Government Ignores Science, Community and Environment on Fish Farms. Wilkie …

Tasmanian environment and community groups are disappointed by today’s announcement from Minister Green to approve the biggest expansion of fish farms in Tasmania’s history, in unique and unprotected Macquarie Harbour.

“This announcement from Minister Green is incredibly disappointing. Despite a range of concerns raised by environment and community groups, scientists, and former fish farmers regarding a lack of information to assess the potential impacts on this unique area, the Minister has approved an expansion that will result in an additional 362 hectares of fish farms, a 300% increase in production and significant increases in water pollution,” said Rebecca Hubbard, Environment Tasmania.

“Through the review process, further critical information was sought from the companies regarding nutrient loads, movement of water in the Harbour and how these will impact on the unique marine life found there. This information was not made available for public scrutiny and independent scientific assessment. We consequently have outstanding concerns that adaptive management will not be sufficient to manage environmental impacts. This baseline data must be available upfront, in order to demonstrate that an expansion of this scale is sustainable,” said Christine Materia, Chair of Tasmanian Aquaculture reform Alliance (TARA).

Macquarie Harbour is one of only two of its type of estuary in Australia and has marine fauna and flora that is specifically adapted to the low-light conditions. The groups have expressed particular concern about the impacts on the endangered Maugean Skate, which is found only in Macquarie Harbour and Bathurst Harbour.

“The unique and endangered Maugean Skate is likely to suffer from such a large increase in fish farms within its restricted habitat, and the huge increase in nutrients and related decrease in Dissolved Oxygen levels could lead to marine life not being able to survive in the area. Failure to adequately address these grave concerns is simply not good enough for a proposal of this scale. The Companies cannot say they will monitor the impacts later, because later may be too late,” concluded Ms Materia.

The newly approved fish farms will also be located as close as 500m from the border of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

“Relying on conditions to overcome information gaps, and relying on the companies to monitor their own activities is like the fox being in charge of the henhouse. We have already seen in the past 5 years that numerous breaches have not led to improved practices,” concluded Ms Hubbard.

• Media Release
Tuesday, 29 May 2012

Huon Aquaculture welcomes expansion of Macquarie Harbour

Huon Aquaculture has welcomed a decision by the State Government to secure the
continued growth of the aquaculture industry in Tasmania by approving the
expansion of leases in Macquarie Harbour.

Under a joint application Huon, along with two other aquaculture producers, has
been granted permission to expand fish farming leases in Macquarie Harbour over
the next five years.

Spokesman for Huon Aquaculture David Whyte said the approval was a welcome
vote of support for the aquaculture industry in Tasmania.

“The decision to expand leases in Macquarie Harbour will ensure the aquaculture
industry in Tasmania can continue to plan for future expansion to meet increasing
demand for our Atlantic Salmon and Ocean Trout,” Mr Whyte said.

“This is a big win for Tasmania and a big win for the aquaculture industry.
“At a time when other industries such as forestry are facing difficulties, the certainty
provided by this announcement will mean that aquaculture can continue to
sustainably grow and thrive in Tasmania.”

The salmon and trout industry employs around 1,200 people throughout Tasmania,
with production worth nearly $400 million each year.

In order to approve the application, the Marine Farming Planning Review Panel went
through an extensive community consultation process as well as a detailed
examination of an Environmental Impact Statement.

Mr Whyte said it was reassuring that an appropriate process had been undertaken
by the State Government for the approval of the expanded leases.

“Huon Aquaculture looks forward to working with the State Government to ensure
that jobs and further investment in the region are undertaken as soon as possible,”
Mr Whyte said.

• WISH & A PRAYER APPROVAL FOR MAC HARBOUR FISH-FARM RISE
Flawed Approval Process Risks Tasmania’s Brand

Kim Booth MP
Greens Primary Industries spokesperson
Tuesday May 29 2012

The Tasmanian Greens today said the decision by Primary Industries Minister Bryan Green to allow huge salmon-farm expansion in Macquarie Harbour was as predictable as it was mistaken.

Greens Primary Industries spokesperson, Kim Booth MP, said that as statistics and markets already show, Tasmanian salmon is competitive because it’s a product based on Tasmania’s strong brand and GE-free reputation.

“The success of Tasmania’s brand is quality over quantity. We need to be able to say our salmon or trout or other aquaculture produce is the world’s best,” said Mr Booth.

“Instead, today’s decision by Minister Green undermines the certainty markets want for our planning processes and products, and instead makes a mockery of planning through this wish-and-a-prayer approval.”

“Although the Marine Farming Planning Review Panel has approved the Proponents’ expansion, it has done so under the proviso that there be an expert reference group advise on future monitoring and management of the farming operations, due to uncertainty over potential conditions in the environment changing.”

“This is a red flag that reveals that the Panel does not have the confidence to say it knows what the impacts of its approval will be from this expansion in Macquarie Harbour.”

“The Minister should ask for surety, rather than a wish and a prayer and giving the go ahead along a path that could potentially undermine the integrity of Tasmania’s salmon brand.”

“The Greens want to see the Tasmanian aquaculture industry raising the bar, being the best, being followed by the rest and doing justice to Tasmania’s priceless ‘clean, green and clever’ and GE-free brand.”

“Instead, the aquaculture industry in Tasmania has got its own approvals body, under the Marine Farming Planning Act 1995, which was further weakened last year by the Minister who amended the Act to give him the power to either accept or reject the Panel advice.”

“This is not a recipe for Tasmania being able to claim world’s best practice or world’s best produce. Instead, it’s allowing the Minister to put short-term jobs in front of a long-term sustainable industry with a trusted brand,” said Mr Booth.

• Andrew Wilkie: $5 MILLION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR AQUACULTURE AND FORESTRY

The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, today joined the University of Tasmania in welcoming the Federal Government’s announcement that it will invest $5 million in two major research programs to develop a sustainable future for Tasmania’s aquaculture and forestry sectors.

A $2.5m grant has been awarded to UTas for an Experimental Aquaculture Facility which will be set up at the University’s facilities at Taroona, and the remaining $2.5m will help establish a National Institute for Future Forest Industries in Hobart.

Mr Wilkie said he’d been in discussions with the Prime Minister for some time to find ways to support research to ensure a sustainable future for Tasmania’s major industries.

“Tasmania is Australia’s largest producer of seafood, and salmon aquaculture is Australia’s highest-value seafood product,” he said.

“I understand that the state’s salmon industry plans to double salmon production by 2030. This facility will help ensure that this growth takes place in a sustainable way to protect Tasmania’s environment.

The aquaculture research will focus on sustainability issues including animal welfare, environmental management and rising sea-water temperatures.’’

The forestry centre of excellence in Hobart will play a key role in helping Tasmania’s forest industry transition to a more sustainable and less divisive future. It will research sustainable production and manufacturing techniques as well as examining broader issues such as bushfire management.

“It’s clear that business as usual is no longer an option for the forest industry and this institute will help the industry discover new and more sustainable products, which will open up new markets.

“The university sector is vital for Tasmania and it is essential that we develop our research capacity where we have a comparative advantage.

“This funding further strengthens the growing research community in Tasmania, with the University now boasting one of the highest per-capita concentrations of scientists in any state or territory in Australia.

“These projects will also provide economic activity and jobs in aquaculture and forestry, two fields that represent terrific opportunities for Tasmania’s future.

“I’m delighted that the Federal Government agrees that the University of Tasmania’s reputation for quality aquaculture and forestry research needs to be acknowledged and encouraged.’’