A Sunstone Institute investigation documents how waste from Norway’s salmon farming industry is affecting fjords and coastal ecosystems, including the seabed, kelp forests, and surrounding marine life.

The report found that uneaten feed, fish feces, and nutrient discharge from salmon farms can create organic overload on the seabed, fuel algae growth, reduce oxygen levels, and contribute to conditions that harm kelp and other marine habitats. Sunstone’s analysis estimates that, in 2025, nitrogen and phosphorus waste from Norwegian aquaculture reached levels equivalent to raw sewage from tens of millions of people.

The investigation reinforces a growing concern for wild salmon advocates: when fish farms operate in open marine environments, waste does not stay contained. It enters the surrounding ecosystem, adding pressure to already vulnerable coastal waters.

Read more:
https://sunstone.institute/posts/the-waste-beneath-the-waves