Norway’s Directorate of Fisheries has released the results of a consultation on the potential impacts of offshore aquaculture in multiple regions off the Norwegian coast and proposed regulations which could clear the way for further development of the industry.
According to a release from the Directorate of Fisheries, the study covered offshore aquaculture in three areas: Norskerenna south, the northern part of Frøya Bank, and Trænabanken. Early assessments show that it is likely all three areas studied could support offshore aquaculture operations.
“The Directorate of Fisheries believes that all areas may be suitable for offshore aquaculture,” Norway Director of Fisheries Frank Bakke-Jensen.
While the Directorate of Fisheries supports offshore aquaculture, it said the impact assessment showed knowledge gaps regarding the consequences of offshore aquaculture.
“It is currently not possible to set a tolerance limit for the total maximum permitted biomass that would be environmentally sound within the three assessment areas,” the consultation said.
The impacts of the farms, as well as the consequences for wild salmon, were both ...
