Bente Bergersen

Bente Bergersen was educated as a veterinarian in Munich. After a period working in veterinary practice in the county of Nordland, she has had over 20 years of experience with the regulation of fish farming and health of fish in aquaculture. She is employed at the Bergen department of the head office of the Norwegian Food safety Authority, but is currently "on loan" to the EU Commission in Brussels. She has also been deputy member of the Norwegian Ministry's Council on Animal Ethics. She has been involved in the development of the regulations for fish welfare in Norway, especially those which focus on fish farming, and has played a part in the conception of all the central regulations in this area. She feels that the principles of animal welfare should be applied equally to all species covered by the legislation, and that all animals should be treated with respect. In this respect, the spread of knowledge about animals' needs is very important for creating an understanding of the need for action to improve animal welfare. She is therefore considers it extremely important to spread information about the three Rs.