Containment - Containment Working Group SETTING the standard THE CWG IS PLUGGING HOLES IN SCOTLAND’S CONTAINMENT STRATEGY DEXTER BRUCE


n a bid to prevent fi sh farm escapes in Scotland, a Contain- ment Working Group (CWG) was established under the aus- pices of the Ministerial Group for Sustainable Aquaculture (MGSA) in 2013 – building on the work of the Improved Containment Working Group.


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The last meeting of the CWG’s Equipment sub-group was on 20th February. And Steve Bracken, of Marine Harvest Scotland, who chairs the group, explains the main goals of the CWG. ‘We’re trying to fi ll in the


knowledge gaps that were identi- fi ed by the SARF report 073,’ Steve explains, ‘and have set up three further projects. We’re also starting to work towards formulat-


Steve Bracken: heads the CWG


ing a draft technical standard for the industry, based in part on the standard employed in Norway. ‘This process will go on for the best part of the year and we’re hoping this will provide plenty of opportunities for the industry to comment. We’re currently aiming to launch the standard by 2020, but there’s a possibility that we’ll


Documented quality Developed and tested through generations


Documented quality Developed and tested through generations


Nets from Egersund NetNets from Egersund Net Nets from Egersund Net


DOCUMENTED QUALITY


Developed and tested through generations ua 9


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tradition 25/06/2013 15:13 tradi tion quality co-operation quality co-operation


VISIT US AT AQUACULTURE UK STAND NO. 90


Egersund Net AS, Svanavågen, N-4370 Egersund


Tel.: +47 51 46 29 00 Fax: +47 51 46 29 01 post@egersund-net.no


be able to bring it in earlier, to allow the industry to adopt all the necessary measures in good time, before it comes into force.’


TRAINING ‘We’re also looking at training options to ensure that all compa- nies are offering suffi cient training,’ Steve continues, ‘and recommenda- tions are due to be made in May at the next meeting of the Ministerial Group on aquaculture. ‘We think that training require- ments should be developed fairly rapidly and we’re working at four different strands – in-house train- ing, to be overseen by producers; the development of national oc- cupational standards; the establish- ment of a formal Scottish qualifi ca- tion; and an increased emphasis on equipment manufacturers to provide more training and instruc- tion when supplying new equip- ment to the farms.’


THE CWG’S AGREED DELIVERABLES ARE: • To deliver a Scottish Technical Standard for fi sh farm equip- ment and associated guidance by 2015.


• Inform draft regulations in relation to Scottish technical requirements enabling provision in the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) 2013 Act by 2015.


• Make recommendations of industry training requirements to ensure a skilled workforce to MGSA by May 2014.


• Review escapes reporting proc- esses including guidance, cause categorisation, and facilitate regular dissemination of recom- mendations to industry.


DEVELOPING STS Developments in Scottish Techni- cal Standard (STS) and Technical requirements include: • SARF report 073: Proposals for a STS published including recommendations for further research/Knowledge Gaps, pub- lished in 2012. Sixteen Knowl-


50 edge Gaps (KG) identifi ed.


• Aquaculture & Fisheries (Scot- land) Act (including Technical Requirements enabling legisla- tion*), commenced September 2013.


* Powers to prescribe technical requirements for equipment and training to: (1) ensure installation and de-


ployment of equipment that is well maintained and appropriate for the site conditions. (2) Impose a duty for adequate training to use prescribed equip- ment, and requirements on opera- tors to keep records in relation to training and equipment. • STS covers open pen, land- based facilities, ponds, raceways and hatcheries – nets, pens, mooring systems and screens; and sets standards for design, construction, materials, manu- facture, installation, maintenance and size of equipment. It will be fl exible to take account of site specifi c environmental condi- tions – eg wave height, wind and current speeds; and fl ood risk assessments for land-based, pond and raceway sites; and future-proofed for technologi- cal developments, novel farming approaches, and moves further offshore or climatic changes. STS will be developed alongside operational procedures, opera- tors’ manuals and training of operatives to ensure equipment is used appropriately and pro- cedures followed correctly.


The process allows plenty of opportunities for the industry to comment


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