Ref. No. |
Action |
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A |
Better regulations |
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A1 |
Three quick suggestions for amendment’s of rules (1) double safeguarding of outlets, (2) mesh size in compliance with fish size, (3) the visibility of aquaculture installations on ship radars
The Directorate of Fisheries will propose amendments of the rules for three risk prevention actions, which elaborate the requirements for good husbandry procedures. |
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A2 |
Examine the possibility of developing improved regulations
The Directorate of Fisheries will appoint working group to go through the regulations suitability in preventing and minimizing escapees. Relevant governmental departments and organisations will be invited to join. The work will, amongst other, embrace the actions A3-A7. The actions will in varying degree demand amendments of the regulations. |
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A3 |
Develop special husbandry procedures requirements for cod cultures
There are two specific problems with atlantic cod farming, they escape easily and they spawn in the fish cages. The distance between cod aquaculture installations and wild cod natural spawning grounds might not necessarily be large. This generates special challenges when the regulations are to ensure that breeding cod takes place in good husbandry fashion. |
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A4 |
Requirements for re-catching escaped fish, after an escape episode
It is important the process of catching the escapees is executed efficiently and without delay. Experience has shown that discussions regarding the price to fishermen, after the escape has happened, can delay the process needlessly. There is also the question, as to what extent the involved fish farmer should be responsible for taking the costs with re-catching escapees from the breeding grounds. This must be examined in more detail. |
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A5 |
Examine requirements for aquaculture in large units, perhaps an upper limit for quantity of fish permitted in any unit
The development in the aquaculture industry has moved in the direction of more fish per aquaculture unit. The consequence where one or more of these units’ breakdown is relatively high. Escapees from one of the largest units can, in magnitude, be compared to the total number of Atlantic salmon, native to all Norwegian salmon rivers, in the sea. Thus, the Directorate of Fisheries believes a set of husbandry requirements must be developed for these particularly large units, or perhaps a maximum limit for the quantity of salmon, which can be held in a single unit. |
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A6 |
Consider a mandatory scale sampling from remaining fish groups, when the Directorate of Fisheries inspects the installation after an episode of escapees
The fish scales give information concerning age, and growth patterns, but can also give genetic information. The cost of collecting such fish scale samples is low, but very demanding on the resources needed to carry out the genetic analysis. The advantage is that one can carry out the analysis when needed. The results of the genetic analysis can be used to link escapees to a source. This can become an essential administrative function in the future. |
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A7 |
Review and consider more stringent demands for sites
The Directorate of Fisheries wish to review regulations and practice, especially in light of B1. |
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B |
Better administrative tools |
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B1 |
Risk assessment aquaculture
The Directorate of Fisheries wish, in several ways, to enforce risk assessment in the question of escapees. Environmental risk must, amongst other, be assessed in comparison to wild fish populations. However, escapees can be given some type of score in accordance with assumed consequence, which can again make the administration capable of adjusting the use of resources and prioritise the different types of escapee episodes. |
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B2 |
Evaluate the escapee statistics and establish a better database for escapees
Today’s escape statistics are the fish farmer’s own submitted records of the escapes. This has a considerable potential for improvement. Both when it comes to precisions, and also with reference to how individual escape episodes are characterised (see B1). |
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B3 |
Develop and establish effect indicators/vulnerability indicators used in assessing the effect of escapees
Developmental tasks should be accomplished in cooperation with several governmental departments and organisations. This shall form the basis for the Directorate of Fisheries monitoring of the effects caused by of escapees (see action C3). |
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B4 |
Develop and implement a risk based control system for aquaculture - AKVARISK
In 2005 the Directorate of Fisheries began to develop a risk based control system for aquaculture. The system will be implemented in 2007. (see action C1) |
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B5 |
Monitoring program National Salmon Fjords/National Salmon Rivers
The Directorate of Fisheries shall, within its area of expertise (escaped aquaculture fish), contribute in such a way, so that the monitoring program can verify the arrangement concerning the National Salmon Fjords and Rivers. The monitoring program will demand financial participation from the governmental departments involved. This will, in turn, create budgetary consequences for the Directorate of Fisheries. |
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B6 |
Examine the possibility of sterilizing aquaculture fish
By sterilizing all bred fish, the possibility of escapees interbreeding with wild populations is avoided. Use of such techniques must be examined with respect to animal welfare, aspect of market reactions, progress in breeding etc. The Directorate of Fisheries will emphasize on a broad specialized investigation into this approach, together with an examination of the legal aspects. |
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B7 |
Minimum requirements for good husbandry, contents of contingency plans and monitoring escapes
The regulations demand that aquaculture operations must comply with good husbandry procedures. A definite understanding of good husbandry procedures in conjunction with the security for preventing escapes, varies with technology and expertise. The Directorate of Fisheries wish to identify this fact, using, amongst other, the experience gained from auditing aquaculture operations. We find reason to draw up internal synopses, which should eventually be made public on the Internet. |
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B8 |
Develop new research based implements
In cooperation with the Directorate of Nature Management, the Directorate of Fisheries took initiative to the research program TRACES, which began in 2006, after a pre-project in 2005. The initial requirements for good effect indicators/vulnerability indicators for wild fish populations, made it necessary to implement research efforts for the development of this magnitude. There will constantly be defined new requirements within this action, where each project will demand its own financing. |
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C |
Increased and better efforts |
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C1 |
Full production – aquaculture control
In 2006 one third of all Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout sites will be controlled by the Directorate of Fisheries, either through (1) audits in cooperation with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, in co ordinance with the regulation Internal Control – aquaculture, (2) technical control or (3) a special control campaign (see action C2). Fish farmers most exposed to defined risks whom will be controlled first (see action B4). In addition to on- growth installations, smolt installations, brood-stock facilities and research – and training facilities will also be controlled. Installations for on-growth of cod will be included as well. All controls in 2006 will have escape impediment as their main focus area. From the beginning of 2007 the aquaculture control will demand a fortified budgetary foundation. |
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C2 |
Control campaign
After the many escape episodes the Directorate of Fisheries has decided to execute, in 2006, a special control campaign against escapees (constitutes a part of action C1). This special control campaign implies inspection of 60 on-growth installations for Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout and 15 installations for on-growth of cod. |
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C3 |
Initialisation of a separate monitoring program for environmental effects due to aquaculture
The environmental action plan, prepared by the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, foresee a monitoring program for environmental effects of aquaculture. The Directorate of Fisheries suggests that the environmental effects of escapees are included in the initialisation process. The action will demand special allocations. |
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C4 |
Positioning of aquaculture installations (STAK)
The Directorate of Fisheries is, in 2006, carrying out an extensive collection of data, in order to obtain exact positioning of all floating aquaculture installations. This will have great significance in the attempt of avoiding collisions and the subsequent escapes. |
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C5 |
Evaluate routines and actions in conjunction with fish escapes
After the escape episodes in the first few weeks of 2006 the Directorate of Fisheries will examine their own routines and actions in conjunction with large escapes. We will do this in search of the possibility for improvement, and we count on putting forward a proposal for both better routines and new measures of training. |
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C6 |
Contingency response exercises jointly with the administrative authorities and fish farmers (against fish escapes)
We wish to evaluate the possibility of contingency response exercises as an effective instrument, when preparing for action in conjunction with large escapes. Consideration must be taken to how such an exercises should be organised, and if amendments of regulations are needed. There must, however, be established an constructive budgetary foundation for such an action |
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D |
Better communication and interaction with other governmental departments |
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D1 |
Better interaction with the police and prosecuting authorities
The Directorate of Fisheries wish to improve their own routines in relation to the interaction with the police and prosecuting authorities. The Directorate sees the distinct benefit in contributing, in a better way than today, to ensure that charges put forward are enlightened in the best possible manner. |
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D2 |
Examine the possibility for an operational cooperation with the Norwegian Coastguard and the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate
Both the Coastguard and the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate have a long-standing presence along the coast, which makes them especially valuable as joint venture partners in the effort against escapees. The Directorate of Fisheries wish to generate a good collaboration with them both in the effort against escapees. |
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E |
Better communication and interaction with the industry |
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E1 |
A permanent escape commission including a system for public sharing of experience
The Directorate of Fisheries has, in 2006, put forward a proposal for an escape commission. A publicly appointed commission will need its own budget. The commission must ensure that legal qualification and transparency are considered. (The commission was appointed summer 2006.) |
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E2 |
Contribute in the development of voluntarily standards beyond the administrations minimum requirements
The Directorate of Fisheries will at some stage challenge the aquaculture industry to establish and follow standards beyond those, already, imposed by regulation. |
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E3 |
Better interaction with the insurance industry
The Directorate of Fisheries will work for (1) securing the conformity between the escapee numbers reported to the Directorate and the escapee numbers that justifies the compensation paid from the insurance companies.(2) exchanging experience and (3) examine the possibility for a type of natural hazard arrangement for catching escapees or other clean-up operations (see also action A4) |
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E4 |
Contribute to the audit of NS9415
The Directorate of Fisheries will contribute the to audit of the industries technical standard, with collection of findings and competence. |
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E5 |
Make known enterprises engaging in escapee free operations and run responsible husbandry procedures
The Directorate of Fisheries will try to identify such enterprises and learn what characterises them/their husbandry procedures. We will proceed to establish a separate prize for god husbandry procedures that carries the Director General of Fisheries’ acknowledgments. |
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E6 |
Dialogue and information efforts
The Directorate of Fisheries aims to develop the dialogue with various partners and public governmental departments in the effort against escapees. The Directorate has already gained experience concerning this action and knows it’s an important part of the task at hand. |