State MPs have laid bare the future of Tasmania’s salmon industry.
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Tassal’s controversial Okehampton Bay lease was given the stamp of approval, following an independent review panel’s report released on Thursday.
Primary Industries and Water Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the new Sustainable Salmonid Industry Growth Plan was likely to recommend a move away from estuarine salmon farming – like that which would be practiced in Okehampton Bay - in favour of a “largely oceanic” industry.
On Tuesday, Labor announced its policy platform regarding the industry, and, more specifically, the Okehampton Bay farm site.
Labor “accepted” the review panel’s findings.
Opposition primary industries spokeswoman Rebecca White outlined Labor’s position on all future salmon leases in the state.
She advocated for increased scrutiny of stocking densities; the collection of real-time environmental data to be provided to the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies and the Environmental Protection Authority; further resources for the EPA so that they can better regulate the industry; and greater frequency of baseline seabed surveys.
Ms White said there was “no accepted definition” of oceanic farming.
Greens environment spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff, meanwhile, said her party was of the view that the future of the state’s salmon industry was either in the ocean or on land.
“Even in the ocean, we have to be looking at the environmental impact, so it’s not out of sight, out of mind,” Ms Woodruff said.