LGTF represents a new group of Tasmanians deeply concerned about the possible impact caused by aquaculture farms in the region. (Photo: LGTF/FIS)

Strong controversy generated by federal approval for Tassal’s aquaculture farm in Tasmania

AUSTRALIA
Thursday, August 03, 2017, 00:30 (GMT + 9)

The federal Environment and Energy Department’s approval for an aquaculture farm proposed by Tassal Group in Okehampton Bay, on Tasmania’s East Coast, has raised opposition from conservationists claiming whales will be endangered.

These environmentalists claim that the approval was granted without requiring the salmon farmer to conduct a full environmental assessment of its plan to farm 800,000 salmon in the bay, near Maria Island, The Australian reported.

In this regard, the Government clarified that conditions have been imposed to protect southern right whales, including limiting vessel use to daylight hours and requiring a whale-spotter to be on-board during boat operations.

However, Environment Tasmania strategy director Laura Kelly argues the federal Government appeared to have ignored expert advice that the bay was ideal calving habitat for the endangered southern right whale and that fish farming posed threats to the species, such as from net entanglement and noise pollution.

“Just last week one of Australia’s leading experts on Southern Right Whales, Professor Ross Harcourt from Macquarie University, stated that Okehampton Bay is ideal calving habitat for the endangered species and that fish farming expansion is a threat to the endangered whales. It is unclear how Tassal and the Commonwealth could have ignored this advice,” Kelly stressed.

Meanwhile, Tassal is accused of denying the possibility of any significant impacts on threatened species from the 28-pen plan, which it confirmed would also include seaweed farming.

Executives of the firm are convinced that the approval is an exciting and long-awaited development that will allow them to create local jobs at what they consider will be Australia’s first “eco-aquaculture” site.

Tassal senior manager corporate engagement Barbara McGregor said the fish farm would be classed as an eco-aquaculture site because it would incorporate multiple species including kelp, mussels and potentially sea urchins, The Mercury informed.

For his part, Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the approval was good news for the industry and regional jobs.

“This is the highest environmental tick in the land and further supports the earlier recommendation by the independent Marine Farm Planning Review Panel that current environmental science supports fin fish farming at Okehampton Bay,” the Minister pointed out.

Nevertheless, Kelly insists the decision showed Australia’s environmental laws were “broken” and that the Liberal Government has learnt nothing from the disaster and subsequent legal battles over Macquarie Harbour.

The 28-pen farm will grow 800,000 Atlantic Salmon. These fish are fed an omnivore diet of land mammals, vegetable meal and pelagic fish. In other words, they eat what we eat and what goes in one end has to come out the other. 800,000 fish taking a crap is about the same as 10,000 humans taking a dump in the bay – every day. Source: .LGTF

Her view is supported by Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson, who expressed disappointment at the federal approval.

"Given the mess that the Hodgman Government has created in regulating Macquarie Harbour, why would anyone trust them to get it right in pristine coastal areas like east coast Tasmania?" he said.

"Tasmanians don't want our beautiful marine environment to be surrounded by rings of industrial fish farms, and they don't want big companies calling the shots in our parliaments," he added.

In addition, Independent MP Andrew Wilkie said the Tasmanian salmon industry has enormous potential but the community needs to have confidence that it is genuinely sustainable.

"Clearly allowing expansion into Okehampton Bay does not give the community this confidence," the parliamentarian claimed.

Related articles:

- Salmon industry allowed to expand in far north-west Tasmania
- Good signals shown for Tassal's salmon fish farm waste system
- Tassal to trial waste collection system in Macquarie
- Opposers join forces to halt Tassal’s plans
 

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