Aoife M. Westgård, leader of the Norwegian Association of Aquaculture Veterinarians, president David Persson and veterinary specialist Hulda Bysheim of the Norwegian Veterinary Association, pictured outside the Storting earlier in May.
Photo: Frauke Becher / The Norwegian Veterinary Association.
"The Norwegian Veterinary Association supports the goal of fish health, and is pleased that a broad majority in the Storting has committed to a change of course," stated Aoife Westgård, leader of the Norwegian Association of Aquatic Veterinarians, in a formal response from Norwegian veterinary associations to last week's cross-party agreement on a new aquaculture framework for Norway.
"We believe that the solution lies in linking specific requirements for fish welfare against opportunities for production growth – growth through welfare. Such a system will reward the best and create a powerful driver for effective biological improvement work," she added.
The veterinarians also reiterated their support for the target of 5% mortality in fish farming, which was outlined in the government's white paper on aquaculture in April, and received support in the agreement reached last week.
"It is good that the Storting is now following up on the animal welfare report by giving a clear expectation that mortality in the aquaculture industry must be reduced," said David Persson, President of the Norwegian Veterinary Association.
"The aquaculture report is important for ensuring good framework conditions for fish in production and we believe that a broad agreement in the Storting now allows everyone to focus on the most important job - looking after the fish in the cage," he added.
The Association said it "looked forward" to continuing to contribute to work on improving the framework conditions for farmed salmon, which it noted are Norway's "most numerous livestock", and underlined the urgent need to address fish welfare.
The agreement was also welcomed by Norway's largest seafood industry organization Sjømat Norge, particularly since it will bring about greater predictability - although it has previously criticised the target of 5% mortality.
"A broad agreement provides predictability, but it also means that the Storting is going further in certain areas than we would ideally have wanted," said Sjømat Norge's CEO, Geir Ove Ystmark, in remarks released by the organization last week.