Dive Audit Program

The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands has recently implemented a random dive audit program for the province's salmon farm aquaculture operations. These dive audits are site specific and unannounced.

Experienced dive teams attend a site with a Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Inspection team, spending approximately one day at each selected site, videotaping and examining various farm features below water. Aspects examined include condition of net cages and their repairs, anchoring systems, net weight design and installation, condition of lines and associated hardware and other below-surface features.

The purpose of the unannounced dive audit is to assess under-water farm features and ensure that the operator is in compliance with regulatory requirements and properly managing the underwater maintenance of the containment nets and anchoring systems.

A Diver Preparing for a Dive

Dive Audit Photographs

Round cannon ball style weight used as an external weight
S>mooth cannon ball style weight used internally to help retain the shape of the net cage
Plastic 202 litre drum filled with concrete used as an external weight.
One line goes to the surface to support the weight, while other two lines are tied off to the net cage, looped through the chain link and run to the surface.
Typical net repair either done on site by divers or at the net loft
Atlantic Salmon inside the net cage

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Updated:  20 October 2006