Section 5 – Inspections: containment and escape of fish
15.Subsections (1) and (2) of section 5 provide for an inspector to carry out inspections of fish farms only, for the purposes of ascertaining the risk of escape of fish, and whether fish have escaped, from the fish farm. Such inspections may also be carried out for the purpose of assessing the measures in place for the containment of fish on the fish farm (for example the condition of equipment, such as netting or cages), the measures in place for preventing the escape of fish from the fish farm (for example the regime in place for maintaining equipment, working practices, and the appropriate provision of staff training), and the measures in place for the recovery of any fish which may escape from the fish farm (for example, the availability of suitable nets on the fish farm). Subsection (3) of section 5 provides that inspections under subsection (1) may include the taking of samples (including samples of equipment), the examination of documents or records, and the taking of copies of such documents or records. Subsection (4) of section 5 permits inspectors to arrange the carrying out of tests on samples taken during an inspection carried out under subsection (1). The tests that may be carried out are those which the inspector considers necessary for the purpose of ascertaining the risk of escape of fish from the fish farm; ascertaining whether fish have escaped from the fish farm; and assessing the measures in place for the containment of fish on the fish farm, the measures in place for preventing the escape of fish from the fish farm, and the measures in place for the recovery of any fish which may escape from the fish farm.
