Guy Barnett,Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The Tasmanian Government has today tabled the Living Marine Resources Management Amendment (Aquaculture Research) Bill 2021 to support its agreement with the Australian Government for a framework to deliver offshore aquaculture in Commonwealth waters off the coast of Tasmania.
This is a key step by the Government in supporting sustainable growth of Tasmania’s world-leading salmon industry through the 10-year Salmon Plan, to be in place by January 1, 2023.
This Amendment Bill looks to enable marine aquaculture research in Commonwealth Waters adjoining Tasmanian State Waters, managed under Tasmanian fisheries and aquaculture legislation.
The public consultation period on the Bill concluded recently and we thank those groups and individuals who made submissions.
Importantly, it is intended that any marine aquaculture research would only be for fixed-term, limited-scale activities and in a defined research area.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Tasmanian and Commonwealth Governments supports the implementation of the National Aquaculture Strategy and aligns with the new 10-year Salmon Plan.
Both the Tasmanian and Australian Governments have joined with other stakeholders to invest in the Blue Economy CRC to conduct research and development into future offshore industries.
The Bill will help enable research to be conducted, initially by the Blue Economy CRC, as a first step towards potential future industry that benefits Tasmania, including finfish, shellfish and seaweed.
Research is also expected to help inform the development of appropriate legislative, regulatory and administrative frameworks which would be required before any commercial scale aquaculture could take place.
