Nokan Vappumenu / Nokka´s May Day Menu

Saving the Salmon Rivers of the North

Pink salmon invasion is threatening the Atlantic salmon rivers of the north, and we are fighting it one plate at a time.

One of the key philosophies at Ravintola Nokka is that the food served in the restaurant is made from Finnish ingredients. One of the few exceptions has been the king crab caught in Northern Norway, which is an invasive species in the region, and the population is kept under control by carefully regulated fishing.

Now, for the same reason, another invasive species from the north makes an appearance on your plate: pink salmon.
Pinko salmon, also known as humpback salmon, is a species of the Pacific Ocean that can be found naturally both on the east coast of Asia and on the west coast of North America.
The Russians have transplanted pink salmon to the White Sea south of the Kola Peninsula and even further west to the Murmansk region. The intention was to create an abundant population in the region, primarily for the needs of commercial fishing.

From there, the pink salmon spread westward toward the Bearing Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, and now run in large numbers to the rivers of northern Norway, which have a natural Atlantic salmon population. The appearance of pink salmon in the Atlantic salmon rivers has caused great concern among locals, fishermen and fish scientists, and measures have been taken to control the population.
After the initial shock, a silver lining has also been noticed. While only limited number of licenses have been issued for Atlantic salmon fishing due to decreasing number of fish returning to the rives to spawn, efforts are being made in the estuaries to prevent pink salmon runs to the rivers, and huge quantities of fish are being lifted from the rivers.

Although pink salmon begins to change shape quickly after entering the river and its meat starts to lose its value as food, it is an excellent food fish while in the sea and when caught quickly after entering the river: on a par with the highly valued wild Atlantic salmon.
Restaurant Nokka and Executive Chef Ari Ruoho have joined the effort to use pink salmon in the kitchen, encouraging the pink salmon fishing and creating dishes in which the fish shines at its brightest – at the same time supporting the protection of Finland’s major salmon rivers, Teno and Näätämö, from pink salmon.

”I went to Northern Norway last summer with my son specifically to fish pink salmon. The pink salmon that had just run into the river was an excellent fish to cook with, and it’s great that we can now also utilize it in Nokka’s kitchen,” Executive Chef Ruoho rejoices.
The pink salmon served by Nokka is caught on the northern shore of the Varanger Fjord, at the mouth of the Vestre Jakobselva river. Pink salmon makes its first appearance on Nokka’s menu cured with traditional cold-smoking method.