Consultation on salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will soon begin consultation about salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania’s West Coast.

This consultation is required as a result of applications made under Australia’s national environment laws by three groups, who argue that salmon farming is having an unacceptable impact on the Maugean Skate, an endangered fish.

The national environment laws, which require these applications to be considered, were passed by John Howard and the Liberal Party in 2000.

The consultation will be broad. It will mean workers and their union, the salmon industry, communities, environment groups, scientists, as well as state and local governments will have a chance to have their say.

There will be an opportunity to consider:

• Work of the joint Tasmanian and Federal Government Maugean Skate Recovery Team
• Any decision of the Tasmanian Government’s Environment Protection Agency about the extension of salmon farming licences
• The Conservation Advice for the Maugean Skate (Zearaja maugeana)
• Community views
• Any other relevant matters

Consultation will run from 4 December 2023 to 2 February 2024.

After the consultation period ends, the department will take some time to carefully consider the information received.

Salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour does not have to pause while this occurs.

Aquaculture licences and environmental regulations of Macquarie Harbour are primarily the responsibility of the Tasmanian Government.

When the consultation opens, further details about how people can have their say will be available on the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s website at: https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/epbc-macquarie-harbour