Image: Hofseth Aqua / FIS

Accuracy requirements for the aquaculture industry

The Director of Fisheries proposes that a requirement for accuracy be introduced for the number of fish in each production unit, and that the requirement be laid down in regulations. Work on a concrete regulatory proposal is ongoing.

Source: Stockfile FIS

"Low accuracy related to how much fish is in the cages has been a challenge for the Directorate of Fisheries for a number of years", says director of fisheries Frank Bakke-Jensen.

A new report commissioned by the Directorate of Fisheries and the FHF shows that inaccuracies already occur when stocking fish for various reasons, and that the fish are often not counted at the same time as they are stocked in the individual cage or production unit.

"This is a breach of the requirements of Section 44 of the aquaculture operation regulations, and will have consequences for the number control throughout the rest of the production cycle", says Britt Leikvoll, section manager for strategic aquaculture section in the Directorate of Fisheries.

The Directorate of Fisheries expects the fish to be counted at the time of the individual cage. Stocking is normally done with a well boat with counters, and counting will therefore not entail significant additional handling of the fish.

"A requirement for accuracy for the number of fish in each production unit could be a development for the counting technology, and we envisage a transition period to allow for such development", continues Bakke-Jensen.

Source: Stockfile FIS

The Directorate of Fisheries is aware that the trend towards larger production units with more fish challenges the current regulations relating to the number limitation per unit.

"It is necessary that the number control be significantly improved, if the regulations relating to number restrictions are to be changed", says Leikvoll.

No one knows how many fish have escaped

The aquaculture industry is nutritionally regulated according to permits with a maximum permitted biomass, and there is also a requirement for a maximum number of fish in the units. The Directorate of Fisheries is responsible for supervising this.

"Inadequate number control has consequences for clarifying the scope and environmental follow-up of escape incidents", says Leikvoll.

The Directorate of Fisheries is also aware that there are voluntary environmental certification schemes where requirements are made relating to the extent of escapes and counting accuracy.

Source: Fiskeridirektoratet (Transllated from the original in Norwegian)

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