven kilos. Average weight was 3.6 kilos, compared to 4.2 kilos in 1996.
Altogether 405 tonnes of salmon and sea trout were caught at sea in 1997, a decline of 126 tonnes or 24 per cent from the year before. Smaller catches were recorded in nearly all counties, with Hordaland in Western Norway posting the biggest decline.
Most of the fish--292 tonnes--were caught with wedge-shaped seines and 111 tonnes with hook nets.
The landed value of the fish caught in the sea was estimated at approx. NOK 20 million.
Namsos, Sør-Varanger and Alta municipalities had the largest catches in 1997.
Weekly Bulletin issue no. 4, 1998