On Nov. 28, Norwegian cod farming firm Norcod reported a significant fish escape from its Labukta fish farm in Nesna, Nordland.

The discovery followed a notification from the country's directorate of fisheries, which had received a report from a local fisherman who found cod in the wild that may have originated from Norcod's facility.

Norcod promptly notified the directorate, activating its emergency response procedures in coordination with the authorities. Since the breach was discovered, recapture efforts have been underway. As of today, approximately 4,530 fish have been recaptured by emergency fishermen, though Norcod estimates that the total number of escaped fish could be as high as 22,979.

Upon receiving the alert, divers already en route for a routine inspection of the farm's nets found an opening in one of the farm's cages. The breach was located 13 meters underwater between two panels of a newly installed net. The seam of the net was immediately sealed to prevent further escape.

The farmed cod, which are more localized than other species such as salmon, may be more easily recaptured, and Norcod remains hopeful that a significant portion of the escaped fish can be recovered. The current recapture rate stands at 16.5%, with fishing operations continuing.

"We are doing everything possible to retrieve the fish," said Chris Guldberg, chief operating officer and spokesperson for Norcod. "While the recapture rate is promising, we are not stopping until we have recovered as many fish as possible."

To confirm the origin of the escaped fish, samples of the recaptured cod will be analyzed. In addition, a thorough net inspection will occur in January 2025, with representatives from the directorate and net supplier ScaleAQ. The aim is to determine the exact cause of the breach.

"This is a serious incident," Guldberg added. "Until we have conducted a full investigation into the net in January, we are refraining from speculating on the cause. Norcod has a zero-tolerance policy regarding escapes, and we are committed to learning from this incident to prevent future occurrences."