Now, taking action to boost dissolved oxygen levels in Macquarie Harbor, the Salmon Tasmania aquaculture industry has partnered with the Australian government's Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).
This ambitious project is estimated to cost AUD 6 million (EUR 3.6 million/USD 3.8 million) and constitutes the industry's primary contribution to the Maugean Skate Conservation Recovery Plan. It's a significant commitment, but it aligns with the sustainability principles that underpin aquaculture in the harbor.
"It's important to recognize that there are several factors influencing oxygen levels in the harbor and the decline of the Maugean Skate, which is widely considered extinct in Bathurst Harbor, where aquaculture is not present," explained Luke Martin, CEO of Salmon Tasmania. "The industry has expressed concerns about the decline of the Maugean Skate for some time and has funded much of the research on the species."
The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) will lead the scientific assessment program to evaluate the effectiveness and environmental response to oxygenation. This assessment is crucial for assessing the viability and scalability of the system and will outline the next steps.
The Macquarie Harbor Oxygenation Program (MHOP) will start this summer, with an initial estimated duration of two years for testing engineering solutions.
To achieve this, the research team will deploy a barge in Macquarie Harbor with pumps that draw deep-sea water. They will inject highly concentrated oxygen micro and nanobubbles into this water before releasing it back into the deeper sections of the harbor, thereby increasing dissolved oxygen levels through passive diffusion and natural mixing. The results obtained during the testing years will determine whether this becomes a long-term strategy to enhance the region's environment.
Salmon Tasmania also emphasized its commitment to addressing the challenges posed by warming waters and other climatic factors. "At the very least, our goal is to offset the total oxygen reduction from our own salmon aquaculture activities in the harbor and further reduce the impact of our operations on the environment," said Martin.
One of the project's regional concerns revolves around the role of aquaculture, given previous controversies in the area.
In response, Salmon Tasmania explained that eliminating aquaculture from the harbor would result in "total and unacceptable devastation to the West Coast community, with economic shockwaves and the loss of hundreds of jobs throughout northern and northwestern Tasmania." They argued that, beyond the social and economic factors, removing aquaculture was not synonymous with improvement in the area.
According to them, it's about taking action on the issue rather than avoiding it. "It has been proven that these oxygenation projects work in other marine environments and are potentially a long-term solution to improve the harbor for the skate and ensure the economic and social well-being of several communities," Martin explained. "Here, we can strike a balance between conservation outcomes and the economic and social well-being of the Tasmania region, and the industry is determined to lead the way."
Furthermore, Martin added that the Australian government had recently announced funding for the establishment of a captive breeding program, as recommended by their Species Conservation Task Force. "We will now take the lead on the Task Force's second priority: an initiative to directly improve oxygen levels in the harbor to support the skate and further mitigate the impact of our operations on the marine environment," Martin said.
Salmon Tasmania farmers has over 30 years of experience in sustainable salmon farming. They emphasize transparency and have developed online sustainability dashboards in response to the 2016 Senate Inquiry. It plays a pivotal role in Tasmania's economy, creating 12,292 jobs (direct and indirect) and boasting a production value $888M. Despite supplying only 1.6% of the world's salmon supply, it ranks as Australia's largest fishery by volume and economic value.
Moreover, the industry actively promotes training and skills development, benefiting both its workforce and regional communities. The ancillary sector bolsters the local economy, catalyzing positive impacts on businesses and community services through salmon farming support. The international community recognizes Tasmania's salmon industry for innovation.