Opening of the OIE Conference

Opening speech by the Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs Helga Pedersen at the OIE Conference in Bergen 10 October.

Organising Committee, speakers, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Norway and to the city of Bergen.

First of all, thank you for the invitation to attend this conference. I am delighted to welcome you all at the opening of this very first OIE Global Conference on Aquatic Animal Health.  And a very special thank to the Aquatic Animals Commission of the OIE, who initiated this conference, and to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority who offered to host it.

Importance of aquaculture

According to FAO (The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation) more than one billion people worldwide rely on fish as a major source of animal proteins. Increasingly, a significant share of that fish is being grown by human-managed aquaculture fisheries. The different countries attending this conference today reflects the joint possibilities but also significant challenges of the fish farming industry. 

The main topics of the conference show mutual understanding of the common challenges the aquatic industry will have to solve among all its stakeholders.  During this conference we will hear of results from the scene of science to support policy making.

We will also learn how early detection, rapid response and reporting of aquatic animal diseases can limit the negative consequences, and also how it is possible to prepare for emergencies.

In Norway, the first attempts to rear rainbow trout and salmon in net pens in seawater were carried out in the late 60-ties. Since then, there has been an exceptional growth in the production of farmed salmon.

Being a small country, our domestic market is limited, and we are therefore dependent on an extensive trade with the rest of the world. A total of 95 per cent of Norwegian fisheries and aquaculture products are exported to some 150 countries around the world.

In most countries worldwide, aquaculture is not only a mean to supply the population with food - it also positively contributes to a viable rural development. For Norway - aquaculture is one of the industries that ensures employment and growth in coastal regions.

However, the potential for further expansion implies many challenges. One of them is securing the health of fish and other aquatic animals throughout their life-span, as well as the welfare of fish.

Fish health and welfare issues

First of all, issues connected to aquatic animal health have a direct impact on the economic side of fish farming.  Outbreaks of fish diseases cause loss of fish, increased expenses and decreased income. 

Secondly – there is the concern of the welfare of the animals. In general there is a close correlation between the health status and the welfare of fish and other animals. Most efforts to secure the health also benefit welfare. Fish welfare is an issue of increasing interest worldwide, Norway being no exception.

Last, but not at least, farming of fish and shellfish is of little value, unless the products have access to the markets – and correspond with the consumers preferences in taste of food.

Relating to the consumers preferences and confidence, the public image of fish farming and of seafood from farmed fish is of high importance.

In the late 80ties and early 90ties outbreaks of bacterial diseases, resulted in the use of large amounts of antibiotics in Norwegian salmon farming. Since the peak in 1987, the use of antibiotics has been reduced with incredible 97.5 % - while the production during the same time period has increased more than ten times. 

Nevertheless – such negative stories seem to make a powerful impression on people. Even today, nearly 20 years later, a surprisingly large number of Norwegians still carry around the myth that farmed salmon contains antibiotics.

This clearly demonstrates how fish health problems, and the way of managing them, may affect the reputation both of the products, the seafood, and of aquaculture as an industry.

We all know that in international trade with fishery and aquaculture products, sanitary requirements often vary. This emphasizes the importance of having satisfactory and standardised rules for international trade concerning animal health issues.

This work is important to enhance the awareness among the various stakeholders within aquaculture concerning these issues. All the stakeholders must be able to quickly and truthfully respond on the basis of defined roles and responsibilities.

Being the international standard setting organisation for animal health, the work of the OIE has been - and will continue to be - equally important for major exporters as well as for importing countries.

Co-operation

On the world market some of us are competitors. However, there are areas were we all can have a win-win situation - gaining from cooperation and standardisation. Health and welfare issues of aquatic animals are among them.

I wish you a very successful conference. Thank you for your attention.