Salmon farming will continue in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour, Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has confirmed.
Watt on Thursday said he would uphold a 2012 decision allowing the Macquarie Harbour Marine Farming Expansion, ending a legal challenge by environmental groups.
The decision affects 11 marine fish-farming licences in the harbour and secures the livelihoods of hundreds of workers in the region.
Environmental groups had pushed for the expansion to be overturned, citing threats to the critically endangered Maugean skate, which exists only in the West Coast harbour.
“Today’s decision allows for the continuation of salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour,” Watt said, adding the government remained “committed to the protection of the Maugean skate”.
The Bob Brown Foundation had taken the matter to the Federal Court, with a hearing set for next week. Watt’s decision means the case will not proceed.
Posting on social media, the foundation said it planned to mount a fresh challenge “on the basis that the new law does not apply to industrial fish farm operations in Macquarie Harbour” and appealed for public donations to fund that fight.
New independent MP Peter George, who campaigned against salmon industry expansion at the recent state election, also criticised the move.
“Any government with a conscience would have encouraged the transition of the industry out of our waterways by increasing lease fees and imposing a resource rental tax on their turnover,” he said.
However, Minister Eric Abetz said the failure of the challenge would be a “huge, huge relief” for those in the industry.
“Each one of these court proceedings that the Bob Brown Foundation brings, with their so-called charity status, really prejudices and places in great uncertainty each and every one of those families that do rely on the salmon sector,” he said.
Salmon Tasmania CEO Dr John Whittington also welcomed the outcome, saying more than 400 workers in the industry would be reassured and the West Coast economy had gained stability.
“Our industry has a long-term future in Macquarie Harbour and our industry’s presence on the West Coast has a genuinely positive impact,” he said.
