Andrew Wilkie savages Tasmanian salmon industry in statement to Federal Parliament
NOFF welcomes the latest intervention by Federal MP, Andrew Wilkie, in the controversial Atlantic salmon industry in Tasmania. Information in Mr Wilkie's hands would appear to support NOFF's consistent position that the government and regulator have been captured by the industry and have utterly failed to protect Tasmania from the salmon industry's ravages.
We look forward to learning more in due course from Mr Wilkie under Parliamentary privilege .
NOFF applauds Mr Wilkie in holding destructive industries to account and is encouraged by his continued work to close down industrial Atlantic salmon cages in Tasmania's vulnerable coastal waters.
He is absolutely correct in stating the industry should not be allowed to "ride roughshod" over communities and the environment - but that's just what Tasmania's compliant politicians in Liberal and Labor have granted the foreign-owned companies.
Mr Wilkie's track-record in working with whistleblowers is second to none and his intervention as the Maugean skate in Macquarie Harbour is driven ever closer to extinction is particularly welcome.
More information:
Peter George: 0426 150 369 president@noff.au
Statement authorised by Andrew Wilkie MP 188 Collins St Hobart.
- For more information: 0427 291 785
Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, will today deliver the following statement to the Federal Parliament. Please check against delivery.
- WHEN: Approximately 1:30pm TODAY (Thursday) 7 December 2023
- WHERE: House of Representatives, Parliament House CANBERRA
"Salmon farming is obviously an important industry in Tasmania, but it's not so important that it should be allowed to ride roughshod over local communities and the environment generally, or continue to drive the Maugean skate to extinction in Macquarie Harbour in particular.
"And it's not just me saying this. Indeed the Federal Department of Environment's expert conservation advice identifies low dissolved oxygen as the primary threat to the skate and, to quote from their report, "the most important anthropogenic contributor to the oxygen debt in Macquarie Harbour is ongoing salmonid aquaculture". Moreover the report goes on to describe the consequences on the skate of current salmon farming as "catastrophic".
"In other words, it's the salmon farms stupid. No wonder many people welcomed the Federal Environment Minister's recent decision to openly consult on whether existing federal approvals are sufficient or need updating.
"And no wonder I'm being contacted by industry whistleblowers with allegations of extensive and careless plastic pollution, possible collusion with regulatory agencies, drastic underreporting of fish deaths and escapes, and even fuel spills. Rest assured I'll have more to say about this at another time.
"For too long the Tasmanian salmon industry has made staggering profits while ignoring the environment. Frankly it's like shooting fish in a barrel for them, and it's way beyond time governments did something about it."