Media release – Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection, 19 July 2022

Community Calls for Release of Investigation of waters Around Port Arthur

A crucial scientific investigation into the waters and marine life in Long Bay, next to World Heritage site Port Arthur is being withheld from residents amidst reports that it’s damning of the salmon industry’s impact.

Residents on the Tasman Peninsula are demanding to see the results but the Environmental Protection Agency is refusing to release them, claiming they’re being ‘peer reviewed’.

Yet the main reason for the investigation and the the prime source of increasing pollution in the bay – the salmon company, Tassal – has had full access to the draft report and its results.

“If there’s nothing to hide, why keep it secret?” says Peter George chair of the Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection, TAMP.

“Along with the community-based Tasman Peninsula Marine Protection, TAMP is calling on the EPA to release the results immediately rather than giving Tassal, the prime perpetrator, time to make up its excuses and claim ‘it won’t happen again’.

“Last week the government issued a salmon industry discussion paper promising greater transparency and communications with the Tasmanian people,” says Peter George.

“Withholding the results of a scientific investigation just goes to show secrecy and covert collaboration between government and industry continue unabated.

“The EPA needs to reassure the public that Tassal has been denied any influence on the report or the right to massage the results.”

“What’s happened is akin to a criminal being given full access to an on-going police investigation so that he can prepare his defence while the court of public opinion and the victims are locked-out of the process.”

The investigation undertaken by the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) last year was described as a “Rapid Visual Assessment” survey of reef ecosystems in the area of Long Bay. (More details in Ms Baily’s statement.)

It resulted from years of growing pressure from residents over the deterioration of water quality around Port Arthur since Tassal installed salmon feedlots, a regular invasion of foul-smelling algal blooms and a loss of marine life. Repeated requests for the report’s release have been denied.


Statement – Trish Baily, Tasman Peninsula Marine Protection, 19 July 2022

— untitled —

Since Tassal put pens into Long Bay, Port Arthur in 2017 there has been significant deterioration of water quality and amenity in the bay.

Starting in 2018, TPMP put pressure on the Environmental Protection Agency which led to increased scientific monitoring.

With further degradation of the area, in 2021 the EPA commissioned IMAS to undertake a programme of Rapid Visual Assessment surveys ( RVA) on the rocky reef ecosystems and TPMP very reasonably wants to see this report.

The EPA says it’s ‘under peer review and not yet finalised’, but the company that’s at the heart of the investigation, Tassal, has had full access to it.

TPMP members are furious that the company gets access to it and may be influencing the report yet the residents who instigated the process are kept in the dark.

Our concerns are absolutely justified by the Legislative Council’s report into salmon that calls for “a plan, in consultation with industry, scientific and community stakeholders, to reduce inshore fin fish farming sites, with priority given to ceasing operations in sensitive, sheltered and biodiverse areas.”

Long Bay fits that description exactly.

We have pushed hard for years for increased transparency on Tassal’s operations in the bay.

We have been the force behind getting increased scientific research in the area, yet Tassal, the EPA and associated government organisations continue to stonewall us on giving out data and transparency on issues of fish mortalities, fish escapes, outbreaks of disease, noise pollution, wildlife deaths and more.

“We are being treated like pests, yet we have witnessed the damage to the seagrass and kelp beds, we can see the algal blooms, residents can smell the dead fish, and are subjected to the noise – night and day when operations ramp up.

“This is in direct conflict with the nearby tourism industry dependent on the World Heritage Listed Port Arthur site and the award winning Three Capes Track and other marine-based tourism.

We’re frankly fed up with being kept in the dark and we’ve had enough of government collaborating with industry while withholding crucial scientific studies that are paid for by the tax payers.


Announcement – NOFF, 19 July 2022

Give Back Long Bay (Port Arthur) Campaign

This Saturday – 23 July 2022 – sees the launch of the Give Back Long Bay (Port Arthur) Campaign. The campaign, promoted by Tasman Peninsula Marine Protection (TPMP), will commence with a public meeting at the Koonya Hall, Tasman Peninsula, at 11am.

Around the state, public waterways are under threat from a salmon industry focussed on expansion and profit over shared community space and environmental protection.

Waterways such as Long and Stingaree Bays at Port Arthur are completely unsuited to intensive salmon farming. The local community has voiced concerns over the impact to these bays since salmon farming operations recommenced in Long Bay five years ago.

We need to act now to protect such areas from further devastation and ensure their survival for generations to come. If you have love for our waterways and want to see a more responsible, sustainable, and accountable salmon industry, then please come along, show your support, and send a message to the industry and politicians.

The meeting is free and will feature guest speakers.