58 DECEMBER • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG Seawater fish farmers have often worked in weather-exposed environments along the coast. Salmon farming remains one of the most accident-prone industries in Norway. Now new production concepts for both sea and land are being introduced, and research shows how these are changing the work and removing hazards, but also introducing new ones. Based on years of research on occupational health and safety (OHS) in salmon farming, as well as a recent interview study of 14 professionals in the Norwegian aquaculture industry, the following findings will be elaborated below: • New technologies may improve OHS but also require new skills and bring new hazards. • Remote work is safer, but less engaging — and may reduce personnel’s commitment to the fish. • Needs for collaboration are higher, but essential for safe operations. • Safety has improved in the industry overall, but there’s still a lack of training, resources and time for operations. • OHS needs to be a priority from the beginning, not an afterthought. From Hands-On to High-Tech For decades, salmon farming has been a hands-on job. Workers are used to long hours outside, hauling nets, inspecting cages, and handling fish. It is physically demanding and sometimes dangerous. In emerging salmon farming concepts, many tasks are being automated or moved inside. Cameras, sensors, and remote-control systems allow operators to monitor fish from control rooms, often land based. Feeding, some cleaning, and even removing dead fish can be done with the push of a button. “If we’re going to do something with the fish, we’re pressing the keys. Nothing is manual labor,” said a fish farmer at a new farm concept designed for offshore fish farming. This development may reduce the risk of injuries from heavy lifting or bad weather. But it also introduces new challenges—like the need for technical experts, ergonomic risks from sedentary work, and a potential loss of practical knowledge and general fish farming experience. Figure 1 compares OSH in traditional and newer salmon farming systems. Bigger, Bolder — But Is It Safer? The new farming systems are not just smarter, some of them are also bigger. In fact, many cage concepts are designed to contain over a million fish. While these systems have offered more stable working conditions and improved safety management, they also bring new hazards. That means more powerful equipment, larger cranes, and more complex operations. For example, submersible cages require divers to work at greater depths, in confined spaces. Land-based farms, on the other hand, deal with chemical handling, slippery surfaces, and the risk of falling from large tank structures. Open offshore farms will be more weather-exposed than even experienced fish farmers may imagine. “The personnel think they know bad Safer Seas with New Farms? How New Salmon Farming Technologies Are Changing the Way People Work Kristine Vedal Størkersen, Cecilie Salomonsen, Trine Thorvaldsen, Siri Mariane Holen and Trond Kongsviki FIGURE 1. Comparison of traditional and new salmon farming systems with a focus on occupational safety and health (OSH).
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