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The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
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Observations

Benn asks fishermen to report jellyfish: “Terrible to see the fish suffer!”
A salmon farm manager in Finnmark urges fishermen to report pearl necklace siphonophore (jellyfish) sightings after blooms caused skin and eye injuries and breathing problems in farmed salmon near Øksfjord/Hammerfest.
Øksfjord, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
iFinnmark

Poachers in Khatanga caught after illegally catching fish worth 168 million rubles
Border and fisheries officers detained Khatanga residents who illegally caught 2,400 muksun and 35 broad whitefish, causing an estimated 168 million rubles in damage. Authorities are considering a criminal case under Russia’s Article 256 on illegal extraction of aquatic biological resources.
Khatanga, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
Taymyrsky Telegraf

‘All’ the cod is in the Loppa Sea: Took the entire quota in three days
Exceptionally large cod catches off Loppa and Hasvik, Finnmark, are allowing many small and mid-size boats to fill their quotas within days, and a record year in turnover is expected. Local leaders say boats from across Norway have flocked to the area, with landings markedly higher than last year.
Loppa and Hasvik, Finnmark, Norway
NRK

Thousands of farmed salmon perish in massive die off near Tofino
A harmful plankton bloom and poor water conditions caused large mortalities at three Cermaq salmon farms in northern Clayoquot Sound near Tofino, with up to 185,000 fish lost at one site. DFO says disease was ruled out; critics warn the die-off could affect wild salmon and the marine environment.
Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

Mass fish die-off in renowned salmon river: ‘Never seen anything like it’
Hundreds of Atlantic salmon and sea trout have died in the Gaula River in Midtre Gauldal, Trøndelag. Researchers suspect a severe outbreak of egg-spore water mold (Saprolegnia) and are investigating the scale and causes.
Midtre Gauldal, Trøndelag, Norway
NRK
Trond Odin Myhre Johansen; Jøte Toftaker

Whales flock to the herring
The vessel Beitir NK landed 700 tons of herring in Neskaupstaður, as skippers report many whales—especially orcas—converging on herring grounds and following the net to the ship. Recent catches suggest the herring has shifted north toward Bakkaflói.
Neskaupstaður, Austurland, Iceland
mbl.is

Mowi blames climate change for latest salmon die-offs on Newfoundland's south coast
Mowi Canada East reports 166,262 farmed salmon died at two sites near Chaleur Bay on Newfoundland’s south coast, blaming repeated sea lice infestations intensified by warm surface waters, low freshwater runoff, and calm winds. The incident follows earlier 2025 mass mortalities linked to a thermocline inversion and warm, low-oxygen conditions.
Chaleur Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
CBC News

Dead tomcod washed up on West Beach
Dozens of dead tomcod have washed up on West Beach in Nome, Alaska, with a possible link to recent sightings of beluga pods, raising concerns about unusual environmental conditions.
Nome, Alaska, United States
Verena Gill, Lars Flora, Gay Sheffield, Sara Germain, Sarah Yoder

End of summer brings a rare sight on Maquoit Bay
Calm late-summer conditions and a fall surge in forage fish activity led to a rare sighting of harbor porpoises inside Maquoit Bay in Brunswick, Maine. The columnist reflects on seasonal transitions and why porpoises may have ventured into the typically shallow bay.
Brunswick, Maine, United States
The Portland Press Herald

Rare porbeagle caught
A fisherman from Qasigiannguit, Greenland, unexpectedly found a rare porbeagle shark entangled in his salmon net near the abandoned settlement Akulliit. The shark measured about 2.35 meters and was estimated over 200 kg—an unusual catch in Greenlandic waters.
Qasigiannguit, Qeqertalik, Greenland
Sermitsiaq.ag

Salmon wait for more rain as river levels remain low
Low river levels on Vancouver Island are delaying pink salmon migration in the Tsolum River and Millard Creek, leading to stranded fish and an estimated 4,000 mortalities. Salmon groups say sustained fall rains are needed; limited Wolf Lake releases are temporarily boosting Tsolum flows.
Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

Brief tuna bounty in Southeast Alaska spurs excitement about new fishing opportunity
Waters off Sitka were warm enough to lure fish from the south, and local anglers took advantage of conditions to harvest species that make rare appearances in Alaska.
Sitka, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Farmed Salmon Caught in Iceland’s Blanda River
An angler caught a farmed Atlantic salmon in the Blanda River, North Iceland, renewing concerns about escapes and hybridization with wild stocks. Local monitors report over 7% hybrids among juveniles in a key fishing zone following earlier sea-pen damage.
Blanda River, Northwestern Region, Iceland
Iceland Review

Maritime Authority says Havila Biogass manure spill is among the largest they’ve seen
About 3.5 million liters of livestock-based biomanure leaked from Havila Biogass in Molde, spreading from a marsh into waterways and a small-boat harbor, causing fish and crab deaths. Norway’s Coastal Administration called it one of the largest such spills they’ve encountered and will order cleanup; the company is conducting remediation and investigating a failed pipe gasket as the likely cause.
Eidsvåg, Molde, Norway
NRK

Video: Cod stomach found full of stones
An Icelandic deckhand was surprised to find a cod whose stomach was completely filled with small stones. The rare find occurred aboard the trawler Skinney SF 20 while fishing off East Iceland.
Höfn, Hornafjörður, Iceland
Morgunblaðið

Great white shark feasting on whale in Digby Neck adds twist to whale watching season
Whale watchers in Digby Neck, Nova Scotia, witnessed a great white shark feeding on a dead humpback whale, leading to daily shark sightings in early September. Guides also reported an endangered leatherback sea turtle and noted warmer waters are changing species seen in the Bay of Fundy.
Digby Neck, Nova Scotia, Canada
SaltWire

With N.S. brooks and streams drying up, some fish are struggling
A provincewide drought in Nova Scotia has dried up brooks and streams, stranding trout and white suckers and stressing native fish, while a woods ban limits access to assess impacts. Warmer water favors invasive chain pickerel, and restoration work is paused; Atlantic salmon migration is also being blocked by low flows.
Cambridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
CBC News

State issues alert for toxic shellfish found in Kachemak Bay
Alaska health officials issued an alert after wild shellfish from Kachemak Bay’s inner bay tested above regulatory limits for paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins. Residents are warned not to harvest or eat untested wild shellfish; monitoring and test results are being posted by the Alaska Harmful Algal Bloom Network.
Homer, Alaska, United States
Homer News

Basking sharks captured on video off Nairn in rare sighting
Up to 10 basking sharks were filmed close to shore off Nairn in the Moray Firth, offering rare, close-up views to tour passengers and beachgoers. The late-summer sightings featured large sharks circling near idle boats in calm water.
Nairn, Highland, United Kingdom
Inverness Courier

Seven salmon confirmed as farmed escapees
Icelandic authorities report that 7 of 22 salmon submitted for testing were confirmed as farmed escapees, caught in several North/West Iceland rivers. Tracing suggests six fish share a common origin in Dýrafjörður; investigations continue and anglers are asked to turn in suspect fish whole for analysis.
Búðardalur, Western Region, Iceland
mbl.is

Woman mauled by bear near her Kenai Peninsula home
A 36-year-old woman was seriously injured in a suspected brown bear attack near her home on Chinook Drive in Kenai early Tuesday. Authorities are searching for the bear and urging residents to stay vigilant and secure attractants.
Kenai, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

Eel record in the Dalälven — highest count in 50 years
A record 3,000–4,000 European eels have been counted this year in the eel ladder at Älvkarleby on the lower Dalälven— the highest level in 50 years. Researchers at SLU call the surge remarkable but say it’s too early to know if the rebound will last.
Älvkarleby, Uppsala County, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Low water impacting salmon run
The Chinook salmon run in the Napanee River is being impacted by unusually low water levels.
Napanee, Ontario, Canada

Rare recreational opening on Lower Fraser due to huge sockeye run
Fisheries and Oceans Canada authorized a rare recreational sockeye opening in the non-tidal Fraser River from Mission to Hope (Aug. 22–Sept. 1, 2025) after unexpectedly large sockeye returns; retention is two sockeye per day and four pinks per day, with restrictions to avoid impacts on non-target stocks.
Lower Fraser River (Mission to Hope), British Columbia, Canada
Lake Cowichan Gazette (Black Press Media)

Counted a hundred farmed salmon in the lower part of Haukadalsá
An inspector from the Icelandic Fisheries Agency counted around 100 farmed salmon in the lower section of Haukadalsá, marking the largest occurrence of escaped farmed salmon in an Icelandic river, and plans are underway for removal operations including using anglers and Norwegian divers.
Haukadalsá, Dalabyggð, Iceland
visir.is

Anglers fear up to 46,000 fish dead after 'devastating' kill on Blackwater in Co Cork
A large fish kill on a 30 km stretch of the River Blackwater in north County Cork has reportedly killed thousands of fish; Inland Fisheries Ireland estimates 8,000–10,000 wild fish, while local angling groups put mortality as high as 46,000. Preliminary sampling indicates fungal infection on many fish, but no evidence to date links the kill to a licensed discharge.
River Blackwater (between Lombardstown and Killavullen), County Cork, Ireland
The Irish Times

King salmon’s disappearance has changed the Kenai River, but a soaring sockeye run is keeping it in business
The traditional king salmon fishery on the Kenai River has collapsed for a third straight year, but unprecedented sockeye runs have buoyed local guides, processors and businesses—while also creating new infrastructure and sustainability challenges.
Kenai River, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States
Anchorage Daily News

For every wild salmon in the trap, there have been 30 pink salmon – Frightening
In Kvænangen river traps caught a 30:1 ratio of invasive pink salmon to wild Atlantic salmon, requiring up to three emptyings per day.
Kvænangen, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
Nordlys

Sea waters around UK experience record temperatures, causing dramatic changes in marine life
Sea surface temperatures around the UK have been the warmest start to the year on record, driving unusual species like bluefin tuna, octopus and mauve stinger jellyfish into British and Irish waters. Irish waters have cooled since a May marine heatwave but remain above average in the east and south.
United Kingdom and Ireland
The Irish Times

Slow start – but now pink salmon may come in full force
After a slow start, 66 000 invasive pink salmon have been caught in Troms and Finnmark rivers so far, but volunteers and authorities warn a larger run may still be on its way.
Troms and Finnmark, Norway
NRK Troms og Finnmark

Rivers in Lapland where fishing is not recommended – salmonids poorly tolerate heat-warmed waters
Recent heat waves have warmed Lapland’s rivers and lakes, leading Metsähallitus to suspend fishing permits and advise against salmonid fishing in the warm waters.
Lapland, Finland
Lapin Kansa

‘Devastating’ spill in salmon habitat near Port Angeles, Washington: What to know
A fuel tanker crashed Friday off Highway 101, spilling some 3,000 gallons of fossil fuels into Indian Creek. The creek is a tributary of the Elwha River, which has for years been a model for salmon recovery efforts.
Port Angeles, Washington, United States

Caspian Sea Water Levels Drop to Historic Low
Water levels in the Caspian Sea have fallen to more than 29 meters below the Baltic Sea reference point, a historic low, exposing large areas of seabed in the northern region and threatening its ecosystems.
Caspian Sea
The Moscow Times

Fisheries and Oceans Canada investigating fish die-off on Iqaluit shores
Hundreds of fish, believed to be Arctic cod, were found belly-up along the shore of Iqaluit; Fisheries and Oceans Canada is investigating possible causes, including low-tide stranding.
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
CBC News

Caught 2000 pink salmon in a single seine cast
Fisherman Edgar Olsen hauled in over 2,000 invasive pink salmon in one seine cast during trial fishing at the Vesterelva estuary in Nesseby, distributing about half to locals and sending the rest to Lerøy.
Nesseby, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
NRK Troms og Finnmark

Rare Basking Shark in Faxaflói Bay
A rare basking shark was spotted during an Elding whale watching tour in Faxaflói Bay, marking its first appearance in the bay in five years according to the company.
Faxaflói Bay, Southwest, Iceland
Vísir

800 farmed salmon escape from Cermaq facility: 'Shocking to us', says director
About 800 farmed salmon escaped from Cermaq’s Rypefjord facility near Hammerfest due to a dislodged transfer pipe, prompting concerns over genetic threats to wild salmon in Repparfjordelva and Altaelva and calls for stronger containment measures.
Hammerfest, Troms og Finnmark, Norway
NRK Troms og Finnmark

Oil Spill Severely Impacts Fisheries in Nuussuaq
A damaged oil pipeline in Nuussuaq near Upernavik spilled around 8,000 liters of diesel into the sea, forcing halibut processing and fish production to pause for two days and severely disrupting local fisheries.
Nuussuaq, Avannaata, Greenland
Sermitsiaq

Marine Heatwave in Norway – Extreme Sea Temperature
Sea surface temperatures off Norway have reached 22–23 °C, at least five degrees above normal, marking a marine heatwave that risks stressing marine life and intensifying extreme weather.
Trøndelag, Norway

Ninilchik River closed to sport fishing
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has closed the Ninilchik River to all sport fishing from June 23 through July 15 to help meet king salmon escapement and broodstock collection goals.
Ninilchik, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, United States
Homer News

Infectious Salmon Anemia Detected at Fish Farm in Troms
Infectious salmon anemia (ILA) has been confirmed at a SalMar aquaculture facility in Trettevik, Senja municipality in Troms, triggering a 10–20 km restriction zone to prevent disease spread.
Trettevik, Senja, Troms, Norway

Sockeye yet to make an appearance on Russian, Kenai rivers
Fishing on the Kenai and Russian rivers opened June 11, but as of the previous evening only one sockeye salmon had been counted at the Russian River weir—compared to more than 700 at this time last year.
Kenai, Alaska, United States
Homer News

Unusual catch in Pangnirtung: Student angler harvests polar bear
During a Grade 11 outdoor education fishing trip near Pangnirtung on May 22, a student unexpectedly harvested his first polar bear after the animal repeatedly approached their campsite.
Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

Algal Bloom in the North: Up to 1 Million Dead Fish
An algal bloom in Northern Norway dominated by Chrysochromulina and Phaeocystis has caused massive fish die-offs in recent weeks, with up to one million farmed fish reported dead around Astafjorden.
Ibestad, Troms, Norway

Blackfish in DeLong Lake
February fishing and a catch of an introducted species in DeLong Lake.
Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Kenai River king salmon fishing closed entirely for 3rd year
The State Department of Fish and Game has closed king salmon fishing on the Kenai River and surrounding Cook Inlet areas for the third consecutive year due to alarmingly low forecast returns.
Kenai River, Alaska, United States

Fishing trawler likely behind Hanko's dead fish, fire chief says
Local fire chief Clas Tallberg stated that fish washed up on Hanko's shore showed injuries suggesting they were crushed by a fishing trawler's net, leading to a mass die-off of brisling sardines. Meanwhile, volunteers are cleaning up white clumps on the beach believed to be vessel wash water.
Hanko, Uusimaa, Finland
Yle News

Tsunami from Takhini River landslide reminds Yukon geologist of Dawson City's risk
A landslide on the Takhini River created a 'small' tsunami, raising concerns about similar risks to Dawson City. Experts are monitoring potential hazard cascades from future slides.
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Yukon News

Crews respond to major oil spill at fish farm near Zeballos
A major diesel spill occurred at a fish farm near Zeballos, spilling up to 8,000 litres of oil into the bay. Cleanup efforts are involving local authorities, the Coast Guard, and First Nations to mitigate environmental impacts.
Zeballos, British Columbia, Canada
CHEK

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