Scientists showcase years of research amid controversial Storm Bay salmon farm expansion plans
Storm Bay, full of sea life and besieged by treacherous conditions, has become the centre of controversy amid plans to further expand salmon farming. But scientists say no decisions will be made without their years of research.
Tasmania
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South of Hobart and east of Bruny Island lies a wild body of water full of sea life and besieged by often treacherous conditions.
The aptly-named Storm Bay has recently found itself the subject of controversy, with salmon farming companies keen to further expand their pens into its open expanses.
But those decisions will be made by consulting the science, according to two experts from CSIRO and the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS).
CSIRO senior research scientist Scott Condie has been studying Storm Bay for the past few years, working on weather prediction models for the marine environment.
“We can use those models to ask questions like – what if we put more aquaculture pens out there? What would be the effect of that?” Dr Condie said at a science open day in Hobart.
“Generally, it’s in very good condition at the moment. It’s been well-flushed because it’s such a big, open and energetic system.”
Dr Condie said more salmon farming would put additional nutrients in the water – but it was a question of how much additional pressure the bay could cope with.
“That’s exactly why we’re doing the study, to work out exactly what these trade-offs are. We want to produce food, but at the same time, we want to keep systems like Storm Bay in really good condition.”
He said Storm Bay could be a challenging place for farming, but from an environmental perspective, it was attractive because it was well-flushed.
IMAS associate professor Jeff Ross said scientists were diving in the bay, collecting water samples, inspecting plankton and deploying robots deep below its surface.
He said the types of life found in the water and its sediment were powerful indicators of the bay’s health.
Prof Ross said it was important to not rush the science before expanding salmon farming.
He also said scientists didn’t want to convince the public to support the industry – or not.
“The greatest thing we can do is give them access to the science, the science that’s being used by the decision-makers. So at least they can make up their own mind.”
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Originally published as Scientists showcase years of research amid controversial Storm Bay salmon farm expansion plans
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