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Home My WebLink AboutM100812So~ comer ~.1;_--_C`~o K ~, ~~~~ ~ r, y`SAI N ~,SO District No. I Commissioner: Phil Johnson District No. 2 Commissioner: Dnvid W'. sullivan District Vo. 3 Canmissioner: John Austin County Administrator: Philip Morley Clerk ot'the Bozrd: grin Lundgren X91\L'fES special M1icetint October K. 2ll l2 Chairman John Austin called the meeting to order at the appointed time in the presence of Comntissiutter llavid Sullivan and C'ortttnissioner Phil Johnson at the Cotton Building. :also present was C'omth~ rldministra[or Philip htorlev. Department of Conmm~tity Development Director Carl Smith. Planning Manger Stacie Huskirs and Associate Planner Michelle McConnell Aqua'Factix Fislt Health Manager r' Owner Hu;h \~fitchell. X4.5. D1'M, A\~ ashin,ton State Department of Fish and wildlife (\\'DF1l') Fi~lc Pto_tiuit;' $Cirtice Divisiint Cintsi~tvnliuu lJnit Leadcc Min Kccwin. Naliu;cul Oecmtie and r\tmospheric Administration (N0:1:1) Fisheries Science Coordinator Mike Rust. LiSGS \\'estern Fisheries Research Center Director Ur. Jill Rolland and ?\O:\.A \ational \4arine Fisheries Sets ice N\~l'R .4quaculture Coordinator Dr. Laura Hoberecht Caere present representing their respective agencies. li'ORI%SHOP:.S/uuelirre ;blrura;e»:ertt P/mt /SNIP); Courlitiona! Use Permit Criteria forlir-I{'irler,l~elpe~rs: ~\ssociatc Planner A~lichcl[c ~4eConnell stated the Conditional L'se Permits for in-water netpens is the fatal issue to resolve beT'ore the Boani oi' County C'onnnissiuners consider adopting the Shoreline Master Program (SMP). 7 he Board agrced [n discuss the following: • conditions needed to protect wild salmon runs from viruses • sea lice in the Strait • recommended distance from in-water netpens and a river mouth • waste pile up under in-water netpens • testine sclredule for regulated bio-pathogens • viruses that cannot be identified by- testing Dr. Jill Kolland described her background with IS:1 and stated there are many facilities testing fur the ISA virus ut detect i f it is in the Northwest. Jolut Kerwin stated \\ DF\V is the responsible agency workin, with outer entities to identity diseases. A surveillance pl•trt was delianed and initiated this fall. Samples have been taken liom salmon fitt testing. the samples have net yet been processed. Ite explained the procedure Iitr testing of ISA at A\%DP\V'. Dr. Hugh Riitchell reviewed his back~_romtd and discussed the dilTerent viruses, bacteria and parasites that can he li?und in wild and latnted fish. I Ie doesn't believe that 15:1 is in the Pacilic Northwest. Farmed fish usually get diseases or parasites from wild fish. \ir. Kerwin responded that 15.4 testing is in progress to sec if it exists in the Northwest. Page 1 Commissioners Snecial 1\lceting Minutes: October 8. 2012 Commissioner Sullivan asked if the ne~a surveillance program is a policy that the C'ounh could include in the S\4P and if there is a third party lab that pcrfitrms the tests'? ?v1r. Kerwin answered the Cvut?t}' could include the surveillance program in the SiviP. There is an independent third path- tab. \\'ashington Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratvt7~, certified by the US Department of Agriculture. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services. the lab is associated with Vetcrinar) Sciences and \Vashinglon State University (\\'Sl!) and \\'lll \V uses that lab. Although there ~~as a positive. result liar a vints in Canada. thousands offish have been tested and the positive result has not been rc-dcrnonscrated. Mr. Kerwin stated a pathogen list for testing is mandated. In the past VFIS was discovered in fish in r\laska. Tt was determined that \'HS has always been present in the pacific northwest. \\'F)F\\ tests for IS.A-V and will be conducting additional testing if funding become, available in the beginning of 20li. Commissioner Sullivar. asked v~hat is the minimal number ol'tests and how is tttnding t'eceived fot it'? is it through miti~,alion and application? dir. Kensin stated the funding is being worked on. An annual test is standard both nationally and internationally. 1SA-V is tested in addition to the annual testing as per protocol. Viruses are belt?u reviewed hequenth because it is unknown how Wroth they Lvill mutate. Commissioner.Fohnson asked if \\'DF\V has found in Lheir risk assessrncttt That eccr-cro~~dcd fish populations in netpens have a role in mutating viruses'? dir. Kerwin answered vcs, because it is a stressor. Mutation can also happen in the wild. Dr. Rolland stated that wild fish transfer pathogens to the larmed lish more open than vise-versa. \\ ild lisp often have immunity io diseases that farmed fish du not. In the event of a pathogen. most farms have a nrotocol ~~ith several factors that address the problem so it does not continue to spread. J1r. Kerwin stated there is a protocol called ";111 in All Out' that depopulates the netpens to break the life cycle of the vints. Kish may be reutrned to the netpens once it is deemed safe. There is not a FDA approved vaccination ti?r farmed lisp in America but there is a vaccine approved in Canada. Commissioner Sullivan asked c~hal is an adequate period of tithe that a nctpen should be depopulated in order to make it sale? Dr. 'vlitchcll replied that caill need lv be determined on a case by case basis. The farmers interest is to keep every Yish alive because of the investment they have put into them. Fanners are aware of the condition of the fish and revie?v their hcahh frequently. Commissioner Sullivan asked ii'regulativns can be established restricting larmers iiom tarrning fish durin« runs of wild fish ne;u• the farms location? llr. ~4itchell answered it ~yould be in the farmers best interest to keep the farmed fish away from the wild fish. Every fam?er has a strategy on keeping farmed fish healthy. and although most ~a ild salmon have immunity tv viruses and bacteria, they continue tv cart' pathogens. Dr. Rust stated there is a vaccine lift bacterial kidney disease but the vaccine is not to its greatest potential. To avoid disease. fife population of the list? have been reduced and the feed has been improved to lower the stress attd improve the health ofthe fish. ~4r. Kenain reviewed the history of positive testing results in sockeye salmon. llr. Kolland stated there has been progress in the sitin~~ of the fish fanny and in the amount of food the farmed fish arc fed. Commissioner Sullivan asked what process is used tv determine hocv many netpens are allowed in a given area'.' Dr. Kvlland replied it is based on the specific site condi[ions. • F)r. Rust stated there nmst be no net depression of organic material beneath the netpens.:1 solution to adding nutrients to the water Yor farmed fish is not dilution. but to utilize them in the ecosystem. :1 study eras done regarding how lung it Page ? Commissioners Special Meetin, ~~finutes: October 8. 2012 ~~':~ ~'i;C takes for a site to recover after a fish faint is removed. The results of the study show that usualh it takes one vcaz fur the site to recover 90';~o and rivo wars to recover 99°f,. Commissioner ~ohnson stated in 20 i 1 N0;1:~ listed nutrient and chemical +vastc as one of the challenges. He asked if the nutrient +vaste and t: cal matter from the farmed fish carry out the vaccines. bacteria. antibiotics and all the other matter that the fanned lish have been exposed td? llr. Rust stated the feed is as natural as what is fed to a cow or sheep. :~ ~ elerinarian nntst prescribe an antibiotic li>r specific diseases in farmed fish and they arc rarely used. Dr. \litchell staled +vhen antibiotics azc prescribed, They are approved by the PDr\ and most antibiotics metabolise in the fish. Commissioner Jelmson clarified that he +vould like to know +afiv 1~OAA listed nutrient and chcmicai +vaste as a challenge in l chruary of 201 I in their drall ayuaculture policy'? llr. Rust slated that those are concerns that M)AA wanted to he identified to make them as lo+v risk as possible. Commissioner Sullivan asked how much is sea lice a concern for negtzns located in salt+vater and is it a vector for viruses'? Dr. ~Qiuhell replied sea lice can be a vector and sea lice is rnre of the primary problems world +vide for farmed flshin~~. '1'hert arc tnanv lactors that impact the risk of sea lice. including changing climate and the number of fish. There are several chemicals approved in agriculture to treat sea lice. but none in the L'S. Commissioner Jolutsou stated he has seen sea lice in the Yugct Sound a,td that farms offish draw the sea lice because of the host populatirnt. Dr. Iloberecht stated there arc regulations in place to monitor litr sea lice and n'eating ii. 4h•. Kenain stated a special permitting process is used for the in water application of SLK'1v for treaunent of sea lice. ~1r. Ken+in stated the WDPyV Cmnmissiou placed a prohibition on genetically modified lish in the larnting industry. At the same time, regulations require all fanned Atlantic salmon near a marina have a thermal mark in case a fanned fish escapes. '1'hc mark is a bar code that identities what )-ear the salmon was latmted. Commissioner Sullivan asked if a mark court be put on any fish species that are fanned'? D4r. Kcrcair, stated +after temperatures could be manipulated to put marks or. farmed fish species. Chairman Austin asked what is the recommended minimum distance from a river mouth where +vild fish could be vuhterable to emetic degradation and u~ansfer of diseases'? Dr. Mitchell stated genetic degradation cannot happen because Pacilic and Atlantic salmon do not breed. Dr. Rust stated there are man}' items that enter into the equation. lviost things that pass through a netpen get to a background level once. then are a lixxball lield distance a+va} from the netpen. Other.jurisdictions set mandatory locations of one to two kilometers, but those arc arbitran. Dr. ltilitchcll stated lish tainting is not done on land because ol'the cost of diesel fuel. II'all of the British Columbia ttetpens were operated on land. it would cost $60 million in Fuel alate. Chairman Austin stated the drall SMp requires a one mile distance froth fish bearing streams to protect the wild fish. Ile asked what forms of protection of wild fish c•trt be used'? Dr. Rolland stated she will tollo+v up and provide that information in the near future. Commissioner Sullivan asked if it is reasonable to require individual operations be limited to hvo acres of surlace coverage or one operation per one nautical mile to allow testing of background levels Ibr Pace :t Conunissioners Special Meeting \iinutes: October R. 2013 "~ ` `~''is viruses? 1)r. Rust stated \O.\~Ys research station is located on a salnum stream X00 meters away from two netpen complexes and there has not been a problem. Commissioner Sullivan asked what would be suggested for conditions and shine for netpcns in Jeflerson County:' Chairman Austin added the Counts a ill not be permitting netpcns in llisawerc Bay or the Hood Canal. llr. 1loberecht stated there are resources for site speciYic decisions and some tools in place that could help. Ur. Kust stated he could not sec any rational contpam cumin, to Jefferson County. Dr. Iv4itchell stated because of currents and marine traffic, there may not be a site available in .Tetlersan County. if a mistake is made in shine, a site can be moved easily. Ms. McConnell asked if there crere suggestions regarding the conditions en the drab list? Dr. Rolland stated there arc regulations for reposing diseases and. as a co-n.anager, referring to those reputations would be recommended. \1r. Kerwin stated he will provide the \\'DFW policy number and dte suneillancc plan to tho County for reference in the SMP. County Administrator ~lorlcy asked if there is a rule regarding a timeline to take farmed fish out if there is a virus outbreak'? \9r. Kerwin answered i1'it was a ne~a erotic virus he would make a reconunendation with Great speed to get them out of dte environment. If the virus was an existing virus seen in the cm ironment the recommendation would be to harvest the fish as fast as possible. County Administrator Morlcv asked if \~ DI'\~' regulates the amount of time to depopulate netpcns'? Mr. Kcnvin stated no, not spccitically. \ti'UP\4' could provide the County with the regulatory language. The State has the authority to order the euthanasia of farmed fish i f needed. County .Administrator Morley asked i f the transntissiat of viruses relates to the density of popttlatiat of the farmed fish' Dr. Rolland answered there arc many factors in the transmission of a vines and usualh the wild fish transmit to the f.•trmed fish. Dr. \iitchell stated to have a general regulation of density of fish may not work as there arc many factors that play into what the density maximum can be. h1r. Kerwin stated there arc density criteria for :\tlantic salmon. Commissioner Johnson asked what the feed is made ol'? Dr. Rust explained what is in the teed and stated the quality of what is being fed to farmed fish has improved. Commissioner ,lohnson asked how the salmon get the flesh color the owners want.' Dr. Rust stated there arc tcao natural pi~_ments available to use. Commissioner Johnson stated there is conecm about the environmental cha]lenz;es in \OA.A's aquaculture policy. Dr. l loberecht stated the final policy is available. Dr. Kust stated the County ha. an ash antage to having access to information that was written with Rrrty years of experience. Page -F Commissioners Special Meeting \iinutes: October K. 2012 y `\`"J/. ~~ a'O'L'!CE OFADJOi+'R.~'~:~i-1F..~'~'T: Commissioner Johnson moved to ad.lourn the special the meeting at ~:~2 p.m until the next res;ularh scheduled meeting or properly noticed special mectine. Commissioner Sullivan seconded the motion ~~fiich carried by a unanimous vote. JEFI=ERSO1y COIJi~~TY BO:~Rll O# COM\11SSI0~IERS n -: Jq'hti Austin, C air J J~ / Phil , t~Titi , ~ cr Davtd Sullivan. Member