Houn Aquaculture´s farm in Port Stephens. (Photo: Huon Aquaculture)

Environmental impact worries after escape of thousands of farmed fish

Thousands of fish that escaped from a fish farm located off Port Stephens, in New South Wales, generate concern for its probable devastating impact on the marine park's wild fish population.

It is about more than 17,000 yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) that escaped from a fish-farm sea cage, described as a "fortress pen”, and that was destroyed in rough seas.

This aquaculture operation is a five-year research trial run by the New South Wales (NSW) government and the Tasmanian company Huon Aquaculture. Currently, the project is undergoing the critical loss of almost half its stock with a retail value of more than AUS 2 million (USD 1.6 million), Newcaste Herald reported.

Conservation groups and local tourism operators believe this project is a "disaster", because it is threatening the pristine marine park's delicate ecosystem.

The project´s promoters repeatedly assured the community that the cages could withstand waves of up to 15 meters, but one of them was destroyed and this made it possible for the fish to escape.

“It’s disturbing. The release of almost 20,000 mature kingfish into the environment has to have an impact,” Marine Parks' Association chairman Frank Future said. “And these animals, even though they’ve been fed on pellets since birth, are going to have some genetic memory and going to be looking to eat anything. I am concerned,” he added.

On her part, Huon's spokeswoman said the farmed kingfish were of the same genetic stock as wild populations and the company was "researching the behavioural and feeding responses of the escaped fish" as it continues to try and recapture them.

"Early indications suggest that equipment design is not the lead cause of equipment failure," she said.

"Whilst we are disappointed with the recent fish escape following a weather incident, it is an important learning experience and we remain committed to ensuring that there isn't a repeat of the incident," the spokeswoman added.

Besides, she reminded that one of the objectives of this research project is to investigate the structural integrity and stability of current sea cage infrastructure and their suitability in the high energy marine environment of New South Wales.

It is the second large-scale fish farm operation in Port Stephens to suffer stock losses due to storm damage.

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