Know your Scottish Salmon

Regulation enforcement around the world

Salmon farming is facing the same challenges around the world, as demand grows and variables such as climate change impact the marine environment. How are different nations dealing with some of the challenges through legislative control?

Norway has introduced new license schemes[1] and restrictions on output[2], to encourage research into the challenges faced in salmon farming, in particular sea lice.  In addition, Norsk Industri, an industrial body for the salmon farming industry, announced a stop to further open-sea salmon farming in Norway[3].

In Sweden, the Swedish Supreme Environmental Court decided to ban fish farming in cages in open water in three places and to reduce the amount farmed in another place[4].

An unusual situation is evident in Tasmania, Australia, where aquaculture company Huon has lodged proceedings in the Federal Court against the Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE), the Director of the EPA, and the Minister for Environment (Commonwealth) that seek to declare the EPA’s biomass decision of January 2017 as invalid on the basis that it fails to set a sustainable limit on biomass in Macquarie Harbour[5].

In the USA, the House and Senate of Washington have passed bills to phase out salmon farming following the expiry of any existing licenses[6].  There have been calls for similar action in neighbouring British Colombia[7].

In Chile, authorities introduced new regulations limiting production growth to 3% per year. The new legislation also penalizes aquaculture companies for poor sanitary performance.

 


 

[1] http://www.norwayexports.no/sectors/articles/new-development-licenses-spur-ocean-farming/

[2] https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-norway-fish-farming/norway-environment-restrictions-to-limit-fish-farm-growth-idUKKBN0EY0YY20140623

[3] http://www.nasfworldwide.com/latest-news/no-more-open-sea-fish-farms/

[4] https://savethebaltic.wordpress.com/2017/03/15/the-swedish-supreme-environmental-court-has-decided-to-ban-and-stopp-fish-farming-in-cages-in-open-water/

[5] https://www.huonaqua.com.au/huon-lodges-proceedings-federal-court-tasmanian-supreme-court/

[6] https://www.opb.org/news/article/atlantic-salmon-farms-puget-sound-washington-house/

[7] https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2018/02/20/washington-lawmaker-wants-bc-to-follow-state-in-phasing-out-atlantic-salmon-farms.html

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