Norwegian aquaculture company Slakteriet Brekke reported an escape of around 10,000 salmon earlier this week, according to the country's directorate of fisheries.

The firm, based in the Sognefjord, saw the escape occur at its slaughterhouse in the village of Instefjord, in Gulen municipality.

The fish that escaped have an average weight of just under 4 kilograms. Slakteriet has released catch nets and has been instructed by the directorate to extend its catch activities further afield, to the mouth of Risnefjorden.

The directorate has inspected the company's property and found a three-meter-by-two-meter hole in a pen, likely caused by a service boat propellor.

As of Sept. 16, 458 salmon had been recaptured. The directorate invited tips from the public on catching farmed salmon in the area. Slakteriet Brekke said it was happy to take recaptured salmon at the slaughterhouse.