Canberra’s salmon farm delay: Industry and activists demand clarity

by
Editorial Staff

Canberra has extended the review period by a year, citing the volume and complexity of scientific data received during public consultations.

The Australian government has drawn ire from industry groups, environmental advocates, and local officials following its decision to delay a ruling on the future of salmon farming in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour.

The postponement extends uncertainty over the fate of the endangered Maugean skate, a rare species indigenous to the harbour and currently threatened by declining oxygen levels linked to fish farming.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek had initiated a review of aquaculture operations in Macquarie Harbour last November, following conservation advice urging prompt action to mitigate fish farming’s ecological impact, according to the Australian Associated Press.

Conservationists have called for an outright ban on fish farms in the harbour to protect the skate, whose population is estimated at between 40 and 120 adults.

Despite expectations that a final assessment on the skate’s conservation status would be delivered to Minister Plibersek on October 30, the government has extended the review period by a year, citing the volume and complexity of scientific data received during public consultations. The ministry has provided no specific timeline for completing the broader aquaculture review, promising only a “balanced decision” grounded in scientific evidence.

The delay has sparked criticism from both conservation and industry groups. The Bob Brown Foundation’s Alistair Allan accused the government of “playing Russian roulette” with the skate’s future, calling the delay “a further risk to a species that has survived for millions of years.” Allan reiterated calls to remove fish farms from the harbour, underscoring the urgency for immediate action.

Salmon Tasmania, which represents the region’s aquaculture sector, expressed disappointment with the postponement. Luke Martin, CEO of Salmon Tasmania, voiced frustration, though he acknowledged that the delay was not entirely unexpected. “Everyone wants to secure the future of the Maugean skate, but decisions must be grounded in precise data, including an accurate count of the population and an understanding of the broader causes behind the species’ decline,” Martin stated.

Recent government data suggest that oxygen levels in the harbour have shown signs of improvement, with the skate’s population stabilizing at low numbers. This has led some, including Tasmania’s Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz, to argue that Macquarie Harbour’s ecological health is as robust as it was a decade ago. “The health of the harbour in 2024 is just as good as in 2014—the facts speak for themselves,” Abetz told reporters.

West Coast Council mayor Shane Pitt voiced concern for the salmon workers in his district, who face ongoing uncertainty. “Workers, families, and the entire west coast could face another Christmas with their future in limbo—it’s simply cruel,” Pitt said, urging the federal government to expedite a decision.

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