Bleke – the Unique Ice Age Salmon
A 10,000-year-old survivor in the heart of Setesdal
SETESDAL: It’s the only one of its kind in the world, and you can catch it yourself! The bleke is not only tasty, but probably one of the most unique dinners you’ll ever have.
Trapped in Time
The bleke, locally known as “bleka”, is a unique freshwater salmon living in Byglandsfjord lake in the valley of Setesdal. The species has been locked in this lake for about 10 000 years – since the end of the last ice age. As the glaciers retreated, rising land cut off the fjord from the sea, trapping the Atlantic salmon inside. Over millennia, the fish adapted to freshwater life, evolving into something entirely its own.
Byglandsfjord is 55 square kilometres with a maximum depth of 167 metres. And somewhere in there, the bleke has been swimming in circles for ten millennia.
On the Brink of Extinction
For thousands of years, the bleke population thrived in its mountain lake. But by the mid-1970s, a crisis struck. The population dropped dramatically – at one point, only a few hundred fish remained. The bleke was on the very brink of extinction.
The reasons were complex: changes in the lake environment, overfishing, and the general pressure that comes with being a small, isolated population. Something had to be done, or the world would lose a species that had survived since the last ice age.
A rescue mission was launched. A hatchery was established to breed the bleke in a controlled environment, and conservation efforts kicked into high gear. The goal was clear: save the species before it was too late.
The effort paid off. Genetically, the bleke turned out to be remarkably pure – it had not mixed with other salmon species. This made it not just unique, but scientifically valuable: a living time capsule of Atlantic salmon DNA from before the modern era. The species was deemed worth saving, and it was.
A Rare Culinary Experience
As a dinner item, the bleke is something quite special. A typical bleke weighs about 200 grams and measures roughly 30 cm. It has distinct “butterfly wing” tails and a reddish meat that sets it apart from other freshwater fish. In taste, it’s somewhere between trout and salmon – but unmistakably its own thing.
The bleke is considered a local delicacy, and you can enjoy it at restaurants in the Bygland area. It has even been served at royal dinners. This is, after all, the only salmon of its kind – anywhere in the world.
The bleke is the only salmon of its kind in the entire world. It has survived the ice age, near-extinction, and now thrives as both a scientific treasure and a culinary delicacy.
Catch Your Own
Here is the thing: you can catch your own bleke! Fishing passes are available locally, giving you access to Byglandsfjord and a chance to reel in this one-of-a-kind salmon yourself. It’s a rare opportunity – where else can you catch a fish that hasn’t left its home in 10 000 years?
Happy bleke-fishing!