Helping key industry to stay afloat
The Tasmanian government is lending long-term support to the state’s salmon industry, says Guy Barnett
TASMANIA’S salmon industry is globally recognised for its commitment to innovation and sustainability, which is why the Tasmanian government is supporting its continued journey through a new 10-year Tasmanian salmon plan.
Our salmon industry has led the world in many areas – in certification, water monitoring, vaccination and disease management, as well as cutting edge technology.
Tasmania’s salmon industry is worth nearly $1bn to our economy and it supports thousands of jobs across the Tasmanian supply chain.
Aquaculture is an integral food production sector and salmon a healthy protein.
The government has supported enhancements in regulation, transparency and biosecurity practices, while the industry itself has a history of innovation and commitment to continuous improvement.
This includes through all environmental and marine farming licenses being available publicly on LISTmap and world-leading water quality monitoring, measuring benthic, sea floor, near farm and broad scale levels to test impacts. The industry has state-of-the-art remote feeding centres, with technology to deliver operational, fish welfare and environmental benefits, and a commitment to climate change adaptation actions, including selective breeding program to adjust fish resilience and increase temperature tolerance in line with the changing conditions.
They hold global-leading certification, have among the lowest stocking densities in the world, and a commitment to fish welfare, with strong vaccination and disease management strategies that set the Tasmanian industry apart from other areas of the world.
However, this is a government that firmly believes it has a responsibility to foster the regulatory environment and to support ongoing improvements as we look to the future.
The new 10-year Plan will centre on innovation, continuous improvement, world leading practices and will be underpinned by the following principles:
1. There will be no net increase in leased farming areas in Tasmanian waters noting an immediate 12month moratorium will be put in place to enable existing exploration permits to be considered in the context of the 10-Year salmon plan;
2. We will develop new research and innovation programs to support salmon farming further off shore in deep waters, including commonwealth waters, and to increase salmon farming on shore in land-based systems;
3. We will ensure world’s best practices through continuous improvement in regulation and transparency, and review fees and charges to ensure full cost recovery and an appropriate return to the Tasmanian community;
4. Separation of the Environment Protection Authority from the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment will further enhance its role as the independent environmental regulator. Immediate additional positions will be created to support compliance, including a new Director of Fin Fish Compliance.
Over the next 12 months, the 10-year plan will be developed and we will fully engage with industry and the community to identify new long term actions that support our vision for a sustainable industry, which continues to support Tasmanian jobs and businesses across the supply chain.