The EPA currently regulates finfish farming at 10 marine farming leases in the Macquarie Harbour region.
The location of these finfish farms and associated environmental licences can be accessed via the EPA Regulated Premises layer on LISTmap.
The Marine Farming Development Plan for the region is available on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania website.
Management Determinations
The EPA issues Environmental Licences and makes determinations under management controls specified in Marine Farming Development Plans. This includes the setting of biomass caps in the past, and now the setting of Total Permissible Dissolved Nitrogen Output (TPDNO) for Macquarie Harbour.
Current Determination
Since 1 September 2022 a more accountable system for limiting the production of finfish in Macquarie Harbour is in place. A determination limiting TPDNO has replaced the standing biomass caps which had been used in previous determinations that were made by the Secretary, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania and the Director, EPA. The rationale for changing from biomass limits to TPDNO can be found here:
Rationale for changing management determination from Biomass to Total Permissible Dissolved Nitrogen Output
This determination specifies the harbour-wide TPDNO, providing each company growing finfish in Macquarie Harbour with a share (apportionment) of the total TPDNO. The aim of this TPDNO determination is to build upon improvements in ecosystem function and dissolved oxygen levels that have been observed in Macquarie Harbour since 2017. The new determination reduces dissolved nitrogen outputs by approximately 10% compared with 2021 levels. A statement of reasons supporting the decision for moving towards TPDNO can be found below.
On 31 August 2022 the Director, EPA made a new Determination for Macquarie Harbour. The TPDNO for Macquarie Harbour is 500.1 tonnes applicable for any rolling 12-month period from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2027. The Director re-issued the determination on 27 September 2022 to include the unit of measurement.
Statement of Reasons - TPDNO Determination - 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2027 (PDF 132Kb)
Macquarie Harbour - TPDNO Determination - 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2027 (PDF 93Kb)
TPDNO Compliance Assessment Methodology - Explanatory Paper (PDF 401Kb)
Past Determinations
2022
Biomass Determination 1 June 2022 to 31 August 2022 - Huon Aquaculture (PDF 198Kb)
Biomass Determination 1 June 2022 to 31 August 2022 - Petuna Aquaculture (PDF 195Kb)
Biomass Determination 1 June 2022 to 31 August 2022 - Tassal (PDF 174Kb)
Macquarie Harbour Biomass Determination 1 June 2022 to 31 August 2022 - Statement of Reasons (PDF 133Kb)
2020
Biomass Determination 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2022 - Joint Venture (Tassal and Petuna) (PDF 168Kb)
Biomass Determination 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2022 - Huon Aquaculture (PDF 164Kb)
Statement of Reasons - Macquarie Harbour Biomass Determination - 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2022 (PDF 99Kb)
2019
Macquarie Harbour Joint Venture (Petuna and Tassal) Determination 31 January 2019 (PDF 199Kb)
2018
EPA Director Wes Ford's Statement of Reasons for the determination of the peak biomass for salmonids in Macquarie Harbour for the period 1 June 2018 to 31 May 2020 (PDF 188Kb)
2017
Tassal Determinations Reissued, 6 June 2017
Tassal 2017 Reissued Determinations, Macquarie Harbour (PDF 146Kb)
Statement of Reasons for Tassal determination reissue, 6 June 2017 (PDF 463Kb)
Final Biomass Determination, May 2017
EPA Director's statement (PDF 214Kb)
Determination, January 2017
EPA Director's Notice of Determinations for Aquaculture Companies, Macquarie Harbour, Jan 2017 (PDF 469Kb)
Research
Research information for Macquarie Harbour is provided from a number of sources, including the salmon companies, private consultants, Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (University of Tasmania), Government and the EPA.
IMAS Assessment of Macquarie Harbour BEMP data from 2011 to 2020, March 2022 (PDF 8Mb)
IMAS Environmental Research Progress Report, February 2020 (IMAS website 3.0Mb)
IMAS Environmental Research Progress Report, July 2019 (IMAS website 5.5Mb)
IMAS Progress Report on Macquarie Harbour, December 2018 (IMAS website 6Mb)
IMAS Progress Report on Macquarie Harbour, February 2018 (IMAS website 2.6Mb)
IMAS Progress Report on Macquarie Harbour, September 2017 (IMAS website 2.6Mb)
Macquarie Harbour TWWHA Environmental Status Report, EPA, May 2017 (PDF 1Mb)
IMAS Progress Report on Macquarie Harbour, May 2017 (IMAS website 4.6Mb)
IMAS Technical Report on Macquarie Harbour Condition (IMAS website 3.7Mb)