PREVENTION OF ESCAPEES Dublin Knut A. Hjelt 10.04.2014

Norway, - an example; escapees Industry has a 0-vision for farmed fish escapees The Norwegian approach: Laws and regulations which set standards and measures (The Aquaculture Act with regulations) How to reach (fulfil) the standards and measures is the industry's obligation The operation shall be technical, biological and environmental safe and sound contingency plan: The contingency plan shall also include an overview of how escapes can be detected, limited and recapture efficiently, including precautions for towing cages and handling of fish and cages during loading and unloading.

Norway, - an example Technical demands for aquaculture installations (NYTEK NS-9415:2009 ) Certificated by accredited inspection companies (sites, moorings, technical equipment – certificate). Risk-based surveillance, user manual for all components, routines for surveillance – deviations – "make it right" Rigging of nets Bottom rings Receiving and delivery of fish Moorings Inspection after adverse weather Every incident or suspicions of escapees shall be recorded, and report to the directorate of Fisheries immediately Contingency plan; example: -a company alone or in cooperation with others have agreements with fishermen in case of escapee events

Norway, - an example All escapees and suspicions immediately reported Directorate of Fisheries will examine what has occurred, including clarifying the extend and possible cause of the accident Aquaculture Escape Commission, which is a part of the Directorate of Fisheries, finding possible causes and recommendations for improvements All statistics are published Based of experience, R&D and lessons learned, industry gives courses in escape prevention (between 200 and 500 persons attending annually) Close cooperation between the authorities, the equipment suppliers, the R&D community and the industry, - all with the goal to prevent future escapees accidents

Norway, - an example Technical demands on land-based aquaculture sites; NS 9416-2013 Principle: Escape security shall be attended throughout the whole process, from projection and laying the foundation of the facility, to delivery of fish The industries environmental found 10.000 NOKs per production license Initiatives in more than 60 rivers (national and regional projects, reduce farmed fish in rivers etc) The Norwegian Seafood research found R&D on refining existing and development of new and better equipment Tagging and tracking of salmon

Does it help? Yes it does But still a way to go! 2012: 35 000 escapees 10 accidents Percentage of farmed salmon in rivers, median Autumn, approx 30 rivers Yes it does But still a way to go! Continuous focus, focus on equipment, human factors and traceability.

Regulations The Aquaculture Act with regulations The Food Law with regulations The Pollution Act with regulations They all have as parts, wide environmental regulations, and are fully rigged to "take care of"/regulate environmental factors as preventing escapees/sea lice prevention and effluents from aquaculture. Our hope is that the implementation of the WFD will be a tool for taking care of our water bodies, and to prevent pollution from sources that can treat the production of food from aquaculture production. The goal must be to keep our waters in a condition that makes them very suitable for food production.

Thanks for the attention ☺ knuta.hjelt@fhl.no