Salmonid Aquaculture

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The EPA is responsible for environmental regulation of marine and freshwater​​ finfish farms in Tasmania. Regulatory activity involves issuing and varying environmental licenses, assessing compliance against environmental license conditions, reviewing associated environmental monitoring data and reports, and requiring fish farmers to undertake management actions where environmental issues are identified arising from fish farming activity. The EPA also leads the assessment process for new finfish farm developments.

​To ensure progressive improvement of environmental management and regulatory systems for industry the EPA provides scientific input and support to aquaculture research conducted by the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (University of Tasmania) and Fisheries Research and Development Corporation research projects. The outputs of scientific research and environmental modelling are used by the EPA to support and develop the regulatory framework.​

  • Salmon Mortality Event 2025
    A large and unprecedented salmon mortality event has unfolded since mid-February 2025 in the lower D'Entrecasteaux Channel.
  • Industry Regulation
    To manage potential environmental impacts from finfish farming activities, EPA applies best practice environmental management and regulation to ensure impacts on inland waters and the marine environment are reduced to an acceptable level and the health of the environment is protected.
  • Macquarie Harbour Dissolved Oxygen
    Macquarie Harbour has been split into three defined areas (segments) for the purpose of monitoring, analysing and assessing water quality including dissolved oxygen concentration and comparing this to interim Default Guideline Values (DGVs).
  • Marine Environmental Licence Renewals
    Environmental Licences issued under the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 to operators of marine finfish farms in State waters have an expiry date. Holders of Environmental Licences must apply to the Director, EPA to renew their Licences.
  • Environmental Standards for Marine Finfish Farming
    The Environmental Standards for Tasmanian Marine Finfish Farming 2023 provide a consolidated set of environmental regulatory conditions to be applied consistently across Tasmania providing certainty for the community and industry. These Environmental Standards aim to protect and maintain the environmental values and ecological character of areas where marine finfish farming leases are located.
  • Technical Standards for Marine Finfish Farms
    The EPA is now drafting technical standards to support the new Environmental Standards (see above)​. Among other things, technical standards may set out monitoring methods and processes for making determinations.
  • Freshwater Finfish Farms
    The EPA regulates freshwater finfish farms producing salmonids (salmon and trout) at various locations throughout Tasmania, including Port Huon, Cressy, and adjacent to the Derwent, Huon, Russell and Tyenna Rivers. Most are hatcheries producing smolt (juvenile salmon) for marine based finfish farms.
  • Marine Finfish Farms
    The EPA regulates finfish farming in Tasmanian State coastal waters. Finfish farming is conducted in six regions of the State, see links on this page.
  • EPA Independent Monitoring
    The EPA conducts independent monitoring of water quality and other parameters in some marine based farming regions. Further information is available on the Monitoring Program page​.​
  • Management of Therapeutants (including antibiotics)
    The use of therapeutants at finfish farms, including antibiotics, is subject to environmental monitoring requirements specified by the EPA.