Norwegian authority completes fourth salmon farming biosecurity audit

Mattilsynet, Norway's Food Safety Authority, has released the report on its latest biosecurity audit. The authority is in the process of auditing some of Norway's largest salmon farming companies, in the wake of last year's unprecedented levels of fish mortality in farming facilities in the country.

After audits of SalMar, Mowi, and Lerøy Seafood during ths spring, Mattilsynet has now turned its attention to Tytlandsvik Aqua, a post-smolt RAS facility located in Hjelmeland municipality in Ryfylke, owned by Bremnes Seashore AS, Grieg Seafood Rogaland AS, and Vesthavbruk AS.

Tytlandsvik Aqua is licenced to produce 15,000 tons of post-smolt per year, which it delivers to sea-based fish farming facilities, mainly in Rogaland and Vestland.

According to the Mattilsynet report, the company delivered approximately 4.7 million fish in 2023, with weights ranging between 700-1000g. Its self-reported mortality rates for last year, both in production and after delivery, were low, standing at 1.36% and 0.5% respectively.

The audit, which was carried out between 28 May – 18 June 2024, aimed to assess whether the Tytlandsvik Aqua's risk management and internal control related to welfare and biosecurity are in accordance with the authorities' requirements.

The report concluded that Tytlandsvik Aqua needed to improve on its risk management of ​​biosecurity to ensure it successfully complies with Norwegian regulations.

In Norway, all aquaculture facilities and groups of aquaculture facilities are required to have a biosecurity plan, which identifies the risk of disease being introduced to or spread via each facility, and must establish measures to reduce biosecurity risks.

While Mattilsynet noted the "very good and open dialogue" with Tytlandsvik Aqua during the audit, it nevertheless found that the company's biosecurity risk management had room for improvement on two counts: documenting the risk of infection spreading out of the facility, and assessing the risk to sea-based facilities supplied by the company.

The report also noted, however, that Tytlandsvik indicated to Mattilsynet insepctors that it plans to revise its biosecurity and fish health plans.

The company has also recently taken several measures to improve its biosecurity risk management, including hiring its own fish health professional for the facility, responsible for monitoring biosecurity, fish health, and welfare, as well as a production coordinator to work on improving, systematizing, and documenting routines and practices.

Previously, the company had collaborated with DNV-owned fish health consultancy Åkerblå on biosecurity matters, Mattilsynet noted.