Petuna farm in Macquarie Harbour. (Photo: Stock File)

Tassal and Petuna create joint venture to improve marine farm biosecurity

AUSTRALIA
Friday, May 18, 2018, 01:20 (GMT + 9)

Salmon firms Petuna and Tassal have entered into a joint venture intended to cooperatively manage their marine farms in Macquarie Harbour, setting a new benchmark in aquaculture biosecurity standards in Tasmania.

Under the joint venture, each company will continue to own its own leases and its fish and infrastructure while a joint operational management committee will oversee the strategic management of the leases, delivering better biosecurity and environmental outcomes.

Petuna stressed that the initiative reflects international best practice in biosecurity and reflects the principles outlined in the Tasmanian Government’s Salmon Sustainable Industry Growth Plan which encourages improved area management planning.

“The joint venture between the two farming operations in Macquarie Harbour is a landmark step for Tasmania, which will deliver biosecurity and environmental benefits,” pointed out Petuna CEO Ruben Alvarez.

In his view, the joint management and use of their marine leases will allow better fallowing and separation of year classes of fish, which will significantly enhance the wellbeing of fish and the biosecurity in the Harbour.

For his part, Tassal Managing Director and CEO Mark Ryan said the company remained committed to sustainable farming in Macquarie Harbour, as well as other regions.

“The joint venture with Petuna is an important and positive step, demonstrating the benefits of collaboration to improve farming sustainability and effectiveness,” he said.

The announcement follows mass fish deaths in the harbour and an admission from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) that the leases were massively overstocked based on bad science, ABC News reported.

On the other hand, Environment Tasmania's Laura Kelly scoffed at the companies "landmark" announcement, stating it should have been done years ago.

"Huon Aquaculture, which appears to have been left out of the negotiations, has already been doing that for years, so this more playing catch-up," she said.

Meanwhile, Greens' environment spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff said the announcement would not improve the health of the harbour.

"What this harbour needs is for the whole harbour to be fallowed of intensive salmon farming," she said.

The deal comes as the two companies await the Federal Court's decision on legal proceedings lodged in 2017 by rival company Huon Aquaculture against a government decision taken in 2012 to allow salmon farming expansion in Macquire.

Petuna and Tassal are parties to the case, and support the decision adopted by the then Environment Minister while Huon questions it due to environmental issues.

Related Articles:

- Environment minister to release reasons for Tassal’s farm approval
- Huon Aquaculture plans to start salmon fish farming on land

 
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