a day ago
Environment Tasmania says Marine Environment Act and review into salmon farming is about 'being accountable'
Rebecca Howarth
We really do welcome the announcement from the weekend to inform us that the Premier intends to commit to a new Marine Environment Act is a fantastic move and brings us in line with other states that have a more holistic and ecosystem-based approach to managing their marine environment like New South Wales and Victoria. Prior to now, it has been a very siloed and piecemeal way that we manage our marine environment. We've seen industry priorities over ecosystem health and that just has to change. We are really pleased with this announcement and we also welcome the announcement around the review of the salmon industry. I think this is a great example of coming to the table and compromising with the cost bench, offering to work together. Of course, it's going to take some work to ensure that this actually has some teeth and like you've already mentioned, a timeline to it, but we certainly are welcoming it at this stage.
Kylie Baxter
And in actual practical terms, what do you think these promises are going to look like for the salmon industry?
Rebecca Howarth
It's going to look like being accountable, which is what should have happened all along. The community have been calling for more accountability, more scrutiny, more independence in the oversight of the salmon industry. Our coastal waters are extremely important to the Tasmanian public. It's ingrained in our psyche, it's part of our lifestyle and upholds our economy as well. And so to see the decline that we've seen over the last couple of decades has certainly been so alarming. And so we really do feel that the Premier is listening to the community and offering to make some concessions at this stage. The industry really are going to have to come to the table and if they truly are world's best practice, which is what the industry has been claiming for a very long time now, then they should have nothing to fear. They should be ready to open up and welcoming this review.
