‘Flames of rage’ over salmon farm plans as groups release alleged secret expansion maps
Tensions are rising between environmentalists and government amid claims of secret salmon farm maps – leading to the state’s Primary Industries Minister being likened to Beyonce. LATEST >>
Tasmania
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ENVIRONMENTALISTS have slammed what they’ve described as plans for a “massive expansion” of industrial fish farming along Tasmania’s coastline – releasing what they say are secret maps detailing the government and salmon industry’s intentions.
But the state government has described the maps as fake and denied plans for expansion correlate with the environmentalists’ claims – while again wheeling out its 10-year sustainability road map that has been criticised as a “sham plan”.
On Saturday, a large crowd flowed into Cygnet’s Town Hall to hear from Man Booker prize-winning author Richard Flanagan, film producer Justin Kurzel and former Greens leader Bob Brown.
Flanagan, author of industry-critical book Toxic, described the new “rules and regulations” as “window dressing” and as “full of s... as the salmon pens”.
He also criticised the practice of harming seals that fed on the salmon pens, claiming there were more than 39,000 seal bombs used in 2016 alone.
“Well, if that’s global best practice, then [Primary Industries Minister] Guy Barnett is Beyonce,” he said.
“The 12-month moratorium on new leases is a pathetic attempt to extinguish the flames of rage across the island before the federal election, to give the Liberal Party the best possible chance in Bass and Braddon and Lyons.
“Tasmania is not a brand – it is our home ... when we see it destroyed by greed, aided and abetted by politicians, we will stand up and fight.”
During the event, community group Neighbours of Fish Farms (NOFF) also released the maps they said had been withheld from the public.
Dr Brown told the hundreds of attendees that new “super fish pens” developed in Norway and built in China were on their way to Tasmania.
He said the maps showed plans to potentially place the pens along almost the whole of the Bass Strait coastline, the Bass Strait islands, half the East Coast, and the South and West coasts – including Maatsuyker Island, Port Davey, Ocean Beach and sections of the Tarkine coast.
He said Storm Bay and waters off Bruny Island had been earmarked for “further expansion” as part of “a takeover of Tasmania’s beautiful seas by this voracious and hopelessly greedy industry”.
Dr Brown and NOFF said the maps excluded Macquarie Harbour and the Tamar River from the plans as part of a “government ploy” to divert public attention from the proliferation of fish farms elsewhere.
But a government spokesperson said there weren’t any secret maps.
“To be clear, there are no new or secret ‘grow’ or ‘no grow’ maps despite claims from those who want to shut the industry down,” they said.
On Saturday, they referred back to the 10-year plan, reiterating there would be “no net increase in leased farming areas in Tasmanian waters”, with an immediate 12-month moratorium put in place to “enable existing exploration permits to be considered in the context of the 10-year salmon plan”.
Flanagan blasts ten-year salmon plan
Tasmanian author of explosive book Toxic Richard Flanagan has called the state government’s new ten-year salmon plan a “sham”.
Primary Industries and Water Minister Guy Barnett said at parliament Question Time on Thursday the ten year salmon plan would prioritise inland farming and offshore operations in Commonwealth waters and will include an immediate 12-month moratorium on operations in Tasmanian waters.
But Flanagan said the plan was “light on detail”.
“It’s not a ten year plan but a three thimble con trick to cover for a rogue industry in deep crisis,” he said.
“It’s a rerun of what we witnessed after the Macquarie Harbour disaster in 2016.
“Back then the (Environmental Protection Authority) was declared independent, new rules and regulations announced, and we were told the industry was going into deep water.
“Now the EPA has been declared independent again, the industry is being touted as world’s best practice again, we are being told the industry is going deep water again, and nothing will change except for the worse.”
Flanagan held fears for the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and the Huon and said the North and East coasts were likely to be targeted next.
“The industry and government will only embrace real change when their mainland market collapses.”
Labor member Dr Shane Broad described the government plan as a “cut and paste from the Greens election platform”.
“The government here on a day when we find now we have the worst unemployment rate in the country … are adopting the Greens policy which is a moratorium on the salmon industry, which in the government’s own words says will cost jobs” Dr Broad said.
Mr Barnett said the plan would commence on January 1, 2023.
“There will be no net increase in leased farming areas in Tasmanian waters,” he said.
The Minister said the policy would strive to attain world-leading best practice with help from internationally recognised institutions, and would improve regulations and transparency.
He said a new Fin Fish Compliance director position would be created and a new fee structure would reinvest in compliance.
EXPLAINED: Government announces new 10-year salmon plan
A plan to create a more sustainable, world-leading salmon industry over a decade has sparked both positive and scathing reactions from industry leaders.
Primary Industries and Water Minister Guy Barnett said at parliament Question Time on Thursday the ten year salmon plan would prioritise inland farming and offshore operations in Commonwealth waters and will include an immediate 12-month moratorium on operations in Tasmanian waters.
Mr Barnett said the plan would commence on January 1, 2023.
“There will be no net increase in leased farming areas in Tasmanian waters,” he said.
The Minister said the policy would strive to attain world-leading best practice with help from internationally recognised institutions, and would improve regulations and transparency.
He said a new Fin Fish Compliance director position would be created and a new fee structure would reinvest in compliance.
Greens MP Dr Rosalie Woodruff labelled the announcement an “interesting Greens policy”, adding the plan appeared similar to the Greens’ Marine policy announced in April.
Dr Woodruff described the new plan as “a huge admission from the government that the community protest is winning”, citing the mainland billboard anti-salmon campaign, but had doubts about the substance of the plan.
“The licence fees have been appalling and they need to be matched to the sorts of fees that Norwegian fish farming companies are paying the Norwegian people,” she said.
“It sounds to me as though there will still be the doubling of the industry and there will still be expected increases to the North and North West.”
Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Michael Bailey said the plan heralded a “dark day for Tasmanian industry”.
He feared similar plans could emerge for the dairy, wind farm and mining industries.
“This decision stops growth in that sector … increases taxes and again, is that attack on workers,” Mr Bailey said.
“This is a Liberal government that is acting anything but.”
Mr Bailey questioned the logistics of effectively farming saltwater fish inland and said the industry had not been consulted on the plan.
But Tassal CEO Mark Ryan welcomed the new direction.
“We believe the industry doesn’t need more hectares in Tasmanian waters and we are committed to working responsibly within the current salmon footprint,” he said.
“For Tassal, growth will come from considering species and geographical diversification, expanding land-based production through our prawns and salmon life cycle extension, and through better use of technology in our existing farms, such as expanding our seaweed production to remove carbon and nitrogen from waterways.”
A Tasmanian Salmonid Growers Association spokeswoman also supported the ten year plan.
“We look forward to robust consultation with Government and its Department on their plan,” she said.
Premier Peter Gutwein said all three major salmon farming companies – Tassal, Huon Aquaculture and Petuna – had given positive feedback.
“(The TCCI is) obviously not speaking to them,” he said.
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