Norway and Malaysia sign aquaculture agreement
Opinion
In the rapidly developing industry of modern aquaculture, governments can be excused for not having an up-to-the-minute regulatory regime in place that reflects the latest findings in science and technology development. But when a country like Canada still operates with a mish-mash of regulations anchored in old laws that were established for vastly different purposes, it is a situation that has led to the stagnation of industry growth and competitiveness. When the Norwegian government in 2005 decided to overhaul its then already almost 20 year Aquaculture Act, one of the reasons stated was that;
“Experience with the current Fish Farming Act shows that the Act does not adequately provide for the development and optimisation of the aquaculture industry’s value creation potential. There is a need for legislation that provides better for a future-oriented development of the industry and establishes a more modern framework for the exercise of public administration”. The Norwegian Aquaculture Act is 7 pages long, and supported by a set of regulations.
The main objective and purpose of the latest version of the Norwegian Aquaculture Act was to;Contribute to increased profitability and value enhancement within the framework set by
- sustainability
- fish health
- and the environment
In its introduction to the new legislation, the government stated that;
The Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs has worked on the legislation on the basis of four special focus areas:
- Growth and innovation in the industry – profitability and innovation in light of Norway’s international competitive situation
- Simplification for the industry and public administration – greater efficiency and user friendliness
- The environment – modern and comprehensive environmental regime
- Relationship to other user interests in the coastal zone – efficient land utilisation
Canada could surely learn from the Norwegian government’s approach to aquaculture regulations, as Malaysia seems to have done according to a recent article in The Star Online;
Malaysia signed an agreement and institutional cooperation contract with Norway on Regulatory Framework for Aquaculture in Malaysia, to contribute to sustainable development of aquaculture in Malaysia, it was reported. Norway, which has a leading position globally in the aquaculture industry, will not only help Malaysia develop a regulatory framework for aquaculture farming, but will also provide experts and training for Department of Fisheries (DOF) staff in the field.
The total funding for the project is on a cost-sharing basis, Norway will provide 3.253 million Ringgit(~€830,000) in funding while Malaysia will contribute 3.275 million(~€835,000), starting 2012-2015.Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar said besides strengthening relations between the two countries, the agreement was a step forward to enhance the development of the local aquaculture industry. Thus, he said, it would also help reduce the problem of fish supply shortage. Noh said seven experts from Norway would come in October to train DOF staff here, while 20 DOF officers would be sent to Norway for short-term and long-term courses. He said the DOF would also set up a new division for aquaculture, realizing that it was becoming a more important sector not only in the country but also worldwide.
Currently, Malaysia's aquaculture production is 287,000 tonnes valued at 2.5 billion Ringgit (~€638 million), while under the National Key Economic Area (NKEA), the production is projected to increase to 790,000 tonnes by 2020 and exports of aquaculture products to be worth 3.2 billion Ringgit (~€816 million).
