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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Salmon farms green lit, but conservation fight not over
An endangered fish has had the "final nail" in its coffin driven by the federal government after it gave the green light for ongoing salmon farming in a remote harbour. That's the view of environmentalists who have vowed to maintain their legal fight against aquaculture in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour. It was revealed on Thursday Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt had ended a reconsideration of aquaculture approvals in the harbour, based on new national laws. "(The) decision allows for the continuation of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour," he said. The reconsideration process was sparked in late 2023 by conservation groups, who argue salmon farming needs to stop to safeguard the endangered Maugean skate. It is estimated there are 40-120 adult skate in the harbour, the species' only home, with salmon farming and hydro flows among factors contributing to their decline. Mr Watt spruiked $18.3 million for an artificial pumping program designed to replace oxygen in the water consumed by salmon farming. The federal government's decision was based on "all relevant information", Mr Watt said. The decision was possible after law changes removed the minister's ability to reconsider previous decisions if they had been ongoing for at least five years. Critics argued the laws, passed in March before the May election, were rushed. Mr Watt's decision on Macquarie Harbour came a week before a Bob Brown Foundation challenge to the laws was set to be heard in the Federal Court. Foundation campaigner Alistair Allan accused the federal government of driving the final nail in the coffin of the skate. He said next week's Federal Court action was now dead, but fresh legal action would be launched based on the grounds the law doesn't apply to industrial fish farming in the harbour "It is a disgrace that a species that was identified by the Albanese government as a priority threatened species in 2022 has been purposely abandoned by 2025," Mr Allan said. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said the decision provided certainty for the 400-plus workers who depended on aquaculture in the harbour. There had been a body of new information showing improvements in the harbour's health since 2023, Salmon Tasmania CEO John Whittington said. A University of Tasmania study published in February found there had been a significant decline in the skate's abundance from 2014-2022, but numbers had risen since. Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson accused the federal government of dodging accountability with the timing of their decision. "The only reason this decision has been made by the minister now is to scuttle the Federal Court case. The Albanese government had two years to make this decision and didn't," he said. An endangered fish has had the "final nail" in its coffin driven by the federal government after it gave the green light for ongoing salmon farming in a remote harbour. That's the view of environmentalists who have vowed to maintain their legal fight against aquaculture in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour. It was revealed on Thursday Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt had ended a reconsideration of aquaculture approvals in the harbour, based on new national laws. "(The) decision allows for the continuation of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour," he said. The reconsideration process was sparked in late 2023 by conservation groups, who argue salmon farming needs to stop to safeguard the endangered Maugean skate. It is estimated there are 40-120 adult skate in the harbour, the species' only home, with salmon farming and hydro flows among factors contributing to their decline. Mr Watt spruiked $18.3 million for an artificial pumping program designed to replace oxygen in the water consumed by salmon farming. The federal government's decision was based on "all relevant information", Mr Watt said. The decision was possible after law changes removed the minister's ability to reconsider previous decisions if they had been ongoing for at least five years. Critics argued the laws, passed in March before the May election, were rushed. Mr Watt's decision on Macquarie Harbour came a week before a Bob Brown Foundation challenge to the laws was set to be heard in the Federal Court. Foundation campaigner Alistair Allan accused the federal government of driving the final nail in the coffin of the skate. He said next week's Federal Court action was now dead, but fresh legal action would be launched based on the grounds the law doesn't apply to industrial fish farming in the harbour "It is a disgrace that a species that was identified by the Albanese government as a priority threatened species in 2022 has been purposely abandoned by 2025," Mr Allan said. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said the decision provided certainty for the 400-plus workers who depended on aquaculture in the harbour. There had been a body of new information showing improvements in the harbour's health since 2023, Salmon Tasmania CEO John Whittington said. A University of Tasmania study published in February found there had been a significant decline in the skate's abundance from 2014-2022, but numbers had risen since. Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson accused the federal government of dodging accountability with the timing of their decision. "The only reason this decision has been made by the minister now is to scuttle the Federal Court case. The Albanese government had two years to make this decision and didn't," he said. An endangered fish has had the "final nail" in its coffin driven by the federal government after it gave the green light for ongoing salmon farming in a remote harbour. That's the view of environmentalists who have vowed to maintain their legal fight against aquaculture in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour. It was revealed on Thursday Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt had ended a reconsideration of aquaculture approvals in the harbour, based on new national laws. "(The) decision allows for the continuation of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour," he said. The reconsideration process was sparked in late 2023 by conservation groups, who argue salmon farming needs to stop to safeguard the endangered Maugean skate. It is estimated there are 40-120 adult skate in the harbour, the species' only home, with salmon farming and hydro flows among factors contributing to their decline. Mr Watt spruiked $18.3 million for an artificial pumping program designed to replace oxygen in the water consumed by salmon farming. The federal government's decision was based on "all relevant information", Mr Watt said. The decision was possible after law changes removed the minister's ability to reconsider previous decisions if they had been ongoing for at least five years. Critics argued the laws, passed in March before the May election, were rushed. Mr Watt's decision on Macquarie Harbour came a week before a Bob Brown Foundation challenge to the laws was set to be heard in the Federal Court. Foundation campaigner Alistair Allan accused the federal government of driving the final nail in the coffin of the skate. He said next week's Federal Court action was now dead, but fresh legal action would be launched based on the grounds the law doesn't apply to industrial fish farming in the harbour "It is a disgrace that a species that was identified by the Albanese government as a priority threatened species in 2022 has been purposely abandoned by 2025," Mr Allan said. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said the decision provided certainty for the 400-plus workers who depended on aquaculture in the harbour. There had been a body of new information showing improvements in the harbour's health since 2023, Salmon Tasmania CEO John Whittington said. A University of Tasmania study published in February found there had been a significant decline in the skate's abundance from 2014-2022, but numbers had risen since. Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson accused the federal government of dodging accountability with the timing of their decision. "The only reason this decision has been made by the minister now is to scuttle the Federal Court case. The Albanese government had two years to make this decision and didn't," he said. An endangered fish has had the "final nail" in its coffin driven by the federal government after it gave the green light for ongoing salmon farming in a remote harbour. That's the view of environmentalists who have vowed to maintain their legal fight against aquaculture in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour. It was revealed on Thursday Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt had ended a reconsideration of aquaculture approvals in the harbour, based on new national laws. "(The) decision allows for the continuation of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour," he said. The reconsideration process was sparked in late 2023 by conservation groups, who argue salmon farming needs to stop to safeguard the endangered Maugean skate. It is estimated there are 40-120 adult skate in the harbour, the species' only home, with salmon farming and hydro flows among factors contributing to their decline. Mr Watt spruiked $18.3 million for an artificial pumping program designed to replace oxygen in the water consumed by salmon farming. The federal government's decision was based on "all relevant information", Mr Watt said. The decision was possible after law changes removed the minister's ability to reconsider previous decisions if they had been ongoing for at least five years. Critics argued the laws, passed in March before the May election, were rushed. Mr Watt's decision on Macquarie Harbour came a week before a Bob Brown Foundation challenge to the laws was set to be heard in the Federal Court. Foundation campaigner Alistair Allan accused the federal government of driving the final nail in the coffin of the skate. He said next week's Federal Court action was now dead, but fresh legal action would be launched based on the grounds the law doesn't apply to industrial fish farming in the harbour "It is a disgrace that a species that was identified by the Albanese government as a priority threatened species in 2022 has been purposely abandoned by 2025," Mr Allan said. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said the decision provided certainty for the 400-plus workers who depended on aquaculture in the harbour. There had been a body of new information showing improvements in the harbour's health since 2023, Salmon Tasmania CEO John Whittington said. A University of Tasmania study published in February found there had been a significant decline in the skate's abundance from 2014-2022, but numbers had risen since. Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson accused the federal government of dodging accountability with the timing of their decision. "The only reason this decision has been made by the minister now is to scuttle the Federal Court case. The Albanese government had two years to make this decision and didn't," he said.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Salmon farms green lit, but conservation fight not over
An endangered fish has had the "final nail" in its coffin driven by the federal government after it gave the green light for ongoing salmon farming in a remote harbour. That's the view of environmentalists who have vowed to maintain their legal fight against aquaculture in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour. It was revealed on Thursday Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt had ended a reconsideration of aquaculture approvals in the harbour, based on new national laws. "(The) decision allows for the continuation of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour," he said. The reconsideration process was sparked in late 2023 by conservation groups, who argue salmon farming needs to stop to safeguard the endangered Maugean skate. It is estimated there are 40-120 adult skate in the harbour, the species' only home, with salmon farming and hydro flows among factors contributing to their decline. Mr Watt spruiked $18.3 million for an artificial pumping program designed to replace oxygen in the water consumed by salmon farming. The federal government's decision was based on "all relevant information", Mr Watt said. The decision was possible after law changes removed the minister's ability to reconsider previous decisions if they had been ongoing for at least five years. Critics argued the laws, passed in March before the May election, were rushed. Mr Watt's decision on Macquarie Harbour came a week before a Bob Brown Foundation challenge to the laws was set to be heard in the Federal Court. Foundation campaigner Alistair Allan accused the federal government of driving the final nail in the coffin of the skate. He said next week's Federal Court action was now dead, but fresh legal action would be launched based on the grounds the law doesn't apply to industrial fish farming in the harbour "It is a disgrace that a species that was identified by the Albanese government as a priority threatened species in 2022 has been purposely abandoned by 2025," Mr Allan said. Industry body Salmon Tasmania said the decision provided certainty for the 400-plus workers who depended on aquaculture in the harbour. There had been a body of new information showing improvements in the harbour's health since 2023, Salmon Tasmania CEO John Whittington said. A University of Tasmania study published in February found there had been a significant decline in the skate's abundance from 2014-2022, but numbers had risen since. Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson accused the federal government of dodging accountability with the timing of their decision. "The only reason this decision has been made by the minister now is to scuttle the Federal Court case. The Albanese government had two years to make this decision and didn't," he said.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Albanese government reaffirms decision to allow salmon farming in Tasmania, despite fears for endangered Maugean skate
The Albanese government confirmed it will permit salmon farming to continue in Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania, despite concerns from conservationists about the risks to the endangered Maugean skate. The environment minister Murray Watt wrote to three environment groups on Wednesday notifying them of the widely-expected decision, which follows the passage of amendments to Australia's nature laws to protect the salmon industry earlier this year. The groups, including the Bob Brown Foundation and the Australia Institute, had asked the government in 2023 to reconsider a 2012 decision to allow a salmon farming expansion in Macquarie Harbour without an assessment under Australia's environmental laws. Watt said all relevant information had been carefully considered before reaching his decision: 'The Albanese Government remains committed to the protection of the Maugean skate, including through our funding of oxygenation measures in Macquarie Harbour. Eloise Carr, Director of the Australia Institute Tasmania said: 'Minister Watt is trying to put an end to this issue through this decision, but it's not going away. Whether the changes to the EPBC (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation) Act apply to Macquarie Harbour remains an open question.' More details soon …
ABC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Commonwealth reaffirms decision to allow salmon farming expansion in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour
Federal environment minister Murray Watt has confirmed the continuation of salmon farming in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour. Environmental groups had lodged a reconsideration request over a 2012 decision to allow for the expansion of salmon farming, over concerns for its impact on the endangered Maugean skate. The Commonwealth had been considering the request since late 2023, before the Labor government passed legislation as one of its final acts of the last parliament in an attempt to allow salmon farming to continue. In a letter yesterday, Mr Watt said this law change had been used to end the reconsideration request. The Bob Brown Foundation (BBF) took the legislation change to the Federal Court, which was due to hold a hearing next week. Mr Watt's decision means this legal challenge will come to an end.
ABC News
02-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Salmon company Huon used tonne of antibiotics in bacterial outbreak, EPA report finds
Samples of wild fish caught near a Huon Aquaculture lease in February were found to have antibiotic residue levels up to a dozen times higher than the threshold for commercially sold salmon, according to an Environment Protection Authority (EPA) report. The interim report monitoring Huon's antibiotic use was completed by environmental consultants Aquenal. According to the report, 1,133 kilograms of the antibiotic Oxytetracycline (OCT) was administered via fish feed at Huon's Zuidpool lease between February 13 and February 26 this year. In February, a mass mortality event caused by the bacterial pathogen Piscirikettsia salmonis devastated salmon farms in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, south of Hobart. Between January and March, the death of more than 13,500 tonnes of salmon was reported to the EPA by the three major salmon companies operating in the state. By late February, Huon's Zuidpool lease had begun to draw public and media attention after the Bob Brown Foundation released drone footage showing workers at the lease putting live salmon into tubs along with dead stock. Oily globules made of salmon fat began washing up along beaches on the channel, which were found to contain low levels of antibiotics. According to the Australian New Zealand Food Standard Code, salmon destined for sale must comply with an antibiotic maximum residue limit (MLT) of 0.2 milligrams per kilogram. The report said eight samples of wild fish were taken in the Zuidpool North lease, with three samples — all blue mackerel — testing above the reporting threshold. It found one sample site with wild fish showing "relatively high" antibiotic residue levels of up to 2.4 milligrams per kilogram, or 12 times higher than the maximum antibiotic threshold for commercially sold salmon. In a statement, Tasmanian Public Health Director Mark Veitch said the results were consistent with estimates used in a Food Safety Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) risk assessment. "These samples were collected in late February 2025, in the days after the period of [antibiotic] dosing ended, when antibiotic residue was most likely to be present in fish and the environment." The report also tested at Zuidpool South, with no samples returning antibiotic residue levels above the limit of reporting. Samples were also taken at five locations several kilometres from the Zuidpool salmon pens. One of those sites, Ventenat Point on Bruny Island, recorded noticeably elevated antibiotic levels in blue mackerel that was sampled. Verona Sands, Jetty and Conleys Beach on Bruny Island, and Roaring Beach near Surveyors Bay were also sampled for antibiotic levels. Aquenal said the results of those surveys will be released "in subsequent reports". The EPA will release a final report with all sample results after the monitoring program finishes. It raised concerns that prolonged exposure to antibiotic treatment could result in resistant bacterial strainers that were more difficult to treat. This year the EPA would not disclose how much antibiotic was being used by Huon, citing commercial in confidence. "If individuals are concerned at all about potentially having antibiotics in wild fish, then of course they can choose to fish further away from the [affected] lease," former EPA Tasmania director Wes Ford said at the time. Antibiotics have been commonly used by salmon companies to treat bacterial diseases. However, the EPA said antibiotic treatment has declined since 2009 due to the development of vaccines. In 2022, Tassal used 675 kilograms of the same antibiotic to treat a vibrio outbreak at its Sheppards lease off the coast of Coningham. Three flathead caught 2 kilometres from the lease were also found to contain more than the reportable threshold of antibiotics in their flesh that same year.
