Flinders Council has put forward a submission to reject fish farming in their waters after a community meeting was held to consider the state government's 10-Year Salmon Plan Discussion Paper.
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Mayor of Flinders Council David Williams said that the consensus of the residents of the Furneaux Group was that they did not want finfish farming in any shape or form.
"It would spoil our pristine waters and cause all sorts of problems in the long term" Cr Williams said.
"The local fishing community believe that the bureaucrats have no idea about the borders around the islands. There were a lot of pertinent questions asked and they were direct and they were just clarifying the government's position."
Mr Williams said over 100 people attended the public meeting and that the majority of individuals represented families on the island.
"It was a worthwhile meeting. That was because both the natural resources and environment as well as an environmental expert spoke logically, clearly and unemotionally. It was a good meeting.
"I was very proud of our community the way they turned up for the meeting and the way they acted."
Mr Williams said the community were determined to not have a salmon farm on the island.
"The government does not seem to learn from their mistakes and if they keep on planning to put one here it could be disastrous, they don't seem to be improving the regulation at all."
Shadow Minister for primary industries and water, Janie Finlay questioned why the Minister for Water and Primary Industries, Jo Palmer did not attend the meeting.
A government spokesperson said Minister Palmer was not invited to the meeting, and that when they found it was on, they sent staff from NRE Tasmania.
"The Department's consultation activities in 2022 have included direct approaches to local government and the Local Government Association of Tasmania, invitation to complete a stakeholder survey and email notification to local governments on any consultation related activities," they said.
"The government has also sought to raise broad community awareness of consultation opportunities through media releases, public notices and social media.
The spokesperson also said that there were no finfish leases in the Furneaux Group area.
"The department is not aware of any potential interest for salmon farming in the area.
"If any proposal for finfish farming was to come forward under the existing Marine Farm Development Plan, it would require an application for an environmental licence to be assessed by the EPA."
In September 2021, the then minister for water and primary industries minister, Guy Barnett said the 10-year plan, which would begin January 1, 2023, would not include a net increase in leased farming areas in Tasmanian waters.
He also said that the state government would develop new research and innovation programs to support salmon farming further offshore in deep waters, including Commonwealth waters.
"We will continue to utilise science from internationally respected institutions, including IMAS, CSIRO and the Blue Economy CRC to inform sustainability through appropriate planning and regulation," he said at the time of the announcement.
A public meeting to stop salmon farming in the Bass Strait will take place in Devonport on Saturday at 2pm at the Devonport Yacht Club.
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