Finfish fish farm. (Photo: SEPA)

Sustainable finfish aquaculture to be ensured in Scotland

UNITED KINGDOM
Thursday, June 29, 2017, 23:00 (GMT + 9)

Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has drafted proposals intended to o modernise and strengthen the way we regulate finfish aquaculture.

Among these proposals, SEPA has included the reduction of the risks to Scotland’s environment from existing and future farms, the guarantee that all finfish farm operations reach and maintain full regulatory compliance and aid for operators to voluntarily improve their environmental performance beyond compliance standards.

Despite being an iconic and increasingly important industry for Scotland, Aquaculture is one of the least compliant sectors regulated by SEPA. Around 21 per cent of marine finfish farms and 7 per cent of freshwater finfish farms were not compliant in 2015. Non-compliance was mainly due to unsatisfactory seabed surveys, exceedance of biomass or discharge limits, and effluent quality failures.

In order to change that lack of compliance and minimize the environmental impacts brought about by the industry, SEPA is seeking to address: the deposition of wastes on the sea bed and residues from sea louse medicines.

It has been found that the 2,500 tonnes limit at a fish farm was based on the best science at the time, but in some cases, has restricted the sector from locating fish farms where the environmental risk would be lower.

SEPA wants to make it more attractive to develop fish farms in more exposed locations where the risks to the sea bed are reduced, which will help give the sector confidence in making investment decisions to operate where the environmental risk is reduced.

“We are proposing to do this by revising the way we control the amount of waste a fish farm can release, through a new approach called Depositional Zone Regulation (DZR). DZR makes use of an updated computer model, which can more accurately predict risks to the sea bed. It also involves increased environmental monitoring, carried out by SEPA, so that any environmental effects can be detected early and any necessary corrective action taken quickly,” stated SEPA in its press release.

According to the entity, under this new approach it would be possible for fish farms to progressively increase their stocking above a starting biomass determined using the updated computer model, but DZR will ensure that growth occurs only where the combination of appropriate siting, and new techniques and processes, mean the environment can sustain it.

In addition, the issue of residues from sea louse medicines is one that SEPA is tackling head-on. Last year, the entity was one of the key sponsors of one of the first significant studies into the in-feed sea louse medicine Emamectin Benzoate.

SEPA representatives recall that the Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum (SARF) reported a subtle but detectable impact of residues of Emamectin Benzoate on the environment around fish farms and based on this new evidence, SEPA has reviewed all fish farm licences permitting the use of medicines containing Emamectin Benzoate, tightening conditions for its use.

Following the SARF report, the entity also commissioned a second study, which found that marine organisms may be considerably more sensitive to Emamectin Benzoate, and may be affected by much lower concentrations, than previously believed. It therefore recommended that the EQS for Emamectin Benzoate should be very much reduced.

Before a final review report is produced, SEPA will take precautionary action to determine new licence applications and variations regarding the use of Emamectin Benzoate.

Furthermore, SEPA is inviting the medicine manufacturer, research establishments, fish farm operators and non-governmental organisations to consider the initial review findings and submit any relevant additional data or information they may hold which should be considered as part of the review.

“As with all sectors, the opportunities to pursue environmental excellence will minimise its environmental impact and increase its long-term viability. SEPA is committed to playing our regulatory role to work with the sector to protect the Scottish environment and help achieve these multiple benefits for the people of Scotland,” SEPA’s release concluded.
 

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