Fish Welfare Policy
Background
Cermaq wants its fish to thrive, grow and be healthy. A fish with good welfare is healthier,performs better and ultimately has better quality, which is essential for the productivity andsustainability of Cermaq’s farming operations.
Fish welfare depends on a range of biological and environmental factors. Cermaq continually
strives to meet the needs of the fish, and constant improvement, research and innovation are apart of the company culture. Cermaq actively works to make sure that the fish in its care aretreated well and has hence established a set of Fish Welfare Principles for its operations.
Cermaq’s Fish Welfare Principles
This policy is based on the universally recognized “Five Freedoms” as described by the World
Organization for Animal Health’s (OIE) guiding principles on animal welfare.* Cermaq aims to be
an industry leader in fish welfare through application of best available scientific and operational
knowledge that goes above and beyond legal requirements. Improving fish welfare is a central
objective for Cermaq’s operations, research and technological development.
Based on the Fish Welfare Principles below, Cermaq assesses the welfare of the fish throughwelfare indicators to ensure that each fish is treated well, progress is achieved, and thatconsistent standards are applied throughout the operations. Cermaq is dedicated to monitoringand improving the welfare status of the fish and publishes fish health and welfare performancedata on www.cermaq.com on a regular basis.
1. Proper Nutrition
Cermaq commits to: Provide the fish with nutritious feed to ensure healthy growth, adequate amounts toreduce stress and competition for food, and actively optimize diets Contribute to the development of feed products on the basis of strong scientificknowledge gained through Research and Development (R&D) and collaboration withfeed suppliers, and be transparent on which feed suppliers it uses
 Carefully assess sufficient fasting time for fish before handling and harvest to ensurethat fish welfare is not at risk when adhering to customer requirements

2. Fish Health Care
Cermaq commits to: Take a preventative approach to fish health by prioritizing the development and use of
appropriate vaccines, genetic breeding, farming technology and practices to reduce
handling, stress and the need for medical treatment
 Practice husbandry and bio-security procedures which enhance disease control, andwhen needed, administer appropriate medical treatment to avoid suffering, or if
necessary, humane culling of fish

* The “Five Freedoms” are: Freedom from hunger, malnutrition and thirst; Freedom from pain, injury and disease;
Freedom from fear and distress; Freedom to express normal patterns of behavior; and Freedom from physical andthermal discomfort.

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Have fish health management plans in place for all sites with procedures describing
disease monitoring, diagnostics and eventual treatment options
Assess disease risks throughout the entire life cycle of the fish and develop solutions to
any critical welfare risks identified in all stages, from freshwater to seawater until
harvest3. Stress Management
Cermaq commits to: Protect the fish from environmental and physical stressors, including predation, throughthe means of prevention, careful monitoring and the implementation of stress mitigation
measures based on good practice Conduct stress assessments as an integrated part of the fish welfare work andincorporate these assessments into best practice procedures
 Use stress monitoring to identify and minimize stress during harvest, handling andtransport

4. Optimize Fish Environment
Cermaq commits to: Design its installations in a way that allows for response to changing ocean conditions,
optimal movement and minimal handling of the fish to avoid discomfort, injuries andescapes in both normal and adverse weather conditions
 Maintain stocking densities in sea pens and tank facilities within scientifically recognizedlimits Implement comprehensive water quality plans at all facilities to ensure good water
quality and environmental conditions, including monitoring and management ofparameters such as oxygen levels, salinity and temperature, as well as monitoring ofenvironmental risk factors such as algae blooms
 Research and trialing of innovative technologies to optimize fish welfare Gentle handling, transport and harvest of the fish

June 2018

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