Course Information
Work carried out by specialized service vessels is a natural part of fish farm operations. Various tasks are performed that directly—but also indirectly—affect the fish. Net handling, crowding, delousing, and handling can cause stress and strain that may have consequences for welfare, mortality, and production results.
This course provides you with a practical and operational understanding of how your work affects the fish—and how you can reduce risk through conscious choices, proper execution, and clear accountability.
The course combines biological knowledge with operational practices and is specifically tailored for personnel working from service vessels at Norwegian aquaculture facilities.
Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:
• Explain how various operations affect the fish’s stress levels and resilience
• Conduct a simple and practical risk assessment before working in a net pen
• Adapt operations to reduce unnecessary stress on the fish
• Recognize signs of severe stress and weakened fish
• Know when to adjust, postpone, or stop work
• Contribute to good biosecurity and professional handling of incidents
The goal is to strengthen your professional confidence—so you can make the right decisions when it matters most.
The following lessons are offered in this course
1. Fish welfare in practice—how service vessels impact fish
2. Responsibilities, division of roles, and the duty to stop
3. Risk assessment before working in a net pen – understanding risk
4. Safe work practices at the aquaculture facility
5. Working with nets
6. Herding and handling fish
7. Sea lice treatment and fish welfare
8. Working with sick or weakened fish—cases involving particularly high risk
9. Infection control when handling sick and infectious fish
10. Nonconformities and Improvement
Who is this course for?
This course is intended for employees working on service vessels at aquaculture facilities. It is particularly relevant for crew members, operational staff, supervisors, and others who perform or plan work that may affect the fish. The course is suitable for those who wish to deepen their understanding of fish welfare in practical operations, reduce the risk of unnecessary stress, and contribute to safer, more gentle, and professional work practices in fish pens.
Developed by HaVet Fish Health
The course was developed in collaboration with haVet AS. HaVet Fish Health possesses specialized veterinary expertise in fish health, fish welfare, and infection prevention. The company provides services to operators in the smolt, food fish, cleaner fish, and cultured fish sectors, and also contributes its expertise to various organizations and stakeholders in the aquaculture industry.