River catch

Name: River catch
Topic: Agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing

Division for Housing, Property, Spatial and Agricultural Statistics

Figures for each river and county.

Annual. Preliminary figures are published in January the year after the fishing has taken place. Final figures are published in Statbank about two months later.

The Norwegian Environment Agency forwards data to NASCO (North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization).

Collected and revised data are stored securely by Statistics Norway in compliance with applicable legislation on data processing.

Statistics Norway can grant access to the source data (de-identified or anonymised microdata) on which the statistics are based, for researchers and public authorities for the purposes of preparing statistical results and analyses. Access can be granted upon application and subject to conditions. Refer to the details about this at Access to data from Statistics Norway.

The statistics provide information on catches of anadromous salmonids in Norwegian rivers. The statistics cover a time series from 1876 and are vital elements in national and international monitoring and management work related to anadromous salmonoids.

From 1963-1992 the information came from the salmon fishery boards. As from 1993 the statistics are based upon reports collected by The County Governor. From 2004, the landowners reports the catch electronically via https://fangstrapp.no

As from 2009 catch and release are included.

As from 2019 catch of migratory char, rainbow trout and pink salmon are included.

Catch statistics are an important source of information for nature management, the media and various organizations and groups. Scientists use the statistics to evaluate changes in stocks and to estimate the socio-economic importance of salmon fishing.

Norway is also obligated to report annual catch statistics to NASCO (North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization).

No external users have access to statistics before they are released at 8 a.m. on ssb.no after at least three months’ advance notice in the release calendar. This is one of the most important principles in Statistics Norway for ensuring the equal treatment of users.

Figures on sea catches of salmon and sea trout are presented on the Internet.

The statistics are developed, produced and disseminated pursuant to Act no. 32 of 21 June 2019 relating to official statistics and Statistics Norway (the Statistics Act).

The population is defined by " Lakseregisteret - Rapportering av elvefangst " at https://fangstrapp.no. Catch reports from the fishermen are added up to a total catch in rivers/watercourses. The statistics include catches of salmon, sea trout, migratory char, rainbow trout and pink salmon caught in Norwegian rivers. Escaped farmed fish are included in the statistics. From 2009, the statistics also include fish caught and released.

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Catch reports from the fishermen has been summarized and compiled into information for each river in the national base on https://fangstrapp.no

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Catch reports from the individual fisherman are collected by landowners, who send a summary catch report to the County Governor or enter data in the national base "Lakseregisteret - Rapportering av elvefangst " at https://fangstrapp.no. The County Governor are responsible for reporting complete figures for each river in this base, and from this base Statistics Norway downloads a complete file.

Editing is defined here as checking, examining and amending data. Data is transferred to an editing system and computerized controls are applied. If necessary, the county governors are contacted to assess the data.

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Employees of Statistics Norway have a duty of confidentiality.

Statistics Norway does not publish figures if there is a risk of the respondent’s contribution being identified. This means that, as a general rule, figures are not published if fewer than three units form the basis of a cell in a table or if the contribution of one or two respondents constitutes a very large part of the cell total.

Statistics Norway can make exceptions to the general rule if deemed necessary to meet the requirements of the EEA agreement, if the respondent is a public authority, if the respondent has consented to this, or when the information disclosed is openly accessible to the public.

More information can be found on Statistics Norway’s website under Methods in official statistics, in the ‘Confidentiality’ section.

The collection of data was reorganized in 1993. Previously, fishery boards collected data and sent reports from each salmon district and river to Statistics Norway. An own salmon tax resulted in that the reported figures could be unreliable. In 1993, the county governors started submitting reports, and after that there is reason to belive that the data quality has become better and better.

The number of rivers with reported catch has increased over time. From the begginning in the 1870s only 54 rivers were included. In the 1960s the number of rivers with reported catch had incresed to 170. In the last few years more than 400 rivers were included in the statistics.

In 1989, 15 per cent of the rivers were closed by different reasons. In 2011, 25 per cent of the rivers were closed. In additon, the last few years quotas from one to three fishes per person in a 24-hour period is introduced.

Over time there has been regulations that has influenced on the statistics. As from 1980, fishing gear as salmon trap and fish net was forbidden in most rivers except Numedalslågen and the county of Finnmark. The average fishing period for salmon fishing by fishing rods or handline is reduced from 200 days in 1850 to 75 days in 2010.

The statistics give a picture of the catch reported in the rivers. Investigations have shown that the real catch is somewhat higher. The Norwegian Environment Agency estimates an addition for unreported catches when they report to NASCO.