Published 22.06.2023

The aquaculture industry is shifting its environmental challenges further out to sea, exacerbating the problems rather than solving them. Much like how factories in the 1960s and 1970s built taller smokestacks to hide pollution, the aquaculture sector is now attempting to move its environmental footprint out of sight. Despite advancements expected in 2023, both the industry and authorities are failing to address the issue with the responsibility and sustainability required.

Where are the fish farms to be placed?

Fisheries Minister Bjørnar Skjæran has stated that the areas designated for aquaculture will not conflict with other activities. However, NMF argues that this claim is unrealistic. When looking at the proposed areas for aquaculture, it is clear that they are crucial for traditional wild fish fishing. Particularly, the two areas outside Trøndelag (Frøyabanken) and Nordland (Trænabanken) are important fishing grounds for coastal fishermen.

Trænabanken: Trænabanken is a large plateau off the coast of Træna, known for its rich fishing grounds, especially for species like coley, tusk, and ling, particularly in the summer months. It is also a fishing spot for blue halibut. The area is vital for fishing and would be severely disturbed by aquaculture activities.

Frøyabanken: Frøyabanken is a significant fishing area, as stated by the Norwegian Coastal Fishermen's Association. The majority of the fishing here is done using purse seines, nets, and longlines, with NVG herring and coley being the main species. The area also has confirmed coral reefs, which should be a sufficient reason to prevent it from being opened to aquacultur

Norskerenna: Norskerenna is an area with extensive trawling for species like winkles, blue whiting, and herring, as well as an established prawn field with significant trawl activity. There is also trap fishing for Norway lobster. Fishermen are concerned about the use of toxic chemicals for lice control, which could harm prawns and other shellfish in the area, thus threatening the region's biodiversity.

NMF believes that placing aquaculture areas in these important fishing regions is not only detrimental to coastal fishing but may also have severe consequences for marine ecosystems and biodiversity. They urge thorough evaluation of these areas before any decisions are made.

Moving the problem out at sea changes nothing

NMF is convinced that the same issues the aquaculture industry faces with sea lice in fjords will occur in offshore farms. There's no reason to believe that sea lice won't reach the fish in sea-based pens. Sea lice are a problem that will follow the industry regardless of where the farms are located.

Another serious issue is the fish that feed on pellets under the aquaculture farms along the coast. These fish cannot tolerate large amounts of the fatty farmed feed and can become inedible as human food if they consume too much over time. Studies by researchers like Ingebrigt Uglem (NINA), Tim Dempster (SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture), and Pål Arne Bjørn (Nofima Marin) have shown that over 10 tons of wild fish from 15 different species feed around the farms. A study on saithe found an average of 33 grams of pellets per fish (Ryen 2009).

NMF is once again convinced that the same problems occurring in coastal aquaculture farms will arise in open sea pens. Moving aquaculture to the ocean is not the solution to issues like sea lice and fish health.

According to NMF's assessment, pollution from open sea pens is the most significant environmental issue in our fjords today. It has been documented that the discharge of pellets and fish waste can cover large areas under the pens with sludge, gradually causing life on the seafloor to die off. NMF has even filmed extensive sludge deposits at 200 meters depth under the farms. Frøyabanken, with a maximum depth of 160 meters, is likely to experience similar pollution issues on the seafloor as seen in the fjords today. This could lead to the death of corals, bottom fish, and other marine species living on the seafloor beneath the farms.

Trænabanken, with a depth of 200–300 meters, may face similar issues under offshore pens, though this depends on the local current conditions. Norskerenna, with depths ranging from 250 to 700 meters, could potentially avoid severe pollution issues on the seafloor. However, NMF believes problems may still arise if currents are weak, as this could hinder the effective dispersion of sludge beneath the farms.

Several of these diseases can be fatal if the fish is not treated, and many cannot be effectively treated with medication. In such cases, the fish are slaughtered to prevent further spread of the disease

All of these diseases are contagious to wild fish like sea trout and wild salmon, which can come into contact with infected water around the farms. This results in the death of wild fish due to the infection, as they cannot be treated for these diseases

Researchers have raised concerns about the spread of deadly viruses from farmed fish to wild fish, with no doubt that the aquaculture industry contributes to the transmission of these diseases in Norwegian fjords. This poses significant risks to wild fish populations, which are vulnerable and unable to receive treatment for such infections.【Kilde: DN】.

Conclution

NMF compares the aquaculture industry's attempt to move growth projects offshore to the heavy industry's strategy of the 1960s and 1970s, where taller smokestacks were built to avoid pollution control requirements. However, this only shifted the pollution rather than solving it. Similarly, offshore farming with open-net pens will merely relocate environmental problems without

NMF firmly believes that, like heavy industry, the aquaculture industry must ultimately take responsibility and invest in sustainable solutions. They advocate for future salmon and trout farming to be carried out in closed systems to ensure environmentally responsible operations.

Moving fish farms to the sea in an attempt to enable further growth is seen as a step backward, perpetuating the same problems associated with open-net farming. NMF believes that more stakeholders along the coast are now realizing this, and many are starting to consider closed systems as the only viable solution for sustainable aquaculture operations.

For aquaculture to have a positive impact on nature, the environment, and wild fish, closed systems are essential. Open-net farming will only continue the existing problems, further exacerbating the issues as new "offshore aquaculture licenses" are added to existing licenses along the coast and fjords. Without closed systems, there is no solution to the environmental challenges we face.

In 2023, both the authorities and the aquaculture industry are expected to demonstrate greater accountability and adopt more sustainable solutions. It is crucial to prioritize responsible approaches to ensure a better environmental and ecological future for marine life.

• Miljøfakta om Norsk lakseoppdrett 2019