D e f i n i n g r i s k s f o r b e t t e r d e c i s i o n s
SERVICES
The Aquaculture Risk Assessments
IAA’s scope of services includes the IAA Assessment Team conducting on-site evaluations followed by the delivery of a detailed summary report. The types of assessments conducted are tailored to specific requirements as follows:
- Presite Risk Assessments are used when an interest has been expressed in developing a specific area. It would be wise for a potential developer to conduct an initial evaluation of an area to determine whether or not it is worthwhile investing considerable money and energy into filing an application for a new site. Given that the cost of site applications, particularly those in Canada, are now approaching or exceeding $100K per site application, it is best to conduct an independent and objective Presite Risk Assessment before placing considerable dollars at risk in the site allocation process. These assessments involve research time by the IAA Assessor, a full day at the site and in the surrounding area all of which is consolidated in a report to the client. This report will provide data about the general area, the site attributes and its’ ability to sustain an aquaculture site.
- Preliminary Risk Assessments are used when an initial evaluation is required on an existing and operational site for a particular and specific need. Where agencies such as lendors, insurers or feed companies have a large number of accounts in need of quick evaluations for purposes such as prioritizing accounts, a Preliminary Risk Assessment will provide two IAA Assessors on site for a full day. Prior to the onsite assessment, research will be conducted to collect data about: the physical attributes of the site; the surrounding area; potential constraints; the site owner and contact information; ownership or leasehold interests along with the site authorizations; and, contact information for key site personnel.
- Full Risk Assessments can be used in for a variety of purposes. They can be used by lending institutions or insurance providers to provide a detailed and comprehensive validation of the information supplied by an applicant. It is common practice in most industrial sectors, particularly where there are substantial capital requirements, to require thorough inspections of facilities prior to the release of funds. This is generally done at various stages of construction and on completion of installation to ensure that the site was actually installed as stated in the request for funds or insurance coverage. Full Risk Assessments are also used as an auditing process on existing operations for compliance with Codes of Practice and Codes of Containment or they may be used by owners as an independent check on the integrity of the site equipment. This is an extensive and through audit of all equipment on site which will generally involve two IAA Assessors on site for up to 3 days depending on the size of the site.
- Annual Audits are used to ensure compliance with the conditions of approval or they may be used for the renewal of policies, such as insurance, but only where a Full Risk Assessment has been conducted by IAA on that site. IAA will provide two Assessors on site for a full day to conduct random assessments of various components of the equipment.
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The IAA risk assessments include a thorough evaluation of all significant factors which can or could affect the integrity of the culture systems and the stock being cultivated. The evaluations would generally include assessments within each of the following categories, although some clients may not require the full range. IAA will provide an initial consultation with the client to determine the specific need and tailor the assessments according to that need. The five Evaluation Categories include:
- Site Attributes
- Adjacent Land Use
- Site Equipment and Structures
- Fish Health
- General Management Practices
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Within each category, a prescribed set of parameters is defined and a matrix is then applied to provide a Category Factor for that particular section. Each Category Factor may then be weighted according to its’ level of importance. IAA will then provide an overall risk factor and commentary on the assessment making particular note of areas which IAA feel are in need of attention and which could have a detrimental impact on the equipment and subsequently the stock. The client will then be in a position to make sound management decisions based on the opinions provided by IAA. In addition, IAA would be available to conduct thorough investigations for the client should special circumstances arise.
THE DELIVERABLES..
On completion of an aquaculture risk assessment, IAA will deliver to the client six (6) copies of a detailed report summarizing the findings. Along with the reports, IAA will provide digital images of the site and surrounding area plus, at the client’s request and particularly on marine assessments, both an abovewater and underwater videotape of the equipment and stock. The client will generally be provided with the deliverables within thirty (30) days of completing the assessment.
CONFIDENTIALITY
All reports and images provided by IAA to the client are confidential materials and may only be reproduced or released with the express written reciprocal consent of both the client and IAA. Furthermore, the reports and images are time specific and may require additional on-site visits where updates are requested. Reports contain disclaimers to ensure that materials are known to be accepted as being the opinions of IAA to be used at the client’s discretion, that confidentiality is guaranteed and that they may only be reproduced by reciprocal agreement.
International Aquaculture Assessments Inc.
22 Rushton Street
St. Stephen
New Brunswick, Canada
E3L 1Y3
Tel: (506) 466-2624 * Fax: (506) 465-8690
 swnylab@nbnet.nb.ca
BOOKMARK our Web Address: turn.to/IAA
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877-922-2377
