The Rockliff Liberal Government has tabled the Environmental Standards for Tasmanian Marine Finfish Farming, providing a world leading regulatory framework for the State.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Roger Jaensch, said the Environmental Standards will support the long-term sustainability of the salmon industry in Tasmania through best practice environmental regulation, building on the robust requirements already in place.
“The Environmental Standards provide a set of contemporary environmental regulatory conditions that can be applied consistently across the industry and over time, providing certainty for the Tasmanian industry and community alike,” Minister Jaensch said.
The Environment Standards for Tasmanian Marine Finfish Farming provide consistent, transparent regulations to be applied across the finfish farming industry, including clear standards for:
- Protection for reef and seagrass habitats;
- Noise and light emissions from finfish farming activities;
- Actions required of finfish farm operators if there is evidence of deterioration of the seabed ecosystem;
- Caps on nitrogen output (i.e dissolved nutrients) to be applied to every finfish farming region; and
- Requirements for finfish farm operators to prepare and implement waste management plans.
The Environmental Standards are the first to be finalised since recent changes to Tasmania’s Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (the Act).
The Government has also committed to developing environmental standards for freshwater finfish farming under the same legislation.
The release of the Environmental Standards is complemented by other recent amendments to the Act, which allow the EPA Director to release monitoring information required by any Environmental Standards.
The introduction of these standards delivers on a priority action from the Tasmanian Salmon Industry Plan, which commenced on 1 May 2023.
The Rockliff Liberal Government is sticking to our long-term plan and doing what matters for all Tasmanians and that includes preserving our environment.
“Our Government is absolutely focused on taking our State to new levels, and making it the best place to live, work and raise a family,” Minister Jaensch said.
The Environmental Standards for Tasmanian Marine Finfish Farming are available on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania website: https://nre.tas.gov.au/aquaculture/industry-strategy-and-innovation/aquaculture-standards/environmental-standards
