Introduction
All primary equipment and certain secondary equipment6 shall be accompanied by manufacturer’s7
instructions designed as a reference for fish farmers on-site. It should provide key information about the use of the relevant equipment to help prevent escapes.
The manufacturer’s instructions shall be followed for all aspects of the use of the equipment as detailed in section 10.
The manufacturer’s instructions shall include as a minimum the relevant requirements listed below.
Background information
a) Manufacturer’s name and place of business; b) Manufacturer’s contact details;
c) For imported equipment, the contact details of a UK representative if appropriate; and, d) Product reference number/descriptor if relevant.
Generic requirements
a) A copy of the final product specification sheet for primary equipment – and all key dimensions and characteristics for secondary equipment.
b) Any measures to prevent damage during handling and installation. c) Any measures to ensure correct installation.
d) Preventative maintenance requirements, including an inspection regime with maximum intervals and indicators for replacement.
e) The maintenance regime shall include an inspection regime in regard to metal fatigue where appropriate.
f) Reactive maintenance regime to include how components subject to wear and tear should be replaced.
g) The specifications and any other useful info to facilitate traceability of individual components and parts.
h) Where required, any specific qualifications, experience, training and/or competencies for specific tasks shall be identified.
i) For freshwater pen sites, a summary of the icing assessment undertaken.
Towing and Pushing
a) The location of towing and pushing points.
b) The approach for attaching towing or pushing equipment.
c) Any measure required to prevent damage to the pen whilst being towed or pushed.
d) The maximum towing or pushing velocity (expressed as speed through the water) and any other restrictions on the environmental conditions that can be experienced during towing or pushing. e) Requirements for inspection and maintenance during and after towing or pushing.
6 Manufacturer’s instructions are required for secondary equipment where this relates to purchased systems, rather than those
assembled by or on behalf of the fish farmer.
7 In the case of systems such as mooring systems, weighting systems, the instructions shall be provided by the designer of the
system – in the case that an aquaculture production business was the designer rather than the manufacturer, it shall provide instructions as if it were the manufacturer.
A Technical Standard for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture
Mooring system
a) Instructions as to how to lay or install each type of anchor, rock bolt, dead weight mooring or other form of anchoring system being used.
b) Requirements for how to load each mooring line to ensure that each anchor is firmly embedded into the substrate, taking in to account the requirements of section 3 of this Standard and a statement when an anchor shall be installed again.
c) The length of all mooring lines – and the associated scope of mooring lines for those attached to anchors/drag anchors.
d) The tolerances for the adjustment of all relevant elements of the mooring system, including mooring lines, grid ropes and bridles. This shall clearly state the maximum adjustments that can be made (i.e. corresponding to the minimum length of each element that is acceptable from the perspective of maintaining the integrity of the mooring system).
e) Any measures required to ensure that the geometry of the mooring system is maintained during installation.
Pens
a) Instructions as to how to connect pen(s) to the mooring system.
b) Any measures required to ensure that the location of the pen within the mooring system is maintained as required.
c) The approach to lifting pens, which shall include lifting circular pens afloat for cleaning purposes – this shall state the maximum height that one point of a circular pen can be lifted in relation to the rest of the pen;
Nets and weighting systems
a) Details of any net treatments used. b) Mesh strength and rope strength.
c) The maximum weights that can be attached to down ropes.
d) The method for attaching the net to the pen and any stipulations about how the net should not be attached.
e) The method for attaching the net to the weighting system and any stipulations about how the net should not be attached and how the weighting system should be used, including the maximum distance that ropes supporting the weighting systems can be lifted/dropped in any one lift/drop where relevant.
f) Instructions as to how the net can be tensioned/weighted without risking chafing or other damage and the predicted net deflection.
g) Any key information about how the net shall be lifted/dropped, including the maximum distance that down ropes can be lifted/dropped in any one lift/drop.
h) How the net shall be hung when raised/partially raised and what parts of the net can be used for supporting the weight of the net during such operations.
i) Confirmation of any specific types of secondary equipment for which the net may have been designed to be used with (e.g. mortality collection systems).
j) A statement that the net should be suitable for the pen and properly fit the pen.
k) Whether the netting or ropes can be used to take the weight of any pieces of equipment and, if so, to specify how and what.
l) The number and location of pen attachment points. m) The number and location of down ropes.
n) The height of the jump net.