Lower salmon stocks or else: Tanya Plibersek warns Tasmania Premier

Tanya Plibersek has warned salmon farming needs to be wound-back in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour to save an endangered skate species.

A Maugean Skate in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour. Picture: Jane Ruckert

Tanya Plibersek has warned salmon farming needs to be wound-back in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour to save an endangered skate, and that a temporary but complete shutdown may be necessary.

The federal Environment Minister on Monday wrote to the state government warning foreshadowed measures to improve the health of the remote harbour “will not be enough”.

In a letter seen by The Australian, Ms Plibersek tells Premier Jeremy Rockliff “scientific evidence” indicated “improved regulation and monitoring” of “lower” salmon stock loads “will be important”.

Any move for lower stocking levels, below the existing 9000 tonnes in the remote western harbour, would be fiercely opposed by the $1.5b salmon industry and the Australian Workers’ Union.

However, Ms Plibersek confirmed a report in The Australian that her department was “carefully considering” requests by conservation groups to rethink the 2012 federal approval for expanded fish pens in the harbour.

She told Mr Rockliff that should the requests be found to be “valid” under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, she would need to revisit the 2012 approval.

Salmon farming pens in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania. Picture: Eloise Carr

At this time, she would “look at any measures taken by the industry or others to help protect the skate” in deciding next steps, but would be bound by the EPBC Act.

“If the reconsideration finds that the salmon industry in Macquarie Harbour does not have the necessary environmental approvals, the EPBC Act (put in place by John Howard and the Liberal Party in 2000) would require operations of pause while approvals are sought,” Ms Plibersek warned.

“But I will look at any action I can take, consistent with my legal obligations under the EPBC Act, to support the Tasmania government regulator, and the salmon farming industry, to put their operations on a truly sustainable footing.

“The federal government stands ready to consider a sustainable salmon farming proposal that delivers the improvements in Macquarie Harbour’s oxygen levels necessary for the recovery of the Maugean Skate population.”

Her letter, which also flags the need for better management of hydro-electric water flows and the installation of equipment to improve harbour water quality, was sent on behalf of the Prime Minister, she said.

It stresses the “seriousness of this issue” and describes low oxygen levels linked to pollution from “unsustainable salmon farming practices” as the key threat to the unique species, found only in Macquarie Harbour.

Salmon Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin attacked Ms Plibersek’s letter as part of a pattern of “very strange” behaviour, with nervous salmon workers learning of such developments via the media.

“As the minister acknowledges, there are a number of factors at play in Macquarie Harbour from climate change, gillnet fishing to hydro damming,” Mr Martin said.

“There are absolutely no guarantees that taking the easy route and blaming salmon will help to save the skate, but what it will do is cost jobs and devastate communities.

“The salmon industry is getting on with the job of responding to the recommendations of the minister’s own task force, committing $6m for major oxygenation project in the Harbour.”

Mr Rockliff was yet to respond.