CASE STUDIES
CONTAINMENT SPECIAL
CONTAINMENT CASE STUDIES:
hen discussing escape incidents, it is important to remember that the overwhelming majority of the 300 or so Scottish fish farming sites in operation have an excellent record on containment of fish – highlighted by the 2010 performance, which represented the lowest number of lost fish since statutory reporting began in 2002. We should also highlight the fact that effective contain- ment remains a priority for the aquaculture sector and that all breaches of containment represent a significant commercial loss. We have brought together, for the first time, a number of case studies on escape incidents. The purpose is to share information
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on the causes of escapes between farmers so as to help learn from our collective experiences.
This summary of incidents uses the previously unpublished material collected as part of the SARF project on containment. It has been produced in consultation with companies that have experienced a breach of containment to assist in the promotion of best practice on an industry-wide level. It includes sea water and freshwater sites and operators of both steel and circular pens.
In the words of Mark Taylor, who co-wrote the SARF study:
‘We hope that by sharing experiences we can help further im- prove the Scottish fish farmer’s performance on containment.’
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www.fishfarmer-magazine.com
CASE STUDY - 1 EASY DOES IT
SITUATION: MOVING FISH BY HELICOPTER
INCIDENT: LOCKING MECHANISM
RESPONSE: DISCONTINUED HELICOPTER USE
The situation Moving fi sh by helicopter is common in
fi sh farming – and happens in countless situations across Scotland and world- wide every year. This example shows how a slight lack of judgement can be problem- atic.
For the company concerned – and others – it is standard procedure for the heli- copter to lower the ‘bin’ of fi sh on to a barge moored alongside the wellboat. This is safer and more controlled than landing on to the actual wellboat. The helicopter strop can then be released and the bin lifted on to the wellboat by the wellboat crane.
The incident
The bin was landed fi ne on the barge and attached to the wellboat crane. The crane lifted the bin across but unfortunately
the bin was lowered a little too smartly – before it was completely and entirely over the edge of the deck.
As the bin was lowered, it struck the edge of the deck and knocked the bin locking mechanism. The lock was released and the fi sh were discharged, resulting in an escape incident.
THE RESPONSE:
This is a reminder that the actions of our subcontractors can lead to a breach of containment, as well as those of the fish farmers themselves. Farmers already make extensive checks on their wellboat operators for a range of issues – and are very closely involved in the operations - and the need to discuss containment and fish handling is of obvious importance.
Immediately after the event, the fish farm- ing company raised this issue with their sub- contractors to ensure they were made aware of the potential for escape incidents from handling bins and discussed ways of working to address these issues. In the longer term, the company discontinued the use of helicop- ters altogether.
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