Environment Tasmania welcomed today DPIPWE’s release of parts of the summary of baseline data on the proposed salmon fish farm lease in Okehampton Bay.
As the peak environment group for the state, Environment Tasmania will continue to push for DPIPWE to release the full environmental survey and all baseline data for the site. Only the full and transparent release of this information will allow the public to make an informed submission to the public Review of this controversial, East Coast fish farm development.
The public submission period to the Review began a week ago, and followed Tuesday’s public comment on the baseline data by Rowan Armitage, the former owner of the lease site who told ABC Hobart:
“Given that the environment has warmed significantly, the East Australian Current is getting stronger, bringing warmer waters further south and we’re seeing that with the fish species that are now being sighted off the east coast of Tasmania, I really don’t think that is the place for fin-fish farming.”
In response Tassal, Tasmania’s largest salmon company, and who is proposing operating from the lease site told the ABC that “the company has conducted further research over a 30 month period and is satisfied the area meet’s its standards.”
“I note that on Tassal’s own community consultation website they state: ‘Tassal undertake the necessary due diligence and care in every aspect of our public reporting.[1]
“We would encourage them to follow the example set by Minister Rockliff’s department and release all the data they have gathered, so the community can consider all the science available, more is more when it comes to science.” Kelly said.
“We would also ask the Minister to consider extending the period of consultation, to allow for the release of all relevant information pertaining to the review, and allow the public time to absorb, what is for the lay person, a complex set of numbers.”
Currently the consultation period ends on Sept 26, less than three weeks away.
Laura Kelly Strategic Director Environment Tasmania
