Mr Wilkie blamed the poor condition of Macquarie Harbour on the salmon industry

Andrew Wilkie has lashed Tasmania’s salmon industry during a speech in federal parliament. What he said.

Bob Brown Foundation activists putting a banner up on a salmon pen in Macquarie Harbour. Picture: Supplied.

Federal Clark MP Andrew Wilkie has used a speech in federal parliament to criticise the environmental record of Tasmania’s salmon industry, citing concerns raised by industry whistleblowers.

Mr Wilkie laid the blame for the poor condition of Macquarie Harbour at the feet of the salmon industry.

“Salmon farming is obviously an important industry in Tasmania, but it’s not so important that it should be allowed to ride roughshod over local communities and the environment generally, or continue to drive the Maugean skate to extinction in Macquarie Harbour in particular,” Mr Wilkie said on Thursday.

“And it’s not just me saying this. Indeed the Federal Department of Environment’s expert conservation advice identifies low dissolved oxygen as the primary threat to the skate and, to quote from their report, the most important anthropogenic contributor to the oxygen debt in Macquarie Harbour is ongoing salmonid aquaculture. Moreover the report goes on to describe the consequences on the skate of current salmon farming as catastrophic.

“In other words, it’s the salmon farms.”

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

Mr Wilkie said is was “no wonder” many people had welcomed the Federal Environment Minister’s recent decision to consult on whether existing federal approvals are sufficient or need updating.

“And no wonder I’m being contacted by industry whistleblowers with allegations of extensive and careless plastic pollution, possible collusion with regulatory agencies, drastic under-reporting of fish deaths and escapes, and even fuel spills. Rest assured I’ll have more to say about this at another time,” he said.

“For too long the Tasmanian salmon industry has made staggering profits while ignoring the environment. Frankly it’s like shooting fish in a barrel for them, and it’s way beyond time governments did something about it.”

Salmon Tasmania CEO Luke Martin. Picture: Chris Kidd

Salmon Tasmania CEO Luke Martin said dismissed Mr Wilkie’s speech as pure politics.

“Let’s be frank, in choosing today to table in federal parliament a report that was released months ago, Mr Wilkie is only playing politics with the livelihoods of hundreds of Tasmanians living in regional communities,” Mr Martin said.

“The salmon industry understands the issues raised by the Federal Department of Environment relating to the Maugean skate. We are the one industry taking action with a multimillion-dollar investment in the Macquarie Harbour Oxygenation Project that is all about minimising our impact on the harbour and improving the natural environment for the skate.

“If Mr Wilkie really wants to assist the Maugean skate, perhaps he could put aside his antagonism towards the salmon industry and start lobbying for some of the other industries who impact the harbour to also contribute to a responsible solution.”

Last week federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek announced a review of aquaculture operations in Macquarie Harbour amid a fight to protect the endangered Maugean skate.