February 14, 2024

Norway shifts aquaculture pollution rules towards standard regulations

The Norwegian government has unveiled plans to overhaul pollution regulations in the aquaculture sector, transitioning from individual discharge permits to standardised regulations and conditions, aiming to ensure fairness among companies, Fish Farmer reported.

Under the new regulations, minimum requirements for environmental documentation will also be enforced for new site applications, aiming to streamline the application process while maintaining environmental protection standards.

Fisheries and Oceans Minister Cecilie Myrseth emphasised the benefits of the changes, stating that the updated regulations will offer predictability and uniformity for breeders, enhancing efficiency in application processing while safeguarding the environment.

Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Erikson highlighted the importance of adapting regulations to the evolving aquaculture industry, which generates various emissions that can impact the marine environment. He stressed the need to align regulations with current knowledge and technology to meet environmental standards.

The government's plan includes phasing out existing emission permits within two years of implementing the new rules. Subsequently, these permits will be replaced by standardized statutory requirements to ensure consistency across the industry.

In addition to the transition away from discharge permits, the government will introduce new minimum requirements for permit applications in aquaculture, including mandatory preliminary investigations at potential sites, aiming to improve overall environmental compliance in the sector.

-      Fish Farmer