Both the seafood companies and Norske Lakseelver fear that salmon lice will become a serious problem for both wild and farmed salmon. Last autumn, the two industries put forward a proposal to have more closed cages built. – Together we managed to come up with a very good solution. The proposal was handed over from us and Norske Lakseelver to Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bjørnar Skjæran last autumn. But little has happened since then. That’s what director Robert Eriksson says at Seafood Companies. – We are very disappointed that the government has not tackled the issue, but simply pushed it under the rug. When we submitted our proposal last autumn, Skjæran followed up by saying that he would come back with his position on this before Christmas last year, Eriksson continues. Director Robert Eriksson of Seafood Companies believes the government is not doing enough to stimulate the farming industry to use closed cages. Photo: Kjell Peder Gyldenskog Requires intensive measures from the authorities Today, it costs around NOK 3 million to build an open salmon cage. A closed cage costs between NOK 70 and 110 million, according to the Seafood Companies. – The industry does not require subsidies, but intensives from the authorities. We proposed a conversion scheme, where you can exchange a permit with open cage technology for one with closed cage technology, says Eriksson. – This will be among the most important measures to make the red production areas green. So that salmon production can increase, and at the same time protect the interests of wild salmon. Salmon louse Salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) is a natural parasite on salmonids in saltwater in the northern hemisphere. It feeds on the mucus, skin and blood of the fish. This makes the fish more susceptible to other infections. Males are 6 mm long, while females are 12 mm. Salmon lice in farms have led to an increased incidence of salmon lice on wild salmon. Limits have therefore been introduced for how many salmon lice salmon can have in farms. Salmon in farms have been treated with various drugs in feed or bath, but over the years the lice have become resistant to several of the agents. Non-medicinal methods such as cleaning fish, flushing and laser have also been used. Source: The Veterinary Institute and the Marine Research Institute Lakselusa is a serious problem in many Norwegian fjords. Lusa thrives in areas with breeding facilities, and in turn leads to production losses. In addition, it attacks wild salmon on their way up the rivers. This leads to increased mortality. Salmonella is a major problem for both wild salmon and farmed salmon in Norway. Photo: Samantha Bui / HI Norske Lakseelver supports the proposal from the Seafood Companies, and believes that something must be done as soon as possible. “Salmon lice, escaped farmed salmon and infectious diseases are the result of intensive farming in open cages where the infectious agents have free flow between the farmed salmon inside the cages and the environment outside,” says Sigurd Hytterød, head of department at Norske Lakseelver. – In addition, the nuts are vulnerable to damage in connection with frequent work operations, which can cause the farmed salmon to escape. Half of the smolt die He points out that the infection pressure from salmon lice means that more than half of the wild salmon smolt that migrate out of certain rivers in Western Norway die on the way to the sea. – This threatens the stocks of wild salmon in several places, says Hytterød. Norwegian Salmon Rivers therefore believes that the authorities must support the scheme whereby licenses with traditional farming in open cages can be exchanged for several licenses with production in escape-proof facilities. Sigurd Hytterød in Norske Lakseelver is worried about the future of wild salmon. Photo: Eirik Haukenes / news – Such an arrangement will probably speed up a green farming shift. It will create industrial growth, while the farming industry can continue without major negative effects on wild salmon and the environment. It may even be possible to achieve the farming growth that the politicians want, believes Sigurd Hytterød in Norske Lakseelver. – Must get rid of ground rent tax Robert Eriksson also points out that the introduction of ground rent tax in the farming industry makes it even more important that the authorities introduce measures to help the industry move into closed farming cages. – Now a lower production tax must also be considered for those who switch to more environmentally friendly technology, or that they avoid the ground rent tax. The companies must be helped to change their operations if the industry is to grow, believes Eriksson. Closed breeding cages like this one in Brønnøy are what both the aquaculture industry and Norwegian Salmon Rivers want. Photo: AkvaDesign – Putting development on hold Norsk Sjømat has also become involved in the matter. Director Jon Arne Grøttum supports the proposal from Seafood Companies and Norske Lakseelver. – The postponement puts much of the development at the suppliers on hold, as a result of increased uncertainty and unclear framework conditions. The introduction of the ground rent tax brings in capital from the coast, which would otherwise have been used to invest in aquaculture, Grøttum believes. But he hopes the authorities see that they must stimulate the farming industry to switch to closed cages. – It will be important to improve the environment, fish welfare and impact on wild salmon. A conversion scheme for farming permits will be an effective tool for the further development of the aquaculture industry, states Grøttum. Jon Arne Grøttum in Norsk Sjømat believes that the government’s postponement puts the development of new cage technology on hold. Photo: Seafood Norway The government is waiting for a selection news has tried to get a comment from Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bjørnar Skjæran (Ap), but has not received a direct reply from him. State Secretary Kristina Hansen in the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries gives the following feedback on the criticism they are now receiving from a collective industry: – A separate committee has been set up to look at the comprehensive permit system for the aquaculture industry. Including a possible arrangement with environmental technology permits, and how it can be set up, writes Hansen in an e-mail to news. – The committee must deliver its report by the end of September. I look forward to seeing what they propose, both in terms of environmental technology and otherwise, to create a simpler bureaucracy and more sustainable growth in an important industry.
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Wants to close cages – but lacks money for reconstruction – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
