The Group invests a considerable amount of resources in optimizing equipment and routines specifically to avoid accidental release of fish.
We operate in areas where wild populations of Atlantic salmon also exists, and release of farmed salmon could interfere with the genetics of local populations
Escape incidents can cause Lerøy financial consequences in the form of fines, reduced income and, in the worst case, a lack of capital. Repeated escape incidents could also affect the company's reputation. Fish from aquaculture that escape can find their way into the rivers where wild salmon stocks live. This can create a risk of affecting species diversity in the rivers. There will be a very low risk of any organic or inorganic impact on environmental conditions. Escaped fish from our company will have very little impact on people or human rights.
Lerøy Seafood Group has a vision of zero escapees.
Significant measures have been implemented to prevent escape at LSG's farming localities. The Group has invested heavily in both technology, control systems and development of new routines to prevent escape.
All Lerøy's facilities comply with technical standard NS 9415:2009 Marine fish farms. These requirements are specified in the NYTEK regulation that governs marine fish farms, all main components, structural elements for mooring and extra equipment.
Actual incidents of accidental release triggers measures determined in the contingency plan and are reported to the Directorate of Fisheries, as are events that may lead to accidental release.
Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries and published on the following website. https://www.fiskeridir.no/Akvakultur/Tall-og-analyse/Roemmingsstatistikk.
Research has shown that escaped fish from aquaculture can have a negative impact on wild salmon that live in rivers in Norway. The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and various interest organizations monitor wild salmon and publish reports showing the status of the various species of wild salmon.
The national impact of escape of farmed salmon in watercourses is also measured by different projects like: The national monitoring programme for farmed salmon escapees in watercourses.
Lerøy follows developments closely and does our utmost every day to ensure that fish do not escape from our locations.
The Group controls the number of fish in cages at each facility. The number of fish released to each sea cage from the smolt facility is counted according to the number of vaccinations minus dead fish prior to release. All fish that is taken out of the cage after release are logged daily. When an unknown number of fish escape from the cage, a well boat is used to count the remaining fish, and by comparing the well boat count with the marine farm's own figures an estimate of the number of escapees is made.
Target 2023: Zero escape
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|
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
|
Escapees ( number of fish) |
10 544 |
4 |
208 |
85 |
| Date | Amount of fish escaped | What happend? | Company | Location | Estimated cost |
| 14.05.2023 | 1560 | Hole in groove | Lerøy Sjøtroll | Ramsvik | 1 443 000 |
| 18.07.2023 | 8976 | During smolt reception, it was discovered that the well boat had not closed the inspection hatch. Because of this, smolt was pumped into the sea. Unloading was stopped immediately and recapture nets were deployed | Lerøy Midt | Bogen | 1 125 000 |
| 09.08.2023 | 1 | During lice counting, a fish was lost in the sea | Lerøy Midt | Ringholmen | 500 000 |
| 09.08.2023 | 1 | A fish escaped when testing new equipment | Lerøy Sjøtroll | Rongøy | 500 000 |
| 09.11.2023 | 1 | During lice counting, a fish was lost in the sea | Lerøy Aurora | Tussøy | 500 000 |
| 21.11.2023 | 5 | During lice counting, fish was lost in the sea | Lerøy Midt | Gunnarøya | 2 500 000 |
| 10544 | 6 568 000 |
In 2022, Lerøy had 1 escape incident at Lerøy Sjøtroll where 1,560 fish escaped, and 4 incidents in connection with lice counting where totally 8 fish escaped into the sea.
In addition, Lerøy Midt was involved in an incident where a well boat was the cause of an escape incident where 8,976 fish escaped. The well boat has taken the full responsibility for this incident.
Improvements have been made to secure use of safety measures when capturing fish for delousing and when returning fish to the cage after counting sea lice, to minimise possible escape.
Lerøy has collaborated with other businesses to establish a new company, Sporbarhet AS. The aim is to ensure efficient traceability services for salmon in order to prevent escapees with no known origin. The tracking services currently being developed are based on genotyping of all male fish used for breeding and further element analyses to distinguish between fish with the same genetic origins.
We have implemented the NYTEK standard (minimum technical requirement) and we continuously work together with our suppliers to improve and develop new and better equipment. This is to ensure that all our farms have access to equipment of the highest possible technical standards.
Risk analysis and a number of written procedures helps us operate our farms safely, including to prevent escapes. Among other spesific measures, we regularly check the technical condition of moorings, facilities, vessels and equipment, we use divers and ROVs to check pen farming nets and employees are trained in prevention of escapes.
