Greens: anti-salmon, anti-jobs, anti-everything

The anti-everything Greens are at it again, as we predicted, they have now moved on to aquaculture as their next target.

Tasmania’s salmon industry has a world-class reputation for producing the highest quality seafood and for environmental sustainability.

Yet the Greens are set on doing nothing but scaremongering about our half a billion dollar industry, and trying to set up a Senate show trial against thousands of Tasmanian jobs.

The Government takes very seriously our obligation to balance a sustainable salmon industry with other fisheries while ensuring we protect our marine environment.

Applications to expand a marine farm are considered by the independent Marine Farming Planning Review Panel. There is ample opportunity for the public to have their say by making a submission to the Panel when any proposed amendment to a marine farming plan is publicly exhibited. People can also present to the Panel in person. The Marine Farming Planning Review Panel then makes a recommendation to the Minister; this system has been in place since late 1996.

The salmon industry is subject to comprehensive monitoring. Monitoring of sediments within and around marine farming lease areas has been conducted since 1997.

Independent scientific assessment of the environmental indicators that have been monitored clearly demonstrates that the salmon industry is operating in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Any causal links between salmon farming expansion and risk to the abalone or other fisheries have not been scientifically substantiated.

Concerns regarding the abalone fishery have been raised previously, which is why at my direction, the Department of Primary Industries and Water has engaged the services of Professor Colin Buxton, who has experience in both the salmon industry and abalone fishery, to consider concerns raised. Professor Buxton is currently reviewing this matter and is expected to submit a report on his findings in the first half of this year.

The Department and I will continue to work cooperatively with all aquaculture and fishery industries on these issues; the Greens anti-everything campaign has no basis in fact here.
Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Primary Industries and Water