Factsheet Escaped Fish

FACTSHEET October 2009

A factsheet on the escape of fish from fish farming facilities. Causes, measures and results.

Escaped fish

Decline in escaped fish from fish farming facilities Number of escaped cod Rømt Torsk torsk

Laks

The aquaculture industry has intensified efforts to prevent escapes, and focus on this every day, all year round.

(Tall i 1000) (numbers in thousands)

(numbers thousands) Antallinrømt laks (Tall i 1000)

290

920

Number of escaped salmon

477

Why we need to keep fish “at home”

715

85

272

52

20

553 407

259

213

!""#$ !""!$ !""%$ !""&$ !""'$ !""($ !"")$ !""*$!""+,$

290 112

87

!""#$ !""!$ !""%$ !""&$ !""'$ !""($ !"")$ !""*$!""+,$ Official escape statistics for salmon and cod in fish farms, as at 24.6.2009 Source: The Directorate of Fisheries.

In 2007 the annual general meeting of the FHL declared a zero vision for escaped fish. This is also in line with the authorities’ vision. The escape of farmed fish is undesirable for the aquaculture industry, both in terms of the environment and to avoid financial loss. The operative goal for the industry is to reach a level where escaped farmed fish do not have a negative effect on wild fish. This means that the number of escaped fish and the extent of individual

escapes must be reduced to a minimum. Many aquaculture companies have an equivalent vision and goal within their own companies. Fish farmers take the problem of escaping fish extremely seriously, and most are highly successful in their work to prevent escapes.

The most important consideration is related to wild salmon and other wild fish. There is fear of a negative impact on local stocks. Escape is unprofitable. Each escaped fish will have a negative impact on the fish farmer’s profits, which is an important driving force behind continued work to prevent escapes. The aquaculture industry is concerned with being environmentally sustainable, and will therefore do what it takes to ensure that the positive trend in escape statistics shown in recent years will continue. The further growth and framework of the industry will depend on its ability to be environmentally sustainable, also regarding escapes.

This is demonstrated both in the

Good preparation is decisive should an accident occur All Norwegian fish farming facilities are obliged to have emergency plans that come into effect in the event that fish escape. All employees at the facility must know how escapes can be discovered, limited and reported. The emergency plan also describes how to secure the facility and start recapture as soon as possible after the escape has taken place.

Measures that work Fish farmers, the authorities and a number of expert bodies have together and in different ways contributed to reduce escapes in recent years.

1 2 3

4

5 6

New regulations: The NYTEK regulations (and the NS 9415 standard) have been introduced. The industry helped draw up their contents. More robust equipment: Companies have invested billions of Norwegian Kroner in new equipment. Better routines: Companies have improved their routines, strengthened coordination and worked on changing attitudes, both internally and with collaborating operators. Raising the level of expertise: A number of training courses in escape prevention have been run for fish farmers. Important topics have included preventive measures and learning from previous incidents. Research: The review and analysis of incidents, as well as the development of new solutions have contributed to lower escape statistics. Systematic: FHL’s own Escape Committee and the governmental Aquaculture Escape Commission work systematically to strengthen work on escape prevention.

Other sources The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries: www.fiskeridir.no The Fishery and Aquaculture Industry Research Fund: www.fhf.no The Aquaculture Escape Commission: www.rommingskommisjonen.no

Slauthered qty Escaped salmon

Escaped salmon (number in thousands)

There are several reasons behind escape incidents. Facility lapses and breakdowns have been the reason for a number of incidents. In addition flotsam in the sea, predators and boats running into the facilities have caused damage to the nets and thus caused escapes.

Slaughtered quantity of salmon (rounded weight in tonnes)

Reasons why fish escape

The figure shows how the production of salmon has increased while the number of escaped salmon has fallen. Source: The Directorate of Fisheries’ statistics and FHL.

official escape statistics for farmed fish recorded by the Directorate of Fisheries on the basis of escapes notified by the fish farmers, and in statistics from the monitoring fishery of escaped salmon which is carried out in many of our most important salmon rivers. Both statistics demonstrate a falling trend as a result of fewer escaped fish. The escape statistics are official and available on the Directorate of Fisheries’ web page. Results from recent years’ fish monitoring in rivers are also available there.

escaped, only 0.04 percent of salmon escaped in 2008. To put it another way: 99.9% of salmon do not escape. This is positive for both wild salmon and the fish farmer, and inspires to continue the hard work to prevent escapes.

The trend is not so positive for the cod industry. A trawler destroyed the mooring lines at a facility and caused an escape that made up 68% of the total escaped fish Official statistics for cod in 2008.

up to date statistics: fiskeridir.no

The trend in the number of escape incidents for salmon and trout has been positive and operative goals have been reached with a good margin. For salmon the number of escaped fish fell by 61% in 2008 compared with the previous year. The decline for rainbow trout was even larger. Looking at the trend in escaped fish and escape incidents compared with production growth, one finds the same positive trend in recent years (figure above). While 10 years ago around 0.46 percent of released salmon smolt

This incident was also a reminder that all activity involves a risk. The industry shall and must do it’s very best to prevent escapes, but is unable to prevail over all conditions, for instance inattentive boat captains. A systematic review of what causes the different types of escapes will be a positive contribution regarding risk assessments and preventive measures. This is also important regarding conditions the fish farmer has no direct influence or control over.

This factsheet is published by The Norwegian Seafood Federation (FHL). Comprehensive information about escapes and other relevant topics can be found in FHL’s Environmental Report for 2008. FHL is the largest employer organisation for the seafood industry and covers the entire value chain, from fjord to table. FHL is affiliated with NHO. See also www.fhl.no/miljo