Responsible farmed salmonids in marine pens? Norwegian aquaculture industry - environmental impact of salmon farming - disease control with focus on salmon lice Tuesday 29 April 2014 Hilton Reykjavik Nordica Ketil Rykhus One Health Consultants

On the agenda today 1.Norwegian aquaculture 2.Environmental impact of salmon farming 3.Salmon lice - challenges and control

On the agenda today 1.Norwegian aquaculture 2.Environmental impact of salmon farming 3.Salmon lice - challenges and control

The Norwegian coastline Coast line km km

3 regions

18 areas >100 zones App sites approved App. 550 sites with fish App cages

Region Area Zone Bodø peninnsula Hustadvika

On the agenda today 1.Norwegian aquaculture 2.Environmental impact of salmon farming 3.Salmon lice - challenges and control

Legislation Regulation on operation of aquaculture farms § 1 Scope The regulation shall promote the aquaculture industry’s profitability and competitive advantage within the framework of sustainable development and value generation.

Legislation Regulation on operation of aquaculture farms § 35Environmental monitoring NS 9410:2007 – Environmental monitoring of benthic impact from marine fish farms Trend monitoring of the benthic conditions underneath marine farms (“B-sampling”) Carried out by an independent institution First time when the biomass peaks and subsequent sampling in accordance with NS 9410 Report the results to the Directorate of Fisheries (regional office)

Legislation Regulation on operation of aquaculture farms § 36Measures in case of an unacceptable environmental condition Increase the number of samples underneath the farm “increased B-sampling” Optional (CA and Environmental Authority consideration)additional sampling underneath the farm and in the adjacent seabed area (“C-sampling”) In cases of unacceptable conditions following increased sampling: fallowing until favourable situation re-established

NS 9410:2007 Obligatory parameters Fauna (animals > 1 mm) Chemical o TOC (Total Organic Carbon) o Phosphorus (P) o Zink (Zn) o Copper (Cu) Particle size (clay, sand, silt, gravel) Oxygen content Salinity Temperature

Legislation Regulation on operation of aquaculture farms § 67CA measures in case of an unacceptable environmental condition Official controls by two Directorates; Directorate of fisheries and Norwegian Food Control Authority §§ 35 and 36; the Directorate of Fisheries Actions (according to Law on aquaculture): Imposition to remedy the situation (fallowing) Coercive measure Fee Confiscation of dividend Imprisonment for up to 1 year

On the agenda today 1.Norwegian aquaculture 2.Environmental impact of salmon farming 3.Salmon lice - challenges and control

Legislation and Competent Authority One regulation for the whole country One local regulation for the Hardangerfjord area CA – Norwegian Food Control Authority Risk based inspections Coercive measure (until levels below limit) Impose forced slaughtering

National project initiated autumn 2009 Main objectives Strategy Targets

Main objectives: 1.Keep the amount of salmon lice in aquaculture as low as possible in order to minimise the negative effects on wild fish and fish in aquaculture, at the same time as 2.the salmon lice are sensitive to available medicines.

Strategy In order to achieve these objectives the following main points constitute the overall strategy: 1.Identifying most adequate geographical sea locations. 2.Establishing adequate zones for fallowing. 3.Controlling the amount of salmon lice in cages by means of biological and/or mechanical measures only. 4.Coordinating the combat of increasing levels of salmon lice through intensified biological and mechanical de-lousing measures and, if necessary, by using medicines in accordance with agreed criteria.

Targets 1.Interruption of production should not be caused by salmon lice 2.Salmon lice should not hamper further expansion of the industry 3.Adequate medicines should be available 4.Production (including harvesting) of cleaner fish should be sustainable 5.The legislation should be adequate 6.Communicate results 7.Establish national database 8.Prevent unacceptable influence on wild salmon and sea trout 9.The whole industry should participate and contribute 10.Identify new and monitor relevant R&D projects 11.Establish guides to good practice

Salmon lice in a lice shell - adult females before and now mill.46 mill.0,2118 mill.0, mill.30 mill.0,163 mill.0, mill.25 mill.0,07262 mill.0, mill.12 mill.0,03112 mill.0,3

What has improved during the salmon lice project? Increased focus on lice counting, number of salmon lice and treatments The use of closed tarpaulins for medicated treatments Development and use of guidelines The use of cleaner fish Exchange of information lusedata.no

Sea lice sensitivity and resistance against drugs More efficient, more accurate and more animal welfare-friendly methods for counting early stages (chalimus and mobile) of salmon lice Wild smolt migration period determining the coordinated medicated spring campaigns Progress in developing non-medicated alternatives Commercialization and utilization of new measures Main challenges

Focus ahead New methods for counting sea lice Proaktiv treatment strategy Non-medicated control Optimising all operations The importance of continued low levels of salmon lice External communication

Thank you for your attention! Photo: FHL