Revolt after Tanya Plibersek orders salmon review

Tanya Plibersek has triggered a review of salmon farming in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour, in a decision that could see fish pens banned – a move industry says could cost hundreds of jobs.

Salmon pens in Macquarie Harbour, on Tasmania's West Coast, which could be banned.

Tanya Plibersek has triggered a review of salmon farming in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour, in a decision that could see fish pens banned – a move industry says could cost hundreds of jobs.

The federal Environment Minister on Thursday announced a consultation process on salmon farming in the western Tasmanian harbour.

A spokeswoman later confirmed to The Australian that the process was a compulsory part of a formal “reconsideration” of salmon farming in the harbour, under federal environmental law.

This means the minister has accepted requests from conservation-minded groups to rethink a 2012 approval for expanded aquaculture in the harbour.

The push is backed by the government’s own scientific advisers, who in September found salmon farm impacts were having a “catastrophic” impact on the endangered Maugean skate.

However, the salmon industry warns removing pens from the harbour would cost hundreds of jobs and is pushing alternatives, including a program to oxygenate the water to offset fish pen impacts.

Ms Plibersek said the reconsideration was required under national environment laws passed by John Howard government in 2000 and would involve “broad consultation”.

“It will mean workers and their union, the salmon industry, communities, environment groups, scientists, as well as state and local governments will have a chance to have their say,” she said.

However, Salmon Tasmania said the announcement of the review was less than upfront and would create “tremendous uncertainty” for the industry and workers.

“The minister needs to be upfront about what this is – it’s a legal process under Australian environmental law that is subject to all kinds of judicial review,” said Salmon Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin.

“It has been triggered by a request from the Australia Institute, the Bob Brown Foundation and the Environmental Defenders Office.

“It’s only going to create tremendous uncertainty for the region and the community over the next three months, including over Christmas.”

Ms Plibersek has warned any finding by the review that the 2012 approval was no longer valid could result in a pause in salmon operations in the harbour, pending a new approvals process.

Mr Martin said this would end salmon farming in the harbour. “The minister should not be pretending anything about pausing – if the industry is out it’s out forever, there’s no restart a couple of years later,” he said. “You can’t start and stop an industry of this scale with livestock.”

Tasmania’s Environment Protection Agency meanwhile on Thursday renewed environmental licences for all salmon farming leases in Macquarie Harbour for another two years, despite the scientific concern for the skate.

The EPA said new requirements aimed at improving or offsetting dissolved oxygen levels would apply.

Acting Premier Michael Ferguson said the state Liberal government “won’t stand for” Ms Plibersek shutting down the industry in the harbour.

“Our message to the federal Labor Government is clear – do not come down to our state and shut down industries and think cash will appease us,” Mr Ferguson said.

“This sort of action will shut down regional towns and regional communities right across the nation should be scared that the Albanese Labor Government is coming for them next.”

He was backed by West Coast Mayor Shane Pitt, who described Ms Plibersek’s decision as “a real kick in the guts to the West Coast community”.

“Further salmon biomass reductions will put 25 per cent of jobs in Strahan at risk, dislocate families from their communities, cause a rapid decline in house prices, and likely lead to local medical and education services becoming unviable,” Mr Pitt said.

Neighbours of Fish Farming president Peter George welcomed the decision but said tougher, more rapid action was urgently needed to save the skate.

“Marine scientists have made it abundantly clear the 60-million-year-old Maugean skate may not last one more catastrophic event - and that may well be the expected marine heatwave this summer,” Mr George said.

“Minister (Plibersek) herself has warned ‘urgent action must be taken’ but a long, drawn out consultation is hardly urgent action.

“The salmon industry will … be secretly relieved it can go on destroying the skate’s habitat while bureaucratic processes slowly roll along.”