17 August 2017

Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Primary Industries and Water

Bill further strengthens salmon farming regulations

The Hodgman Liberal Government is continuing to strengthen and consolidate regulations around our world-class sustainable finfish farming industry with new legislation introduced to State Parliament.

We continue to be the strongest supporter of the salmon industry and the 5200 jobs it supports, which is why we recently released the draft Sustainable Industry Growth Plan for the Salmon Industry for public comment.

The Finfish Farming Environmental Regulation Bill 2017 further strengthens and consolidates the environmental regulation of finfish farming in Tasmania and will help ensure the sustainable growth of the industry.

The draft Bill includes:

• The permanent and formal transfer of powers over day-to-day environmental regulation of the finfish farming industry from the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) to the independent Environment Protection Authority.
• Bringing together the environmental regulation of inland and marine finfish farming, including hatcheries, into a consolidated system under the Environment Protection Authority.
• Introduction of a new Environmental Licence for fin fish farming under Tasmania’s Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPCA).
• Powers for the declaration of finfish marine farming exclusion zones, or ``No Grow Zones’’ - the first of which will be in the greater Mercury Passage.
• An increased focus on Biosecurity through the addition of a person with expertise in Biosecurity and/or fish health on the Marine Farm Planning Review Panel.

This important legislation builds on measures we are already undertaking including the re-introduction of demerit points and significantly tougher penalties for breaches of licence conditions, so companies could be fined millions of dollars or face a loss of licence.

The Hodgman Liberal Government believes the combination of this legislation and the Sustainable Growth Plan will reassure the community about the strengthened regulatory system which will underpin the industry’s long-term viability and sustainability.

The Finfish Farming Environmental Regulation Bill 2017, along with an Explanatory Paper, is available on the DPIPWE website www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/salmonreform and the draft Sustainable Growth Plan is available for public comment at www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/salmonplan

More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff

More Media Releases from the Minister for Primary Industries and Water