The EPA currently regulates finfish farming at 25 marine farming leases in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Huon River Estuary and Port Esperance region.
The location of these finfish farms and associated environmental licences can be accessed via the EPA Regulated Premises layer on LISTmap). See our Site Information page for details.
The Marine Farming Development Plan for the region is available on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania website.
Environmental Licence Renewals
Sheppards and Simmonds Point
On 15 December 2023, the EPA decided to renew for a 5-year period the environmental licences for The Sheppards and Simmonds Point leases in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel.
The Director has provided a Statement of Reasons that outlines the Director's reasons for renewing these two environmental licences.
Statement of Reasons - Environmental Licence Renewal - Aquatas - Sheppards & Simmonds, December 2023 (PDF 143Kb)
Additional circumstances that the Director has considered under section 42T(5) of EMPCA during his decision-making process in renewing these two environmental licences are found below:
Circumstances for Consideration Under section 42T(5) - Simmonds (MF94) and Sheppards (MF154) (PDF 536Kb)
Other leases
On 15 January 2024, the EPA decided to renew for a 5-year period the environmental licenses for the remaining leases due to expire 30 November 2023 in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon River Marine Farming Development Plan Area.
Environmental licences and conditions can be accessed via the EPA Regulated Premises layer on LISTmap.
Management Determinations
The EPA issues environmental licences and makes determinations under management controls specified in Marine Farming Development Plans. This includes the setting of Total Permissible Dissolved Nitrogen Output (TPDNO) for marine finfish farming regions. TPDNO determinations also provide a share (apportionment) of the total TPDNO to each company that has active environmental licences for marine finfish farming in the region.
Current Determination
A new TPDNO determination for the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Huon River and Port Esperance region was made on 29 November 2022, taking effect on 2 December 2022. This determination replaces the previous determination dated October 2019.
The 2022 determination varies the allocation of TPDNO portions to aquaculture companies in the region, while the regionwide amount of 2,340.55 tonnes per rolling 12-month period remains unchanged from the previous determination.
The new determination is valid for 10 years, after which it will be reviewed.
A table summarising the TPDNO and company allocations can be found here:
Determination and apportionment of Total Permissible Dissolved Nitrogen Output - D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Huon River and Port Esperance region (PDF 170Kb)
Broadscale Environmental Monitoring Program Reports
2022/23 Annual BEMP Report
D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon BEMP Annual Report 2022-23 (PDF 10Mb)
D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon BEMP Annual Report 2022-23 - Appendices (PDF 14Mb)
2021/22 Annual BEMP Report
D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon BEMP Annual Report 2021-22 (PDF 11Mb)
D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon BEMP Annual Report 2021-22 - Appendices (PDF 13Mb)
2020/21 Annual BEMP Report
D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon BEMP Annual Report 2020-2021 (PDF 9Mb)
D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon BEMP Annual Report 2020-2021 - Appendices (PDF 7Mb)
2019/20 Annual BEMP Report
D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon BEMP Annual Report 2020 (PDF 10Mb)
D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon BEMP Annual Report 2020 - Appendix (PDF 7Mb)
2018/19 Annual BEMP Report
DEntrecasteaux Channel and Huon BEMP Annual Report 2019 (PDF 9Mb)
DEntrecasteaux Channel and Huon BEMP Annual Report 2019 - Appendix (PDF 8Mb)
2017/18 Annual BEMP Report
Huon BEMP Annual Report 2017-18 (PDF 6Mb)
Huon BEMP Annual Report 2017-18 - Appendix (PDF 4Mb)
The 2012/13 to 2016/17 BEMP report covers a 5-year period:
Final BEMP Report - 2012 to 2017 (PDF 7Mb)
BEMP Monitoring 2009 to 2012
The report - Evaluation of BEMP Monitoring from 2009 to 2012 is available through IMAS (PDF 4MB).
Antibiotic Residue Monitoring Report - 2024
Medicated feed containing antibiotics (active ingredient: Oxytetracycline) was applied at three pen bays over a period of 10 days in January 2024 at MF 110 Soldiers Point finfish farm. This measure became necessary for the treatment of Tenacibaculosis in Atlantic Salmon stock held at Tassal Operations Pty Ltd. This event was supported by a relevant Veterinary Authorisation and was subject to a comprehensive monitoring program stipulated by the EPA. Sampling of wild fish occurred on two occasions and sampling of sediment on four occasions between January and March 2024. The licence holder complied with all requirements of their environmental licence and the monitoring program.
Antibiotics Residue Monitoring Report - Soldiers Point (MF 110) 2024 (PDF 1Mb)
Interim Antibiotic Residue Monitoring Report – October 2022
Medicated feed containing antibiotics (active ingredient: Oxytetracycline) was applied to three pen bays over a period of 10 days in October 2022 at MF109 Great Taylors Bay (Butlers) finfish farm. This measure became necessary due to an outbreak of Vibrio. The event was supported by a relevant Veterinary Authorisation and was subject to a comprehensive monitoring program stipulated by the EPA. Sampling of wild fish and sediment occurred over two and 15 occasions, respectively, between October 2022 and January 2024.
It is EPA policy to release the results and report following antibiotic residue levels returning to below a threshold level, however, very low levels of Oxytetracycline still persist in the sediments below two of the three treated pen bay locations. These pen bays had farming activity removed completely after November 2022 and there is no intention to farm fish over these locations in the immediate future. Residual Oxytetracycline levels must return to ambient levels (i.e. lower than what is detectible by the accredited laboratory used for the analyses) before any fish are to be farmed over these locations.
Oxytetracycline levels were significantly lower at transect sites, returning to ambient levels within 128 days of treatment. Oxytetracycline was not detected at the ambient site, over 2 km from the lease, which was sampled four times until 56 days after treatment.
Oxytetracycline levels in wild fish sampled for this antibiotic treatment event were all at or below detectable levels by the lab used for the analyses. Sampling occurred within the lease area and at the ambient site. There were two sampling events of wild fish, one 2-3 days immediately after treatment and one 81 days after treatment. Oxytetracycline levels in sampled wild fish were 20 times below the maximum antibiotic residue limit for fish as specified in the Australian New Zealand Food Standard Code, which has a permitted level of 0.2 mg/kg.
The licence holder complied with all requirements of their environmental licence and the monitoring program.
The resulting interim monitoring report can be viewed here:
Interim Antibiotic Residue Monitoring Report - Butlers (MF109) October 2022 (PDF 2Mb)
Antibiotic Residue Monitoring Report - February/March 2023
Medicated feed containing antibiotics (active ingredient: Oxytetracycline) was applied at two pen bays over a period of 13 days in February/March 2023 at MF 109 Great Taylors Bay (Butlers) finfish farm. This measure became necessary due to an outbreak of Tenacibaculosis caused by a pathogen. This event was supported by a relevant Veterinary Authorisation and was subject to a comprehensive monitoring program stipulated by the EPA. Sampling of wild fish and sediment occurred on six occasions between March and May 2023. The licence holder complied with all requirements of their environmental licence and the monitoring program.
The pen bays treated were different to those in 2022, and this was a different sampling event.
The resulting monitoring report can be viewed here:
Antibiotics Residue Monitoring Report - Butlers (MF109) 2023 (PDF 1Mb)