Salmon sea lice control policy

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide a principal description of how the Group works to control salmon sea lice. 

Valid for

This policy applies to all the Group's farming operations.

Definitions

Salmon lice: Lepeophteirus salmonis. A copepod and parasite living on salmon.

Integrated pest management (IPM): A control strategy with different complementary measures that supplement each other, aiming to control salmon lice and keep them at a low level. The core elements of an IPM strategy are prevention, monitoring and control.

Framework and principles

Lerøy Seafood Group’s (Lerøy) efforts to control salmon sea lice follow the principles of an IPM strategy to control salmon Sea lice and keep the numbers at a low level in the long term. The goal is to reduce the negative impact on the environment and the need for active interventions. Below is a description of the overall principles underlying this control strategy.

1. Acceptable level: Requirements from the authorities provide a definition, at any given time, of the upper maximum limits for fully grown female salmon sea lice. Lerøy has also established their own limit values to provide guidelines for when to implement preventive and active measures to combat salmon sea lice.
2. Preventive measures: Prevention is the first line of defence, aiming to control the levels of salmon sea lice by making use of passive control mechanisms. The methods utilised depend on local prerequisites, and entail use of one or more of the following measures:
   1. Structural measures relating to use of locality
   2. Coordinated operations over larger geographical areas
   3. Zone collaboration
   4. Fallow periods in between production cycles
   5. Smolt quality and smolt weight as measures to reduce period of exposure
   6. Use of various types of physical barriers
3. Monitoring: All groups of fish are regularly monitored with a view to the incidence and development of salmon sea lice. The purpose of monitoring is to ensure that the company operates at all times in accordance with regulatory requirements. Monitoring is also required to control salmon sea lice by providing data for continuous assessments performed by the company in relation to evaluating measures to control salmon lice. Monitoring is carried out per cage.
4. Biological control: Cleaner fish represent a method for treatment prevention, and the goal is to reduce the need for active interventions. The use of cleaner fish depends on local prerequisites, is dynamic and adapted to conditions at individual localities.
5. Active interventions: Active interventions are divided into the following categories:
6. Non-medicinal methods: These methods are based on different types of interventions that do not include the use of medicines. Lerøy makes use of methods within the categories for fresh water, flushing and temperate water.
7. Medicinal methods: These methods are based on the use of medicines. In cases where medicines are utilised, these shall be 1) prescribed by authorised fish health personnel and 2) evaluated with a view to the risk for fish welfare, food safety, environment and resistance, and 3) where only medicines approved by Norwegian medicines authorities are used.

Roles and responsibilities

• All Lerøy employees within their areas of responsibility and disciplines are responsible for following the policy.
• The top management in each company is responsible for ensuring that the company has personnel with the competencies required to ensure compliance with local regulations.

Policy ownership and implementation

• The COO Farming is the owner of this document, and is responsible for updates and maintenance.
• The COO Farming is assigned principal responsibility for the policy and is also responsible for ensuring its implementation and compliance.
• The policy requires the approval of the corporate management at Lerøy, and shall be presented to the Group's Board of Directors.
• The CEO of Lerøy Seafood Group has overall responsibility for the policy.