Research in the pipeline to measure microplastic
A scientific investigation is to be carried out by Norway's National Institute for Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES) to determine the effects of microplastics caused by internal abrasion to salmon farm feed pipes.
The Norwegian Society for the Protection of Nature/Friends of the Earth Norway (Norges Naturvernforbundet) has claimed the Norwegian salmon industry could be responsible for releasing more than 300 tonnes of microplastic - defined as plastic particles having a size of between five millimeters and 0.1 micrometers - into the sea every year through feed pipe wear.
That figure was based on a number of assumptions, including that Norway has around 800 active farms with an average 4,000 metres of feed pipe. In fact, there have been 572 localities in operation on average in 2017, according to the Directorate of Fisheries statistics.
Tanja Kögel is a researcher at NIFES, and said that there has been a lack of environmental studies on the impact microplastic has on marine industries such as fish farming.
More research
She said that, after the Naturvernforbundet survey, there will probably be a demand for more research in the industry, and that it seems that today's feed pipe methods aren't so practical anyway.
"Wear of feeding pipes may be something most have not thought of as an emission source," she said.
She said that, in dialogue with researchers at the University of Tromsø, they have confirmed that the inside of the pipes is worn, both from the feed sent through and by blowing.
Hire a candidate
Kögel added that unfortunately there have been no environmental studies taking place in the sea. She therefore can't confirm whether this is something that is taken up by the salmon in cages, and is thus a possible threat to consumers.
"But we are going to change now," she confirmed.
"NIFES has received funds to hire a candidate who will work to develop methods to examine the smaller particles in the sea."
Alternative methods
Kögel added that such things take time, and that such methods are not compiled in a week.
The researcher hopes the industry will be a little precautionary and is looking for alternative methods of feeding, if the current one should actually prove to be a problem.
"Microplastics in greater concentrations are dangerous, but we do not know if the current levels are above the toxicological threshold and thus harmful to humans," she said in conclusion.
Europe's food safety agency (EFSA) has also demanded that research establishes more knowledge and measurement methods for microplastics.
