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Y. Liu et al.
instance, ‘owner-operator’ licensing system, together with limitations on farm size
and number. Increasing competition in the industry resulted in making the ‘owneroperator’ license system less stringent, which helps the local industry compete in
international markets. It implies that one company can hold multiple licenses at
various locations. Later on, the policies shifted towards environmental protection
due to emerging problems such as escapees and diseases (Liu et al. 2011 ) .
Although different countries and regions have their own governing systems,
governing actors tend to concentrate on similar issues and problems, namely siting/
licensing criteria and regulating operation facilities (including waste management,
escape prevention, fi sh health and uses of chemicals and drugs). The following
highlights some key policies.
Siting/Licensing Criteria
Most countries have developed guidelines describing a number of environmental
and social criteria to determine whether to issue a license or allow for aquaculture
operations. In the case of British Columbia, such environmental criteria include
minimum distance from a First Nation reserve, salmon stream, herring spawning
ground, shell fi sh beds, habitats for marine mammals, ecological reserve, protected
parks and areas, and existing aquaculture farms. Furthermore, a farm cannot be situated in an important commercial or recreational fi shing ground, and in or near heritage sites (MAFF 2006 ) . In Norway, existing salmon farms have to be relocated
from, and new licenses will not be issued near, the National salmon watercourses
and fjords, which have been established to protect wild salmon stocks (Sønvisen
2003 ; Porter 2005 ) . There are also limits on the number of fi sh farms that can be
situated in a speci fi c area/region.
Aquaculture Operations
Rules may focus on daily operation, best husbandry practice, compliance with disease
outbreak or parasite infection, and escapes and containment management. Other
management strategies have been developed and implemented to target various
environmental problems. For instance, Norway has special regulations on stocking
density, farm size, production level, and year-class separation. Most producing
countries also impose a period of fallowing for farms, especially those located in
sensitive areas such as wild salmon migration pathways.
Waste Management
The waste control regulations may include waste discharge standards, best waste
management practices, monitoring and reporting, site remediation, fees and penalties.
Y. Liu et al.
instance, ‘owner-operator’ licensing system, together with limitations on farm size
and number. Increasing competition in the industry resulted in making the ‘owneroperator’ license system less stringent, which helps the local industry compete in
international markets. It implies that one company can hold multiple licenses at
various locations. Later on, the policies shifted towards environmental protection
due to emerging problems such as escapees and diseases (Liu et al. 2011 ) .
Although different countries and regions have their own governing systems,
governing actors tend to concentrate on similar issues and problems, namely siting/
licensing criteria and regulating operation facilities (including waste management,
escape prevention, fi sh health and uses of chemicals and drugs). The following
highlights some key policies.
Siting/Licensing Criteria
Most countries have developed guidelines describing a number of environmental
and social criteria to determine whether to issue a license or allow for aquaculture
operations. In the case of British Columbia, such environmental criteria include
minimum distance from a First Nation reserve, salmon stream, herring spawning
ground, shell fi sh beds, habitats for marine mammals, ecological reserve, protected
parks and areas, and existing aquaculture farms. Furthermore, a farm cannot be situated in an important commercial or recreational fi shing ground, and in or near heritage sites (MAFF 2006 ) . In Norway, existing salmon farms have to be relocated
from, and new licenses will not be issued near, the National salmon watercourses
and fjords, which have been established to protect wild salmon stocks (Sønvisen
2003 ; Porter 2005 ) . There are also limits on the number of fi sh farms that can be
situated in a speci fi c area/region.
Aquaculture Operations
Rules may focus on daily operation, best husbandry practice, compliance with disease
outbreak or parasite infection, and escapes and containment management. Other
management strategies have been developed and implemented to target various
environmental problems. For instance, Norway has special regulations on stocking
density, farm size, production level, and year-class separation. Most producing
countries also impose a period of fallowing for farms, especially those located in
sensitive areas such as wild salmon migration pathways.
Waste Management
The waste control regulations may include waste discharge standards, best waste
management practices, monitoring and reporting, site remediation, fees and penalties.