Gyrodactylus salaris in Norway - list of infected rivers

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The leech-like parasite, Gyrodactylus salaris is a salmon killer. It naturally occurs in Russia, Finland and Sweden where it seems to do relatively little harm to salmon. However where it has spread to Norway it has caused devastation to the salmon stocks which appear to be genetically ill-equipped to tolerate its affects. It is very likely that the UK/Ireland salmon population would be similarly affected and it is therefore a very major threat.

Avoiding infected rivers is of paramount importance, and this applies to all river users, not just fishers, but canoeists and even bathers. The 46 rivers in Norway that are infected or have been infected are listed below, however the famous Norwegian salmon rivers such as the Tana, Namsen, Gaula and the Orkla have not been infected, and rightly have strict controls in place whereby visiting anglers must have their equipment disinfected (usually with Virkon) before fishing.

The only effective treatment of an infected river (known to date) is the complete poisioning of all fish life.

List of Gyrodactylus salaris infected rivers in Norway

River	Status
Lærdalselva	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Skibotnelva	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Signaldalselva	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Hestdalselva	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Halsanelva	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Drevja	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Fusta	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Vefsna	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Hundåla	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Driva	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Litledalselva	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Usma	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Batnordselva	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Rauma	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Skorga	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Innordelva	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Henselva	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Lierelva	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Drammenselva	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Sandeelva	Infected by Gyrodactylus salaris
Leirelva	Infected undergoing treatment
Ranelva	Infected undergoing treatment
Lundselva	Infected undergoing treatment
Steinkjer	Infected undergoing treatment
Figga	Infected undergoing treatment
Ranaelva	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Lakselv	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Beiarelva (Beiarn)	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Fættenelva	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Langsteinelva	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Bævra	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Storelva	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Måna	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Valldalselva	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Taordelva	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Norddalselva	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Eidsdalselva	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Korsbrekkelva	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Aureelva	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Vikelva	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Vikja	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Bjerka	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Røssåga	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Bardalselva	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Sannaelva	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"
Slettenelva	Previously infected, treated and now "cured"

Our thanks go to the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management

Here is the Norwegian information: Direktoratet for naturforvaltning - Regioner infisert av Gyrodactylus salaris