No, it is not soaked in lye before consuming. It soaked in lye water as a preservative before drying. It is then soaked in changes of fresh water to remove lye before cooking. Presumably the practice was adopted because salt was in short supply.
‘Salt cod’ is similar.
I have found after traveling the world that local delicacies that the natives go gaga about at best smell like cat food and at worst smell like cat vomit
I recall (vaguely) having Christmas dinner at my grandparents small home. They had a large room in the basement with a big dinner table set up in it. I only recall it being used at Christmas. Cramped and dimly lit.
And there was lutefisk. I don’t recall ever eating it. All of my grandparents came from Norway. My sister (still in Minnesota) was going to a friend’s house soon for a lutefisk dinner. She said the friend uses a good cream sauce (with cheese??) that she likes.
I recall hearing something about Grav-loks. Fish (salmon?) that is buried (grave - I suppose for storage in the cool earth??).
Thanks for the clarification. As always, the information presented by the media is incomplete and ignorant of the situation being reported.