Governing the welfare of Norwegian farmed salmon

Three conflict cases

Bibliographic Data

ID21521255
AuthorsLars Helge Stien (0000-0002-8533-8478, Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, corresponding author), Brit Tørud (Norwegian Veterinary Institute), Kristine Gismervik (0000-0002-5210-5838, Norwegian Veterinary Institute), Marianne Elisabeth Lien (0000-0002-5216-6219, University of Oslo), Christian Peter Medaas (0000-0002-9462-8389, University of Oslo), Christian Medaas, Tonje C Osmundsen (0000-0002-5776-6694, NTNU Samfunnsforskning), Tonje Osmundsen, Tore Kristiansen (0000-0001-5904-0224, Norwegian Institute of Marine Research), Tore S Kristiansen, Kristine Vedal Størkersen (0000-0003-4752-1957, NTNU Samfunnsforskning)
Year2020
Volume117
Pages103969
Publication date2020-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMarine Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0308-597X • E-ISSN: 1872-9460
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.marpol.2020.103969
OpenAlexW3015443620
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited36

To obtain insight into perceptions of how fish welfare and health is governed in Norwegian aquaculture, this study investigates three conflict cases: salmon lice, pancreas disease and farm siting. Using surveys and in-depth interviews, it highlights challenges and solutions as perceived from different professional groups. The results show that the current inflexible limit of the number of salmon lice permitted creates frustration, both among the farmers themselves and fish health personnel, and that many advocate means for making the regulations more in line with how much infection pressure a farm creates. The regulators acknowledge that upholding salmon lice regulations may diminish animal welfare. Also, farmers and fish health professionals are concerned about the welfare impact of risky delousing operations. Where pancreas disease is concerned, many express their incredulity that a clearly welfare harming disease is permitted to be endemic in parts of Norway, while a positive diagnosis outside the endemic zone will lead to the fish farmers having to slaughter their fish. The case of farm siting was responsible for less conflict than expected. Few expressed strong opinions, but some asked for an overall plan for farm positioning in order to limit spread of pathogens. All groups expressed a concern in that it is difficult to implement the necessary changes within the present framework. The overall problem seems to be that what is best for the single farmer or company in the short term, is often contrary to the common good and long-term benefit of the industry as a whole

Animal welfare · Aquaculture · Biology · Business · Fish · Fish farming · Fishery · Norwegian · Political science · Welfare · Aquaculture disease management and microbiota · Fish Ecology and Management Studies · Law · Parasite Biology and Host Interactions · Ecology

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