EPA conceals biomass increase in Macquarie Harbour

Tasmania’ peak environment group has expressed deep alarm at the EPA’s decision to increase salmon tonnage in Macquarie Harbour, allowing Tassal to stock over 4000 tonnes more than their existing allocation.

“Today Mr Ford announced the EPA will cut biomass in Macquarie Harbour to 12,000 tonnes. Yet the EPA’s own documents reveal the regulator will allow the total biomass to double, through a so-called ‘supplementary’ allocation of 15 tonnes per hectare, taking the maximum potential biomass to over 25,000 tonnes,” said Laura Kelly, Strategy Director at Environment Tasmania.

“This will allow Tassal to stock over 4000 tonnes more than their allocation under the previous 14,000 tonne limit.”

The EPA is justifying a biomass increase in Macquarie Harbour based on Tassal and Petuna’s willingness to trial ‘fish waste collection systems’. Environment Tasmanian can reveal that these ‘cutting edge systems’ will involve an attempt to capture thousands of tonnes of faeces using a tarp.

“Tassal’s efforts to force an increase in biomass have moved on from risky dredge operations to literally attempting to capture thousands of tonnes of faeces with a tarp. There has been no environmental impact assessment – there is no evidence that allowing faecal mounds to gather on a tarp instead of the seafloor will prevent a further deterioration in oxygen levels in the harbour.”

“Environment Tasmania repeats its call for the EPA to require Tassal to harvest its excess biomass by the end of July. Consumers do not want fish sourced from a marine dead zone.”
Laura Kelly Strategy Director Environment Tasmania