Trial For Potential Fish Farm Site

Wes Ford, General Manager of Water and Marine Resources in DPIPWE, said today that a permit will be provided to Van Diemen Aquaculture Pty Ltd to trial growing salmon at a site in the Tamar River.

“The permit will allow four fish cages to be placed on the eastern side of the Long Reach section of Tamar River,” Mr Ford said.

“It will run from around July 2010 to January 2012 to allow for a single year class of fish to be grown.”

Mr Ford said that Van Diemen Aquaculture had applied to amend the Tamar Estuary Marine Farming Development Plan to include a new marine farming zone that encompasses the permit site.

“Research in response to the amendment application indicated that more information is required before a determination could be made.

“At this stage research undertaken to prepare an environmental impact statement to accompany the draft amendment indicates average current flows significantly above those farmed in other areas of the State.

“High current flows are considered to be a positive factor in selection of fish farming sites, but some questions need to be considered in relation to the culture of young fish in these high velocities.

“The trial will allow these questions to be answered before an amendment is progressed under the provisions of the Marine Farming Planning Act 1995.”

Van Diemen Aquaculture will run an open day at their existing fish farm site on the western side of the Long Reach section of the Tamar River, on Saturday December 5 this year, so that the public can gain an understanding of Van Diemen Aquaculture’s existing farming operations, the proposal for a new site and the permit.

“The trial permit will have a limited period,” Mr Ford said.

“Before the site can become permanent it will need to be subject to the public consultation processes prescribed by the Marine Farming Planning Act 1995.”