Sea Lice Regulatory Framework Implementation
We will take on lead regulatory responsibility for managing sea lice and wild salmon interactions from 1st February 2024 and for managing sea lice and sea trout interactions from March 2025.
SEPA's consultation response describes the approach in more detail.
New or expanding sites
From 1st February 2024, we will apply the risk framework for managing interactions between sea lice from fish farms and wild salmon when determining applications for new farms or increases in the number of fish at existing farms.
This will include applications for new farms or increases in the number of fish at existing farms received prior to this date but which have not been determined by this date.
Applications for farm developments which we determine as being likely to result in the sea lice exposure threshold being exceeded, or further exceeded, will not be granted authorisation.
Where our screening assessments indicate that a proposal may result in the threshold being exceeded, or further exceeded, the developer may:
- Gather sea lice data to inform and validate suitable refined modelling to assess whether the sea lice exposure threshold would be exceeded, or further exceeded; or
- Revise the development proposal (e.g., select a different location; reduce the number of fish planned to be kept; change production cycle timings to reduce sea lice numbers during the Spring sea lice management period; deploy a barrier to sea lice around the farm pens during the sea lice management period; etc)
Existing sites
SEPA have assessed all active farms on the West Coast and Western Isles, using screening models. The farms have been categorised into relative risk categories, describing their relative potential influence on exposure of wild salmon to sea lice. Farms in category one have the lowest potential influence and farms in category four have the highest potential influence.
For the Spring 2024 sea lice management period for protecting wild salmon, we will engage with the operators of the small number of existing farms in the highest risk category to encourage extra focus on maintaining good lice management performance on these farms.
In 2024 SEPA will update its relative risk screening assessment using information on sea lice counts and fish numbers provided by the Sector.
During 2024, using the data and updated risk assessment, we will add standstill sea lice limit conditions to the permits of existing farms on the West Coast and around the Western Isles, other than farms in the lowest relative risk category. These conditions will be effective between mid-March to 31st May from 2025 onwards.