Maquarie Harbour Fish Farm Expansion

ET News

Environment groups remain committed to a lasting solution for forests and people

Submitted:

14-Feb-2012 01:14 PM

Media Release 14 February 2012

Environment Tasmania, The Australian Conservation Foundation and the Wilderness Society today reaffirmed their commitment to the Statement of Principles, and to negotiations with signatories on the implementation of the agreement.
Forestry Tasmania increases logging in IGA protected areas

Submitted:

09-Feb-2012 02:01 PM

Media Release 9 February 2012

A report released today by environment groups reveals that since Forestry Tasmania was paid $12.5 million to stop logging in the 572,000 hectares of forests being assessed for protection, the agency has shown no letup in the rate of logging inside these forests.
Environment Focus for State Budget

Submitted:

06-Feb-2012 11:53 AM

Media Release 2 February 2012

Tasmania’s peak environment body, Environment Tasmania has called for a stronger funding model for the Parks & Wildlife service, progression of marine and coastal policies, and initiatives to support sustainable agricultural landscapes in its submission to the Tasmanian government’s 2012-13 State budget.
Governments fail to deliver on Forests Agreement

Submitted:

13-Jan-2012 03:02 PM

Media Release 13 January 2012

Environment groups said the conservation agreement released today by the Tasmanian and Commonwealth governments did not adequately deliver the first key conservation outcome of the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) and urged them to end logging in these unique and important forests.

Environment Tasmania and the Tasmanian Aquaculture Reform Alliance are urging the community to oppose the proposed expansion of marine farms in Macquarie Harbour by TASSAL, Petuna Aquaculture and Huon Aquaculture Group, on the grounds that insufficient scientific baseline data has been provided and serious threats to the health of the Harbour and its well established tourism industry exist coupled with a raft of social impacts.

Make a Submission of Opposition to the proposed expansion

TEMPLATE FOR SUBMISSIONS

EXAMPLE LETTER FOR SUBMISSIONS

MAQUARIE HARBOUR FISH FARMING EXPANSION BACKGROUND BRIEFING PAPER

The Government is currently assessing the largest proposed expansion of marine farms in Tasmania on the doorstep of our unique Tasmanian Wilderness World-Heritage Area in Macquarie Harbour, and yet there is a shocking lack of baseline scientific data to demonstrate whether or not it will be sustainable.

The draft amendment to the Macquarie Harbour Marine Farming Development Plan 2005 No 1 proposes an expansion on marine farms from 564 hectares to 926 hectares in the Harbour (increase of 64%), right up to the boundary of the World Heritage Area.

The social and environmental impacts of the proposed expansion are potentially huge, with significantly less access for kayaking and fishing, and significantly increased noise and odour, antibiotic use, lighting, infrastructure and marine debris.

The proposal to increase stocking densities of fish within each farm and to change the management controls to the Secretary of the Primary Industries Department seems an extension of the shift of authority from the independent scientific review panel to the Minister regarding developments. This reflects the politicising of a decision making process that should remain within an independent scientific realm, and further decreases community confidence.

The unique and endangered Maugean Skate is likely to suffer from such a large increase in fish farms within its restricted habitat, and the huge increase in nutrients and related decrease in Dissolved Oxygen levels could lead to marine life not being able to survive in the area. It is these very grave impacts that have not been addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement, despite being required by the Macquarie Harbour Marine Farming Development Plan, and it is simply not good enough for a proposal of this scale. The Companies cannot say they will monitor it later, because later may be too late.