Tasmania's far North West and King Island has been identified as a salmon industry "grow zone" under our Sustainable Salmon Industry Growth Plan, to be released soon.
The region has been identified as potentially favourable for growing salmon and already Petuna Aquaculture has indicated a desire to explore future salmon farming near Three Hummock Island.
The "grow zones" identified in the far North West have the potential to significantly expand the industry, and create dozens of new jobs in the area.
The salmon industry already supports more than 5200 jobs, most in regional Tasmania, and the rich fishing history of Circular Head and King Island makes them ideal locations for expansion.
The Sustainable Salmon Industry Growth Plan will look at all aspects of the industry, from hatchery to harvest and processing, and will consider research and development, biosecurity and regulation, as well as future planning.
The Plan will also include ``no grow zones’’ like the banning of salmon farm expansion beyond the existing Okehampton Bay lease into the Mercury Passage area of the East Coast.
The Sustainable Salmon Industry Growth Plan is being developed with widespread input from the community, stakeholders and the industry and will detail the government’s future vision and priorities for the industry.
The Tasmanian Government wants the community to have confidence in this world- class industry, which is why we significantly strengthened penalties and regulations and why we put the independent Environment Protection Authority in charge of all aspects of environmental control of the industry.
A copy of the far North-West Tasmania ``grow zone’’ map is available at the DPIPWE website.
More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff
More Media Releases from the Minister for Primary Industries and Water