http://www.riksrevisjonen.no/Rapporter/Sider/havbruk.aspxThese are the same Norwegians running the feedlots on our BC coast....
Google Translation:
The investigation of fisheries management
Summary
Background and objectives of the survey
In aquaculture policy has for several years been a key objective to ensure a balance between environmental sustainability and further growth and development of the industry.
The aim of this study was to assess the extent to which the status and development of the aquaculture industry in line with the national goal that the industry must be sustainable and environmentally and whether government policy instruments and monitoring are effective and adequate.
Method
The survey is based on document analysis, statistics, case review, interviews, questionnaires and surveys vignette.
Results
The aquaculture industry has grown significantly over the years, and constitutes an important industry and workplace. At the same time, the OAG's investigation that the strong growth in the industry poses significant environmental challenges. The challenges are greatest in areas with large farming production.
The study shows that because of persistent escape figures are in several rivers and streams a high proportion of escaped farmed fish from wild fish. In some areas this has already affected the genetic characteristics of wild salmon. The goal of the influences that threaten salmon genetic diversity was reduced to a non-harmful level by 2010 was not achieved.
The loss of farmed fish, particularly because of illness, is significant.
The disease situation has not improved since 2000 and the great losses also results in huge economic losses to the industry.
The presence of lice is still at a high level along much of the coast and have a negative impact on wild fish, especially trout.Livestock contributes to the release of large amounts of nutrients, organic matter and chemicals added to the areas around the plants. There is no consensus in the public administration experts about the importance of the total emissions from aquaculture.
Chemicals released however untreated into the water from the plants and it is shown that such agents inflict damage.Aquaculture is dependent on large quantities of wild fish to feed. Fishing pressure on some of these species have been great.On the instrument side, the survey shows that there are deficiencies in the planning of marine areas. In the allocation of permits to farm and regulations of the facilities focuses primarily on the individual site and less on the overall impact of several farms in the enlarged area.
Fisheries and Coastal Affairs is responsible for determining the total amount of production of farmed fish. In recent years, environmental concerns were given greater weight when it should be investigated whether the production of aquaculture can be increased.