Salmon study has Flinders Island locals rattling government chains

Approximately 100 residents unanimously rejected any moves towards fin-fish farming in their neck of Bass Strait at a voluble meeting this week, despite no proposal being put forward.

Residents of a Bass Strait island convened an urgent meeting on Monday night to resoundingly decide they were against fin-fish farming in their neighbourhood, despite the fact it has been permissable there for two decades and no proposal has ever been put forward.

The Whitemark meeting was facilitated by Flinders Island Council after rising local agitation, which was sparked by the state government’s recent release of its 10-Year Salmon Plan discussion paper.

The discussion paper referred to an Institute of Marine and Antarctic Science study, ‘Statewide Finfish Aquaculture Spatial Planning Exercise’, which found, inter alia, parts of Flinders Island’s coastal waters displayed “medium or high biophysical suitability” for fin-fish farming.

A map from a December 2021 IMAS report which found that an offshore area on the western coast of Flinders Island displayed suitable characteristics for fin-farming . Picture: IMAS

Offshore is defined in the discussion paper as being in “deep waters” exposed to greater wave energy, and stands in contrast to more controversial in-shore farming.

One of the new 10-year plan’s four guiding principles is a move away from in-shore farming towards more “innovative” offshore and land-based farming.

IMAS report author Dr Myriam Lacharité found suitability for salmon farming in northern Tasmania was generally constrained by warmer and shallower water; however, the Furneaux Group and the waters between Penguin and Three Hummock Island presented the best offshore “opportunities”.

Northeast corner, Flinders Island. Picture: Rupert Manners

“Off the coast of the Furneaux Group (Flinders Island), little conflict was apparent with other ocean uses (such as recreation) – with few exceptions such as the path of Flinders Island ferry,” she said.

Flinders Island Mayor David Williams said the meeting of approximately 100 residents returned an overwhelming view that “we don’t want our pristine waters adulterated at all”.

“We as a community are going to fight to stop any development,” he said.

The meeting’s timing was curious: the IMAS report, which was essentially a “decision-support tool” for the state government, Dr Lacharité said, has been available since December last year.

Meanwhile, finfish farming has been permitted in parts of the Furneaux Group since 1999, when a Marine Farming Development Plan was declared – but no company has ever proposed a lease in those waters.

It was a point taken up by Sue Grau, chief executive of the Tasmanian Salmon Growers Association, who was also miffed indsutry representatives weren’t invited.

“The Tasmanian salmon industry is disappointed that we weren’t contacted prior to the meeting on Flinders Island,” she said.

“We would have welcomed an opportunity to understand and address the concerns of the local community.

“There is no proposal to farm in the Furneaux Islands, despite the fact that finfish farming has been permitted there for more than 20 years now.”

One politician against any future finfish farming in the Furneaux Group is Federal Bass MP Bridget Archer.

Tasmania Salmonid Growers Association CEO Sue Grau at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

“While I am not unsupportive of the salmon industry generally, it is important that any future developments are scrutinised and I don’t believe the Furneaux Group is an appropriate salmon site,” Ms Archer said.

State Bass MP Janie Finlay, meanwhile, said she believed it could represent an economic opportunity for the group.

“I have made no secret that I am a supporter of the Tasmanian salmon industry and what it provides for the wider community in terms of jobs and regional economic benefit,” she said.

She sniped at Primary Industries Minister Jo Palmer for not attending in person.

Ms Palmer’s department did, however, give a presentation on Monday night attempting to tamp down concerns a lease was just around the corner.