Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Environment spokesperson
The government's decision to approve fin-fish farming near Triabunna is a serious threat to the future of the seafood industry and the fragile marine environment on the east coast.
Fish-farm approvals are being made by Minister Rockliff in secrecy, without the opportunity for public consultation about the science or the risks.
This will be used as a stepping stone for further expansion along the east coast. It'll be no surprise to see applications for extensions and additional leases along the coastline in the near future.
It's unsustainable to farm fin-fish at this density in the warm waters of the lease they have taken over. The east coast marine environment can't survive it.
This is being spun as great job creation on the east coast, but at what environmental cost? Our scallop, abalone, mussel and rock lobster industries already employ hundreds of local people which need to be protected.
Shellfish businesses were closed late last year because of health risks from a large algal bloom, and the high nutrient load from farmed salmon excretion is a serious concern in the unnaturally warmed waters along the east coast.
The last thing existing struggling industries need is for the government to be playing favourites without an open community conversation about the risks.