Farmed vs. wild: Hoaas questions whether aquaculture rules prioritize the right fish.
Krister Hoaas, Head of Farming Region West at The Norwegian Seafood Federation, called for changes to the way the salmon industry is regulated at the North Atlantic Seafood Forum (NASF) on Wednesday.
“The way we are regulated is not on the basis of the welfare of the fish in the farm, but on what is best for migrating wild salmon. The welfare of the fish in the pen should also be considered,” he said.
A major challenge, according to Hoaas, is that many farms were not initially located with biosecurity in mind. Instead, they were placed where the industry first took root—long before today’s disease control and welfare considerations.
Bridging the Trust Gap Between Industry and Regulators
Hoaas was speaking as part of a panel discussion on welfare in the industry. Panelists acknowledged a growing distrust between the aquaculture industry and regulatory authorities. Tonje Osmundsen, Research Director at NTNU Social Research, described the disconnect in expectations:
“The industry, in meetings, will point to regulation and say it’s not flexible enough, it doesn’t give the right incentives, it’s too complex, it’s too fragmented. Meanwhile, the authorities say the industry isn’t engaging in dialogue or conceding on what they could improve. It creates a level of distrust that is very difficult.”
Despite the structural and regulatory hurdles, Hoaas highlighted that real progress is being made, particularly in reducing mortality rates in Western Norway, a region traditionally known for its challenges.
“I am the head of the western region, where we have traditionally had the highest mortality rates. We have seen major improvements, and that is not down to luck. We are on the right track, and there is good reason to be optimistic.”
