For the Tasmanian Salmon Industry to expand into new coastal and offshore areas it needs to demonstrate responsible stewardship and sustainable use of natural resources to maintain the support of Government agencies and the Tasmanian community. For Government agencies to assess the environmental implications of the Salmon Industry they need to understand the environmental footprint of the industry, the capacity of the environment to assimilate waste loads, vulnerable locations where impacts might be foreseen, suitable locations and times to monitor change, possible future environmental trajectories under various management scenarios, and appropriate impact mitigation strategies. With this information the State Government and Industry can demonstrate best practice in the strategic and sustainable expansion of farm sites, minimise environmental impacts and keep the Tasmanian community well informed.

An information system is required that can report and compare current water quality conditions from models and observations, provide short-term forecasts, analysis of scenario projections of plausible future conditions for planning purposes and link to decision support tools to optimise management response and monitoring programs. The modelling and information system needs to have the capability for future deployment in multiple sub-regions of interest around Tasmania. This requires a downscaling approach where high-resolution local models can be rapidly deployed within a larger scale regional model encompassing the whole of Southeast Australia.

One region with an urgent need for such a modelling and information system is Storm Bay where knowledge gaps in hydrodynamic circulation, nutrient sources and transformations, the assimilative capacity of the environment and the footprint of proposed farms, currently limit responsible industry expansion and governance.

Tassal is in a position where it is has become necessary to re-evaluate the measures taken for seal management and has made a commitment to zero destruction. Although relocation is used as an interim, it is recognised by all parties that this is a costly and temporary solution. Relocation carries the risk of alienating important stakeholders such as recreational and commercial fishers, who are negatively impacted by the process.

Despite the increased attention and budget dedicated to this issue, seal strikes, trappings and relocations continue to increase. Seal interactions have on numerous occasions resulted in documented and medically treated injuries and have presented, through aggressive and threatening behaviour, an unacceptable OH&S risk to marine farm employees. In order to resolve this challenging issue, a systematic co-ordinated approach is needed, with the trial and implementation of new exclusion and deterrent methods a priority.

Tassal has employed Wildlife Management Officers, whose sole responsibility is to audit and manage seal interactions, and continues to look for improved forms of exclusion technology and to gain an increased understanding of seal behaviour. As protocols dictate, Tassal works with the DPIPWE Wildlife Management Branch to evaluate new exclusion equipment.

The monofilament nets currently being used are easy for seals to breach and kikko nets have proven successful in exclusion on a small scale. It is essential that Tassal trials kikko nets in full scale commercial conditions, at high risk sites before committing to company wide implementation. Kikko nets are a significant departure from current technology and due to the expensive nature of the product, a considerable increase in overhead costs would result. Full scale trials must take place to ensure the nets are a viable investment, as there is the possibility that they will not be successful in exclusion when implemented across an entire lease.

Little is known about the life history of the endangered Maugean skate but it does appear to have a very restricted distributional range (Macquarie and Bathurst Harbours, the latter a marine protected area) and in all likelihood a small population size.

The expansion of marine farming in Macquarie Harbour represents a key element of the salmonid industry’s plan to significantly increase Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout production in Tasmania. In considering the planning application, the MFPRP identified that research is required to more properly understand the ecological effects of the proposed farming operations, including potential impacts on the Maugean skate. Key research priorities identified by the MFPRP were the need to describe distribution, abundance and general ecology of the species, such information being a precursor to determining the nature of interactions with marine farming operations. Furthermore, the Panel noted the need to better understand the potential effects on the Maugean skate of efforts to recover escapees through fish-down using gillnets. This concern links to the more general population risk posed by gillnetting, noting that skate are taken incidentally in commercial and recreational gillnets and that gillnetting activity is strongly associated with targeting of escapees.

By employing acoustic tracking and non-destructive biological sampling techniques, this project will provide the science to understand the nature of interactions between fishing and aquaculture activities and the Maugean skate as well as enhancing our knowledge about its conservation status. Through such understanding it will be possible to evaluate risk and develop strategies to manage interactions and, where necessary, implement measures to mitigate negative impacts on the skate.

This proposal addresses RD&E priorities relevant to understanding the impacts of aquaculture due to expansion as well as mitigating the impacts of fishing on threatened, endangered and protected species.