Equipment and Net Inspections
To help prevent escapes, the Aquaculture Regulation has requirements for four kinds of regular equipment and net inspections:
Daily Visual Inspections
The regulation specifies that daily above-water inspections of all containment systems are required to ensure integrity of the system. These checks may include removal of debris that comes into contact with the containment nets. Any damage must also be corrected as quickly as possible. It is a requirement that this information be maintained in daily maintenance logs that are retained for one year after a given entry is made.
Underwater Net Inspections
These are required before each new group of fish is introduced into a net cage, to make sure that the cage is properly deployed and has no holes.
A Diver Preparing For an Underwater Net Inspection
Periodic Complete Net Inspections of Each Net Cage or Other Containment Structure
These must be carried out by a diver - or a comparable method, pre-approved by the provincial manager of aquaculture - after every event that increases the risk of net failure, including:
- severe storms
- extreme tides or currents
- changing and towing of net cages containing fish
- fish delivery
- suspected vandalism
- recurring predator attacks, and
- any unusual events that may occur during harvesting, grading or other routine activities.
Complete net inspections must be carried out at least once every 60 days, or in the event of an above mentioned event.
Complete Out-of-Water Servicing and Inspection
These should be done as needed - including a thorough visual inspection of the net, repair of all damage and strength tests. These inspections are typically done at the end of each new grow-out cycle, with records kept to prove the nets meet the strength standards set out in the Regulation.
Fisheries Inspectors concerned about net strength will review the records of complete out-of-water servicing and inspection. They can also order strength tests on the spot. In extreme cases they may order that a net be removed from the water for servicing and inspection.
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