Stock Feeding and Handling Procedure

Purpose. Sets the method for feeding sea cage stock to the feed plan, observing feeding response, and handling stock during grading, transfer and harvest with minimum stress and injury.

1.Feed plan

Each cage has a daily feed amount set by the Sea Farm Manager from biomass, water temperature and feed conversion targets. Feed must be weighed or metered, never estimated by bag. The amount fed, the feeding response and any uneaten feed must be recorded in the Farm Stock and Water Quality Log at each feed.

2.Feeding method

Feed must be broadcast evenly across the cage surface from the feed boat or the automatic feeder at the rate the fish are taking it. Feeding must stop when fish stop rising, when pellets are seen falling through the cage, when dissolved oxygen is below the action level or when stock show signs of stress. Feed must be stored dry, rotated by date and checked for mould.

3.Observation

The crew must watch the stock at every feed for feeding response, behaviour, mortality, flashing and lesions, and record observations. Mortalities must be removed with the mort lift, counted, examined for obvious cause and disposed of through the approved contractor.

4.Handling

Stock must be crowded slowly with the crowd net and only for as long as the operation needs. Fish must be moved by fish pump or brailed in small numbers, kept in water where possible, and never dropped. Grading and transfer must be planned for cool water and calm weather, and stock must be fasted for the period in the health plan before handling.

• Crowd slowly and watch oxygen in the crowd
• Pump or brail in small numbers
• Keep fish wet and out of the sun
• Stop if oxygen drops or fish show distress

5.Harvest

Harvest must follow the Harvest Plan Template approved for the batch, with stock crowded, stunned, bled and placed in ice slurry immediately so that the core temperature reaches the target within the set time. The harvest lot identifier, cage, count, weight and time into slurry must be recorded and sent with the product to the plant.

6.Safety

Personal flotation devices must be worn on every boat and cage. Crowd nets, pumps and lifting gear must only be operated by workers recorded as competent in the training matrix. Manual handling of feed bags, bins and mort lifts must use the mechanical aids provided.