More Information

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  • Marine Farm Lease
  • Water monitoring station
  • Environment

    ​​​Maximum Permissible Biomass

    The Director, EPA has replaced the standing biomass determinations that were made by the Secretary, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania and the Director, EPA, for Macquarie Harbour.  Commencing 1 September 2022, the Director, EPA has introduced a more accountable system for limiting the production of finfish in Macquarie Harbour.  This determination specifies the harbour wide Total Permissible Dissolved Nitrogen Output (TPDNO), providing each company growing finfish in Macquarie Harbour with a share (apportionment) of the total TPDNO. The aim of this TPDNO determination is to build upon improvements in ecosystem function and dissolved oxygen levels that have been observed in Macquarie Harbour since 2017.

    The rationale for changing from biomass limits to a TPDNO can be found here Rationale for changing management determination.

    A statement of reasons supporting the Director, EPA’s decision for moving towards a TPDNO can be found here Statement of Reasons for TPDNO.

    Date of DeterminationTassalHuonPetuna
    1 June 2018 - 31 May 202010.26​10.26​10.26​
    1 June 2020 to 31 May 202210.2610.2610.26
    ​1 June 2017 - 31 May 2018​13.0 (28.0 with implementation of a waste capture system approved by the Director, EPA)​13.0 (without approved waste capture system)​13.0 (without approved waste capture system)
    14 February - 30 April 201725.35​​12.56​9.65

    ​​​​​Total Permissible Dissolved Nitrogen Output (TPDNO)

    Aquaculture, like most farming practices, may impact the environment through the introduction of nutrients into the environment. Nitrogen can have a big impact on coastal marine systems. Excess nitrogen enters the environment directly from the gills of fish and from excess fish feed, fish faeces and urine.

    One way to regulate the nitrogen from salmon farming, is for the EPA to impose a Total Permissible Dissolved Nitrogen Output (TPDNO). This restricts how much dissolved nitrogen companies are allowed to release into the environment in any 12 month period. Companies must not exceed the TPDNO.

    Salmon companies operating in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon River MFDP area, the Macquarie Harbour MFDP area, the Tamar Estuary MFDP area, and Marine Farming Lease No. 055 at Long Bay within the Tasman Peninsula and Norfolk Bay MFDP, must comply with a TPDNO (tonnes of nitrogen emitted per rolling 12 month period).

    ​Links to EPA documentation: Macquarie Harbour Statement of Reasons - TPDNO

    Long Bay Statement of Reasons - TPDNO

    Huon & Channel determination

    Date effective fromTassalHuonPetuna
    1 Sept 2022 - 31 Aug 2027151.2124.2224.7

    Benthic Monitoring

    Environmental licences require companies to undertake regular visual monitoring of the seabed to detect environmental changes associated with farming salmon. This occurs at all salmon farming sites across Tasmania.

    One requirement is that there must be no significant visual impacts at, or past, 35 metres from the lease area. Visual impacts are monitored by remotely operated vehicles fitted with high definition cameras. Visual monitoring occurs at compliance points located around the lease area. Where significant impacts are detected, additional monitoring surveys are conducted at points further away to assess impact.

    If a significant impact is detected within or outside the lease areas, the EPA may require management responses as well as further investigation.

    Data is required to be collected annually, however the timing of environmental surveys is lease dependant and can take place within any month throughout the year.​

    Data from the current monitoring period

    Quarter 1, 2024

    CompanyLease numberNumber of 35m compliance points surveyedNumber of compliant 35m compliance points surveyed
    Petuna1331111
    Petuna2131111
    Tassal2141212
    Petuna2151414
    Huon21644
    Petuna21777
    Tassal2191010
    Huon2201010
    Tassal2661818
    Huon26799


  • Fish Health

    ​Significant mortality event reported

    A company has to immediately notify the Government of any significant illness, mortality or disease in their fish.


    Data from the current monitoring period

    Quarter 1, 2024

    HuonN
    PetunaN
    TassalN

    ​Mortality within a cage >0.25% for three consecutive days

    A company must report as soon as possible any suspected or known incidents of disease or mortality affecting greater than 0.25 per cent of fish per day for three consecutive days in any individual cage.

    Where fish mortalities are not collected daily then the morts need to be averaged over the number of days between collection. For example if there are 1.2% morts collected today but it has been 4 days since the morts were collected then it has been 0.3%/day for 4 days (which is reportable) not one day at 1% (which is not reportable).


    Data from the current monitoring period

    Quarter 1, 2024

    HuonY
    PetunaN
    TassalY

    Seal mortalities

    ​A seal death that is attributable to salmon farming is defined as:
    "A mortality caused by an interaction with marine farming activities, operations and infrastructure including but not limited to: entanglement, vessel strike, other infrastructure interaction, deterrent use, sedation, and humane destruction."

    Whether or not a seal death was caused by salmon farming activities is determined on a case by case basis after assessing all of the facts.

    Data from the current monitoring period

    Quarter 1, 2024

    HuonN
    PetunaN
    TassalN


  • Operational Compliance

    ​​​​​Marine Farm Inspections

    There are a range of requirements that licence and lease holders must comply with. These are created by instruments such as legislation, licences, leases and Marine Farming Development Plans. The Government has an inspection program where authorised officers from Government or Marine and Safety Tasmania visit and inspect marine farms for compliance.  

    Operations specific to the Marine Farming Inspection Program during Q1 and Q2 2020 were ​impacted by restrictions put in place as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.​

    Data from the current monitoring period

    Quarter 1, 2024

    HuonN
    PetunaN
    TassalN

    Infringements

    When an infringement is detected, authorised officers from Government or Marine and Safety Tasmania may issue an infringement notice.

    Data from the current monitoring period

    Quarter 1, 2024

    Huon0
    Petuna4
    Tassal0

    ​​​​Marine Debris clean ups

    As the population and industries expand, marine debris is a growing environmental and navigational issue for the waterway. Debris may come from lots of sources including:

    • pleasure craft
    • commercial vessels
    • fish farming activities

    Debris may also end up in the ocean from land, for example litter, and runoff from stormwater drains. Finfish and shellfish farmers monitor and remove marine debris from nominated shorelines through an ‘Adopt a Shoreline’ initiative. The Government also participates in shoreline clean up activities. This helps to ensure that any debris, whether marine farming related or not, is collected and Tasmania’s coastline is protected.  

    In undertaking these activities, it is important to ensure that any sensitive bird breeding habitat is not impacted, and request that companies seek advice from BirdLife Tasmania prior to any targeted marine debris removal from sensitive bird breeding habitat during breeding season.  BirdLife Tasmania has provided guidance on where and when shorebirds may be most vulnerable and general operational limits are now in place from September 1st – March 31st with some shoreline areas classified as 'avoid disturbance' and others as 'minimise disturbance – seek advice'. As such, corresponding 'effort' through these periods may appear reduced in some marine farming areas.  Refer to the LISTmap layer ‘Bird breeding habitat and access recommendations’ for further information, which you can access here.

    Operations and activities specific to the Marine Debris Clean ups program during Q1 and Q2 2020 were impacted by restrictions put in place as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

    Data from the current monitoring period

    Quarter 1, 2024

    Length of coastline surveyed (km)​Time spent surveying (hrs)Volume collected (m3)% attributable to fish farming
    41.82166.007.9274.97

    Marine Farming Equipment Register

    The Government has developed an equipment identification register with the three salmon companies to enable ownership of debris to be established. Companies have assisted in this regard with gear marking and colour coding of equipment for identification purposes. The register is a statewide register of equipment.

    ​Company​Marine farming equipment register provided?
    ​Tassal​Y
    ​Huon​Y
    ​Petuna​Y

    ​Fish escapes notified to NRE

    Salmon farmers must not release into Tasmania’s waters any fish unless authorised to do so. If fish are released this is a breach of their licence and operators must notify Government.

    The table below shows which companies have reported fish escapes to Government. Sometimes companies fail to report fish escapes, and this is a breach of their licence and they may be penalised.


    Data from the current monitoring period

    Quarter 1, 2024

    HuonN
    PetunaN
    TassalN


  • Production

    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​HOG Weight

    HOG Weight refers to the weight of a fish “Head On Gutted” and is how companies and the market refer to the weight of fish in a commercial setting.

    Company specific production data is published on this site on a financial year basis.  Release of company specific production information for the 2023-24 financial year will occur after 1 July 2025.


    Number of tonnes produced state-wide

    Company ​FY2020/21 
    FY2021/22  
    FY2022/23
    Tassal
    38,721
    ​38,956
    37,425
    Huon Aquaculture​37,264
    ​30,277
    31,314
    Petuna​7,071
    ​8,713
    5,916

    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Employment Data

    ​Each company employs staff across Tasmania on both a permanent and casual basis.  

    Number of Permanent staff state-wide​

    ​Company
    ​​Current reporting period (Quarter 1, 2024)
    ​2023 (average)
    ​2022 (average)
    ​Tassal
    890
    ​889
    895
    ​Huon Aquaculture
    766
    ​783
    768
    ​Petuna
    164
    ​160
    ​167


     

    Number of Casual staff state-wide

    ​Company
    ​​Current reporting period
    (Quarter 1, 2024)
    ​2023 (average)
    ​2022 (average)
    ​Tassal
    214
    ​193
    ​135
    ​Huon Aquaculture
    187
    ​82
    ​26
    ​Petuna
    ​10
    ​12
    ​13