Fisheries Directorate to review inspection reports for land-based fish farms in 2026.
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries will next year review documentation from land-based fish farms to check how consultants assess the technical condition and safety of their facilities.
The inspection follows a meeting earlier this year between the Directorate and consultancy firms, where several weaknesses were identified in how these assessments are carried out and reported.
“We want to see whether consultants have improved when it comes to making their evaluations easier to understand and verify,” said Britt Leikvoll, head of strategic aquaculture supervision at the Directorate.
The review will focus on how consultants describe what they observe, how they assess risks or faults, and how they justify their conclusions. It will also refer to the Directorate’s guidance for inspecting land-based farms, and may cover other topics as needed.
One of the main concerns raised in the earlier meeting was the need for clearer, more transparent reporting.
“Being able to verify an assessment is essential for building trust and improving safety,” Leikvoll said. “We encourage all consultants to review their own routines. When findings and conclusions can be checked, it helps identify errors, strengthens learning in the industry, and ensures systematic follow-up of weaknesses.”
