WA – Second Largest Aquaculture Zone Recommended for Approval by EPA
Western Australia’s second large-scale aquaculture development zone has been recommended for approval by the Environmental Protection Authority.
The 3,000-hectare Mid-West Aquaculture Development Zone, to be located at the Abrolhos Islands, will use floating sea cages to grow marine finfish that naturally occur within the region. The zone will have set limits on tonnes of fish to be cultured and stocking densities.
The proposal, on behalf of the Minister for Fisheries, follows the launch of the Kimberley Aquaculture Development Zone, which began production in 2014.
The EPA’s report to the Minister for Environment is now open for a two-week public appeal period, closing April 18 2017. Appeals are administered independently by, and can be made to, the Appeals Convenor.
EPA Chairman Dr Tom Hatton stated the following regarding the project:
‘The benefit of assessing a strategic proposal is that we are able to look at the potential impacts of proposals that if implemented singly or in combination may have a significant effect on the environment’
The EPA recommended seven conditions, including requirements for monitoring and management plans to ensure the proposal will avoid or minimise impacts to marine environmental quality and marine fauna. Plans will also ensure the environmental values of the Abrolhos Islands will be protected and there will be no adverse impacts on the viability of the Abrolhos Islands populations of Australian Sea lions and seabirds.
The Minister for Environment will make the final decision.
Report can be found here;
http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/EPA_Report/Rep%201593%20MWAZ%20PER%20030417.pdf
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Tom M
Posts: 661
Date Joined: 22/09/15
Interesting to see what was
Interesting to see what was learnt from Tassie fish farming??
Tom M
Rob H
Posts: 5798
Date Joined: 18/01/12
I hit up Fisheries about
I hit up Fisheries about this last year, from memory its to be situated east of Easter Group.
My first concern is "are you allowed to traverse thru this area to the islands"
To which the answer was "yes, as long as you do not interfere with the infrastructure in place".
Something that does concern me is that existing aquaculture at the Sthn Group is supposed to have sunken lines however in reality many areas have lines on the surface, completely blocking the centre shallows from boat traffic.
Its a bit of a hassle if you want to cross the middle on a high tide or fish in the holes, even with a dinghy
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.