Article
Petition on Salmon Industry Expansion
Media release – Robyn Weare, petition coordinator on behalf of various groups, 24 February 2023
validation lacking for the salmon industry
The many groups across Tasmania concerned about the welfare of our marine environment, have joined forces to prepare a petition calling for evidence from the government to validate the existing salmon industry and to justify a major expansion of the industry.
Group Spokesperson, Robyn Weare, said today: “The Tasmanian government and the Atlantic salmon industry claim open-net fish cages are vital to Tasmania’s economy and that we can’t do without them! Our politicians have swallowed this propaganda hook, line and sinker for over 30 years!”
“The government is now planning to double the volume of the salmon industry to $2 billion per annum (current farmgate value is $1 billion), without a Business Case. Their controversial long term Salmon Plan, which no member of the public has yet seen, is to be implemented on 1 May 2023. Unbelievably, the salmon industry has been operating in Tasmania for over 30 years without any professional Business Case or any independent Cost Benefit Analysis. What sort of business operates without this sort of evaluation and accountability?” Robyn said today.
“Many Tasmanians are deeply concerned about the lack of evidence to prove the salmon industry delivers a significant NETT benefit to Tasmania and an appropriate financial return for the use of Tasmania’s precious marine and other resources, let alone to support a major expansion of the industry. The Legislative Council’s “Report on Finfish Farming in Tasmania, 2022” established that the only reason the government is planning a major expansion of the industry is because of their own “aspirational target” (page 59). No other evidence. No Business Case.”
And yet, the government continues, without any limit or accountability, to pour Tasmania’s limited funds into the salmon industry – subsidies, research, management, regulation, legislation, infrastructure, the undocumented list goes on. All for around 1500 jobs, representing 0.6% of total employed in Tasmania.
“If it is prudent for the government to prepare a Business Case for the proposed Macquarie Point Football Stadium, why haven’t they done the same where our precious marine heritage is at stake?” Robyn said.
“Tasmanians are very concerned this unsupported expansion will:
- double consumption of Tasmania’s coastal waters and fresh water;
- double consumption of other resources and infrastructure;
- magnify the negative impact on Tasmania’s cultural heritage, natural and scenic environments, tourism, commercial and recreational fishing and associated employment”.
The Petition, which was launched today, calls upon the Government to:
1. Immediately produce, and publicly release, an independent, professional Cost Benefit Analysis of the salmon industry for the year 2021/22; and
2. Prior to further expansion of the salmon industry, produce and publicly release, an independent, professional Business Case to justify the expansion.
https://haepetitions.