66
M. Holmer et al.
2.2.2 Environmental Objectives for Norwegian Aquaculture
In 1993 the Norwegian authorities decided on environmental objectives for
Norwegian aquaculture, providing a national consensus (Anon. 1993). Defining the
objectives was a joint project between the authorities concerned with aquaculture in
Norway: the Directorate for Nature Management, the Directorate of Fisheries,
The Norwegian Pollution Control Authority, The Norwegian Board of Health, The
Norwegian Medicines Control Authority, and the Ministry of Agriculture Department
of Veterinary Services. The report outlined the political objectives that the government and parliament had decided upon and which served as overriding objectives.
The Stortings propositions no. 32 and no. 36 stated: “The development of the
Norwegian aquaculture industry must be sustainable and based on respect for
nature’s thresholds of toleration.” The report also presented the international conventions and treaties that Norway had agreed upon and which must be followed.
The environmental objectives for Norwegian aquaculture were divided into five
major areas: escapees, diseases, medicines, chemicals and organic waste and nutrients.
A description of each was provided and both short-term result goals and long-term
environmental objectives for each type of impact were set. The report was followed
by annual reports on the results achieved (e.g., Directorate for Nature Management
2000), and in 1997, the environmental objectives were reviewed (Directorate for
Nature Management 1997).
The environmental objectives and the annual reports presented an important
overview of the situation with regard to the environmental problem areas and provided a practical tool for following up on goals. These also made it possible to
include changes in problem areas as well as to redirect focus to emerging issues,
and have been used as guidelines for what should be monitored. However, they did
not describe how to monitor the various effects, how often monitoring should take
place, and which environmental quality standards (EQS) to use.
2.2.3 Environmental Impacts and Monitoring
A number of regulations, acts and laws administered by various ministries, directorates
and other authorities regulate the Norwegian aquaculture industry with regard to
licensing, production, food safety, disease control, the use of medicines and chemicals, and environmental impact (Maroni 2000).
The escape of salmon from farms is considered a serious problem since farmed
fish may interact with wild salmon. To minimise the escape of fish from farms, a
risk assessment must be carried out at each farm and all farms must comply with a
standard for technical specifications (Anon. 2003). In the case of an escape event
or suspicion of escape, the Directorate of Fisheries must be notified and recapture
of escaped fish in a radius of 500 m from the farm initiated as stated in the
Aquaculture Operation Regulations (Anon. 2004).
M. Holmer et al.
2.2.2 Environmental Objectives for Norwegian Aquaculture
In 1993 the Norwegian authorities decided on environmental objectives for
Norwegian aquaculture, providing a national consensus (Anon. 1993). Defining the
objectives was a joint project between the authorities concerned with aquaculture in
Norway: the Directorate for Nature Management, the Directorate of Fisheries,
The Norwegian Pollution Control Authority, The Norwegian Board of Health, The
Norwegian Medicines Control Authority, and the Ministry of Agriculture Department
of Veterinary Services. The report outlined the political objectives that the government and parliament had decided upon and which served as overriding objectives.
The Stortings propositions no. 32 and no. 36 stated: “The development of the
Norwegian aquaculture industry must be sustainable and based on respect for
nature’s thresholds of toleration.” The report also presented the international conventions and treaties that Norway had agreed upon and which must be followed.
The environmental objectives for Norwegian aquaculture were divided into five
major areas: escapees, diseases, medicines, chemicals and organic waste and nutrients.
A description of each was provided and both short-term result goals and long-term
environmental objectives for each type of impact were set. The report was followed
by annual reports on the results achieved (e.g., Directorate for Nature Management
2000), and in 1997, the environmental objectives were reviewed (Directorate for
Nature Management 1997).
The environmental objectives and the annual reports presented an important
overview of the situation with regard to the environmental problem areas and provided a practical tool for following up on goals. These also made it possible to
include changes in problem areas as well as to redirect focus to emerging issues,
and have been used as guidelines for what should be monitored. However, they did
not describe how to monitor the various effects, how often monitoring should take
place, and which environmental quality standards (EQS) to use.
2.2.3 Environmental Impacts and Monitoring
A number of regulations, acts and laws administered by various ministries, directorates
and other authorities regulate the Norwegian aquaculture industry with regard to
licensing, production, food safety, disease control, the use of medicines and chemicals, and environmental impact (Maroni 2000).
The escape of salmon from farms is considered a serious problem since farmed
fish may interact with wild salmon. To minimise the escape of fish from farms, a
risk assessment must be carried out at each farm and all farms must comply with a
standard for technical specifications (Anon. 2003). In the case of an escape event
or suspicion of escape, the Directorate of Fisheries must be notified and recapture
of escaped fish in a radius of 500 m from the farm initiated as stated in the
Aquaculture Operation Regulations (Anon. 2004).