Plan: No new East Coast fish farms

PROPOSED “GROW” AND “NO-GROW” ZONES FOR FINFISH IN TASMANIA

TASMANIA’S Primary Industries Minister says the entire East Coast will be fish farm-free under a new industry plan — not counting the Tassal fish farm at Okehampton Bay.

A draft salmon industry growth plan will ban the development of new fish farms along the East Coast and large parts of the North coast.

The Government had already announced the plan would feature a new “grow zone” in the far North-West.

Other areas for potential fish farm expansion under the plan include the east of Flinders Island and the Furneaux Group and further areas at the outer reaches of Storm Bay and the D’Entrecasteaux Channel.

The areas were identified in consultation with the industry.

Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said, with the $730 million salmon industry now equal to the combined worth of the state’s beef and dairy industries, there was an urgent need for an industry blueprint.

“The Government recognises it’s time to refresh our approach including our regulatory system to take the industry to the next level,” Mr Rockliff said.

The plan seeks to address public outcry over the expansion of fish farms to new areas, including the East Coast.

But it won’t stop anyone from activating an existing lease, and that includes Tassal’s plan for Okehampton Bay.

Tassal plans to have fish in the water at Okehampton Bay by the end of this month.

Mr Rockliff said a “no-grow zone” would extend from the bottom of the Tasman Peninsula up the entire East Coast and along much of the North coast.

He said grow zones would be set by legislation.

“Other than a small number of existing leases, the entire East Coast of Tasmania will be salmon-farm free, this should assure Tasmanians that the special nature of Tasmania’s East Coast will not be changed by fish farming,” Mr Rockliff said.

He said the plan also called for an agreement among the Government and all stakeholders on the future of fish farming in Macquarie Harbour.

The harbour has suffered significant environmental damage and Huon Aquaculture has launched legal action against the state and federal governments and the EPA over the management of fish farming in the area.

Greens marine environment spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff said there was nothing sustainable about the plan.

“It’s a total joke. It’s clear it’s a plan written in the interests of the industry first, it creates a lifeline for industries that have trashed Macquarie Harbour,” Dr Woodruff said.

“The Government is being totally deceptive when it says it is banning fish farming from the East Coast of Tasmania. Okehampton Bay is in the Mercury Passage and the Mercury Passage is on the East Coast.”

Labor primary industries spokesman Shane Broad said the Liberals were catching up to Labor on salmon policy.

“Labor will always support a sustainable, well-regulated salmon industry,” Dr Broad said. “Many of Labor’s sensible proposals are reflected in the growth plan released by the Government today.”

The plan will be open for public comment for a month.

... the entire East Coast of Tasmania will be salmon-farm free JEREMY ROCKLIFF