‘I support salmon farming’: PM backs Tassie industry

[Pelican Press 0]

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‘I support salmon farming’: PM backs Tassie industry

Anthony Albanese has declared his support for Tasmania’s salmon farming industry, as his environment minister considers a ban due to its impact on the population of endangered Maugean skate.

The prime minister travelled to the state’s west coast on Saturday afternoon, before visiting Macquarie Harbour where tonnes of salmon are farmed.

Mr Albanese on Sunday said he supported jobs on the west coast, as Labor prepares to call a federal election next year which is due to be held by May.

“I support the salmon industry, and I’ll continue to do so,” he told reporters.

Tanya Plibersek is mulling over a potential ban on salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour following concerns raised about environmental harm.

The federal government’s own conservation advice called for urgent action to eliminate or significantly reduce the impact of fish farming on the harbour’s oxygen levels to help safeguard the skate.

“What I’m doing is supporting industry and also supporting good outcomes for the skate,” Mr Albanese said.

“That’s why we’re funding the oxygenation at Macquarie Harbour. That’s why we’re funding the captive breeding program that’s been very successful.”

An assessment by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee on the skate’s status was due to be handed to Ms Plibersek at the end of October, but a 12 month extension was granted due to the highly technical information involved.

Industry and environmentalists have all criticised the federal government for having left the future of salmon farming and the skate in “limbo”.

The prime minister also chose to go over the top of Ms Plibersek to shelve legislation for the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, in a bid to stop Labor being painted as anti-mining by the coalition during the upcoming election campaign.

This is despite an indication from the Greens that a deal could be done as part of the parliament’s last sitting week held last month.

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