Meeting the challenge - WWF Maren Esmark, WWF Genetic Impacts from Aquaculture: Meeting the Challenge in Europe International Symposium, Bergen, Norway, 2. July 2007

WWF – World Wide Fund for Nature WWF is the world largest environmental organisastion with around 5 million supporters, 54 national offices and 700 conservation projects in 100 countries. WWF is global and politically independenter. WWF was established in 1960 under the name World Wildlife Fund

UN Panel on Climate Change WWF Global Footprint WWF Nature Index Norway WWF Living Planet Index UN Mill Ecosyst Assessment Empty tex box with white text

Aquaculture and the environment Genetic impacts – introduced species Escaped farmed fish in Norway Measures to prevent escapes and minimise impact WWFs work

Total global catch of Atlantic cod was in 1970 around 3.1 million tons. In 2002, total catch was down to tons, a reduction of more than 70 %. (FAO Fishstats 2004)

The SSB of Norwegian coastal cod North of 62 has decreased continuously since 1984 and a further reduction in biomass is expected. ICES ACFM 2003

Fin fish aquaculture - Unsustainable use of marine resources - Aquaculture is a main route for introductions of exotic species - Good conditions for diseases and parasites – and possible transfers to wild species - Farming in ecological sensitive areas - Habitat destruction and land alteration - Discharges of nutrients and chemicals The good news are that most of this can be solved with better regulations and control regimes and by good management at the farm site!

The fishoil can stop the growth in salmon and cod farming - Sandeel, Norway pout and horse mackerel has decreased significantly - Blue Whiting – A story of no managment and ”good luck” (good recruitment) -”Reduction fisheries” - Key species in the ecosystem - Increased use for human consumption

Aquaculture consumes around 20 million tons of wild caught fish

WWF report about escaped farmed fish in Norwegian water

Threatened: > 45 % Heavily impacted: % Impacted: 6 – 21% OK < 6 % Norwegian rivers impacted by escaped farmed salmon

Escaped farmed fish in Norway

ICES working group on Atlantic Salmon 2007

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas Article 196 on the use of technologies or introduction of alien or new species requires states to take all measures necessary to prevent, reduce and control the intentional or accidental introduction of alien or new species which may cause significant and harmful changes.

The convention on biodiversity (CBD) from 1992 reads: “Each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate - prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species“.

The FAO Code of Conduct for responsible fisheries reads: “States should conserve genetic diversity and maintain integrity of aquatic communities and ecosystems by appropriate management. In particular, efforts should be undertaken to minimize the harmful effects of introducing non-native species or genetically altered stocks used for aquaculture...

Norwegian Aquaculture Act use the term ”alien organisms" in § 10, Envrionmental objectives. According to Ot.prp. nr – 2005, this term reflects both alien species and alien genes. Follow up of Norwegian commitments in international conventions.

Farmed salmon (Salmo salar) are much discussed in relation to possible effects of genetic contamination. They contain genes from several salmon stocks. If escaped farmed salmon spawn in rivers containing wild salmon and cross-breed with them, the wild salmon strains may lose their unique adaptation to the particular river system from which they come. Offspring from such hybrids between farmed and wild salmon compete for food with the local salmon parr, for example. Many scientists believe that, in the long term, continual infusion of farmed salmon into the wild salmon strains will lead to the differences between the original salmon strains, which have become adapted to the environment through natural selection over a long time, being erased (Einum & Fleming 1997, Fleming et al. 2000, 2002, McGinnity et al. 2003, Fiske 2006). The Norwegian Black List 2007 Salmo salar L., 1758, Atlantic Salmon (escaped farmed fish)

AquaManagement report from 2004: …4 out of 5 escapes in 2001 and 2002 happens because of failure in quality systems…. Norway has bad weather: Deal with it – or leave!

Fish farming exclusion zones to protect salmon WWF proposes Fish farming exclusion zones to protect coastal cod and other coastal marine resources.

National salmon fjords and salmon rivers established in 2003 and 2007

How to stop escapes? Biological pollution – change in legal framework Take fish farmers to court Regulations and technical standards Withdrawal of licenses and high fines Use of best available technology Continous research on new and better technologies Specified regulations for ”escape-species” Certification systems Marked pressure

How to minimize the impact of escaped farmed fish? No fish farms in vulnerable areas = spawning grounds, migrations routes etc. Plans for emergency fishing Sterile farmed fish Individual tagging

Aquaculture Escape Commission Vision ”Zero escapes”

Salmon Aquaculture Dialogue Initiated by WWF in 2004 Follows model of the Consortium of Shrimp Farming and the Environment One of several parallel dialogues, all with similar goals Aim to transparently and credibly develop standards for environmentally and socially better aquaculture by species/species group Final goal is on-the-ground improvement in environmental and social performance

Steering Comitee Name Organization Katherine Bostick - Manager WWF US Jason Clay WWF US Alex Obach/Petter Arnesen Marine Harvest Andrea Kavanagh NET Alex Trent SOTA Rodrigo Infante SalmonChile Kjell Maroni FHL Norwegian Seafood Federation Trygve Berg Lea Skretting Dom Repta/Jay Ritchlin FOCS/DSF/CAAR Giuliana Furci/Rodrigo Pizarro Fundación Terram

WWF Sustainable Seafood Campaign Seafood guides Methodology for assessing sustainability of farmed species Tips when buying farmed fish from Norway Benchmark study on Aquaculture certifitcation systems