Tasmania is investigating the possibility of a new sardine fishery
Move over salmon: There could soon be a new fish Tasmania is known for producing. Learn about the state’s latest venture.
Tasmania
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Tasmania’s aquaculture industry is known for salmon, but there could soon be another species which becomes produced in the state.
The state government is now investigating the possibility of creating a sardine fishery, as it undertakes research into stocks of the species in Bass Strait.
“We have an exciting and rare opportunity for Tasmania to develop a local, sustainable commercial sardine fishery – the first new commercial fishery in decades,” Resources Minister Eric Abetz said.
The government has allocated $250,000 to begin initial investigations into the possibility of the new venture, including on public consultation.
Mr Abetz said a management plan for the fishery would be developed to minimise environmental impacts.
“I would like to make it absolutely clear that commercial trawling is prohibited in Tasmanian commercial fisheries. This position will remain for any future sardine fishery – no trawling will be permitted,” he said.
“A sardine fishery in Tasmania would be based on purse seining methods and build on the learnings from other successful fisheries such as the South Australian fishery. “
Consultation will be undertaken with commercial and recreational fishers, along with Seafood Industry Tasmania, TARFish and other bodies.
The Bob Brown Foundation said sardines played a “vital” role in ocean health.
“Instead of viewing this as a population to be targeted, the Tasmanian and federal governments should proudly protect this growing sardine population in a world where many sardine populations are in decline,” the foundation’s Antarctic and marine campaigner Alistair Allan said.
“There is no limit to how far industrial fish farms will go to deplete wild fisheries.”
Mr Allan said industrial purse seiners would catch seals, dolphins, and other marine creatures as “bycatch”, as well as sardines.
“This industry is content to destroy whole ecosystems and foundational species just to make a profit,’ Mr Allan said.
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