"Good conditions for fish health biologists provide better welfare for the fish," says Tekna President

Norwegian union Tekna, which organizes over 2,300 members in Norway's aquaculture industry, of whom over 600 are fish health personnel, is calling for better conditions for its members in order to tackle the fish health problems highlighted in the recently-published Fish Health Report for 2024.

"Fish health personnel play a crucial role in ensuring good fish health. In many ways, they are the "fish's GP", but they often find that their advice is not followed. This is a serious problem, both for the fish and for those who work with them," the organization said in a statement.

The union's comments come in response to the publication of the Norwegian Veterinary Institute's annual report on fish health, which revealed that although mortality in Norwegian aquaculture has decreased slightly from 16.7 percent in 2023 to 15.4 percent in 2024, disease and injuries to farmed fish still present significant and urgent challenges for the sector and its fish health professionals.

"When conditions in the aquaculture industry are poor, it affects both the fish and the employees. Many of our members experience high workloads and demanding assessments. This must be taken seriously if we are to achieve a more sustainable industry – good conditions for fish health biologists provide better welfare for the fish," said Tekna President Elisabet Haugsbø, in a press release.

"It should pay off to operate with good fish welfare. The government must ensure that actors who prioritize low mortality and sustainable forms of operation have growth opportunities. We expect mortality to become part of the traffic light system and that there will be concrete incentives for better fish health," says Haugsbø. 

The union says that the Fish Health report is "an opportunity for the government to show that they take fish health seriously".

Tekna supports a goal of 5% mortality rate for the industry, and says that the current rate of 15.4% "shows that we still have a long way to go", and arguing that "it is too early to say whether the trend of lower mortality will last". 

"If we had animals on land with as high a disease rate and mortality as what we see in the aquaculture industry, the authorities would demand better routines and measures to ensure good animal welfare," said Haugsbø.

"There should be no difference when it comes to fish – disease and high mortality must lead to action. It is time that we start looking at the fish as an individual," she added.

The comments reiterate Tekna's position as stated one year ago, when in response to the unprecendented mortality rates reported for 2023, Haugsbø argued that there were "no consequences" for operators with high mortality rates, adding that "animal welfare is largely left to the will of the individual farmer".