Media release – Australia Institute Tasmania, 18 March 2025
Bombshell FOI reveals fish farms have been inadequately assessed for impact on threatened species and World Heritage
Documents released today under Freedom of Information reveal advice to the federal government that salmon farming in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour should be comprehensively assessed under national environment law, for its impact on the endangered Maugean skate and the harbour’s World Heritage value.
One-third of the harbour is World Heritage listed and the Maugean skate is recognised for its World Heritage Value, because of its link to the dinosaurs.
Former senator and transparency campaigner Rex Patrick recently won an appeal which overturned a decision to keep the advice secret, the Administrative Review Tribunal finding the public service acted unlawfully in refusing to make the advice public.
The advice is contained in briefing material from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to Environment to Minister Tanya Plibersek, provided in the lead-up to the decision to review fish farming in Macquarie Harbour.
It shows:
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Salmon farming is the primary human-induced threat and is the key action currently regulated under national environmental law. It notes that salmon farming companies will need to engage on their impact on the Maugean skate.
- Due to being an attribute of the World Heritage Values of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, any significant impact on the Maugean Skate may also have implications for World Heritage Values and that additional provisions apply to protect these under national environment law.
- If aquaculture operations continue this may further diminish recovery prospects for the Maugean skate.
- The Department is investigating potential breaches of the current conditions.
- That salmon farming operations in Macquarie Harbour would have to stop while a comprehensive assessment is undertaken.
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The need for the reconsideration decision to be made as soon as practicable.
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Just 20 people are employed in Strahan in Offshore Caged Aquaculture, and that it is not identified in the top 5 employment industries in nearby towns or at regional level (2021 Census Data).
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Encourages low-impact re-design of salmon farming.
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The risks of continuing salmon farming include the Maugean skate decline, and World Heritage values being compromised.
- That the department will engage with the Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority to recommend any potential licence renewals should include scope for alignment with potential future national regulatory requirements.
“These documents show the department finds salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour is having a significant impact on the endangered Maugean skate and World Heritage. The Environment Minister has had this advice for almost a year and a half, but has still not made this decision,” said Eloise Carr, Director, Australia Institute Tasmania.
“Despite this, the Prime Minister has promised to introduce special laws to allow it to continue. This could happen as soon as next week.
“The situation in Macquarie Harbour – one-third of which is World Heritage and the skate itself is of World Heritage value – is a perfect example of why Australia needs stronger environment laws, not to water down already inadequate protections.
“The Australian Government was willing to go to extraordinary effort and expense to keep this information secret. The public has a right to know about the threat of salmon farming to threatened species and World Heritage.”
“There should be no secrets when dealing with environmental matters, and particularly matters that involve potential extinctions,” said Rex Patrick, former independent SA senator.
“Indeed, there should be unfettered and open debate. The only extinction needed here is the extinction of the public service secrecy culture that this Freedom of Information request has exposed.”
Cassy O’Connor MLC, Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson, 18 March 2025
RSPCA Must Permanently Cancel Huon Aquaculture Certification
Amid an ongoing animal welfare, biosecurity, and environmental crisis caused by salmon farming corporations the Greens are calling on the RSPCA to permanently cancel Huon Aquaculture’s certification. The Greens are in solidarity with eight leading environmental groups who have also made this plea in an open letter published today.
Attributable to Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim:
“Salmon farming corporations have built massive profits on animal cruelty and environmental harm. It’s a rogue industry has for too long abused its own livestock along with native fish, birds, and mammals.”
“It’s long past time for the RSPCA to remove its endorsement from the kind of wanton cruelty we’ve seen from this industry for many years.”
“The Greens will continue to push for better animal welfare outcomes for all livestock and native species, and we invite the RSPCA to join us.”
Attributable to Tasmanian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MLC:
“The ongoing disaster in our waters is due to Huon Aquaculture and the other multinational salmon corporations prioritising profit over animal welfare and Tasmania’s marine environment.”
“RLO (rickettsia-like organism) is a cruel and deadly disease, with fish suffering a range of painful and ultimately fatal symptoms”
“With the RLO now deemed ‘endemic’ in southeast Tasmanian waters the cruel death and suffering it causes is now part and parcel of industrial salmon farming.”
“The Greens have long called for revocation of RSPCA certification due to the use of explosives on native fur seals. Between 2018 and 2020 8 dolphins and 81 fur seals were killed by this industry as well as dozens of native bird entanglements.”
“Just last year the Department of Natural Resources and Environment approved the culling of 80 cormorants, of which at least 50 were killed on Tassal leases.”
“This disgraceful record of animal abuse must stop, it should never be condoned by government agencies or the RSPCA.”
“Without doubt these abuses are in direct violation of RSPCA’s ‘Five Freedoms’ that underpin the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme, including
• Freedom from fear and distress: by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid suffering.
• Freedom from pain, injury or disease: by prevention, rapid diagnosis and treatment.”
