The Tasmanian Government welcomes the latest promising results of Environment Protection Authority oxygen level testing in Macquarie Harbour.
Minister for Parks and Environment, Nick Duigan, said the highest median dissolved oxygen levels in a decade were another endorsement of the National Recovery Team strategy, involving the Tasmanian Government, the Australian Government, West Coast Council, the salmon industry, IMAS and Hydro Tasmania.
"This excellent result comes as the Macquarie Harbour Oxygenation Project trials technologies that are expected to sustain and further improve oxygen levels across the harbour," Minister Duigan said.
"The salmon industry is also finalising oxygen mitigation plans, which are due to be submitted to the EPA for approval in the coming days.
"The Tasmanian Government firmly believes that the Maugean Skate and the salmon industry can continue to co-exist."
Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz, said this announcement builds on the promising results earlier this year, which confirmed that water quality has been improving.
"The effectiveness of this Government's adaptive management framework is key to the result of the EPA finding that water quality across much of the harbour is now comparable to the ranges observed between ten and thirty years ago," Minister Abetz said.
"Macquarie Harbour is perhaps the most intensively monitored and researched water body in Australia and this independent analysis demonstrates that farming operations at current production levels are not adversely effecting ecosystem function.
"Despite repeated requests for action and yet more evidence that demonstrates salmon and skate can coexist, one has to ask what is it about the science that this Federal Labor Environment Minister is choosing not to believe?
"This Government unequivocally backs salmon jobs on the west coast, and for Tania Plibersek to continue to disregard this information is insulting to the hundreds of Tasmanians whose livelihood is in the balance, and the integrity of the scientists and regulators who have worked tirelessly to monitor and analyse the health of the system. Again, we call on Tania Plibersek to consider the facts, listen to the science and make the right decision.
"Through our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, we will stand up for our sustainable aquaculture industries as well as the unique natural environments in which they operate – not sacrificing either for the sake of the other."
