Extracts from “Fisken og havet, særnummer 3-2010” printed August 2011 Risk assessment – environmental impacts of Norwegian aquaculture Extracts from “Fisken og havet, særnummer 3-2010” – printed August 2011 Risk assessment – environmental impacts of Norwegian aquaculture Editors: Geir Lasse Taranger, Karin Kroon Boxaspen, Abdullah S. Madhun and Terje Svåsand Contributing authors from IMR: Jan Aure, Pål Arne Bjørn, Geir Dahle, Arne Ervik, Kevin Glover, Bjørn Einar Grøsvik, Pia Kupka Hansen, Kjellrun Hiis Hauge, Vivian Husa, Knut Jørstad, Egil Karlsbakk, Stein Mortensen, Sonal Patel, Ole B. Samuelsen, Nina Sandlund, Ove Skilbrei, Øystein Skaala, Terje van der Meeren and Vidar Wennevik www.imr.no 2 RISK assessment – enviRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF NORWEGIAN AQUACULTURE Preface The current report presents translated extracts from ”Fisken og havet, særnummer 3-2010” that was published in Norwegian by the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, in January 2011. The current translation contains the Summary, and Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the original publication. The original Norwegian version “Risikovurdering – miljøvirkninger av norsk fiskeoppdrett” and the current report are available at www.imr.no. Summary............. ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Chapter 2 Methods for risk assessment ........................................................................................................................................................ 7 2.1 About risk assessment ............................................................................................................................................................................ 8 2.2 Risk assessment approaches in this report ................................................................................................................................ 9 2.2.1 Topics included .............................................................................................................................................................................. 9 2.2.2 Implementing consensus and quality control ...........................................................................................................10 2.2.3 Defining the problem and scientific implementation ...........................................................................................10 Chapter 3 Current status of fish farming in Norway ..........................................................................................................................11 Chapter 5 Environmental impact and risk assessment ..................................................................................................................15 5.1 Disease and dispersal of infection ................................................................................................................................................16 5.1.1 Salmon lice .....................................................................................................................................................................................16 Contents 5.1.2 Spread of other infectious agents .....................................................................................................................................27 5.2 Genetic effects ...........................................................................................................................................................................................29 5.2.1 Genetic effects – salmon ........................................................................................................................................................29 5.2.2 Genetic effects – cod .................................................................................................................................................................35 5.3 Nutrient salts ..............................................................................................................................................................................................38 5.4 Organic impact ..........................................................................................................................................................................................39 5.5 Medication ...................................................................................................................................................................................................40 5.6 Summary and conclusion of risk assessment ........................................................................................................................41 Chapter 6 Recommendations for the work ahead...............................................................................................................................43 6.1 Further work on risk assessments in Norwegian aquaculture ....................................................................................44 6.2 Need for monitoring, effect indicators and threshold values ......................................................................................45 6.2.1 Salmon lice .....................................................................................................................................................................................45 6.2.2 Spread of other infectious agents .....................................................................................................................................45 6.2.3 Genetic effects – salmon ........................................................................................................................................................46 6.2.4 Genetic effects – cod .................................................................................................................................................................47 6.2.5 Nutrient salts .................................................................................................................................................................................48 6.2.6 Organic impact ...........................................................................................................................................................................48 6.2.7 Medication ......................................................................................................................................................................................48 6.2.8 Other undesirable substances ............................................................................................................................................48 4 4 The Institute of Marine Research has conducted an initial risk assessment of the environmental effects of Norwegian Aquaculture for the Ministry of Fish eries and Coastal Affairs. The assessment builds on goals specified in the Ministry’s “Strategy for an Environmentally Sustainable Norwegian Aquaculture Industry” from 2009. We have focused on the environmental goals for disease dispersal, genetic impact of escapees and the release of nutrient salts, organic waste and drugs. Infection pressure from salmon lice and genetic impact There seems to be a connection between the scale of of escapees came out as the most problematic factors salmon farming within a county and the probability in this analysis. We consider that there is a moderate to of unwanted environmental effects in the same area. high probability for these effects to be in conflict with Given the biological, operational and technological Summary the goals specified in the sustainability strategy along limitations of salmon farming today, we assess that a large parts of the Norwegian coast. This builds on pro- further increase in biomass in the counties from Roga- posed threshold values for effect indicators described land to Troms can exacerbate the situation in terms of in this report. The development of resistance towards negative environmental impact. several drugs used against salmon lice may exacerbate the situation. On the basis of this initial risk assessment, we have identified a need for a strengthening of the monito- We do not have enough data on disease dispersal ring and research, especially on impact of salmon lice from fish farming to wild fish of other pathogens than on wild stocks, dispersal of other pathogens and the salmon lice to do a regionalized analysis. However, genetic impact of escapees. It is essential to get a bet- several other pathogens are recognized as potential ter scientific basis for the suggested thresholds for the threats against the wild stocks. environmental effect indicators used in this analysis. It is also important to improve the geographical coverage There is low probability of negative effects of nutrient in the national monitoring programmes. There are also salts and organic load on a regional scale. The legis- knowledge gaps on potential environmental effects of lated monitoring programme on the local impact of drugs, local effects of nutrient salts and the impact of organic load shows an overall good situation. Drugs organic waste on hard bottoms. used against salmon lice can potentially be environ- mentally problematic,