Best Management Practices for Net Pen Aquaculture

Implementing aquaculture water quality management activities protects aquatic life in the surrounding receiving water.

Best management practices for net pen aquaculture include:

• Training Staff
  • Training: Training staff on proper spill prevention, operation, and cleaning procedures prepares them to prevent and respond to accidental discharges and spills, operate the system efficiently, and reduce discharges of solids and nutrients.
• Reporting
  • General Reporting Requirements: Reporting the use of certain drugs and the occurrence of unanticipated discharges makes permitting authorities aware of such discharges.
• Best Management Plans (BMPs)
  • General Reporting Requirements: BMPs ensure that producers have procedures in place to control discharges of pollutants from the facility. Annual updates ensure the plans account for facility changes and new or innovative BMPs.
• Maintaining Records
  • Recordkeeping: Maintaining records on feeding, number and weight of aquatic animals, net pen changes, inspections, and repairs provides documentation that the operator has implemented required management activities.
• Prompt Cleanup
  • Material Storage: Prompt cleanup of spills prevents pollutants from entering the receiving water.
• Collection and Proper Disposal
  • Waste Collection and Disposal: Collection and proper disposal of feed bags, packaging, rope, and netting prevents their release to the surrounding environment.
• Proper Storage
  • Material Storage: Proper storage of drugs, pesticides, feed, and petroleum products reduces the chance of leaks and spills.
• Efficient Feed Management
  • Feed Management: Efficient feed management, including real-time feed monitoring, helps control discharges of solids and nutrients.
• Routine Inspections
  • Maintenance: Routine inspections help identify damage and necessary repairs to prevent release of non-native species.
• Escape Prevention and Response
  • Other Water Quality Management Activities: Escape prevention and response plans ensure that producers have procedures in place to prevent fish escape and can take action in the event fish escape occurs.
• Proper Disposal
  • Transport or Harvest Discharge: Proper disposal of transport water and harvest wastes (e.g., blood, viscera, carcasses) minimizes waste materials discharged overboard.
• Regular and Frequent Removal
  • Carcass Removal: Regular and frequent removal of animal mortalities prevents their discharge to the surrounding water.
• Proper Net Hygiene Practices
  • Other Water Quality Management Activities: Proper net hygiene practices prevent discharges of biofouling organisms, solids, and anti-fouling chemicals.
• Regular Maintenance
  • Maintenance: Regular maintenance keeps facilities functioning properly to maintain efficiency and prevent unintended discharges.
• Proper Siting
  • Other Water Quality Management Activities: Properly siting net pens prevents adverse environmental impacts (e.g., to endangered or threatened species and their critical habitat and to historical sites) and other use conflicts (e.g., water use, navigation, or other local or state requirements).