News that Tassal will exceed the biomass cap in Macquarie Harbour is very concerning. It’s a clear demonstration of the company’s contempt for fish farm regulation.
The company seem content to flout regulations, and expect they’ll have little or no penalty. The loser is the marine environment.
Regulation of salmon farming in Tasmania is a farce. It’s very clear the industry sees the EPA, the Liberals’ so-called regulator, as a toothless tiger.
Under this government’s watch, salmon farms have caused dead zones under pens and damaged the World Heritage Area in Macquarie Harbour. This degradation will likely continue if the biomass cap is breached.
Macquarie Harbour is in a disastrous state because of the almost unchecked nature of salmon farming. While one major company is setting its own goals, another has taken the government to court because of their inadequate regulation.
The biomass cap breach risks continuing the destruction of Macquarie Harbour, threatening the maugean skate, and further damaging the World Heritage Area.
Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens’ Marine Environment spokesperson
