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Aquaculture Fish Farming and Marine Agriculture Risk Assessment

Aquaculture Fish Farming and Marine Agriculture Risk Assessment

  • • 100% Compliant with Australian WHS Acts & Regulations
  • • Fully Editable MS Word & PDF Formats Included
  • • Pre-filled Content – Ready to Deploy Immediately
  • • Customisable – Easily Add Your Logo & Site Details
  • • Includes 2 Years of Free Compliance Updates

Aquaculture Fish Farming and Marine Agriculture Risk Assessment

Product Overview

Identify and control organisational risks associated with Aquaculture Fish Farming and Marine Agriculture through a structured, management-level WHS Risk Management approach that focuses on governance, systems and planning rather than task-by-task procedures. This Risk Assessment supports compliance with the WHS Act, strengthens Due Diligence for Officers, and helps protect your business from operational and legal liability across land-based and marine operations.

Risk Categories & Hazards Covered

This document assesses risks and outlines management controls for:

  • WHS Governance & Safety Leadership: Assessment of board, officer and senior management responsibilities, safety leadership behaviours, consultation arrangements and the integration of WHS into corporate decision-making for aquaculture and marine farming operations.
  • Regulatory Compliance, Licencing & Approvals: Management of obligations under marine, environmental, biosecurity and workplace safety legislation, including permits, leases, aquaculture licences and ongoing compliance monitoring.
  • Risk Management Framework & Change Management: Establishment of a documented risk management program, including hazard identification, risk assessment, risk registers, and formal change management for new sites, technologies, species or production methods.
  • Marine Vessel & Water Transport Systems: Oversight of vessel selection, maintenance, crewing, navigation, loading practices and transfer of workers and stock between shore, barges and cages, including emergency preparedness on water.
  • Cage, Mooring & Infrastructure Engineering Design: Evaluation of the design, installation, inspection and integrity of cages, nets, moorings, walkways, pontoons and shore-based structures to prevent structural failure and uncontrolled access.
  • Plant, Equipment & Lifting Systems Management: Control of fixed and mobile plant such as feeders, winches, cranes, forklifts, net haulers and automated systems, including guarding, isolation, inspection, maintenance and lifting plans.
  • Work at Heights, Over Water & Fall Prevention Systems: Implementation of engineered controls, fall prevention, personal flotation devices and rescue arrangements for work on cages, walkways, barges, wharves and elevated platforms.
  • Diving, Underwater Operations & Cage Reclamation: Governance of commercial diving, inspection, cleaning, net repair and recovery activities, including competency, dive planning, decompression management and emergency response.
  • Hazardous Substances, Chemicals & Biosecurity: Management of fuels, cleaning agents, veterinary chemicals, treatments, feed additives and biological agents, including storage, handling, SDS access, spill response and biosecurity controls.
  • Environmental Exposure, Weather & Remote/Isolated Work: Assessment of risks from extreme weather, sea state, UV exposure, temperature, marine conditions and remote or isolated work locations, including communications and rescue arrangements.
  • Worker Competency, Training & Induction Systems: Development of competency profiles, induction programs, refresher training and verification of competency for marine operations, plant use, emergency procedures and species-specific tasks.
  • Fatigue, Mental Health & Psychosocial Risk Management: Controls for long shifts, seasonal peaks, remote rosters, exposure to critical incidents and psychosocial hazards, including workload management and access to support services.
  • Contractor, Labour Hire & Supply Chain WHS Management: Systems for pre-qualification, onboarding, supervision and performance monitoring of contractors, divers, skippers, labour hire workers and key suppliers.
  • Incident Reporting, Investigation & Emergency Management: Protocols for reporting, classifying and investigating incidents, near misses, stock losses and environmental events, as well as emergency planning for marine and shore-based operations.
  • Health Monitoring, Occupational Hygiene & Ergonomics: Assessment of health surveillance needs, exposure to noise, vibration, manual handling, repetitive tasks and biological agents, with ergonomic design of workstations and tasks.

Who is this for?

This Risk Assessment is designed for Business Owners, Aquaculture Directors, Farm Managers and Safety Professionals responsible for planning, governing and monitoring Aquaculture Fish Farming and Marine Agriculture operations across marine and land-based sites.

Hazards & Risks Covered

Hazard Risk Description
1. WHS Governance, Responsibilities and Safety Leadership
  • • Lack of clear WHS roles and responsibilities for shore-based and marine operations
  • • Inadequate integration of WHS Act 2011 duties into corporate governance and decision-making
  • • Insufficient officer due diligence in monitoring health and safety performance and compliance
  • • Inadequate consultation mechanisms with workers, contractors and fish farm managers
  • • Absence of a formal WHS management system specific to aquaculture and marine agriculture risks
  • • Poor safety culture leading to under-reporting of hazards, near misses and incidents
  • • Failure to consider WHS implications in business changes (new cages, new vessels, new farm sites)
2. Regulatory Compliance, Licencing and Approvals
  • • Non-compliance with WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulations regarding marine and remote work
  • • Failure to comply with maritime and vessel safety regulations (AMSA, State marine authorities)
  • • Inadequate management of environmental approvals, biosecurity and chemical use obligations that intersect with WHS
  • • Use of unlicensed or uncertified plant, vessels and pressure systems (e.g. compressors for diving, feed systems)
  • • Insufficient recordkeeping to demonstrate compliance to regulators
  • • Lack of monitoring of changes in legislation, standards or codes of practice relevant to aquaculture and cage reclamation
3. Risk Management Framework and Change Management
  • • Inconsistent identification and assessment of WHS risks across fish farming and cage reclamation activities
  • • Failure to consider system-level risks when introducing new technology (e.g. automated feeders, remote monitoring, new cage designs)
  • • Poor management of organisational and operational change, including rapid scaling of production or expansion to new marine sites
  • • Lack of structured review of new processes (e.g. new net cleaning method, new predator control system)
  • • Inadequate consideration of cumulative risks from concurrent operations (diving, vessel movements, heavy lifting, net handling)
  • • Risk assessments focused only on task level SWMS without addressing broader organisational and system failures
4. Marine Vessel Management and Water Transport Systems
  • • Use of unsuitable or poorly maintained vessels for open water aquaculture operations
  • • Lack of journey planning and weather assessment for crew and equipment transport to fish cages and marine farms
  • • Overloading vessels with feed bags, nets, cages or personnel beyond safe limits
  • • Inadequate marine communication systems between vessels, shore base and cage sites
  • • Poor separation and traffic management for service vessels, feed barges and other marine users
  • • Insufficient emergency preparedness for man-overboard, collision, grounding or capsize events
  • • Fatigue of skippers and crew due to long marine travel times and early/late feeding runs
5. Cage, Mooring and Infrastructure Engineering Design
  • • Inadequate engineering design of cages, moorings, walkways and barges for local sea states, currents and wind conditions
  • • Structural failure of cages or walkways due to under-specification or corrosion, leading to falls into water or entrapment
  • • Incompatibility between cage systems and vessels, cranes or reclamation equipment
  • • Insufficient design consideration of safe access, egress and working platforms for routine fish farming operations and cage reclamation
  • • Failure to consider load paths and dynamic forces on moorings and cage structures during storms or heavy swell
  • • Lack of documented engineering verification or certification for custom-built or modified systems
6. Plant, Equipment and Lifting Systems Management
  • • Failure of cranes, winches, davits or lifting gear used to move cages, nets, feed and equipment
  • • Use of non-certified lifting points on cages or barges during reclamation or relocation
  • • Inadequate maintenance and inspection regimes for mechanical plant such as feed systems, net cleaners, generators and pumps
  • • Uncontrolled interaction between moving plant and workers on barges, pontoons and cages
  • • Lack of plant isolation and lockout systems during maintenance or breakdowns
  • • Unverified modifications to plant to suit aquaculture operations (guards removed, limit switches bypassed)
7. Work at Heights, Over Water and Fall Prevention Systems
  • • Falls from walkways, barges, cages and structures into water during fish farming and cage reclamation activities
  • • Lack of systematic controls for work at height on feed silos, gantries, cranes and elevated platforms
  • • Inadequate fall prevention and rescue systems for workers operating above water or on partially submerged structures
  • • Slips and trips due to wet, icy, algae-covered or uneven surfaces on pontoons and walkways
  • • Absence of formalised inspection and maintenance of guardrails, ladders, access systems and fall arrest anchors
8. Diving, Underwater Operations and Cage Reclamation Activities
  • • Inadequate control of occupational diving used for net inspection, cage repair and mooring work
  • • Failure to manage decompression sickness, gas supply integrity and diver tracking
  • • Poor coordination between diving operations and vessel movements, lifting or net handling
  • • Inadequate procedures for underwater cutting, use of hydraulic tools or high-pressure cleaners on nets and cages
  • • Insufficient emergency response planning for trapped, lost or injured divers during cage reclamation or underwater maintenance
  • • Use of non-compliant breathing air or untested diving equipment
9. Hazardous Substances, Chemicals and Biosecurity Management
  • • Inadequate control of chemicals used for fish health treatments, net antifouling, cleaning and disinfection
  • • Poor segregation and labelling of hazardous substances on barges, in feed barges, shore depots and hatcheries
  • • Lack of biosecurity controls leading to disease transfer between cages, sites or wild populations
  • • Insufficient ventilation and handling systems when using fumigants, disinfectants or gases
  • • Inadequate planning for accidental chemical release into marine environment impacting workers and ecosystem
  • • Failure to consider combined exposure to chemicals, biological agents and cold/wet conditions
10. Environmental and Weather Exposure, Remote and Isolated Work
  • • Exposure to extreme weather, cold water, heat, UV and storms during marine farming activities
  • • Remote or isolated work at sea farms with delayed emergency medical support
  • • Inadequate weather monitoring and stop-work decision criteria for high-risk conditions
  • • Fatigue and stress associated with long shifts, travel and limited shelter on cages and barges
  • • Limited communication coverage between farms, vessels and emergency services
  • • Failure to plan for evacuation or shelter-in-place for severe weather or marine incidents
11. Worker Competency, Training and Induction Systems
  • • Deployment of inexperienced or untrained workers into marine aquaculture, cage reclamation or fish farming roles
  • • Inconsistent induction across different sites, vessels and contractors
  • • Lack of formal verification of competency for high-risk roles (skippers, crane operators, divers, net handlers)
  • • Insufficient refresher training leading to skill fade, especially for emergency procedures and rescue techniques
  • • Limited literacy or language support for seasonal or migrant workers affecting understanding of WHS information
12. Fatigue, Mental Health and Psychosocial Risk Management
  • • Long and irregular working hours due to tides, feeding schedules and weather windows
  • • Isolation and limited social support for workers on remote marine farms or during extended shifts
  • • Stress arising from fish mortality events, environmental incidents or production pressure
  • • Bullying, harassment or poor supervisory practices in small crews and close working environments
  • • Inadequate systems for workers to raise psychosocial concerns confidentially and receive support
13. Contractor, Labour Hire and Supply Chain WHS Management
  • • Inconsistent WHS standards between company operations and contractors performing cage reclamation, diving, net cleaning or transport
  • • Poor coordination of activities between multiple PCBU entities at shared marine sites
  • • Lack of clarity over responsibilities for plant, equipment and training provided by contractors or labour hire firms
  • • Inadequate prequalification of suppliers and service providers regarding WHS capability
  • • Fragmented incident reporting, investigation and learning across different organisations
14. Incident Reporting, Investigation and Emergency Management
  • • Delayed or incomplete notification of marine and aquaculture-related incidents and near misses
  • • Inadequate investigation of serious or recurring incidents, leading to repeated system failures
  • • Lack of integrated emergency response capability across vessels, cages and shore bases
  • • Insufficient drills for scenarios such as man-overboard, vessel fire, diver emergency or cage structural failure
  • • Failure to meet legal obligations for notifiable incidents under WHS Act 2011
15. Health Monitoring, Occupational Hygiene and Ergonomics
  • • Long-term musculoskeletal injuries from repetitive net handling, feed bag lifting and awkward postures on vessels and cages
  • • Exposure to noise from engines, generators, compressors and high-pressure cleaners
  • • Health impacts from prolonged cold and wet exposure, including hypothermia and reduced dexterity increasing accident risk
  • • Lack of health surveillance for workers exposed to specific hazards (e.g. divers, chemical handlers)
  • • Inadequate design of workstations on barges, feed systems and grading equipment

Need to add specific hazards for your workplace?

Don't worry if a specific hazard isn't listed above. Once you purchase, simply log in to your Client Portal and add your own custom hazards at no extra cost. We take care of the hard work—creating the risk ratings and control measures for free—to ensure your document is compliant within minutes.

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011
  • Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018: Risk management — Guidelines
  • AS/NZS 4801 / ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems — Requirements with guidance for use.
  • Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act and associated Marine Orders: Requirements for the safe operation of commercial vessels used in aquaculture and marine farming.
  • Relevant State/Territory Aquaculture and Fisheries Legislation: Licensing, environmental protection and operational requirements for aquaculture and marine agriculture activities.
  • Model Code of Practice – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Guidance on a systematic approach to hazard identification, risk assessment and control.
  • Model Code of Practice – Managing the Work Environment and Facilities: Requirements for safe access, amenities and environmental conditions on shore-based and marine sites.
  • Model Code of Practice – Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace: Guidance on selection, use, inspection and maintenance of plant and equipment.
  • AS/NZS 2299 (series): Occupational diving operations — Safety requirements for commercial diving and underwater work.
  • AS/NZS 1891 (series): Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices — Selection, use and maintenance for work at heights and over water.
  • AS/NZS 4758: Lifejackets — Requirements for personal flotation devices used in marine operations.
  • AS/NZS 1715 & 1716: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment and performance requirements.
  • National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV): Design, construction, equipment and operation of vessels used in aquaculture and marine agriculture.
Standard Risk Assessment Features (Click to Expand)
  • Comprehensive hazard identification for all activities
  • Risk rating matrix with likelihood and consequence analysis
  • Existing control measures evaluation
  • Residual risk assessment after controls
  • Hierarchy of controls recommendations
  • Action priority rankings
  • Review and monitoring requirements
  • Consultation and communication records
  • Legal compliance references
  • Sign-off and approval sections

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